Allegheny County, PA

Crossroads Presbyterian Cemetery

Monroeville, Allegheny County, PA

History of the Cemetery

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CROSS ROADS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH MONROEVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
A SESQUICENTENNIAL HISTORY  1834-1984

by Paul Damon

Reprinted with permission of the Author

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STORY OF THE CROSS ROADS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CEMETERY

     The story of the cemetery now owned and operated by the Cross Roads Presbyterian Church starts almost as early as does the modern history of the area. Prior to 1760, only the Indians were regulator inhabitants of the area, and as early as 1730, Haymaker Road was a well traveled north-south Indian path. The French and Indian War was fought in the area in the late 1750's. It wasn't until the late 1760's that settlers began occupying the area. Many of the early ones were those who were granted lands in exchange for their services during the war. In 1769, a Capt. Robert Johnston was granted a 321 acre parcel of land in the area which he called "Bramble." He had the land surveyed, but did not receive a warrant and patent for the property from the state until 1789.A small portion of the northern border of this acreage eventually became the southern half of the cemetery. In 1784, Eleizer Myers obtained a "warrant from the land office in Philadelphia" for a 236-acre tract known as "St. Oohns." Part of this acreage became 'the northwestern part of the cemetery. The northeastern section of the cemetery is part of a tract of land settled about the same time by the Beatty family. As the number of settlers in the area increased, it became necessary to find a local burying ground. Such was the setting at the beginning of our story about the cemetery.
     In 1796, Mary Clugston Johnston, part of the large Johnston clan in the area, died. A suitable place was needed for her burial. It is probable that Robert Johnston had cleared a path from his house (near an area more recently known as Pierces Corner) westward toward the fort in Pittsburgh. The topography of the land would indicate a route essentially as the present day Northern Pike travels. Where this road intersected the northern boarder of his property was a parcel of fairly flat land with good, thick earth over six feet deep. An excellent choice for a burying ground area. Accordingly, Mary was buried at his property boundary, and a stone was erected above her grave. Possibly, others were buried near her in the next few years, but no other indication of this fact currently exist.
     On February 6, 1800, Robert Johnston had a surveyor by the name of Thomas McMillan lay out a "draught" of a parcel of land containing about one acre, which he "promised to deed to the neighbors as a burying ground." He never did actually deed the land to anyone, but his intent ' was clear. It was to be the burying ground for the citizens in the area, and became known as Johnston's Graveyard.
     In 1804, the burial of a baby by the name of Sarah McCune was duly recorded with a stone marker. She became the second burial presently known. The third was an Ann Patton, age 58. At this point, burials became somewhat more frequent.
     The early burials (before 1830) were by no means adjacent to each other. They were scattered over the entire western half of the Johnston Graveyard. In fact, in 1810, a burial occurred on property just west of the Johnston parcel. This may have been due to uncertainty regarding the exact boundaries as determined by the survey. In 1825, Robert Johnston sold an 86-acre parcel of land to Samuel Snodgrass for $890. This land adjoined the one acre cemetery property to the south and east.  In 1826, Robert Johnston's will stated that he wished "to be interred in the burying ground upon my own tract of land." His son, John, inherited the remainder of the land in 1827.
     Because of the presence of the cemetery and the easy access at a local cross road, The Cross Roads Presbyterian Church congregation settled there in 1834. John Johnston and Joel Monroe, in 1834, sold 1/4 acre to land to the church. This parcel already had at least three burials on it. The church was built on an adjacent one-acre tract between the cemetery and the township road.
     After the church was formed, the cemetery became a very popular place (prior to 1834, there were only about 50 graves on the property). Because of the scattered locations of the earlier graves, it is apparent that each family was "staking a claim" to separate areas of the graveyard. Only the Gill plot is still marked thusly, but many years later, history notes that one of the Gills had removed many of the lot markers in the cemetery. So, there may have been many more marked areas, probably chosen at random by the people involved.
     A property survey in 1834 indicated that there was a prominent tree within the cemetery at the point now recognized as the "patent corner." This was the starting point for all surveys in the cemetery. This same deed also notes that the survey goes along the "rail fence" beside the graveyard. Obviously, at some early date, the graveyard was enclosed by a split rail fence.
     About 1850, other adjacent properties were starting to be used as graveyards. The Snodgrass property just east of the Johnston Graveyard was first, followed closely by the Beatty property just north of Snodgrass' (west of the church buildings). The people buried on these parcels were apparently members of the land owners' families, and in the case of Snodgrass, families of their friends. So, the general area used as a graveyard became much larger.
     Unused property belonging to the church (behind and just east of the building) now came of interest as part of the cemetery, since only the old Johnston Graveyard theoretically belonged to the church and it would eventually become filled. Additionally, much of the old areas were stake-claimed by the older families, and newer church families needed a graveyard they could use.
     Almost nothing is known about the upkeep, care, and organization of the cemetery property from its start in 1796 to the early 1870's. It is probable that each family was entrusted to the upkeep of their own area and that the overall appearance was exceedingly poor.
     In 1872, all this changed. In order to better handle their own affairs, the church incorporated in late 1871 and any formal business of the church could now be handled by a group of Trustees. The church Trustees, in turn, formed a second group of Trustees in order to handle the matters of the cemetery (these two groups may have been composed of the same people, but history is unclear on this point). In any event, the cemetery Trustees held their first meeting on August 31, 1872 for the purpose of "taking and getting a fund for cleaning the graveyard annually." The first cemetery Trustees were Issac I. N. A. Gill, Z. W. Aber, Eli Myers, William Linhart, and John R. Beatty. Aber and Beatty were also the original signatory Trustees in late 1871. On November 28, 1872, they met to organize themselves. Gill became president, Beatty the secretary, and Aber the treasurer. Then, on January 4, 1873, they met to get their business matters stared. Each cemetery trustee subscribed a sum of money to get the cemetery fund started. A total of $110.50 was subscribed, almost half of this coming from John Beatty. They decided to loan, or "deposit", this money with a George Lang for one year. The interest from this loan would be used to "clean the graveyard." At their next meeting, held on January 25, Lang received $100 of the money. Ten dollars was used to pay two men for work they performed to clean the graveyard in 1872. William Kilands received $7, and Adam Cooper received $3. Thus began a system of subscribing monies to the graveyard fund, loaning the money to someone at interest, and using the interest to pay for cemetery upkeep. This continued for some years, although shortly thereafter another income source was found which negated the need for subscribers.
     Although history does not record the exact date of the first formal expansion of the cemetery, it probably occurred shortly after the formation of the cemetery Trustees, and certainly before 1875. As noted earlier, there was a sizable unused plot of land behind the church building. Several graves may already have been placed on the land. However, sometime during this period between 1872 and 1875, the Trustees hired the surveying firm of Hewat and Fortune to lay out a plan of cemetery lots, now known as the "Old Cross Roads Cemetery." They laid out a very formal plan but, unfortunately, the exact sketch of the plan is not available. Physically, there were to be 156 lots, each exactly 16 feet wide by 8 feet long, and each bordering on a 6 foot wide aisle known as the "Avenue." There were four sections, each having two columns of about 20 lots. There were sites for 5 graves in each lot. The established price for each lot was $35, or two for $66.66. This cost was maintained for over 30 years. Income from these lot sales were used for investments to maintain the cemetery.
     This new area, in the late 1800s, was known as "The Cross Roads Cemetery" (one reference erroneously calls it the "Duff Plan" of lots), as opposed to the "Old Johnston Graveyard." These two areas were both used for quite a few years as were the adjacent Snodgrass and Beatty graveyards. However, the new Cross Roads Cemetery was not used as frequently as the older areas, probably because the organized new area cost money to buy a lot, whereas the older areas were probably free if you could find an unused section (there actually were quite a few unused sections). Gradually, by 1900, the old Johnston area became much less used and the new area became the principal graveyard. Sales of lots in the new cemetery continued from about 1875 to about 1910 or 1915. Deeds for only 12% of the 156 lots have been physically located, and a "record of sales" is only available for the period of 1897 through 1908. A complete list of owners is also available. Records are sufficient to obtain a fairly clear picture of cemetery business during these times.
     The earliest date on headstones in this section of the cemetery in 1858; that of a baby. Only two others are before 1875. It is quite probable that the first burial may have been moved there from somewhere else. The others may have been burials prior to laying out the plan in 1875, or, they may also have been moved. The first sales were in the area adjacent to the church building, and probably started at the south corner. The family of Reverend Carothers, pastor of the church at the time the new cemetery was laid out, owned the first four lots in the southwest corner. Their earliest burial was 1870. It is likely that much of the credit for the new cemetery goes to the Carothers. Sales of lots in the new cemetery were recorded" in detail on standard deed forms such as might be used when buying a house. At least two types of deed forms were used (probably just different brands). The earliest one now existing, dated May 10, 1882, was for the sale of lot number 93 to a James Dryburgh for $35. It detailed the precise location and size of the lot, and used all the proper legal words of the period. A version of this form was used as late as 1907. Nine of these deeds were formally processed through the Recorder of Deeds office in Allegheny County, and may be found in various deed books. Three are in the historical collection of the church. All deeds were signed by the officers of the church corporation. Based on the 1871 charter of the church, Article 9, all sales of church real estate had to be approved by a majority vote at a formal meeting of the church congregation. Therefore, all the deeds contained the statement "This conveyance is made pursuant to a resolution passed by a majority of the votes present at a congregational meeting called for the purpose of.........." It further stipulated the lots could only be used for the "purpose of human burial."
     Many of the lots sold during this period were on the installment plan. Several payments evidently stretched over a number of years. Comparing the date of a burial on some of the headstones with the approximate date of lot purchase, makes it obvious that many burials took place before the deed was transferred. Several were found up to three years or more earlier. It is probable that business was much more informal in the late 1800's than it is today. A prospective lot owner would choose a lot, bury a family member, and then take three or more years to pay. Then, up to a year elapsed before a congregational meeting would be held to approve a sale.
     In 1881, Matthew Snodgrass' will called his land below the "graveyard" a lot. This "lot" is the area he and others were already using as their own cemetery. In 1883, John Johnston's will requested that he be "decently buried in the burying ground near Cross Roads Church." His sons, Robert and William, were to divide equally the main farm and house, "including so much the burying ground at Cross Roads Church as originally belonged to my farm." The exact meaning of this statement is unclear.
     In 1897, Annie Beatty was buried on the approximate "patent corner" in the center of the cemetery.
     In laying out the plan of lots in 1875, Howat and Fortune excluded a triangular plot adjacent to their plan, Township Road, and other Beatty property. In 1905, this area was dedicated as an area for single graves. The plan for this property dates back to about 1895, as several lots were sold in this area as early as 1897. The first burial here was in 1907. Some areas were for adults, and some were for young children (half as big a parcel).      As noted earlier, William Kilands and Adam Cooper were the first employees of the cemetery. In 1873, they received $7.25 and $1.25 respectively. This was Kilands last year. Cooper received $5.00 in 1874 and $6.50 in 1875. His principal work appears to have been two days of mowing, twice a year. In 1877, the cemetery Trustees asked to have the elderberry in the graveyard grubbed "twist" a year. For this, Adam Cooper received an extra $1.00 each time he mowed. He worked through mid-1878. The Trustees specified in August of that year that the employee must also "rake up." The last cutting in 1878 was done by Annius Spangler. There is no further record of who cleaned the graveyard until 1900. Starting in 1900, and for several years thereafter, H. Clugston was paid $8.00 per year to clean the graveyard. In mid-1905, $32.00 was paid for some special cleaning.
     In 1878, Aber became president of the cemetery Trustees. In 1881, Beatty dropped out and Thomas Dunning became a Trustee. In 1892, Myers became president and William R. Johnston replaced Aber. James Snodgrass also became a Trustee in the mid-1890's. In 1900, Samuel Snodgrass joined in place of Gill. In 1903, Joel Duff took the Johnston place.
     In 1905, George Gill took the place of Linhart.
     In 1907, a controversy developed because one of the cemetery Trustees removed many of the "lot posts" in the cemetery, wherever there was unoccupied ground. The Trustees also looked into a separate charter for the graveyard, but this did not take place for another 60 years.
     In 1906, the size of the formal church cemetery dramatically expanded. James Snodgrass, who inherited the family farm from his father, sold his 2.5 acre lot north of Northern Pike to the church for $600. The western portion of this lot already contained a number of graves.
     In 1910, a plan of lots was laid out on the unused portions of the new cemetery property. It became known in later years as the "First Addition." Because of the lay of the land, the lots were angled from the property boundaries and a strip of land to the north was not used .
     In 1912, the sales of lots in this new area started. There were very few lots left in the Howat and Fortune plan, and the other sections were not being used very much. The Snodgrass purchase was indeed a valuable one for the cemetery. Part of the unused northern edge of the Snodgrass addition was used as a single grave area for adults in 1919.
     In 1925, a second major addition to the cemetery occurred. Daniel MacMaster, who inherited land from the Beattys, sold a 2.1 acre parcel north of the Snodgrass property to the church for $1.00. His property bordered Township Road, which is now known as Stroschein Road. The deed specified that proceeds from the sale of cemetery lots from this property was to be used 60% for the upkeep of the Beatty graves, and 40% for the general use of the burying ground. John R. Beatty, an original cemetery Trustee in 1872, was his father-in-law. Shortly thereafter, Cyrus and S. K. Beatty sold their 1/5 acre tract to the cemetery for $1.00. Their lot was sandwiched between the MacMaster tract and the Howat and Fortune tract. This completed the cemetery area as it exists today, although a narrow strip of land adjacent to the present-day post office was added many years later.
     In 1929, a plan of lots for the former MacMaster and Beatty properties was surveyed, excluding the section the Beattys were using, by the survey firm of Harp and Hopkins, for $182.50. This became known as the Second Addition, or MacMaster, plan. This plan also included the unused northern edge of the Snodgrass property. Later, in 1929, the sale of lots in the Second Addition began.
     In 1906, the cemetery was again facing money problems. They had just spent most of their money to buy the Snodgrass property. Each trustee was assessed 60 cents for upkeep expenses. In 1907, they made a public subscription effort which resulted in the accumulation of $38 directed toward graveyard cleaning. In 1908, Mrs. Elizabeth Ferguson and Ella Donalson solicited subscriptions for the graveyard fund, which netted an additional $45.25. In 1925, at the same time they were purchasing the rest of the land for the cemetery, the Trustees took a number of other actions. They decreed that all graves must be kept level, and that no one could dig graves or build bases for monuments without the permission of the Sexton. They purchased large quantities of wire and locust posts to expand the fence around the cemetery. R. E. Myers was appointed Superintendent of the cemetery. Lot owners must request grave opening in writing. Grave lining costs were set at $7. A pay rate of 50 cents per hour was established to work in the cemetery. Also, a shanty was sold to M. S. Aber. This, perhaps, was the "water closet" noted many years earlier in some of the records.
     In 1927, Charles Lintner was hired as a full-time employee of the cemetery at $85 per month. He continued on this job until he died in 1941. In 1929, various improvement were made to the cemetery roadway, including a new red dog surface.
     In 1912, when the sale of lots in the First Addition commenced, a much more simplified version of the deed was adopted. Lot prices were set at $50 each in this new section, and remained at this level until about 1929, when the price of a lot in either of the addition sections became $65. Evidently, the sale of these lots, which started in 1912, got the cemetery out of their financial problems of 1906. A record in 1925 notes that $1000 is to be taken from the Cemetery Fund for repair and improvement of the cemetery. It is further noted that during 1925, they collected $690.50 from the sale of lots.
     In 1929, the Trustees were concerned as to "how to keep the graves in proper shape," and an committee was appointed to look into this question. Also, a new "lowering" device was purchased for use in the cemetery. Speelman Bros. did more work on the new cemetery road through the MacMaster portion. Also, Eli Martin and George Price took over the job of supervising the work of the cemetery.
     In 1929, a new and novel method was initiated to raise money to pay for the upkeep of the cemetery. The Trustees had their attorney determine if lot owners could be assessed. They could, so a tax of $2 per lot was charged for upkeep, principally mowing'. In 1931, this tax was called "dues." This tax was continued until 1935.
     In 1930, it was declared that no work on the graves could be done on Sunday. Also, money from the sale of lots would be temporarily used to pay off the debts on the church Manse. All money already on hand was to be used to purchase bonds, through the Union Trust Company. The fence around the cemetery would be kept as it was. By 1932, records indicate that the cemetery was sometimes known as the Monroeville Cemetery. By this time, the governing bodies of the church and the cemetery were one and the same. The Union Trust Company finally received the money to invest for the cemetery. Each year thereafter, additional money was placed in the fund. In 1935, grass mats were purchased to cover the graves after they were refilled. The new power mowers cost $250. Trees were planted along the cemetery roadway. The State was given permission to improve the roadway through the church property.
     After Charles Lintner died in 1941, L. W. Wray was selected as caretaker at $90 per month. A new mower was purchased for $310. However, the most significant action during 1941 was the decision to build a new tool shed. The shed was to be an 18 x 20 foot structure. Church members did much of the work, and the shed wasn't completed until late 1942. The shed thus erected still stands on the property.
     In 1943, the caretaker became ill and had to resign from the job. John Duer became the new caretaker. Oscar Tilbrook, the long time cemetery committee treasurer, died. He possessed most of the cemetery records, but they were promptly retrieved.
     In 1944, the cemetery committee became concerned about underground steam venting from an area near their property. The U.S. Bureau of Mines came to look into the possibility of a mine fire. The caretakers salary was increased to $100 per month. Eli Martin, the longtime president of the cemetery Trustees, died. George Price was chosen to replace him. In the middle of the year, a large monument for the Thompson-Maguire lots was placed on the wrong lots. The cemetery committee took responsibility for the mistake and paid to have it moved. A post hole digger and spoon shovel were purchased.
     By 1945, the cemetery committee recognized that the size of the cemetery was finite and could not be further expanded unless rapid action was taken. The building boom was coming to the area soon and land prices were getting high. The local school district owned adjacent land, and agreed to meet with the cemetery committee. Unfortunately, it was decided that the school board did not know what use they wanted for their land, so no action could be taken. Today, there is no available adjacent land. The salary for the caretaker was raised to $112 per month during the same year. A new fee schedule was established for opening graves; $30 for rough boxes, $35 for vaults, and an extra $15 for funerals on Sunday.
     John Duer resigned his responsibility as cemetery caretaker in 1947, and Tom Glew was temporarily given the job.
     At a joint congregation/corporation meeting on November 16, 1958, action was finally taken to set up a completely separate cemetery corporation with five trustees. The first Trustees were Edgar Williamson, Leonard McCullough, Lawrence Davis, Henry Brehm, and Andrew Kinkella. The year 1959 provided a slight profit for the cemetery. Also, a salary for the cemetery Secretary-Treasurer was set at $25 per month. For this sum, Leonard McCullough also acted as Cemetery supervisor. Terms for the Trustees were now 5 years. Larry Davis was president. A storm sewer from the Miracle Mile Shopping Center was washing away the lower cemetery. The cemetery attorney, Donald Little, determined that nothing could be done about it since there is a 40 foot right of way adjoining the cemetery property used for drainage purposes. Money was to be set aside each year for the eventual replacement of capital equipment.
     In 1961, a new set of rules governing the decoration of graves was approved and issued. Only granite or bronze grave markers could be used, and the cemetery supervisor must approve the location. In addition to other regulations, they ruled that the general contour of the land could not be changed. In 1962, significant new mowing equipment was purchased. They hoped this would lower maintenance costs.
     Herb Williamson, in 1963, became the first new cemetery director since the cemetery incorporation, following the resignation of Henry Brehm. Also, John Hermann took Leonard McCullough's place. In 1964, John Baur replaced Edgar Williamson. In 1965, Vie Thulin replaced Andrew Kinkella.
     At a cemetery board meeting in 1963, it was noted that they must secure title to the "Free Burial Ground." This area was the old Johnston Graveyard portion of the cemetery. Although Robert Johnston meant well In 1800, he never transferred the deed. Obtaining a proper title was important, as without it, the Trustees had no control over burials there and received no monies for upkeep. In 1970, a quit claim deed was granted by the church to the cemetery corporation to clear the title. At the same time, the church sold all the other cemetery properties for $1 to the "Cross Roads Presbyterian Church Cemetery Corporation." Herb Williamson took care of the cemetery in the 1960's. In 1971, Gene Weiland was hired, and in 1984, Jim Gropelli replaced him. Since the stone church building had been sold to others in 1960, the cemetery maintained an agreement where they would cut the church lawn in exchange for free use of their water. The cemetery had no water line of its own. In 1966, the tall poplar trees that guarded the Township Road entrance to the cemetery were removed and replaced with two stone pillars. Second Federal, across the street, paid for this change. The Forbes Trail Garden Club was given permission to plant flowering trees below the driveway and long the south boundary of the cemetery.
     Today, the cemetery stands as a significant historical monument in the center of Monroeville. It still remains active with about 20 burials each year. The record-keeping system is being completely revised by Paul Damon, while Eric Swenson is improving the financial structure.
     The Cross Roads congregation can be proud of its cemetery.


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CEMETERY SEXTONS......(INCOMPLETE LISTING)

Sexton From To

William Kilands 1872 1873

Adam Cooper 1872 1878

Annius Spangler 1878 ?

H. Clugston 1900 1901

Charles Lintner 1827 1941

Lewis Wray 1941 1943

John Duer 1943 1947

Thomas Glew 1947 ?

Herb Wi1liamson ? ?

Gene Weiland 1971 1984

Jim Gropelli 1984 ?

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CEMETERY COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN

Isaac N. A. Gill 1872 - 1878

Z. W. Aber 1878 - 1892

Eli Myers 1892 - 1916

Samuel A. Snodgrass 1916 - 1925

M. S. Aber 1925 - 1926

S. K. Beatty 1926 - 1929

Eli Martin 1929 - 1939; 1944

George Price 1939; 1944 - ?

Edgar Reid 1940 - 1944

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CEMETERY TRUSTEES (1872 TO 1930)

Z. W. Aber

William Linhart

Eli Martin

Eli Myers

R . E . Myers

John R. Beatty

S. K. Beatty

Joel Duff

Thomas Dunning

James Snodgrass

Samual A. Snodgrass

Oscar Tilbrook

G. A. Gill

Isaac N. A. Gill

Joseph Woods

James Young

William R. Johnston


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