Horeb / Mt.
Horeb Cemetery
Location: On State roads 224 E east of County Road 300 W / State Road 303 in Rock Creek Township, Wells County, Indiana.
The original introduction states: “Horeb Cemetery [once known as Mt. Horeb] was situated high on the banks of the historic Wabash River on County Roads 400 N and 325 W. Due to the construction of the Huntington Reservoir, the cemetery was relocated in 1970 east of the intersection of State roads 303 and 224. The Horeb Lutheran Church dedicated 9-30-1860 was located directly in front of the cemetery but was abandoned in 1954. The ground was donated by Jacob and Samuel Haflich. Elizabeth Derr was the first to be buried here in 1830. Data was compiled by Miss Fredith Langley, member of the Wells County Historical Society.”
The Evening News-Banner centennial edition states “Some of the earliest settlers…
Rockcreek township were Jacob miller…1832; William Barton…1836 and took up residence in a hollow sycamore tree on the Samuel McAfee farm. Between 1832 and 1848 others that came…Mr. Dewitt, William Redding, Solomon Johnson, Thomas Wallace, Matthew Davis, Theodore Ellingham, a Mr. Smith and Mr. Brown.” There are no Derrs listed in the 1830 Indiana census and none in Wells County in the 1840 census.
The Horeb Cemetery records states “In June 1860, Mr. Samuel Haflich deeded …small tract of ground on the banks of the Wabash River to be used for Church and burial purposes. The original cemetery comprised about two-thirds of an acre…In 1970, because of the construction of the Huntington Reservoir, the Horeb Cemetery was moved to 5.5 acres near the intersection of Highways 303 and 224. The Department of Army Corps of Engineers purchased from Grace and Clarence Platt for $5,490. The Corps platted the new site and provided markers and maps locating graves moved and lots available.”
J. Christian and V. Tester walked this cemetery during the summer of 2000. Cemetery records were borrowed, copied and the information incorporated into this revised edition.
The following funeral home records were cross-referenced to supplement and verify information.
Brown Funeral Home - Warren
Elzey-Dickey Haggard Funeral Home - Ossian
Jahn Funeral Home - Bluffton
McBride Funeral Home – Bluffton
Thoma/Rich Funeral Home – Bluffton – partial
Walker Funeral Home – Montpelier
Warfield Funeral Home - Montpelier
Goodwin Memorial Chapel will be incorporated in the next update.