Hey everyone, please subscribe and check me out on Facebook and Instagram! I document my travels on those sites. Search for whittdocs and come along with me!
It is sad to see people's lives reduced to a number. Hopefully your video will help find names to these nameless graves. The cemetery is surprisingly well groomed, so someone must care about it.
Yes, that struck me too. It is well groomed, so I took comfort in that. I’m hoping that someone from this area will reach out to me. Thanks for watching Steve.
According to the findagrave entry and the Darke County Researchers genealogy website it is the cemetery for the poorhouse/infirmary. Very interesting place. Apparently Annie Oakley spent a couple years of her childhood there.
I also found out by looking at the find a grave website that there is a children's home cemetery in Darke County. I couldn't find much more than you did on the once you visited, except for that it was the cemetery for the local poor house.
Respect to you for taking the time to show respect to those poor souls recorded only as numbers. I wonder how many people pass those lonely headstones and never give them a second thought. I’m pleased you took the time and interest to share them with us. RIP nameless ones.
My grandmother was from Darke County and among her things I found a city directory. There was, indeed, a "poor house" in that city, as others have mentioned.
Darke county children’s home cemetery. So sad and heartbreaking that they were un wanted children, that ended up being rented out for who knows what all. Thank you for visiting them, they knew you were there✌️
@@Whittdocs I also do cemetery tours. I juat love the art and craftsmanship that goes into the monuments and lanscaping, as well as the history and stories from the past.
Thank you for that very interesting cemetery it really is ashame that only numbers are on the grave stone.it would interesting to find out more about this cemetery and about the people. Who was annie oakley? Thank you from Wasaga Beach,ontario
Thank you so much for watching. I hope everything is going well in Canada! Annie Oakley used to perform western style sharp shooting shows. I have a video about her. You should check it out!
I tried to find an asylum close to the area, well a former asylum, but I was having trouble doing so. Thanks for your response. This was a fascinating stop for me. Thanks for watching
This is the Darke County home cemetery. First, it was an infirmary and then a nursing home. Now, it is a group home for adolescent boys. The building is down from the sheriff's office/jail. It has been burned down twice by lightening, but the original building was built in the mid-1850s. It has turned into a group home in the last 10 years. Most of these graves i think are from people in the infirmary who died there. It was a poor house for mentally ill, elderly and their children and a long term care facility. A girl from the 1970s was found murdered in a field she was from WI, i believe. They nicknamed her the buckskin girl, i think. DNA was able to confirm who she was, and they moved her to a proper burial.
It's very likely these are relocated graves that were moved from elsewhere and their original graves were unmarked fieldstones. This numbering system was commonly used by Corp of Engineers and Highway Departments when cemeteries were moved during construction of man-made lakes or new roads. I can show you much sadder situations of relocations in Ky where marker stones like this would be a major improvement.
A county home usually means it's a place for poor or sick people to live. There are very many reasons why. We have one in our county too, it's on my channel where I touch a little on why they are established.
Later these places was called mental state hospitals. Lot started closing in 2000. Sad say lot veterans homes also closed, government claimed due to lack fund.laws need change there s more and more people living on the streets some need medicine.they not getting the care they need fortunately there are some programs that are helping. But more need be done or its going get worse...n.j.
my father's parents were Darke County. I wish.I knew what you have happened upon. I have subscribed to see what you discover! Greeneville Museum may be able to help?
Asylums typically used numbers. The people were forgotten by their families. The names may have never been known. It could be a potter's field. I agree , it is heartbreaking. Listening to the end of your video. Chances are those records no longer exist. Just with the passing years and if the place changed hands they could have been misplaced, or just plain lost.
Ohio resident here. County homes were like poor houses or hospitals for those who couldn't afford good care.Mental hospitals in Ohio were also had cemeteries with numbered graves or unmarked graves
Could it possibly be African-American soldiers from the civil war? Or people that died during a small pox outbreak? Just a thought. Please do an update. Great channel.
I would check to see what battle took place near there in the civil war, most likely men from both sides who had no ID and there was no one to claim them! May they always Rest In Peace!
I visit alot of old cemeteries some with just field stones for the headstone and I will fill up sunken in graves I like to do that when I'm not working but I think it's something alot of people should do is go around and clean up and fill in graves. I filled one grave up week before last and I put ten wheelbarrow loads of dirt to make it just level.. the person had been gone for thirteen years and evidently wasn't buried with a vault. I hate to see someone buried without a vault because I know what happens.. so sad really.
Seeing this is sad lot these places was forced to close due to the lack of funds.some were placed in nursing homes, some became homeless. Even lot veterans homes were forced to close,state didn't care what happened to them.you'd be surprised the number of vets who are homeless.not just vets, lot adults with mental illnesses were left to find places to go, these buildings left to just deteriorate. States selling the buildings...if they had families they only took them in for their checks was often abused ,.I know places in Georgia this happened.laws have changed and their are programs to help people with disabilities, and. Veterans to get a place to live, have help daily, get food and medicine.. Some still homeless because nobody want them. We need more laws to help the homeless and those with mental illness.. N.a.JJ.
There was hospital in Georgia where a family could drop off a unwanted mentally I'll and handicapped person and the state would pay them, it got so bad they had stop. Lot these people ended up homeless,in 2000 the place finally close. Didn't care what happened to the patients.some was put in nursing homes,those who could help themselves moved into buildings for the elderly and handicapped..some were veterans sadly lot veteran home closed. No vet should be homeless.this the richest country in world its time laws changed.I'm seeing more and more people living on streets,.this just not right. N.j.
Hey, I'm here in KANSAS, we have the Osawatomee mental hospital, it has its own cemetery, all the markers are numbered, NO names! Also Kansas City has pauper cemeteries, they don't even have markers, just fenced off, the one in Wyandotte County at least says Wyandotte County cemetery! Their is one in Jackson County that is a small field, not even marked!
I was looking up those old cemeteries that are in Columbus. They are State of Ohio State Old Insane & Penal Cemetery. There are three of them in close proximity to each other and on Google maps are listed as Insane Cemetery, Old Insane Cemetery and State New Insane Cemetery. In the old one there is a very sad headstone that reads only "Specimens". We also have Greenlawn Cemetery which has many famous...or famous adjacent people. And of course, Woody Hayes is buried in Union Cemetery.
It could be a paupers graveyard or a hospital graveyard where people had no family or money to have them buried. There is or used to be a cemetery in Columbus near the old sanitarium where they would bury people and only put numbers on their graves.
You’ve never been to Gettysburg, have you? That’s the way they are buried there, with numbers. The Civil War dead. Was this near a place where there was a battle? The many lives lost during the Civil War are often buried like this. The town folk took care and gave the men decent burials.
Not sure but you might want to pay a visit to the County Courthouse and/or to a couple of funeral homes in the area. Both might be able to provide you with more info. Also look at FIND A GRAVE (online) as historians may have posted info ref to this site.
Maybe it's a cemetery for Civil War Vets it seems like all the graves with markers were from the Civil War. Maybe it's everyone from that town that served. Just my opinion hope you do an update to let us know for sure.
Ok this is just a logical guess and i am going from my knowledge from the south. They look like veteran tombstones. Now after the civil war many soldiers came back for lack of better terms "lame". In the south the states and communities opened soldier homes, similar to asylums and poor house for veterans whose injuries from the war left them unable to care for themselves or families to care for them. A lot suffered not only physical trauma but psychological trauma that left them in this state of health. I would assume the ones unmarked were people that were left unable to communicate therefore just cared for and died unknown. Likeni said this was very commom in the south and i would assume northern states did the same although not as much as the federal government also helped some as the south did not have that.
It makes you wonder about people's thought process way back then. Whether someone was in a poor house or not, why couldn't they at least be given a decent headstone with their name on it and shown some dignity. It's really dreadful, as these poor souls, I am sure, were not in their situation through choice
I have seen a few like this in s.c in my home town. I think because of the amount of men sent back in the civil war they just kinda toe tagged the body's and those claimed have records. Those without being claimed are just numbered. But so long has passed I guess records are gone and this is what we have left.
I worked as a program director at Florida state hospital for five years. They have a cemetery that goes back to 1846 and you can look the numbers up and see who they were. In prison cemeteries they stack them four deep and each headstone had four numbers on it. The prison maintains the records and with proper papers you can look those up as well.
It's a pulpers grave yard. Spelling may be wrong. Poor people who died and no family members show up to claim the body. So the city/county paid for their burial. There is one like it in the area of Golden City, Mo. Just numbers marking the graves. It was never cleaned and someone brush hogged it breaking most of the number markers off. The paper that had who they were was in a house fire and now they don't have a clue who is buried there.
We had a cemetery near me that was from the asylum there and all were numbered until the community made a stink and they added all the names, it is because back in the day people were ashamed of having family with issues as such very sad indeed.
No matter what the case this is very sad. My great-grandfather came from Darke County. I have never been there but my father visited once and found all his family gravesites. I hate to think of people looking for the final resting place of their ancestors and never finding them because they are a number in a forgotten graveyard.
Most likely, those whose graves are only numbered were: Terribly impoverished Victims of an epidemic Patients from a mental asylum Probably, some record was kept regarding which person’s body was placed in each numbered grave. However, such records tend to disappear, especially when pertaining to the poor and the mentally unstable.
I just found this blog post that seems to explain the existence of the cemetery. Apparently there is an online directory matching names to at least some of the numbered headstones. These were paupers living in the county's poor house. Some were children. There are even some graves of bodies "found" in the country. As in murder victims....in unsolved crimes. That blog tells about one victim eventually identified through DNA. gehio.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-darke-county-poorhouse-cemetery.html?m=1
Hey everyone, please subscribe and check me out on Facebook and Instagram! I document my travels on those sites. Search for whittdocs and come along with me!
You should stop by Brock Cemetery for a visit with Annie Oakley and Frank Butler. As a child she spent time at that poor home.
It is sad to see people's lives reduced to a number. Hopefully your video will help find names to these nameless graves. The cemetery is surprisingly well groomed, so someone must care about it.
Yes, that struck me too. It is well groomed, so I took comfort in that. I’m hoping that someone from this area will reach out to me. Thanks for watching Steve.
According to the findagrave entry and the Darke County Researchers genealogy website it is the cemetery for the poorhouse/infirmary. Very interesting place. Apparently Annie Oakley spent a couple years of her childhood there.
I was actually in the area visiting her grave, and happened to see this. Very interesting for sure.
I also found out by looking at the find a grave website that there is a children's home cemetery in Darke County. I couldn't find much more than you did on the once you visited, except for that it was the cemetery for the local poor house.
that makes sense, i was thinking it must be some kind of pauper's graveyard and wondered if it was near a hospital or prison.
Ps, I’m glad you were narrating, it makes your videos so much interesting
I appreciate the feedback. And I plan to continue that.
The numbers would go with records.. And had patients names on them. Or at least some did.
Respect to you for taking the time to show respect to those poor souls recorded only as numbers. I wonder how many people pass those lonely headstones and never give them a second thought. I’m pleased you took the time and interest to share them with us. RIP nameless ones.
Thanks so much for watching and honoring these people with me.
So sad 😞 Interesting video!
My grandmother was from Darke County and among her things I found a city directory. There was, indeed, a "poor house" in that city, as others have mentioned.
Thanks so much. All evidence points towards that. I’m thinking of doing a follow up.
OMG sad but interesting thank you for sharing this from over the Pond
Thanks once again.
Darke county children’s home cemetery. So sad and heartbreaking that they were un wanted children, that ended up being rented out for who knows what all. Thank you for visiting them, they knew you were there✌️
That means a lot you saying that. And I appreciate your input.
that doesn't explain why war veteran's headstones are next to the numbered headstones
Wesley Jackson if I’m not mistaken, their graves were also numbered. I think the markers were added later. Unless I’m mistaken
Thanks Lori
Ed Newman OutDoors your welcome!✌️
Thank you for sharing this great cemetery🪦💜🕊
I'm very interested to see if anymore info pops up about this! It is very odd, but I'm curious now. Awesome content! Subscribed! 😀
Thank you so much! I love finding the obscure. Much like you, I’m curious to see what comes up. Thanks for subscribing and welcome aboard!
@@Whittdocs I also do cemetery tours. I juat love the art and craftsmanship that goes into the monuments and lanscaping, as well as the history and stories from the past.
Awesome. I’ll check your channel out!!
Just subscribed!
@@Whittdocs Thank you so much! Maybe we can network and help each other find some cool spots.
great vid, first I have watched .....Have subscribed !!!
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Welcome aboard! :)
Great video and information.
Thank you so much!
The marked graves seemed to be Civil war soldiers. Perhaps they all are fallen soldiers. Nice video, thanks.
Yeah they do. So it makes me wonder if a veterans group researched and had them marked. Not sure. Thank you for watching.
Thank you for that very interesting cemetery it really is ashame that only numbers are on the grave stone.it would interesting to find out more about this cemetery and about the people. Who was annie oakley? Thank you from Wasaga Beach,ontario
Thank you so much for watching. I hope everything is going well in Canada! Annie Oakley used to perform western style sharp shooting shows. I have a video about her. You should check it out!
Hi I just watched you video on annie oakley very interesting to bad her hubby died 18 days after Anni e died
Yeah. That was such an interesting story to tell. Thank you so much for watching.
Asylum Patients , back then you were ashamed of being crazy and forgotten about .
I tried to find an asylum close to the area, well a former asylum, but I was having trouble doing so. Thanks for your response. This was a fascinating stop for me. Thanks for watching
You must be on to something, look how the Kennedys locked poor Rosemary away. How confusing and frightening.
Interested to find out , Hope you do a follow up .
Ed Newman OutDoors funny you say that, because I’ve already thought of following up lol
Just here to Stay on ya : )
This is the Darke County home cemetery. First, it was an infirmary and then a nursing home. Now, it is a group home for adolescent boys. The building is down from the sheriff's office/jail. It has been burned down twice by lightening, but the original building was built in the mid-1850s. It has turned into a group home in the last 10 years. Most of these graves i think are from people in the infirmary who died there. It was a poor house for mentally ill, elderly and their children and a long term care facility. A girl from the 1970s was found murdered in a field she was from WI, i believe. They nicknamed her the buckskin girl, i think. DNA was able to confirm who she was, and they moved her to a proper burial.
It's very likely these are relocated graves that were moved from elsewhere and their original graves were unmarked fieldstones. This numbering system was commonly used by Corp of Engineers and Highway Departments when cemeteries were moved during construction of man-made lakes or new roads. I can show you much sadder situations of relocations in Ky where marker stones like this would be a major improvement.
Thanks Doug. I appreciate your insight.
A county home usually means it's a place for poor or sick people to live. There are very many reasons why. We have one in our county too, it's on my channel where I touch a little on why they are established.
That’s great info. I’m going to check your channel out. We have a similar interest it looks like!
@@Whittdocs Awesome! Thank you! I'm planning more adventures now that the kids are back in school!
That Modern Mombie yeah. I went exploring this weekend. Have some more on the way.
@@Whittdocs Can't wait! I have some things planned for the week. A cemetery and maybe a church too!
Later these places was called mental state hospitals. Lot started closing in 2000. Sad say lot veterans homes also closed, government claimed due to lack fund.laws need change there s more and more people living on the streets some need medicine.they not getting the care they need fortunately there are some programs that are helping. But more need be done or its going get worse...n.j.
my father's parents were Darke County. I wish.I knew what you have happened upon. I have subscribed to see what you discover! Greeneville Museum may be able to help?
Thanks for the comment and thanks for subscribing.
Asylums typically used numbers. The people were forgotten by their families. The names may have never been known. It could be a potter's field. I agree , it is heartbreaking. Listening to the end of your video. Chances are those records no longer exist. Just with the passing years and if the place changed hands they could have been misplaced, or just plain lost.
Thanks for the comment and insight. I greatly appreciate it.
Ohio resident here. County homes were like poor houses or hospitals for those who couldn't afford good care.Mental hospitals in Ohio were also had cemeteries with numbered graves or unmarked graves
Pretty sad, forgotten souls thanks for this video sir we appreciate you.
You’re most welcome. Thank you for watching.
Could it possibly be African-American soldiers from the civil war? Or people that died during a small pox outbreak? Just a thought. Please do an update. Great channel.
I would love to do an update. Thanks so much for watching.
I would check to see what battle took place near there in the civil war, most likely men from both sides who had no ID and there was no one to claim them! May they always Rest In Peace!
I would love that too. Thanks so much for watching.
❤️
It is so sad that people's lives were reduced to numbers. Poor people deserved more than that indignity.
I visit alot of old cemeteries some with just field stones for the headstone and I will fill up sunken in graves I like to do that when I'm not working but I think it's something alot of people should do is go around and clean up and fill in graves. I filled one grave up week before last and I put ten wheelbarrow loads of dirt to make it just level.. the person had been gone for thirteen years and evidently wasn't buried with a vault. I hate to see someone buried without a vault because I know what happens.. so sad really.
I agree with you David. Thanks so much for the comment. I really appreciate it.
Lots of early state hospitals had their own cemeteries. Hospitalized their whole lives. Just forgotten sad.
Very true. Thanks for the comment.
Seeing this is sad lot these places was forced to close due to the lack of funds.some were placed in nursing homes, some became homeless. Even lot veterans homes were forced to close,state didn't care what happened to them.you'd be surprised the number of vets who are homeless.not just vets, lot adults with mental illnesses were left to find places to go, these buildings left to just deteriorate. States selling the buildings...if they had families they only took them in for their checks was often abused ,.I know places in Georgia this happened.laws have changed and their are programs to help people with disabilities, and. Veterans to get a place to live, have help daily, get food and medicine.. Some still homeless because nobody want them. We need more laws to help the homeless and those with mental illness.. N.a.JJ.
There was hospital in Georgia where a family could drop off a unwanted mentally I'll and handicapped person and the state would pay them, it got so bad they had stop. Lot these people ended up homeless,in 2000 the place finally close. Didn't care what happened to the patients.some was put in nursing homes,those who could help themselves moved into buildings for the elderly and handicapped..some were veterans sadly lot veteran home closed. No vet should be homeless.this the richest country in world its time laws changed.I'm seeing more and more people living on streets,.this just not right. N.j.
Hey, I'm here in KANSAS, we have the Osawatomee mental hospital, it has its own cemetery, all the markers are numbered, NO names! Also Kansas City has pauper cemeteries, they don't even have markers, just fenced off, the one in Wyandotte County at least says Wyandotte County cemetery! Their is one in Jackson County that is a small field, not even marked!
Thank you so much for that comment.
How sad to see just numbers no matter what their status was they deserve a name. Breaks my heart to see this...💔
I agree. This was a tough visit.
I was looking up those old cemeteries that are in Columbus. They are State of Ohio State Old Insane & Penal Cemetery. There are three of them in close proximity to each other and on Google maps are listed as Insane Cemetery, Old Insane Cemetery and State New Insane Cemetery. In the old one there is a very sad headstone that reads only "Specimens". We also have Greenlawn Cemetery which has many famous...or famous adjacent people. And of course, Woody Hayes is buried in Union Cemetery.
Thanks so much for the comment. I greatly appreciate it.
Was that is Greenville?
+Bobbalooie I’m not sure honestly.
It could be a paupers graveyard or a hospital graveyard where people had no family or money to have them buried. There is or used to be a cemetery in Columbus near the old sanitarium where they would bury people and only put numbers on their graves.
Check the census and see if any of the few names are there. For that matter, see how the census lists it period.
I appreciate that comment. Thanks for watching.
You’ve never been to Gettysburg, have you? That’s the way they are buried there, with numbers. The Civil War dead. Was this near a place where there was a battle? The many lives lost during the Civil War are often buried like this. The town folk took care and gave the men decent burials.
I’ve been there before to visit. Have never filmed there. I love the history there. Thanks so much for the comment.
When my father died 4 years ago. Mom bought the veterans marker just like those for designation that he was a veteran
I’m thankful for your fathers service. Thank you for watching my video. I appreciate that.
Could it be possible that they are all veterans of the Civil War, and the city or county has a record of who is in each numbered grave?
I’ve heard several different theories. I would love to do a follow up eventually. Thanks so much for watching.
It's called "Potter's Field"! A cemetery for the poor and unknown people.
Thanks for the info. Really appreciate it.
Not sure but you might want to pay a visit to the County Courthouse and/or to a couple of funeral homes in the area. Both might be able to provide you with more info. Also look at FIND A GRAVE (online) as historians may have posted info ref to this site.
Thanks so much for the response. That’s some great info. Appreciate it.
@@Whittdocs Most welcome...
It’s an Infirmary Cemetery, perhaps that explains the lack of identification?
That could definitely be it. I enjoy a good mystery and cemetery visit. Thanks for watching
Indeed, I do as well. :) I apologize, I fired off a response before watching the video in it’s entirety.
Graveyard Wanderer no need for apologies. I appreciate your response. Thank you
Maybe it's a cemetery for Civil War Vets it seems like all the graves with markers were from the Civil War. Maybe it's everyone from that town that served. Just my opinion hope you do an update to let us know for sure.
I’ve been thinking of doing an update. I appreciate your input.
A poor house I think, love to speak their names, 👍
Thank you so much for the comment.
Ok this is just a logical guess and i am going from my knowledge from the south. They look like veteran tombstones. Now after the civil war many soldiers came back for lack of better terms "lame". In the south the states and communities opened soldier homes, similar to asylums and poor house for veterans whose injuries from the war left them unable to care for themselves or families to care for them. A lot suffered not only physical trauma but psychological trauma that left them in this state of health. I would assume the ones unmarked were people that were left unable to communicate therefore just cared for and died unknown. Likeni said this was very commom in the south and i would assume northern states did the same although not as much as the federal government also helped some as the south did not have that.
Thanks so much for the informative comment. I really appreciate it.
So sad those people had a name in life and just a number in death may they rest in peace
It makes you wonder about people's thought process way back then. Whether someone was in a poor house or not, why couldn't they at least be given a decent headstone with their name on it and shown some dignity. It's really dreadful, as these poor souls, I am sure, were not in their situation through choice
I agree with you. This was a sad visit for me.
I have seen a few like this in s.c in my home town. I think because of the amount of men sent back in the civil war they just kinda toe tagged the body's and those claimed have records. Those without being claimed are just numbered. But so long has passed I guess records are gone and this is what we have left.
Thanks so much for the comment.
That cemetery is what is called Potter's Field! Where, some was intered. With no identity! More, like if still used. Would be for the homeless.
Thanks so much for the information. I greatly appreciate it!
It may be a potter's field. Where they bury unclaimed bodies. Or people who could not afford a funeral.
Thanks for your input. I appreciate it. I’ve heard different theories on this. I would eventually like to do a follow up. Thanks for watching.
Might be the men that lived in that area that lived in Civil War times ??? They are lined like Arlington ...
That’s a good theory and may be right. Thank you.
It’s an institutional cemetery. Poor houses, mental institutions and prisons do that
Oh, ok. Thanks so much for helping with that.
I worked as a program director at Florida state hospital for five years. They have a cemetery that goes back to 1846 and you can look the numbers up and see who they were. In prison cemeteries they stack them four deep and each headstone had four numbers on it. The prison maintains the records and with proper papers you can look those up as well.
Walter Johnson thanks again. I would love to make a return visit to this location. I really appreciate you taking the time to respond.
So very sad in death they're only a number may they all rest in peace
It's a pulpers grave yard. Spelling may be wrong. Poor people who died and no family members show up to claim the body. So the city/county paid for their burial.
There is one like it in the area of Golden City, Mo. Just numbers marking the graves. It was never cleaned and someone brush hogged it breaking most of the number markers off. The paper that had who they were was in a house fire and now they don't have a clue who is buried there.
That’s a sad story. I appreciate you sharing it. Thanks so much.
Spelled puapers cemetery
God knows, really that is all we need to be known by the most High.
Why is it aways sad sufe is there any happy things
Thanks for watching!
It is either a prison or state mental hospital cemetery.
Thanks for the comment. I appreciate it.
@@Whittdocs I have seen it a couple of times it is sad .
Very very sad 😢😢
Yeah. It sure is. :(
We had a cemetery near me that was from the asylum there and all were numbered until the community made a stink and they added all the names, it is because back in the day people were ashamed of having family with issues as such very sad indeed.
Thanks for that input. I’m really thinking that this is something similar to that.
Yeah more then likely. I hope someday the names can be added to these ones as well !!
Navarre Fam I hope so as well, I would love to be able to do a follow up on this.
Research my friend when it comes to graveyards. You have to work the genealogy records!
For sure. I was just driving by this one day and found it. Had to stop.
With the death years pretty much to same, maybe the Spanish Influenza outbreak had something to do with it.
I hadn’t thought of that. Thanks so much for your input.
Asylum?
Unclaimed remains from asylums or prisons?
I have heard those theories as well. That’s a very good theory and could very well be true
Is this cemetery connected with a prison? Sometimes prisoners only get numbers.
No matter what the case this is very sad. My great-grandfather came from Darke County. I have never been there but my father visited once and found all his family gravesites. I hate to think of people looking for the final resting place of their ancestors and never finding them because they are a number in a forgotten graveyard.
Most likely, those whose graves are only numbered were:
Terribly impoverished
Victims of an epidemic
Patients from a mental asylum
Probably, some record was kept regarding which person’s body was placed in each numbered grave. However, such records tend to disappear, especially when pertaining to the poor and the mentally unstable.
Definitely sad. Thanks for your comment. :)
It was another milledgville ga
Thank you for the comment.
I just found this blog post that seems to explain the existence of the cemetery. Apparently there is an online directory matching names to at least some of the numbered headstones.
These were paupers living in the county's poor house. Some were children.
There are even some graves of bodies "found" in the country. As in murder victims....in unsolved crimes. That blog tells about one victim eventually identified through DNA.
gehio.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-darke-county-poorhouse-cemetery.html?m=1
Thanks so much for that info. I greatly appreciate it.
You have to go to the county and tell them you had a relative there and they will give you the number on a stone
I gathered it is it's like a Potter's field graveyard .they didn't take the time to record the name of that person
Thanks so much for that comment.
Yes, it was probably a "home" for the mentally ill. Back then they were ashamed of mental illness; people were put in "homes" and forgotten 😞
Very sad. And that appears to be the consensus. Thanks for your response. :)
Not that the people reduced to numbers ...the numbers are the actual grave space all graves lot numbers and space numbers
Thanks so much for the comment. I appreciate that.
Is very sad
Yeah it sure is :(
There are 201 names listed on Find A Grave with the numbers listed on the Plot.
Thanks for that information. I would love to do a follow up on this. I appreciate it.
How sad.
Yes I agree.
Could have been a disaster of some sort. They did that too.
Thank you for this comment.
Somewhere there is a record of a name with a number.
Would love to find it.
You found a grave of Union soldiers who went unidentified
Thanks for the response. I greatly appreciate it.
Where are you?
This was in Ohio.
ITS MAY BE A OLD VITENS CEMETERY.
Thank you so much for the comment. I appreciate it. Thanks for watching.
This is so sad . No names?
Those are unknown soldiers.
Thanks for that info. I appreciate it
Could have been a prison cemetery.
Civel war cemetary
Thanks for sharing that.
Perhaps a cult