Knights of Pythias Cemetery

Used with permission of Coy D. Robbins from his book, "Forgotten Hoosiers: African Heritage in Orange County, Indiana", pp. 84-87.


"This second 'colored' cemetery was opened by the Proserpine Lodge No. 27, (Colored) Knights of Pythias, French Lick, Orange County, Indiana in 1913. It is located on State Road 56, two miles southwest of French Lick, west of the Country Club and adjacent to the Mount Lebanon (white) Cemetery in French Lick Township (Sec. 17 T1N R2W). In the central area of the cemetery near its eastern entrance stands a 12-15 foot obelisk with the following words inscribed on the base:

"Dedicated A.D. 1923 to the Memory of Those
Who Rest Here

Proserpine Lodge No. 27
Knights of Pythias

"To date no written history or record of burials in this cemetery has been located. It is still used for interments today. Jean and Coy D. Robbins surveyed all gravestones during 1992, and copied the following data from the stone markers."


ALLEN, Laurie E.
AUSTIN, Thomas E.; 1890-1959.
AUSTIN, Martha B.; 1897-19--.
BABBAGE, Henry Lee; d. 2 Jun 1921, aged 51y/7m.
BABBAGE, John A.; govt. marker; Pvt. U.S. Army World War I,
        23 May 1893-16 Jan 1980.
BABBAGE, Marie Sebree; 1895-1958.
BANKS, Helen; 4 Jan 1906-9 Jun 1952.
BARRETT, Birdie; 13 Aug 1965.
BARRETT, Charles; 18 Feb 1975.
BEACHAM, Ella; 1879-1927.
BELTON, Bertha; 1889-1941.
BELTON, William S.; 1888-1941.
BOHANNON, Pauline; 16 Nov 1898-12 Mar 1990. Beloved Mother.
BRANNON, Roland T.; 24 Sep 1976 (funeral marker)
BROWN, Gus; departed 9 Jun 1937.
BROWN, Irene; departed 23 Nov 1938.
BROWN, Louis; 15 Jun 1886-1917.
BUCKHOLDER, Irene
BUCKHOLDER, Collie Wm.
BURNETT, Alvin V.; 1893-1923.
BURNETT, Odis Jr.; 1897-1914.
BURNETT, Odis M.; 1872-1923.
CAMPBELL, Hattie B.; 12 Apr 1906-18 Mar 1984.
CARROLL, Margaret A.; 30 Sep 1890-17 Apr 1962.
CARTER, Azalea; 1 Jun 1846-3 Mar 1922.
CARTER, Ivanhoe; govt. marker; Indiana Pvt. 152 Depot Brigade WWI;
        10 Aug 1896-16 Feb 1952.
CARTWRIGHT, Charles; 1905-1989.
CONN, Mary E.; 14 Dec 1876-18 Nov 1917.
DORSEY, James; d. 19 Feb 1943.
DORSEY, Susan; 13 Dec 1927, aged 70y.
DRYE, Eugene; govt marker; Indiana Pvt 809 Pioneer Inf 8 Dec 1936.
GARDNER, Alexander V.; govt marker; Indiana Pvt Student Army Tng Corps
        World War I 3 Jan 1890-22 May 1948.
GARRETT, Lula Bell; Clarksville, Tenn. 12 Aug 1892-12 Dec 1972.
HANLEY, Baby; 8 Jan 1916.
HAYES, Mary; 14 Jun 1877-13 Sep 1934. At Rest.
HENDERSON, Gertrude P.; 1887-1947. Sister.
HICKS, Herbert; 1903-1981.
HILL, Anna Lee; 1880-1954. Mother.
HOLDEN, Carry S.; 27 Jun 1883-7 Sep 1962.
HOLDEN, Robert J.; 1 Apr 1885-26 Jul 1968.
HOOKER, Edward; 1891-1960.
HOOKER, Sallie; 1898-1969.
HURLEY, Willa C.; 6 Jun 1867-7 Nov 1957.
JACKSON, Sanford; d. 26 Nov 1939.
JOHNSON, Delos R.; 1902-1968.
KENNEDY, Willis
KILLEGREW, Leroy; 1885-1957.
KING, Thomas A.; govt marker; ST1 US Navy 6 Oct 1904-1 May 1975.
LATHAM, James Thomas; govt marker; Illinois Sgt 365 Inf 92 Div
        3 Jun 1936 b. 11 Apr 1893.
LAWRENCE, Hallie B.; 22 Aug 1882-2 Feb 1927.
LEWIS, Mattie V.; 1885-1948.
LLOYD, Ida; 13 Feb 1882-8 Jul 1961.
LLOYD, Isaac W.; 6 Feb 1881-14 Sep 1960.
LYNN, Harrison; govt marker; Kentucky Pvt 317 SN TN 92 Div World War I;
        7 Sep 1894-7 Sep 1966.
LYNN, Henietta; 1900-1987.
McFARLAND, Lelia C.; 1879-1965.
McGOWAN, Hulga; 1856-2 Aug 1923. Mother.
MARTIN, Purvis; 19 Jul 1879-27 Apr 1939.
MASON, Gwen B.; 6 Jan 1927-25 Nov 1990.
MORGAN, Maggie; 12 Sep 1857-12 May 1933. Mother.
MORRISON, Bernice Hanley; 15 Nov 1964.
MORTON, Celeste; 1886-1940.
MORTON, Infant son of Charles and Celeste Morton; 8 May 1924.
OVERTON, Edward H.; govt marker; Tennessee Wagoner Btry A 351 FID Arty;
        7 Mar 1891-28 Jan 1965.
OVERTON, Ollie; wife of Edward H. Overton.
PAYNE, William; 1 Oct 1867-7 May 1925.
PERRY, Josephine L.; 1888-1970.
PERRY, Oscar; 1900-1968.
PITMAN, Carrie.
PITMAN, Elsie.
PITMAN, Nathan.
PITMAN, Ray; govt marker; Indiana Pvt Stu Army Tng Corps World War I;
        21 Oct 1897-8 Sep 1854. (sic)
PITMAN, Solomon.
POLLARD.
PORTER, Roxie Ann; 92; 1872-1964.
POTTER, Rosa Wright; 9 Aug 1941-4 Dec 1928. (sic)
RANDALL, Thelma Payne; 1904-1937. At Rest.
RAWLINGS, Erline; From Ruby and Lu.
RAWLINGS, Holmes; govt marker; Ohio Pvt 92 QM Co 72 Inf Div World War II;
        24 Sep 1904-7 Oct 1965.
RICE, Hugh "Cap"; 1877-1956.
ROBINSON, A. Delores; 1909- .
ROBINSON, James A.; 1906-1959.
ROGERS, Edward H.; 1883-1958.
ROGERS, Rosetta M.; 1894-1961.
RUDD, Robert W.; 4 Jul 1872-23 Sep 1936.
SEBREE, Birdie; 18 Sep 1891-16 Mar 1965.
SEBREE, Dudley; 31 Dec 1864-5 Feb 1936. Father.
SEBREE, Edward T.; 18 Apr 1887-30 Apr 1921.
SEBREE, Hannah L.; 18 Feb 1867-15 Oct 1930.
SEBREE, James [Dr.]; 25 Oct 1885-16 Apr 1908.
SEBREE, William W.; 2 Sep 1899-3 May 1926.
SIMMONS, Mary A.; wife of Samuel Moore; 30 Dec 1876-22 May 1919.
SIMS, Joe Will; departed this life 2 Nov 1967.
SMALLS, Charles; 10 Oct 1857-9 Aug 1934.
SMITH, Artie "Smitty"; 1912- .
SMITH, Doris "Shorty Jo"; 1916- .
STEWARD, Alice J.; 16 Mar 1874-1 Jun 1959.
STOCKDALE, Pearl B.; 5 Feb 1880-8 Aug 1928.
STOCKMAN, Susie; 3 Jul 1866-16 Apr 1943.
THOMAS, Daniel; 1851-1926.
THOMAS, Florence; wife of J.L. Thomas; 1 Jan 1881-1 Sep 1923.
THOMAS, John; 3 May 1872-14 Feb 1964.
THOMAS, John L.; s/o John and Florence Thomas; 27 Jun 1906-1 Feb 1921.
THOMAS, Mary E.; wife of Daniel T.; 1851-1917.
WADDY, George W.; 1872-1942.
WADDY, Nannie B.; 1877-19[60].
WEBB, Donald C.; govt marker; Indiana Cpl 1077 Base Unit AAF World War II;
        3 Dec 1901-19 Sep 1962.
WIGGINTON, Maj. Y.C.; 11 Apr 1870-6 Dec 1923.
WILKINS, Harry E.; 25 Jan 1870-24 Sep 1922.
WILSON, Ben; 1883-1954.
WILSON, Lucille; 9 Feb 1959. At Rest.
WING, Lillian G.; 1887-1970.
YELLOW, Thelma B. Lynn; 16 Nov 1900-4 Nov 1976.