New-York tribune., 1902-12-25
OLDTTNE EPIT4PHS.
Rural Burying Ground IN Warsa7o
To Celebrate Centenary.


| Warsaw, N Y. Dec "A CspeciaD.-As quaint a
| spot find in Western New-York lies on
the side of South Main-st in this village and
| Is marked for the visitors eye by the gray and
| crumbing headstones Of antique and formal style
| which dot in clusters the greensward, rise mys-
| teriousy from dense masses of myrtle and shrub
| berry and geam like ghosts among the ancient
| trees. It is the "Old Burying Ground" and con-
| tains the bones of the settlers who founded War
| century ago, their children and their chill
dren children. Every town has its old burying
ground If 1t is old enough have anything besides
| Town Hall. but Warsaw's city of the dead
| is characteristic ever churchyard OF some
buried English parish, with its messy lanes and
gnarled oaks. For half century now the graves
| have been neglected, and the weed-grown mounds
and nchened stones would have moved Gray to
fancy again the lines of his sweet Eiegy-
1t is not like other burying grounds, for it was
founded in strange and touching manner, and
instead of being the assigned and formal place
of for the departed is rather a growth and
development which spread about the lonely and
tiny mound beneath which lay the delicate body
of little child But now it has assumed new
value and position a place of rare historical
Importance for Warsaw next June will celebrate
her centenary and the ''Old Burying Ground will
come into its again place of honor and
reverence Yet 1t stands. deserted, mouldering
and ghostly 1t is place of constant surprises and
unexpected discoveries to the chance wanderer
who delights in the inspection OF forgotten cpl
taphs and pathetically awkward inscriptions upon
the cold marble above those long dead.
The story Of the ancient cemetery is peculiar.
The town records show that the ground was once
''publick property q sort of village common. In
the spring of 1904 when the village col
lection of only few scattered cabins. Sterling
Stearns and his family moved from Wrights Cor
ners, six miles north of Warsaw, TO a new holding
in the southern part of what is now Wyoming
County, and in his family flight stopped over night
the home of Elizur Webster. There little
child the youngest in the Stearns family. suddenly
sickened and before the morning dawned had died.
At the request of Mr.. Webster. the village gave
permission for the child be buried in the com
So Amos Keeney. William Webster and Elijah
Cutting chopped down half dozen trees. cleared
away the brush and dug a tiny grave in the midst
of the woods. and there the dead baby was buried
It was not long before another TO share its
lonely Sleep and then, when Dwight Noble, 4
grown man. died. he. too. buried in the clear
ing, in January, 1907. From that time until 1850
the dead were placed al rest by one. and the
trees were cleared further away. and the mounds
multiplied, each marked by its headstone of marble
slate granite, carved in the queer fashion OF
those early days.
Many of these ancient stones have lost their
angles and their charp corners. and the lettering
has been obterated by time. A few however. .
have been preserved, and the epitaphs are worthy
of recording Here is one:
Clarissa, Daughter Of VIM and Clarinda Knapp !
Died April 15, 1873 Age years.
A pOiSOneG plant among She rest
In natures order stood.
eat and was distressed
It poisoned all my blood
So sudden was the stroke
BY which I snatched away,
That in one hour life's thread was broke
And I moldered into clay
This was carved the tombstone Of the second !
grave to be dug In the burial ground:
Alpheus. son of Nehemiah and Mary Fargo
The watery grave il my doom
The way Christ took to call me home
This one was perhaps inspired by the memory Of
the traditional inscription Shakespeares grave:
In memory of JeEusha. wife Of Julius Crittenden.
Behold and see as you pass by,
AS / you must be,
Prepare for death and follow
The following eulogy is vigorous with odtme
strength and power:
In memory of Mary Purkins wife OF Moses Pur
age; she was an affectionate Wife kind and low
ing mother the mother Of u ana q cd
none that sought her relief She died in the trl-
umph of her faith rejoicing In her God
Another eulogistic epitaph reads as follows:
Betsey, daughter of Amons and Patty Keeny
Stranger ere this hallowed ground you tread
Her life was blameless and her heart sincere
Blest with each charm to love and friendship dear
She lived contented. died resigned
Another reads:
Micah Merchant died Jan'y 6, 1913, aetat 80 years.
Friend physician could not save
My mortal body from the grave
Nor can the grave confne me here
When Christ shall call me TO appear.
This is somewhat similar:
In memory of John G. Parker who died Nov 16,
1872 in the 18th year Of his age.
Depart my friends. dry up your tears
/ must lie here till Christ appears.
One of the quaintest reads as follows
In memory of Hezekiah Wakefield Who died
Aug s. 1873 IN year Of his age
Death is debt by nature due
Which I have paid & must you.