Decoration Day 1868

06/15/2026

So sometimes things get confusing but I’ll do my best.
Thomas Williamson Means born 1803 in South Carolina ended up in Lawrence County Ohio. His father John Means born 1770 in South Carolina.
So I’m trying to find Revolutionary War Soldiers in Lawrence County Ohio. I believe it was John’s father who actually served in the Revolutionary War.
John and Thomas were co owners in the first furnace built in Lawrence County Ohio. The Furnace was called Union and located on the south western end of the county near Pine Grove. Later Thomas purchased the PineGrove Furnace.
So a trip to Manchester Ohio to view John’s grave we find his stone now broken along with his wife Anna Williamson Means.
This is tragic considering you could call both of these men the fathers of the Industrial Revolution in Lawrence County.
It is my understanding that the general area for the furnace is near or was part of the current farms of the Hacker Family Farm, The Monnig Brothers Feed and Grain family Farm, and the Kline Brothers Farm just off of State Route 650, and Pine Creek, Elizabeth Township in Lawrence County Ohio.
John is considered a Colonel from the war of 1812 but never saw action. So later this year I hope to return to Manchester and try to address the broken stones.

06/15/2026

This group has worked hard for the past couple of years working on Projects for the America 250 events in Lawrence County Ohio.
Thank you to the Governor of Ohio and America 250 Ohio for the invitation to today’s celebration.
One project of this group was to clean and mark all revolutionary war soldiers graves in Lawrence County Ohio. This project is almost complete. Just a few more stones to set.

06/13/2026

I never seem to be amazed today’s find while cleaning the brush in W.D. Kelly Cemetery in Ironton, Lawrence County Ohio. I took a rest and saw a corner of this stone in the ground.
John Hallie Daniels son of A & A Daniels.
Under his name is a little lamb resting which is always sad to see but I understand the meaning.
John died Jan. 18th 1863 aged 1 year & 1 mo.
This grave was unrecorded on find a grave. All I had was a soft brush and a little water w/o wash the dirt away. I’ll slip back out at a later date to set his stone. ❤️

06/12/2026

Two Brothers share one stone that was lost to time.
Roger and Jonadab Jones share a stone that was nearly completely covered by soil, leaves and grass.
Both boys are the sone of Thomas R and M. Jones.
Later this summer we hope to have this stone placed back in a vertical position.

06/11/2026

Spent the morning at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Knoxville Tennessee.
Atlas Preservation conducting a training workshop there teaching others how to clean gravestones properly.
Thank you Johnathan for your guidance and taking the time to allow me to attend your events.
Appreciate George Kemp who is the president with K.R.C. Inc who hosted the event. Great job George with the success of cleaning up the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Knoxville Tennessee.

06/08/2026

I was asked to raise DB Cameron’s stone well it’s like potato chips you can’t just do one.
Thanks you Woodland Cemetery in Ironton, Ohio for allowing me to play in your cemetery.
All of these stones were located in section 14.

06/08/2026

W.D. Kelly Cemetery, Ironton Lawrence County Ohio.
A work in progress of cleaning up the 7 acre Cemetery.
A project by Decoration Day 1868, The Ironton Municipal Court, The City of Ironton and the Upper Township Trustees.

06/07/2026

Harvey Stewart enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War as a private on October 25th 1861.
It was in Louisa Kentucky where he joined Company G of the 22nd Kentucky Infantry. Harvey musters out on January 20th 1865 at the rank of a Corporal in Louisville Kentucky.
I was not able to find out any family information or how he ended up in Lawrence County Ohio.
Corporal Harvey Stewart died in 1881 at 32 years old and was buried in W.D. Kelly Cemetery in Ironton Ohio.
Harvey’s stone was found face down broken about at ground level and was almost covered completely in dirt.
Over the past few weeks Decoration Day 1868 has been cleaning the underbrush in parts of this cemetery.
I have ordered a replacement stone and when it comes in it will be installed.
If you know of someone that may be related to Mr Stewart we hold like additional information about his time in our community.
Thanks you Corporal Stewart for your service to our country.

06/07/2026

Today’s find I uncovered a gravestone buried and upside down.
Mary Emma Upp died at the age of 7 on May 3rd 1871. Mary the daughter of David F. and Margaret Emily Marshall Upp.
Only the corner of her stone was exposed and in a few short years it may have been lost forever.
Now Mary’s stone still lies on the ground awaiting a new base.

06/06/2026