Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1925-07-16
MORE CONCERNING INDIAN
MOUND IN HOMER TOWNSHIP

the Dayton, Tenn, monkey trial,
were those in relation to the John
Berry Indian mound burial in Homer
township, near Wrightstown. A
number of papers have given the
subject much prominence, but in so
doing have grossly exaggerated, and
have drawn heavily on their imagi
nation. However. the real facts in
the matter are very interesting; es-
pecially will they be to students of
archaeology.
Last Sunday the writer of this
visited the unique grave; also the
house occupied by the late John
Berry, and interviewed Carl and
Lawrence Able and a number of
others in the vicinity, who had as
sisted in the digging of the grave,
and at the burial. From them we
learned that in the digging of the
grave three human skeletons were
found, not six as reported in the pa
pers. Different from report, they
were not located about sacrifcial
stone three feet in diameter. In
digging the grave, when down lit
tie more than two feet, many bones
were found, known to be those of
the human body. About the bones
was charcoal and over the charcoal
was burned earth. After taking out
the bones, the digging continued
and at a depth of about four feet
they found another layer of burned
earth, then charcoal, and a human
skeleton. This skeleton was intact,
and was in a sitting posture. This
all-the finding of body in a sitting
rn nd &c fo
the only instance in Ohio where
burial in such position in a mound
has been found. On the upper jaw
of teeth, with their white enamel
well preserved. The teeth showed
considerable wear, hence must have
been from body well up in years.
The report that gold was found in
the teeth is wholly untrue
Going on down to depth of lit
tie better than six feet, the third
skeleton was located intact. and this
was no taken out. Upon the bones
of this ancient body now rests encas-
ed in a steel vault, the remains of
John Berry. The bones as removed
from the grave dug. were put in a
pile, and after the casket had been
lowered, were shoveled back in--al
but the teeth, the residents having
taken them as souvenirs. The three
skeletons were those of grown per-
sons, and at their feet were a num-
ber of small bones
This mound is located on the top
of sort of rugged point overlook
ing little lonely brook which
flows between two very high hills.
One not knowing of the place, would
hardly be able to find the spot, since
the mound is not built up in a sym
metrical way, as most mounds US
ually are. About the top of the
mound are seven hickory sapIings,
some six or eight inches in dame
ter. The "sacrdficial stone" three
feet in diameter, mentioned in some
papers, was not found. The largest
stone taken from the ground in the
digging of the grave, and which was
lying on top of the grave, was a
stone sort of heart shaped, about
foot across at the widest end, and
about two feet in length, and of un-
even thickness. The report that
relics, etc, had been found in the
mound, is also untrue. However no
careful search was made for them
in fact those in charge of the dig
ging of the grave, did not stop to do
any investigating, or exploring, 60
ing ahead and finishing their work
as soon as possible When the
grave was completed besides the
several layers of burnt earth and
charcoal, it was also found different
kinds of soil had been dug through.
Whether chemicals or preservatives
were used in the earth Or charcoal
about the bodies is not known at
present. All the bones are very well
preserved, having the appearance Of
having been buried but compare
lively few years-and not hundreds
or thousands of years, as they
doubtless have been.
AS has been stated, John Berry
requested in his will that he be
buried in the Indian mound on his
place; that Carl Able, a neighbor,
look after his burial, for which he
was to receive $50; and he was
authorized in Berry's will to secure
ohers to assist him-the assistants
being those who had not been his
enemies; and Mr.. Able carried out
his request. He also requested that
he be buried without any ceremony
whatever, and the casket was re-
moved from the humble, lonely place
where he had died. to his grave in
the Indian mound, and there buried.
In conversation with Mr. Carl Able
more than year ago, Mr.. Berry dis
cussed with him his requests as to
his funeral, in which he stated that
his reason for wanting to be buried
in the mound was that when a small
boy he played about the mound, his
birthplace being in lonely, forsak-
en- hollow within less than a half
mile from the mound.
The deceased lived a recluse life
Most of it was spent down in the hoI-
low near the old home place Some
years ago the house burned, and he
moved to the top of the hill near
Wrightstown. Here he lived in the
most primitive fashion, in a small
old cottage, in tumble-down condi-
tion, about the only furniture he had
being one chair, a half bed.
lamp, and an old cook stove. He
died on sort of a lounge, over the
board Stats in the bottom of which
was thrown an old duck covering of
some sort, with fertilizer sack
stuffed with straw for pillow. Mr.
Berry never married; he was a man
of education. He was very well
posted in the Bible, which it is stated
he read solely for arguments sake
He owned at his death $50 acres of
land-much of which is waists I6nas
At the time of his death he nau oa
1t about 100 head of sheep. three
horses, and cow He was rs
years of age. and died Thursday,