Richard Baughan Cemetery
Thorncreek Township
Whitley County Indiana

WHITLEY COUNTY CEMETERIES

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RICHARD BAUGHAN BURYING GROUND



          The site in the southeast quarter of section 35 in Thorncreek township was used by other families than that of Richard Baughan. Burials here were discontinued and some bodies were moved to the Blue River cemetery. Five were left, one woman, three children and a man. That of the man is believed to be the negro criminal who died in the Baughan corncrib of infected wounds. Richard Baughan was sheriff of Whitley County at the time. The other graves were of “some of the Baughans”. For many ears a picket fence protected these graves from the plow but the fence decayed. However a great oak preserved the site. When the oak was cut the site became part of a cultivated field.

Information taken from Nellie Raber’s “Eternal Cities of Thorncreek”


          On October 13,1969, the Whitley County Historical Society dedicated a cast marker on the Cider Mill Road to commemorate this burying ground. Mrs. Mary Early spoke about Richard Baughan. The following is her speech on made on that day.

          “Richard Baughan first came to Whitley county in the spring of 1834 with his wife and infant daughter, Elizabeth. The townships were not yet organized, but were later that same year. In June he purchased 80 acres of land from the government which later was platted in Thorncreek township. Then in May 1836 he bought 160 more acre joining his first 80 , making a total of 240 acres.
          “He proceeded to clear and improve the land and in 1838 he had a saw mill, grist mill, a two story log house with a lean-to kitchen, a large barn and a log corn crib.
          “The 1837-38 legislature established Whitley county an independent county from Huntington county and on April 1, 1838 the Governor appointed Richard Baughan sheriff to serve until election time in August.
          In the meantime 15 or 20 men, Whigs, and Democrats gathered at the home of Calvin Alexander near Beech Chapel church, close to what is now known as Five Points and picked their candidates. Hand bills were made and the sheriff distributed them over the county nailing them to trees along ox trails and Indian paths. He arranged for four voting places in the county. These were at the home of Andrew Compton, now Richland township, home of Lewis Kinsey, now Cleveland township, home of John More, now Smith township, and the home of Richard Baughan, now Thorncreek township.
          “During the few months Mr. Baughan was sheriff the first trial of the county was held at his home, with a judge from Fort Wayne presiding. A colored man attacked a Mrs. Knisely west of now Columbia City. She defended herself with a hatchet and wounded the man but he got away, it was reported to sheriff Baughan and a posse was formed and he was apprehended near the Noble county line. There being no jail in the county at this time, he was brought to the Baughan home and placed in the log corn crib. He died three days later from infection in his wounds. He was buried on the east end of the farm on the brow of a hill.
          “Mr. Baughan continued to run his saw mill and clear the land until sometime between Sept 23, 1853 and the spring of 1856. During that time Mrs. Baughan and three young children died and were buried at the east end of the farm beneath a large walnut tree and a picket fence was put around the plot. Mr. Baughan was left with the oldest daughter. The walnut tree was not cut until the 1930’s.
          “All traces of Richard Baughan were lost.


Name — Description — Location


Baughan Richard — — Baughan


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