Oak Grove Cemetery, Wills Township, Incorporated
50 North 600 East
Mill Creek, Indiana 46365

Contact information please go to http://www.dunelady.com/laporte/

William M Maple - Soldier of 1812 War + Program in Honor of the Civil War Veterans
Presented Memorial Day, 2011 at Oak Grove Cemetery
See Below

War Veteran name Born Died or Buried
Revolutionary War Vandalsem, Henry August 12, 1757 March 16, 1835
War of 1812 Maple, William M. 1793 November 7, 1855 See Story Below
Civil War Burden, Leonard March 19, 1844 January 10, 1927
Civil War Coleman, Joseph D. 1841 January 16, 1872
Civil War Dudley, Milton 1842 1892
Civil War Fults, Jacob 1843 December 10, 1876
Civil War Harness, Andrew Jackson August 7, 1936
Civil War Lewis, Edward P. February 18, 1843 April 21, 1909
Civil War Nash, James H. February 23, 1837 February 7, 1918
Civil War Piere, Charles 1846 October 7, 1897
Civil War Reed, Peter R. July 7, 1843 November 12, 1916
Civil War Rice, George January 7, 1872
Civil War Snyder, Jacob May 4, 1829 March 22, 1901
Mexican Border Conflict 1916 Burden, Obadiah October 6, 1873 May 18, 1951
Mexican Border Conflict 1916 Koeppen, Paul C. March 25, 1893 January 5, 1981
World War 1 Blackburn, George 1905 April 6, 1983
World War 1 Bunton, Chester A. April 20, 1892 December 30, 1973
World War 1 Bunton, Orville R. 1901 September 15, 1962
World War 1 Closson, Samuel D. January 2, 1892 May 12, 1962
World War 1 Dawson, Otto June 2, 1887 September 8, 1937
World War 1 Dennett, Victor May 16, 1899 January 15, 1977
World War 1 Dudley, Daniel J. January 11, 1897 August 30, 1961
World War 1 Fulford, Eugene C. September 8, 1897 April 9, 1969
World War 1 Goldsmith, Richard 1904 August 8, 1970
World War 1 Gregory, Willis November 24, 1891 December 10, 1977
World War 1 Hahn, Clement E. July 22, 1895 May 26, 1969
World War 1 Hunt, Chester A. October 12, 1880 March 5, 1969
World War 1 Keen, Arthur T. June 19, 1895 June 16, 1962
World War 1 Komara, John December 30, 1887 October 30, 1965
World War 1 Lange, Fred C. February 23, 1896 July 9, 1984
World War 1 Monteith, Robert May 28, 1891 July 8, 1953
World War 1 Roysdon, Harry F. June 21, 1884 August 22, 1965
World War 1 Ruggles, Herman December 13, 1894 March 10, 1947
World War 1 Sackos, Gus February 28, 1895 July 5, 1992
World War 1 Snyder, William J. 1889 1919
World War 1 Stombaugh, Charles   Buried 6-11-1981 age 85
World War 1 Swindel, Daniel W. February 5, 1891 January 15, 1976
World War 1 Thayer, Raymond J. Sr. December 15, 1890 March 7, 1952
World War 2 Aikman, George R. December 12, 1915 December 3, 1991
World War 2 Arney, Dewaine Edward June 1, 1927 August 30, 2001
World War 2 Barton, Robert A. April 29, 1917 September 11, 1993
World War 2 Bear, Kenneth N. October 6, 1904 April 19, 1980
World War 2 Birdsong, Hamer W. October 5, 1921 September 11, 1978
World War 2 Bowers, Charles September 20, 1917 July 10, 1998
World War 2 Briggs, Victor Paul 82 yrs bur. Jan 12, 2007  
World War 2 Brown, James E. July 22, 1927 October 19, 1998
World War 2 Brown, William 1926 June 13, 1996
World War 2 Bryan, Daniel E. April 21, 1924 July 30, 2000
World War 2 Buell, Edwin D.III January 22, 1926 December 25, 1944
World War 2 Buss, Lester L. December 4, 1921 February 3, 1992
World War 2 Carden, Lawrence M. April 13, 1918 June 7, 1950
World War 2 Cummings, Frank October 31, 1919 July 12, 1995
World War 2 Cummins, Roscoe 1912 July 22, 1989
World War 2 DePoy, James F. March 13, 1917 June 7, 1983
World War 2 Dickey, George A. September 24, 1994
World War 2 Ekovich, Joseph M. February 15, 1917 March 29, 1991
World War 2 Euler, Charles A. May 14, 1925 September 8, 1970
World War 2 Evenburgh, Robert D. July 28, 1924 July 13, 1988
World War 2 Evenburgh, William R. September 2, 1922 May 22, 1964
World War 2 Freese, Lawrence 1922 March 15, 1999
World War 2 Fritzen, James A. July 20, 1926 August 4, 1998
World War 2 Fuller, Ted R. August 15, 1924 January 23, 1972
World War 2 Galbreath, Kenneth April 21, 1917 September 4, 1980
World War 2 Garab, Steven March 10, 1912 April 13, 1989
World War 2 Godfrey, William F. September 17, 1910 February 21, 1959
World War 2 Gooch, John Will November 7, 1926 July 5, 2001
World War 2 Gore, Richard August 9, 1935 September 1, 1994
World War 2 Hahn, Edward M. September 9, 1910 March 16, 1979
World War 2 Harness, Elbert W. May 10, 1925 May 24, 1988
World War 2 Havens, Eugene A. 1911 December 5, 1987
World War 2 Hawn, Charles E. September 9, 1919 August 10, 1992
World War 2 Heminger, Frederick, W. October 4, 1909 January 29, 1983
World War 2 Hill, Delbert A. September 15, 1925 April 23, 1994
World War 2 Hohalek , John age 93 yrs April 21, 2006  
World War 2 Hohalek, Stanley B. April 25, 1905 February 28, 1967
World War 2 Hooten, Ernest W. February 9, 1921 March 15, 1968
World War 2 Hughes, Glenn H. July 21, 1924 January 27, 2002
World War 2 Jackson, Lloyd July 4, 1910 January 5, 1990
World War 2 Kelley, Richard L. July 25, 1925 October 28, 1979
World War 2 Koeppen, William H. March 24, 1922 December 24, 1999
World War 2 Lachete, Andrew J. September 6, 1904 September 28, 1978
World War 2 Lehiy, Gale W. Sr. June 18, 1923 February 16, 1997
World War 2 Lemke, Robert L. September 22, 1922 March 19, 1982
World War 2 Lotter, Jennie E. October 1, 1914 January 31, 1978
World War 2 Lotter, Lee April 20, 1921 July 10, 2002
World War 2 Lucas, John F. 84 yrs April 16, 2007  
World War 2 Mackey, William P 80 yrs bur. Jan, 20, 2007 WW II & KOREAN VET
World War 2 Magley, Elmer Jr. December 29, 1924 December 19, 1989
World War 2 Marshall , Harold W.   June 26, 1999 age 71
World War 2 McDaniels, William J. Sr. December 20, 1926 December 25, 1997
World War 2 McMahon, Harry J. October 9, 1919 July 15, 1988
World War 2 Miller, Benjamin E. January 2, 1900 April 23, 1963
World War 2 Moehring, Goerge H. April 26, 1999
World War 2 Molden, Theodore B. May 28, 1925 July 16, 1992
World War 2 Padgett, Robert August 2, 1916 September 20, 1993
World War 2 Pagel, Elsie March 22, 1908 June 6, 1995
World War 2 Parmaley, Robert March 25, 1926 May 21, 2001
World War 2 Paul, John June 20, 1910 January 21, 1980
World War 2 Paulette, Helen July 7, 1924 June 8, 1980
World War 2 Perry, Fred 1914 November 29, 1989
World War 2 Pigford, Raymond September 28, 1913 June 20, 1996
World War 2 Plank, Robert Sr. February 4, 1907 January 29, 1982
World War 2 Plotner, Wilbur November 8, 1918 February 28, 1994
World War 2 Renfro, Donald E. February 24, 1918 August 31, 1971
World War 2 Rose, Dale V February 13, 1923 January 16, 2004 80 yrs
World War 2 Ruggles, Wallace O. December 9, 1924 April 3, 1975
World War 2 Schoning, Henry C. 1927 Feb. 16, 2004 76 yrs
World War 2 Schwark, Charles E Sr. 76 yrs Dec 1, 2004 Serve US Army & Merchant Marine WWII
World War 2 Sciara, Anthony C. May 5, 1912 December 30, 1996
World War 2 Simar, Frederick K. August 6, 1920 April 18, 1980
World War 2 Singleton, Perry E. November 17, 1908 December 17, 1964
World War 2 Smith, Cedric B. March 12, 1927 September 16, 1968
World War 2 Smith, Hoke V. September 20, 1918 June 25, 1981
World War 2 Snyder, James F. May 26, 1923 December 17, 1994
World War 2 Snyder, Robert L. August 2, 1926 April 4, 1997
World War 2 Stacy, James January 4, 1920 October 26, 1999
World War 2 Strickland, Chester 1920 April 2, 1990
World War 2 Tener, Lewis E. January 2, 1920 August 4, 1996
World War 2 Theis, Lester Alfred August 14, 1915 October 9, 1984
World War 2 Thompson, DeVere Jr. May 11, 1924 May 18, 1993
World War 2 Tuholski, Joseph F.   Apr 3, 2006 age 84 yrs
World War 2 Warren, Melvin Jr. August 21, 1925 October 22, 1980
World War 2 Waymire, Herschel W. November 27, 1919 August 19, 2002
World War 2 Webb, Carl January 7, 1907 April 21, 1991
World War 2 Webb, Douglas January 8, 1925 July 4, 2001
World War 2 Wesolowski, Anton Sr. January 25, 1907 May 15, 1977
World War 2 Wiltfong, Hiawathia M. 0ctober 18, 1919 April 27, 1996
World War 2 Wiltfong, Joseph A. May 14, 1933 March 20, 2001
World War 2 Wiltfong, Noah A. December 29, 1921 April 28, 1966
World War 2 Wood, Eugene February 23, 1925 April 16, 1993
World War 2 Woodard, Kenneth P. October 2, 1927 March 30, 1989
World War 2 Yeaney, Norman R 70 yrs Bur.October 8, 2007  
World War 2 Yeaney, Robert E. November 21, 1916 December 29, 1998
World War 2 Youngblood, Peter October 22, 1919 December 17, 1967
World War 2 Zeitz, Robert Lee July 17, 1919 February 17, 2002
World War 2 Zelski, Francis C. 1927 June 21, 1971
World War 2 Smith, Richard "Dick"   bur Dec 8, 2007 winner of a Bronze Medal and Silver Star.
World War 2 & Korea Smith, Roy V. April 8, 1920 January 14, 2002
World War 2 & Korea Swanson, Robert E. February 23, 1919 September 13, 1975
Korean War Andrew, Henry May 21, 1929 January 15, 1996
Korean War Felton, Norman P. November 26, 1927 May 19, 1981
Korean War Hager, Clyde P. November 24, 1932 December 14, 1988
Korean War Henry, Howard June 21, 1930 January 19, 1994
Korean War Huffman, Wellington "Bud" Vinton 77 yrs December 29, 2010  
Korean War Lange, Eugene W. October 15, 1928 March 29, 1989
Korean War Lempke, Owen Ruben 72 yrs of age buried July 8, 2006  
Korean War Osborn, David W. June 13, 1933 May 21, 1974
Korean War Robinson, Thomas D. Sr. July 30, 1935 April 14, 1990
Korean War Rose, Jan D 66 yrs July 28, 2006 US Marine
Korean War Ruggles, Donald L. June 15, 1935 January 26, 2000
Korean War Timm, Floyd A. March 18, 1929 June 18, 1967
Korean War Vanarkel, Lawrence John 74 yrs Buried 9-14-2006  
Korean War Wright, Jackie September 11, 1935 June 13, 1984
Vietnam Cauffman, Scott D. July 8, 1958 August 19, 2001
Vietnam Diedrich, Kenneth R. October 31, 1949 July 1, 1981
Vietnam Fulton, James Sr. 1943 September 29,1990
Vietnam Hahn, Michael E. March 10, 1950 April 15, 1993
Vietnam Lotter, John L. February 14, 1947 July 16, 1984
Vietnam MACHEL, Katheryn. L 20 yrs old December 06, 1970 She was killed in Vietnam - grave moved from Patton Cemetery in 2008
Vietnam O'Connor, Donald Lee July 15, 1938 January 18, 1997
Vietnam Pagels, David E. August 4, 1948 August 4, 1996
Vietnam Papp, David L. Sr. December 21, 1941 June 7, 1999
Vietnam Plank, Charles P 56 yrs buried Sep 24, 2011  
Vietnam Rose, Arthur June 10, 1936 September 18, 2000
Vietnam Stewart, David W. April 18, 1944 July 29, 2000
Vietnam Stockton, George Lewis December 29, 1949 March 3, 1999
Persian Gulf Conflict Buckmaster, Douglas R. December 2, 1960 December 12, 1992
Veteran Anderson, Eugene O. October 25, 1945 June 21, 2000
Veteran Buss, Richard A 74 yrs January 4, 2010  
Veteran Cannan, Ralph 1918 December 28, 1991
Veteran Conrad, Harry "Bud" 81 yrs March 29, 2004 Purple Heart Vet
Veteran Dilloway, Robert F. age 70 yrs January 26, 2008 Vet -Marine1954-1957
Veteran Graf, Karl 74 YRS Graf, Karl  
Veteran Holloway, Richard P. 1958 February 11, 1983
Veteran Hutchinson, Glenn 70 yrs June 25, 2005  
Veteran Hutson, Michael August 21, 1962 March 14, 1986
Veteran Lamb, William H 67 yrs December 18, 2004 US Air Force
Veteran Luther, Dennis R. March 9, 1947 June 15, 1987
Veteran Makina, Leo May 3, 1934 July 30, 1985
Veteran Murphy, Howard E. Jr. January 1, 1921 January 30, 2000
Veteran Nelson, Lindy J. May 2, 1928 November 14, 1994
Veteran Sowers, William A. July 16, 1906 November 1, 1993
Veteran Strausbaugh, Arthur August 20, 1916 June 25, 1983
Veteran Wesolowski , Bert Age 67 Jan, 17, 2006  
Veteran Westerhoff, Nicholas Sr. October 10, 1942 January 13, 1995
Veteran Westerhoff, Ralph 1913 August 3, 1987
         

Memorial Day, 2011
Today, Oak Grove Cemetery is joining with historical societies and veterans groups across the nation ~~ to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.

Over the next 4 years, in various locales, there will be a continuing focus on commemorating these 2 wars~~Oak Grove hopes to further participate by hosting living history demonstrations and/or special services. That’s in the works...discussions are underway....stay tuned.

Look around you. Each one of these markers represents a person. These are people who may have touched our lives as fathers, mothers, siblings, children...and of course, as soldiers. They might be someone you've known and loved. Someone you’ve valued. And, behind that person, whether young or old, is a story. Their stories have impacted our lives in significant ways and we're here to remember.

It’s so important for us to find ways to remember and honor those who have walked before us. This morning, Oak Grove Cemetery has found its way to remember....by bringing to light one man’s story: that of William Martin Maple. His story is especially poignant as we consider our remembrance of the War of 1812 and the Civil War. William Maple was a veteran of the War of 1812. And the only 1812 soldier buried in Oak Grove Cemetery (right back there.) He was among the earliest settlers in our area and his pioneer life here helped to shape the earliest formation of our community.

Of all that could be said about an event, or a person, what is the most important or most significant? The answer to that question is the gist of history.

Simply put, history is a story well told. In one sense, stories make people. They bring life to a person. William Maple has left us his story...and I’d like to share it with you this morning.

William M. Maple - - Particulars: The Maples were among the earliest colonial families in New Jersey. They were followers of John Calvin. The area they lived in was called ‘Mapletown,’ near Princeton. Along the way, their county was split, and Mapletown became part of Greene County, Pennsylvania.

Enter William M. Maple. He was born on July 26, 1796 in Mapletown. William had 9 brothers and sisters. When William was just 16 years old, he became a soldier in service to the War of 1812.

William became a soldier in the famed “Pittsburgh Blues,” a military outfit with volunteers between the ages of 16 and 22, well trained, well equipped and regarded with much pride. They were paid about $5/mo. for their services and $12/mo. for the use of their horses. The Pittsburgh Blues were immediately ordered into active duty and joined the northwestern troops commanded by William Henry Harrison.

William served in the 1st Regiment of the Pennsylvania Militia...known as “Ferree’s Command,” because his colonel’s name was Joel Ferree. William was mustered into service at Pittsburg for a term of 6 months, primarily served at Fort Meigs, Ohio.

During their time of service, the 1st Regiment suffered greatly from exposure, disease, and lack of supplies. They were also singled out and praised for their courageous conduct during the Battle of Mississinewa (Indiana) and at Fort Meigs (Ohio.)

William survived the war. His father and uncles were Revolutionary War Patriots and as far as I can tell, they received land grants from their services in the war and pioneered their way “West” to Indiana right around 1826. They were among the first settlers in Franklin County, Indiana...the village of Laurel, aka known as the “Jersey Settlement.” Still is. You can hear folks say, “Over in Jersey.” Following William’s service in the War of 1812, he joined his family as they made their way West to Indiana.

What was that like? The travel? I ran across remarks written by a Maple family descendant in the late 1800’s: She wrote that her mother shared with her a Maple family journal of the travel West: There were several two-horse drawn covered wagons. They traveled ruing the day and went as far as weather and “road” conditions allowed. They stopped at night and cooked their food. One Maple pioneer said that she enjoyed the 6 weeks of that journey west because it was “like a continued camping party in a pleasant season.” Women slept in the wagons and men slept under the wagons. Nowadays, that trip would take just one day by car.

An important person whose life intersected William Maple’s is: Henry Van Dalsen. Henry was a Revolutionary War Patriot, a judge in the Court of New York, the Clerk of New York Harbor Customs, and a lawyer. He is also buried in the back corner of this cemetery and is one of only a handful of Revolutionary War soldiers buried in LaPorte County. For his service in the Revolutionary War, Henry received a land grant in Fayette County, Indiana. Fayette is located right on top of Franklin County, where the Maple’s lived. Henry had a daughter named Sarah. Did the VanDalsen’s live near the Maple’s? I don’t know. Where did they cross paths? I don’t know. What I do know is that somehow William Maple met Sarah VanDalsen and they married.

Two of Sarah’s brothers had moved on ahead to the Northwest area of Indiana. Samuel and Abraham VanDalsen were among the earliest pioneer settlers in Wills Township. William Maple, having received a land grant for his service in the War of 1812, decided to pick up stakes, pack up his wife and in-laws, and head to LaPorte County, Indiana...and become a farmer.

This move was between 1830 and 1833. Much of this area wasn’t even settled yet. Pioneer settlers coexisted with Indians from 1826 right up to 1840. Settlers from this period, in this area, had stated that even though there were some hardships, and many things they had to do without, those 10 years of frontier life were years of a rich, delightful experience....enjoyed by a few hundred families where savage life was ending and a new type of civilization was forming. As a more structured life progressed, it became evident that such a frontier life could never be again.

William and Sarah had 3 children here. Sarah’s father, Henry, and her mother, Neesha, died here in Wills Township and are both buried in the back corner. William was one of the signers of an early township petition....requesting a permit for a general store/trading post to serve ‘spirits.’ And, he farmed. In the census of 1850, William is listed as a farmer in LaPorte County, Indiana with an assessed land valuation of $1,400.

In 1855, William passed away. He was 59 years old. His wife, Sarah, took up the pioneer trail again and headed further West to Kansas with her now married daughters. Sarah lived to the wonderful old age of 89 and is buried in Hewins, Kansas.

This is the story of one man, one soldier, one pioneer settler. Imagine William, at age 16, serving his newly formed country in yet another war. Imagine the hardships of that war. Imagine his joy in finding Sarah and marrying her in Indiana. Imagine his sense of adventure and courageous spirit as he broke from his family and pioneered to this part of Indiana....to raise his own family and farm his land....land that he received because of his service in the War.

William’s commanding officer, Joel Ferree, had a nephew named Jacob, who wrote a poem, entitled the Pittsburgh Blues. I think this poem nails the heart of the matter of the War of 1812: the overwhelming sentiment of injustice, tyranny, oppression and a virtuous call to freedom.

The Pittsburgh Blues
Farewell peace! Another crisis
Calls us to the last appeal,
Made when monarchs and their vices
Leave no argument but steel.
When injustice and oppression,
Dare avow the tyrant’s plea
Who would recommend submission?
Virtue bids us to be free.
Sons of freeman have descended
From a race of heroes tried
To preserve our independence
Let all Europe be defied
Let not all the world united
rob us of our sacred right
Every patriot’s heart delighted,
In this country’s call to fight.

William Maple has left us a history. A history of pride in our culture and our land. A history of what it is to value our freedom. A history of courage and adventure. We have his history in our hands; and we continue to carry on where he left off. Let’s remember, with grateful hearts, William Martin Maple and his service in the Pittsburgh Blues in the War of 1812.
The above was assembled and presented by: Mrs. Laurie Dittmar on Memorial Day at the annual Oak Grove Memorial Day Gathering 2011.

http://www.dunelady.com/laporte/