Local History Collections

(Description ID: 607428)

Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums

Pleasant Union Cemetery 

LH-450 

Introduction
Agency History
Scope and Content
Inventory 

Introduction
These records were donated to the Hayes Presidential Library & Museums in 2021. 

Agency History
Pleasant Union Cemetery, originally known as Dukes’ Graveyard was established on land donated by Andrew Dukes one of the first families coming into the Northwest Ohio Territory in the late 1820’s. The cemetery is situated southeast from the site of the original fort, Fort Seneca in Pleasant Township, Seneca County, Ohio. This fort served as a supply depot for General Harrison in the War of 1812. As more settlers populated the area, there was a need to seek additional area to place their deceased. Land was added to the original Dukes Section to include; Dumond section (1878), Francis Abbott section (1897), and E.E. Abbott section (1917) on the north side of County Road 33. Agreements listed above are part of the cemetery records as well as maps for the additions.

The original area of the Dumond Section was designated for the building of a non-denominational church. The cost of the church was paid for through the pledge of subscriptions from community members. Circuit Rider Ministers and guest ministers provided service to the community. In 1898, Mrs. Frank Fry purchased additional land for the relocation of the church to the south of Duke’s Graveyard and for the placement of a monument honoring veterans. Written permission was granted by the Board and in 1899 the church was relocated. The monument was erected in 1900 where the church was previously located. Records of these transactions are part of the files. The church’s interior is much like the original building. Beautiful light walnut and butternut wainscoting decorates the interior walls of the church with four sets of original pews designated for seating. A divider in the center of the middle pew separates the men from the women. 

Scope and Content
The Pleasant Union Cemetery records, spanning the years from 1854 to 1999, contain the cemetery’s original constitution, correspondence, burial records, recording ledgers and financial documents. The collection also includes the records of the founding members of the cemetery association as well as copies of rules, regulations and procedures for the association. A scrapbook and set of maps complete the collection.

Inventory
Ac. 6094

Box 1

1. Constitution/History 1877 – 1957
2. Correspondence 1877 – 1940
3. Burial Records c.1854 – 1982
4. Burial Permits 1909 – 1945
5. Burial and Removal Permits 1912 – 1924
6. Burial Permits 1970 – 1975
7. Burial Permits 1983 – 1987
8. Ledgers 1895
9. Ledgers 1897
10. Ledgers 1898 – 1937
11. Record of Receipts 1937 – 1959
12. Receipt Booklets 1898 – 1917
13. Receipt Booklets 1927 – 1954
14. Map 1940
15. Tax Returns 1960 – 1970
16. Financial Reports 1987 – 2008
17. Photograph Album/Scrapbook c.1956 – 1999
18. Ephemera 

Maps

[Located on Map Cart #2 near Oversize Material]

Box 1

• Map 1 – cloth map on wooden rod; entire section procurement (Sections 1 – 8)
• Map 2/2a – paper map for Section 1 – 8; Section 1-Duke’s, Section 2-Duke’s Addition; Section 3/4-Abbott Addition; explanation for the church relocation to south side of road; Map 2a is a duplicate (poor quality)
• Map 3 – paper map showing the 3^rd addition (Section 1 -7)

Box 2

• Map 4 – paper map for 4^th addition (Section A – F) (copy and tissue copy)
• Map 5 – paper map (Section A – F) north side of cemetery (3 copies)
• Map 6 – map of 5^th addition; east end of Section 10 – 13 and all of Section 9

Box 3

• Map 7 – paper map (2) south side of road (Section 14 – 17)
• Map 8 – paper map; new addition south side of road (Section 14 – 19); original drawing of available burial sites prior to construction of maintenance building; some sites were eliminated due to its construction
• Map 9 – paper map; new addition south side of road (Section 14 – 19); church/maintenance building identified