Pioneer Cemetery, Sidney, Delaware County, NY (1905)

 In Honor of Our Dead

A Plea for our Pioneer Graveyard - A Plea that should be Answered by All

Sidney Record, Sidney, NY, April 15, 1905

An effort is being made to put in order the Pioneer Graveyard on the riverbank opposite the silk mill.  In this spot lie the mortal remains of a great number of the noble, hardy and enterprising men and women who in the last quarter of the 18th century brought civilization to the upper valley of the Susquehanna.  The earliest inscription now traceable is 1757.

Here are buried the widow of Rev. William Johnston, the first settler; Col. Witter Johnston and Capt. Hugh Johnston, sons of the Rev. Johnston and Revolutionary War officers; Judge Levi Baxter, and his sons, early settlers and large lumber manufacturers about Carr's Creek; Deacon Israel Smith, first deacon of the Congregational Church and grandfather of President Hayes; Capt. Moses Hovey, the Revolutionary veteran who in 1810-'12 built the State road from Unadilla to Oxford; "Esquire" Avery, whose farm in  the early days covered pretty nearly all our present village lying east of Main Street; William Dovener who gave the land for the 'meetinghouse" and school where now the Congregational church stands [in 1905]; Samuel Rogers the deaf and lame shoemaker-farmer lived in the town of Unadilla, he acted as Sidney's first lawyer, drawing up wills, deeds and surveying farms, his son Hon. Chas. Rogers; Ezra Clark, farmer, father of  Hon. Henry A. Clark of Bainbridge; the Mersereau's, McMaster's, Bacon's, Redfield's, Belnap's, Cotton's, Skinner's and others most of whom have no descendants in this region.

The appeal for funds to defray the expenses of redeeming and putting the old and long disused graveyard in respectable condition has mainly been made to relatives of the pioneers who live at a distance.

It is judged necessary to raise $2,000. Less than $1,000 is in hand and promised.  Will not our local population find it in their hearts to give liberally to this good cause?

The plot is 200x175 feet.  In the northeast corner next to the river a triangular space 70 feet on Clark Street and 23 feet on west line, there are no graves.  In this space are the Congregational Church sheds, but little used in late years and badly dilapidated.  In old days these were between the church and the river.  It is believed they are simply trespassers where they are. Shell they not be taken away.  That space neatly graded and decorated would give our village a needed embellishment.  We have not an inch of park,  This spot could be made a joy forever.

Respectfully yours, one of the grandchildren of the pioneers.  P.K.