Original Reading done on Sept. 9, 1968 by John Tyger
Notes and Dates added by Sherry L. Jesberger
Last Update Mar 1, 2010
The Bish cemetery sits alone in the deep woods on the top of Boone Mountain very near to the Clearfield Co., PA border. At one time this area was known as the Bish Settlement, and was a thriving community. However, life on the mountain was hard and in the early 1920’s, the folks living in the Bish settlement began to move off of the mountain down into the towns of Brockport, Brockway, Sabula, and DuBois. The last known burial in this cemetery was that of David Bish, who died in 1936.
Special Note: Despite popular local belief, the Bish Cemetery is NOT an indian burial ground nor are any indians buried here.
Because of it’s isolation in the woods, the Bish Cemetery has become a popular party haven. In the early 1980’s, the cemetery was severely vandalized by so-called “Satanic Worshipers.” The stones were removed from the graves and placed in the middle of the cemetery in an upside down cross, and the grave of George Shugars was dug up and his skull was stolen. The vandals were arrested, and spent some time in jail. They were also required to clean up the cemetery and replace the stones that they had broken, but the damage to the cemetery had been done. Thankfully, Mr. John Tyger had the forethought to take a reading of this cemetery in 1968.
I am pleased to add that the cleanup and beautification of this cemetery has been the project of at least two Eagle Scouts over the years, and we thank them so much for their time and effort.
I have taken the liberty of adding some names and dates to this otherwise sad little collection of homemade stones in the hope that it will best help researchers to find the person they are researching. I have the family trees of most of the people buried in this cemetery done, and I invite inquiries from anyone. If you know of a burial here that is unmarked, PLEASE contact me at Sherry J. and let me know. Thank you.
Last Name First/Middle Name Born Died Other BISH David 1848 1936 Row 1 BISH Betsy 1805 unknown Row 1; Mother BISH Samuel 1803 1886 Row 1; Father GIFFORD C. 1831 1891 BISH W.(illiam) 1833 1908 W.W.G Unknown 1923 Row 2 GARVIN Rachel 1841 1918 Row 2 GARVIN Robert 2/26/1834 6/13/1900 Row 2 Co. 158, PA Inf., GAR BENNETT David.L. 1857 1915 (b. May 13, 1857 d. Oct. 20, 1915)Row 2 BENNETT Ernest 1904 1904 Row 2 BENNETT Mary (Bish) 1856 1896 Row 2 BENNETT Luise 1879 Infancy Row 2 BENNETT Lucy Row 2 No data BENNETT Teenie Row 2 No data BENNETT Baby Row 2 No data BENNETT Isabel(Bish) 1852 Oct 1901 Row 2 Mother BENNETT Cleve Unknown 1915 Row 2 BENNETT John 1848 6/3/1927 Row 2 Father HAYS Alice 1865 1896 Row 3 HAYS Hank 1890 1916 Row 3 BENNETT Boy Row 3 No data BENNETT Baby Row 3 No data SHUGARS William 1857 1908 Row 4 BISH Jacob 1849 1918 Row 4 BLANK Stone Row 4 No data REED B(enjamin).V. 3/2/1831 12/19/1896 Row 5 MARKER “E.S.” Row 5
Mr. Tyger makes a note of an unmarked burial on his cemetery reading—he claims that the grave of Elizabeth Homan, born in Summerville, PA is buried here. She worked for the Reeds and died of childbirth?
Also buried here (I thought she was marked but apparently not) is Alice (Bish) Reed, wife of Alburton Reed. Her dates are 11/20/1885--3/4/1922 Her husband Alburton is buried down off the mountain in the Mountain Church Cemetery in Horton Twp., Elk Co., PA.
Contributed by Sherry Jesberger for use by the PaGenWeb-Elk County.
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