EDELEN GRAVEYARD Weep not for those who lie beneath the sod. Others will carry forward the banner they unfurled Whose feet tread the path which they have trod, Will hold aloft the torch they lighted, a beacon to the world. (R. H.) During the fall of 1927, I visited four graveyards on Washington's Bottom, below Blennerhassett Island. The Old Edelen Graveyard is situated on the upper end of the Bottom, a few rods back from the Ohio River, opposite the lower end of Blennerhassett Island, and off from the opening in the hills caused by the Edelen Run. It is five or six rods, perhaps, above, and back of the old Lewis house. *Lewis marked out and Edelen penciled in. The grounds are unfenced, but well sodded with grass, closely mown, clean and neat, but a Mr. Bartlett, who lives in the Edelen house, tells me that when he came there, seven or eight years ago, the brush and briers were higher than his head, and so thick a rabbit couldn't run through them. This grassed spot is about one half filled with marked or discernable graves - probably it is all used. The grounds were deeded to the public for a burial ground, in August, 1841. I copied names and dates: Benjamin Butcher, died October 6th, 1888, aged seventy-four. Nancy, wife of Benjamin Butcher (no dates). These are in the upper side of the plot: Harrie, son of William and Bettie Stout, died 1876, age one year. *The B in Bettie was marked out and changed to an R. Lawrence Albert, first son of J. W. and H. B. Mitchell, February 25th, 1856 - December 31st, 1865. Henrietta Beck, only child of J. H. and S. Harwood (second wife), born January 21st, 1827 - died November 19th, 1865, thirty-eight years old. There is in this, the upper row of graves that shows across the lot, an old ornamental slab of native sandstone, about three feet high, and three inches thick, on which is inscribed: "In Memory of George Lewis who departed this life November" (balance shelled away). George Lewis was born in 1743, and died in November, 1811, when about sixty-eight years old. At the left of this marker is another like it in pattern, but still sound and plainly legible, with the inscription: "In Memory of Violet Lewis, wife of George Lewis, who departed this life, 1817, aged sixty-five years". She was Violet Guest, of Loudoun County. *Guest marked penciled in with: Gist daughter of Christopher Gist II. The Lewises bought the upper share of the Washington's Bottom land, as early as 1804, of the Carters, Charles and Betty, of Culpepper County, heirs of George Washington. Lewis did not get a deed for same until in October, 1806, and moved to the land sometime the next year. Though George Lewis did not receive his deed until 1806, he had possession of the land, and had sold one hundred twenty-five acres near the upper end, to his son-in-law, Robert Edelen, who held same under "title bond", or similar agreement, and had moved onto it in 1805. Lewis sold all the remainder of his tract, except one hundred seventy- five acres, to other parties, as below: The deeds were made: William Lewis, two hundred acres, March 28th, 1806 (?). John H. Harwood, one hundred acres, March 28th, 1807. Robert Edelen, one hundred six and three-quarter acres, March 28th, 1807. George Neale, October 3rd, 1808. Jonas Lewis, two hundred acres, March 8th, 1809. Francis Keeene, two hundred acres, September 24th, 1811. The wife of Keene may, or may not, have been a daughter of Lewis. The other parties named were all sons or sons-in-law. Next north of Mrs. Lewis lies: Ann Matilda, daughter of Robert and E. Edelen, and wife of A. G. Leonard (no dates copied). Next is an ornamental sandstone slab, with the face all shelled off. Then a marble slab about four feet high, eighteen inches wide and tow and a half inches thick, which reads Robert Edelen, Esq., a native of Maryland, emigrated to Wood County, Virginia, in 1805. Died at Washington's Bottom, seventh of May, 1819, aged sixty-seven years, one month. (Born March 10th, 1751. He might have served in the American Army. Did he?) By the died of Edelen rests: Mary, wife of Francis Keene, born April 9th, 1820 - died May 16th, 1900, eighty years, one month. (Probably a daughter of Edelen, and wife of F. Keene, Jr.) *second penciled in between Mary, and wife and Edelen written in margin. *M penciled in between F. and Keene. There are two graves in a row, east of the one we have been following - a row which does not appear to run across the graveyard: One at the foot of Robert Edelen's grave is inscribed - Mary Ann, wife of Francis M. Keene, died February 8th, 1837, in her thirty- third year. *Harwood first is penciled in above Mary Ann. On her right is an old crumbled sandstone with lettering all shelled off. On the footstone, I copy letters "F. M. L.". (Perhaps a mistake and should be "F. M. K.") In the second whole row from the east, at the head of Edelen's grave is a perfectly sound ornamental sandstone slab, which reads Lucy Kincheloe, wife of John Kincheloe, who died May 17th, 1840, aged thirty-three years, five months. She was a daughter of Robert Edelen, and granddaughter of George Lewis, and married a son of Robert Kincheloe, in 1826. By the side of Lucy Kincheloe rests a sister whose grave is marked with well preserved sandstone slab - Violet Elizabeth, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Edelen, died March 11th, 1836, in her twenty- fifth year. (Born about 1811). Next, going south - John H. Harwood, October 7th, 1858, aged eighty years, two months. (Say born about July 24th, 1778). By his side, Susan, wife of John H. Harwood, October 27th, 1817, aged sixty-two years, seven months (January 20th, 1755). *Beck second penciled in between Susan, and wife. Next, a child, Richard (balance illegible). A very coarse grained marble slab tells the world that there reposes - James Harwood, born February 10th, 1810 - died November 9th, 1878. There are no more gravestones in this row, but some twelve feet to the south stands a cedar cross, probably to mark a grave. An old broken slab leaning against a big cedar stump bears the inscription - Nancy, wife of John H. Harwood, died February 7th, 1821, aged thirty-eight. (Born 1783. Was Susan, as above, mother?) *No - Susan sec wife of J H Harwood penciled in. Francis Marshall Keene, born February 14th, 1808 - died June 20th, 1880. Mary, wife of F. M. Keene, died February 8th, 1837, in thirty- eighth year. These are all the names in the third row. In the fourth row (from east): Infant J. and M. E. Edelen, September 1st, 1847. (John Edelen married Mary Timms in 1843.) Annie C. Edelen, their daughter "died on Washington's Bottom, April 22nd, 1873, aged twenty-four years, seven months. Mary Elizabeth, wife of John Edelen, September 30th, 1819 - March 3rd, 1866, aged sixty-three years, eight months. In the fourth row, going south: Richard Henry, third son of B. and S. Edelen, June 13th, 1845 - March 3rd, 1868, aged twenty-two years. Chester S. (same as above) August 5th, 1854, thirteen years old. Mary, third daughter of B. and S. Edelen, August 9th, 1850, thirty-seven days. The only granite monument in the cemetery bears the legend: Benjamin, son of Robert Edelen, born July 19th, 1808 - died September 8th, 1889. Susan A., wife of Benjamin Edelen, born May 20th, 1811 - died February 19th, 1899. (Marriage records say Benjamin Edelen married Sarah Ann Clark, 1834.) By his right, with a broken marble stone - Jane, wife of Allen Davis, died September 9th, 1817, in her thirty- fourth year. (Date of death wrong - she was married in 1832 - probably 1847 is correct reading.) In fifth row: Eliza Jane, daughter of Thomas and Prudence Chancellor, and wife of William Harwood, born at Harrisville, October 15th, 1829. Died at Parkersburg, February 28th, 1872. William Harwood, 1869 (1819?) - 1887. (Father or son?) A child, William Harwood, died 1856. Levin, son of G. L. and E. Harwood, May 1854, aged sixteen years. *moved to Masonic Cemetery penciled in. George L. Harwood, born April 11th, 1812 - died June 4th, 1877. *moved to Masonic Cemetery penciled in. "Guarded by Him, I lay me down My sweet repose to take, For I through him securely sleep, Through him in safety wake." On a broken stone: E., daughter R. H. and M. A. Lewis, October, 1858 - November, 1898. George W., son (same), 1866, a child. Sixth and last row: Five graves at Southern end, no markers. There is a large cedar tree between three and four feet in diameter, which has been cut away. Then, D. M. Edelen, June 12th, 1887, fifty years, seven months. Then, three children of D. M. and S. E. Edelen. Then, at the end of the row - Stephen W. Edelen, April 20th, 1847 - January 13th, 1898. *This note penciled in: Charles W. Butcher buried in grave beside that of Benj Butcher & Nancy (their son) --------------------------------------------- Permission by Virginia Ludwick In Memory of John Ludwick USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent.