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The fading slide presentation above is best viewed with Internet Explorer. Families researching those that are buried at Heckman are welcome to print out pictures and history for their personnel files. But those that are copying and pasting to other sites and then "implying the work as theirs" please be advised that these photos and pages are copyrighted - 2005.
HECKMAN MEMORIAL CEMETERY
(AKA HESSTON CEMETERY)
By Donna Nelson at dnelson@csinet.net
“Historical News” - Heckman Memorial Cemetery, originally known as
the Heckman Burial Ground, is located in Section 17 of Galena Township, on 1000
N., just west of 200 E. (Fail Road).
A bronze plaque is mounted at the
gateway to the cemetery. It reads: In Loving Memory of My Pioneer Father
Jacob Heckman. Erected by Mary Ann Heckman Fuller, 1929. Transcriptions
show the earliest death was that of William D. Heckman, son of Jacob and
Elizabeth. William's death occurred December 30, 1836 at the age of 14 yrs, 11
mo. and 6 days. In 1932, Mary Heckman Fuller, sister to young William, dictated
her reminiscences. At that time, nearing 97 years of age, Mary stated that the
cemetery had not yet been established when her brother William died. William
was buried in the woods and her father built a little picket fence around the
spot. Other graves were subsequently made in the same area, and sometime later
all were removed to what is now known as Heckman Memorial Cemetery.
The June 26, 1879 issue of The Weekly Argus
states, The Heckman Cemetery is to be
moved to new grounds by the Christian Church. See separate page for
a listing of individuals whose year of death was prior to 1879. These
individuals are likely those who were relocated to this cemetery from the
Heckman homestead location and possibly from other local family properties.
Descendants whose family histories reflect burials in Heckman Cemetery prior to
1879 are encouraged to contact the webmaster of this site so that further
research might determine the original burial locations.
27 January 1891 – Daily Herald; There is a feeling
among those interested that there ought to be an iron fence around the Heckman
cemetery. Start your petition, gentlemen, and find out how badly people want
it.
9 March 1892 – Michigan City Evening
Dispatch; The Hesston cemetery has been improved greatly by the recent grading,
etc. Now let’s have a nice iron fence around it.
At this writing (September 2005), there are approximately 350 identified graves. Various churches have occupied the area next to the cemetery for over 125 years, the current one being Galena Baptist Church. This is an active cemetery.
HECKMAN CEMETERY
Pre-1879 Deaths (Likely Reinterments From Other Locations) *Denotes Children
*William D. Heckman Year of Death: 1836
Mary Cooper Year of Death: 1843
*Maomi Heckman Year of Death: 1845
*John Cooper Year of Death: 1851
Michael Ensley Year of Death: 1856
Rebecca Hann Year of Death: 1857
*Eunice Cooper Year of Death: 1861
*Theodrick A. Heckman Year of Death: 1861
*Schuyler Fuller Year of Death: 1862
Catherine Taylor Year of Death: 1863
William Waldruff (Rev.) Year of Death: 1863
Elizabeth Dodd Heckman Year of Death: 1864
Levi P. Heckman Year of Death: 1864
*Jacob Cooper Year of Death: 1867
*David U. Heckman Year of Death: 1867
*Theodrick A. Heckman Year of Death: 1867
Margareth M. Waldruff Year of Death: 1867
*Naomi K. Vandusen Year of Death: 1871
*George W. Rumbaugh Year of Death: 1872
Elizabeth L. Hatfield Year of Death: 1874
Naomi Heckman Foster Year of Death: 1875
*Infant Heckman (Son of Asa A) Year of Death: 1878
Margareth E. Coplin Year of Death: 1879
Compiled from obituaries by Donna Nelson, Aug 11, 2005
Copyright 2005