Copyright 5 February 2001, Esther Doyle Read
Updated 6 April 2004
READ FAMILY CONNECTIONS
BLAIR ACADEMY CEMETERY, or
J.I. BLAIR CEMETERY, or
GRAVEL HILL CEMETERY
This small cemetery is located in the village of Blairstown on the grounds of Blair Academy. It has many names, as can be seen by the title above. The cemetery was originally used by members of the First Presbyterian Church of Blairstown. The church's founding members and first two elders (Jacob Lanterman and Philip Raub) are buried here with their families. In addition, John Insley Blair—the man for whom the town is named—his wife, and his son, are also buried in the cemetery. Until recently, the cemetery was overgrown, and many of the stones were moss covered or broken. Thanks to the efforts of Brian Rhodes and his volunteers, the cemetery has been cleaned, stones have been repaired, and a new fence has been placed around the perimeter of the cemetery.
The building at the far end of the cemetery was the original building used by the Blair Presbyterial Academy. The school opened as a co-educational facility on 16 November 1848. Between 1848 and 1854 classes met in the little building on the end of the cemetery. The original building measured 48 by 24 feet was one story in height and was completed shortly after the school opened. According to James P. Snell's
History of Warren County (1881:644) the building contained "...two rooms, occupied by the primary and higher departments respectively, separated by folding doors, which were thrown open during the opening and closing exercises, and on other necessary occassions. Across the end of the classical department was a broad platform, occupied by the desk of the principal and by the classes in recitation, as well as for purposes of declamation."This is not a complete transcription of the cemetery. It is instead a selection of the stones within the cemetery, which were collected in June 1983, July 2000, March 2004 and November 2004 by Esther Doyle Read. There are transcriptions for 33 individuals.
Bunnell Family,
Henry Bunnell was thrice married. Eleanor France was his third wife. Henry's other two wives, Hannah Jane (maiden name unknown) and Mary Margaret Lanterman are also buried with Henry; as is Henry and Mary Margaret's son Arthur. Henry had children by Hannah Jane and Mary Margaret. He and Eleanor did not have children.
The stones in the picture are left to right:
Eleanor daughter of Abram and Katura France, wife of Henry Bunnell, Died April 15, 1911, Aged 80 Years.
Henry Bunnell Died Dec. 30, 1894, in Wantage Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, Aged 73Yrs, 6 mos & 13 days, Be {illegible} in God, Mark 22:?.
Photo: 22 November 2004
Mary Margaret Lanterman was Henry Bunnell's second wife. They were married by the Rev. Riley of the Blairstown Presbyterian Church on on 12 March 1853. During the short time they were married they had three children: Arthur Daruis Bunnell (who is buried in this cemetery, see below); Jacob Lanterman Bunnell, who started the Blairstown Press in 1877—the paper is still in circulation; and Rosa Anna Bunnell Brugler, whose family published the Knoxville Courier in Knoxville, Pennsylvania. The Bunnell children were all alumni of Blair Academy. Mary Margaret's stone is inscribed as follows:
Mary M. wife of Henry Bunnell, and daughter of Jacob and Rachel Lanterman, departed this life Sept. 19, 1857, Aged 32 yrs, 8 mos, 3 days
Photo: 22 November 2004
Arthur Darius Bunnell was the eldest child of Henry Bunnell and Mary Margaret Lanterman. He attended Blair Academy, which opened in 1848 as the Blair Presbyterial Academy. He died at the young age of 14. His stone is inscribed as follows:
Arthur D. son of Henry and Mary Bunnell, died April 7, 1868, aged 14 yrs, 2ms, 22 days
Photo: 22 November 2004
Hannah Jane Bunnell was the first wife of Henry Bunnell. Her family name is unknown. She and Henry were married by 1849. Their first daughter, Mary Elizabeth was born in February 1850. The couple's second child, a daughter named Hannah Jane was born in 1851 or 1852. As Hannah Jane, the mother, died on April 18, 1852, it is possible that she died while or shortly after giving birth to her namesake. Both of Hannah's daughters attended Blair Presbyterial Academy with their younger half siblings (Mary Margaret's children). Mary Elizabeth married Calvin Eugene Raub, but like her mother died at a young age (she was 24). She is buried in Cedar Ridge Cemetery. The younger daughter Hannah was alive in 1898, but was single. Their mother's stone is inscribed as follows:
Hannah Jane wife of Henry Bunnell, Born 17 April 1829, Died 18 April 1852.
Photo: 22 November 2004
Gwinnup Family,
the stones are from left to right:
Emma, daughter of Alfred & Rebecca Gwinnup, died 3 [illegible] 1868, aged 33 years, 7 mo, & 19 d's.
Three of the Gwinnup's children, who died when they were very young, are buried in Ramseyburg Cemetery with their grandfather, Dr. Jabez Gwinnup.
Harden
Jane, wife of William Harden, died April 27 1872(?), Aged 27 years (?).Konkle
John Konkle, died April 17 1883, aged 88 yrs 10ms & 25ds. (single stone). [He was the brother of Rebecca Konkle Gwinnup].Lanterman
Jacob Lanterman, died April 28 1870, aged 80 yrs 11ms & 18ds., poem illegible (single stone) [He was one of the two original elders of the Blairstown Presbyterian Church].
Read Family
the stones are from left to right:Jennie, daughter of Marshall & Rebecca Read, died 29 September 1885, aged 19 yrs, 10 m, 2 days (single stone).
Rubbeca, wife of Marshall Read, died 4 May 1870, aged 25 yrs, 3 mo & 11 d's.Rubbecca (or Rebecca) was the daughter of Gershom and Fannie Parr, she was Marshall's first wife.
Photo: 25 March 2004
Lucy Read (nee Titman)
This stone was recently uncovered by Brian Rhodes (many of the broken stones which were on the ground had a layer of grass growing over the top of them). It is probably the stone of Marshall Read's second wife, Lucy Jane Titman, the daughter of Elias Titman and Phebe Harris (who are also buried in the cemetery, see below). Elias Titman was the brother of Baltis Titman, who was married to Marshall's sister Malinda Read. According to records of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Blairstown, Lucy Read died 23 June 1875. This death date matches the date on the stone fragments. The stone is also stylistically similar to the stone of Marshall's first wife, Rubbeca Parr Read.
Photo: 22 November 2004
Read, Rachael Read, see Jacob Lanterman.
Ttitman
Abraham Titman, died 29 May 1871, aged 52 yrs, 5m, & 21 d. "dearest Father thou hast Left us/ Here thy loss we deeply Feel/ But tis God's will hath bereft us all/ He can all our sorrows heal" (single stone) Mary, wife of Abraham Titman, died November 15 1888, aged 57 yrs, 1 mon, 20 dy. (single stone) George son of Abraham and Mary Titman, died April 28 1846, aged 6 months, 8days (single stone).
Chidren of Baltis and Malinda (Read) Titman the stones are from left to right:
Milton, son of Baltis & Malinda Titman, died 1 Feb. 1860, aged 1 mon & 2 days
Rosanna, daughter of Baltis & Malinda Titman, died 12 Feb. 1859, aged 1 yr., 3 mos, & 8 days
Baltis and Malinda (Read) Titman are buried in Cedar Ridge Cemetery.Photo: 22 November 2004
Titman one large single stone
Titman one large single stone
Titman, Jacob B., died 22 Oct. 1861 aged 20 yrs, 5 months & 5 days.
Titman
Titman
Wilson Family
Lanah, wife of Walter Wilson, died May 4, 1845, Aged 45 yrs, 6 mon & 8dys. Original stone next to Wilson obelisk. Lanah's maiden name was Titman, she was Walter's first wife. Euphemia, wife of Walter Wilson, died 15 March 1872 in the 68th year. Original stone next to Wilson obelisk. Euphemia was Walter's second wife. Wilson Obelisk, each side is inscribed with a single individual.Return to Cemeteries
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The web design was produced by Timothy Doyle 5/5/98,
Questions regarding content should be directed to Esther Doyle Read