There are five Mennonite cemeteries in
the county, the oldest being on the Joseph Kinsinger
farm, near Collinsville, containing many graves, but only one
marker in the entire cemetery, this being on the grave of
Elizabeth Augspurger, who died in 1848, and the wife of
Joseph Augspurger, one of the original six families.
There are, however, many others known to be buried there prior to
1831. The next oldest is one on the farm of Samuel
Kinsinger, on the Princeton Pike, which contains many graves,
but not a marker to show the spot. Some years ago the farm
passed out of the family and has since been ploughed over. The
third is on the farm owned for many years by Samuel
Augspurger, near Woodsdale, and contains only about fifteen
graves. Here rest the remains of Christian
Augspurger, the pioneer, and his wife. This farm has also
passed out of the family, but the cemetery is fenced in and in
fairly good condition. The fourth, which is known as the
Augspurger cemetery and is located about a mile southeast of
Trenton. It is a little more than a half acre plot deeded to
the Augspurger congregation by Rev. Jacob
Augspurger about 1830. There are about one hundred graves
in the cemetery and it is enclosed with a durable fence. It is
still used by some families and kept in condition by Albert
Augspurger. The fifth, which is known as the Mennonite
cemetery, is located in St. Clair township, adjoining the Hessian
meetinghouse, and was laid out as early as 1863. It is laid
out in lots and is managed by three trustees elected by the
Apostolic Mennonite church. The funds for its maintenance are
raised by the sale of lots and by bequests. |