Startzell Family Cemetery

Tombstones of the Month

The Startzell family cemetery was set aside on land owned by George Startzell in Oliver Township where he was a farmer. His son, James Startzell died in 1911, and was buried in Barton Chapel cemetery. The Startzell cemetery was established after that date. George died in 1914, and his wife Charlotte Postlewait in 1915, and both were buried in the family cemetery.  Martha Jane Hawthorne, first wife of Franklin Pierce Startzell, was also buried there in 1912, but Franklin Pierce may have been buried in Barton Chapel cemetery with his second wife, Mary Chadderton. No dates were ever cut into the stone in the family cemetery for him, and no stone has been found at Barton Chapel either.

Several years ago, the stones at the Startzell cemetary were knocked over by vandals. The decision was made to move them to Barton Chapel with James. In the accompanying recent photo, the stones can all be seen in a family grouping. The Startzell family has a reunion on the last Saturday in July of the even numbered years.