Historic Orleans Cemetery Tour

HISTORIC ORLEANS CEMETERY TOUR

The historic town of Orleans would like to share some "Stories Behind the Stones", a retribution to the fine people of our community buried in Green Hill, Odd Fellows and Grandview cemeteries. While visiting, please show respect to the respective properties
and grave markers.

The oldest cemetery in the Town of Orleans is historic Greenhill. This burial ground was first laid out when the town was first founded in 1815. Many of the town’s early pioneer families rest in this old town cemetery.

Across from Greenhill just to the north is the Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F) Cemetery, which was opened in 1879. There are a number of burials prior to that date and those were moved here from other cemeteries.

The newer cemetery Fairview, located just west of Odd Fellows was laid out and opened in 1910.

	GREEN HILL #1 William T. Spicely Brevet Brigadier Civil War General William T. Spicely died in 1884 at the age of 61. He served in both the Mexican and Civil Wars & was a key player in the Battle of Vicksburg serving under Gen. Grant. He was also one of the first teachers in Orleans in the free schools and served as Postmaster as well.
	GREEN HILL #2 Governor Ed Jackson Former Indiana Governor Ed Jackson whose term of office was 1925 to 1929, and Mrs. Jackson chose to be buried in Greenhill because of its age. They both loved old things of the past and had many treasures in their two-story log home. He was a native of Howard County but died at his rural home northwest of Orleans in 1954. The former Indiana Governor was a Major in World War 1, serving with the 339th Infantry.
	GREEN HILL #3 Joseph Kaufmann This large beautifully carved monument of Joseph Kaufmann (1830-1882) stands out among all the other old grave stones in Greenhill.
	GREEN HILL #4 Fredrick Fesperman The first burial in Orleans was that of a German settler, Fredrick Fesperman who died in 1816. He lived and died in a house, located on the north side of the present town square
	GREEN HILL #5 John H. Steers, Sr. Grave stone of John H. Steers, Sr. (1822-1899) who was the first child born in Orleans. The Steers family was prominently connected with the early business affairs of the town.
	ODD FELLOWS #8 Dallas Tyler Tyler owned numerous valuable tracts of land in Indianapolis. Tyler remembered the orphans and widows of Orleans, Seymour, and Indianapolis in his will upon his death in 1919
	ODD FELLOWS #9 J.H. Bowles (1836-1898) Dealer in drugs and jewelry built and operated the pharmacy here.
	ODD FELLOWS #12 John Monical had the first car in Orleans... a 1904 Cadillac. It was a bright red, two seated car with an open air top. Entrance to the back seat was available through a door and steps.
	ODD FELLOWS #13 The Ochs Family arrived here in 1860 from Germany and established a furniture business and later an undertaking business.
	ODD FELLOWS #15 America’s Greatest Man is buried here in Orleans. In one section of Odd Fellows is the small simple headstone with this unique inscription: “Charles Blalock-America’s Greatest Man.” Blalock, a railroader, was a companion of the town square group of story swappers. When he died in or about 1954, his good friend Noble “Zip” Keedy financed the purchase of the headstone and its inscription. Blalock had been all over the country as a railroader, and his buddies here kidded him about being America’s greatest man.
	ODD FELLOWS #30 Andrew Erwin The headstone for Civil War veteran and railroader Andrew Erwin (1840-1905) includes a depiction of an old fashion steam engine with the number 59.
	FAIRVIEW #21 Burton and Taggart This large imposing monument with the names Burton and Taggart is clearly visible in the southeast section of Fairview. Wm. Burton and Robert Taggart were prominent business partners here in Orleans and were very successful livestock traders doing business in seven states throughout the Midwest. Mr. Taggart acquired the old Shindler/Stetson House from the Stetsons and resided there for many years. It is believed that Mr. Taggart may have had the very last horse drawn caisson in Orleans upon his death.
	FAIRVIEW #22 Brothers Rock and Ralph Jenkins were Trap shooting pioneers and world champions. Rock’s wife Lucy was very active in community affairs for many years while Ralph’s wife Margaret had the distinction of being a cousin to Lillian Disney, wife of Walt Disney.
	FAIRVIEW #23 Elizabeth “Bill” and Eddie Wheeler Nestled among a group of dogwood trees in Fairview are the graves of Elizabeth “Bill” and Eddie Wheeler. Elizabeth or “Bill” as she was known to her friends receives the credit for the numerous plantings in the mid 1960s of the town’s now famous dogwood trees helping to beautify her hometown for future generations. “Bill” passed away in 1998, but the beautiful dogwood trees live on.
	FAIRVIEW #24 Warren J. Brock was the first Orleans casualty in World War 1. Brock fought in many battles along the western front, one of which was against the forces of the Crown Prince. Brock was killed in an explosion at Soissons, France on July 19, 1918. His body was returned to Orleans and buried in Fairview. The Orleans American Legion Post is named after Brock.