History of Columbiana County's Earliest Cemeteries

The following is from an article from The Morning Journal in 1999. It is from special edition and rather lengthy. You can find the entire document HERE.

HISTORY WRITTEN IN STONE
MORNING JOURNAL Sunday, August 22, 1999

Voices from the past
The ghosts of history haunt our cemeteries

Burying the dead is an early necessity for every society, and Columbiana County which Began being inhabited in the 1700’s, was no different. Early settlers buried family members on their own farms and many of those graves can still be found today.
Later, as churches became prevalent, their yards became sacred burial grounds.
As the various settlements in the county grew into villages and cities, however, most towns organized their own cemeteries, usually along the main street of town. But, as these town grew, they usually outgrew their cemeteries and saw a greater need to devote the acreage to commercial ventures. Thus, many of the ‘in-town’ cemeteries were moved to hillsides outside of the business district. The moving of these cemeteries added much to local folk lore and these stories, along with the tales of the famous and heroic persons buried in these grounds help weave the rich history of Columbiana County.
This special Millennium Commemorative section looks at some of the oldest and most historic of our county’s cemeteries.

Jean Butler - Obituary

EAST PALESTINE - Mrs. Jean Estella Butler of East Palestine died Sunday evening at Parkside Health Care in Columbiana after a short illness.

Mrs. Butler, daughter of the late Henry Marion and Mildred Elizabeth (Wright) Thompson, was born September 24, 1930 in East Liverpool.

She grew up in Dixonville, attended East Liverpool Public Schools and was a member of the ELHS Alumni Association.

She married David Merle Butler April 5, 1947 in East Liverpool. In 1983 they moved to North Lewisburg and to Anadarko, Ok in 1986, returning to Ohio to live in East Palestine in 2002.
She was a retired certified genealogist and author who co-founded the Tri-County Genealogical & Historical Society, based in Newell, WVA. The organization recently honored her with a lifetime membership. Her abilities as a genealogical researcher brought requests for her assistance from people around the globe.

When she was not doing research, Mrs. Butler spent her time doing cross-stitch, crocheting and other handicrafts. She also earned several awards from the Women's International Bowling Congress.

She is survived by her husband of the home; two daughters, Cynthia Jean Fletcher of East Palestine and Loretta Gayle Church and her husband, Ronald Lee Church of Pittsburgh, PA., and one son, David Leslie Butler and his wife, Barbara Rae (Kyle), of Virginia Beach, VA
She is also survived by six grandchildren, Michael Erin Fletcher and his wife, Heather Anne (Hoon), of East Palestine, Christine Louise (Fletcher) Westfall and her husband, Charles Frederick Westfall Jr. of Morgantown, WVA; Matthew Aron Butler and his wife, Alice Caroline (Faraone) of Wilmington, DE; Joel Dale Church II and his wife, Amanda Jennings (Bonner), of Oklahoma City, OK.; Christopher Alan Butler of Virginia Beach, and Elizabeth Anne Church of Pittsburgh.

Also surviving are five great-grandchildren, Michael Erin Fletcher II, Kystin Sierra Westfall, Cassidy Rene Fletcher and Katelyn Michele Westfall, Samantha Lee Faraone, along with several nieces, nephews and other relatives.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Butler was also preceeded in death by one brother, Lee Marion Thompson, and three sisters, Elizabeth (Betty) Laneve, Joyce (Jo) Butler and Linda Rose Davis.
Calling hours will be from 2 to 4 pm and from 6 to 7:30 pm Thursday, with funeral services immediately thereafter, at the Oliver-Linsley Funeral Home in East Palestine. Cremation will follow.