"We have previously mentioned the Judge Smith Family Burial Ground now most popularly known as the Indian Mound. We would like to give a more detailed descriptions of this spot as it was in the past.
The last burial in this plat was made in about 1871. It was soon after this that John Smith, an influential farmer and son of Judge Smith bought and set out about 40 pine trees on top of the mound. Perhaps, to foster a community spirit, Smith called on the citizens for contributions towards the expenses of this tree setting.
These trees stood for many years serving as a lovely approach to the village (North Benton) from the west. many of us remember this group of stately, dark green pines, tho we may not have known they marked the sight of a pioneer burying ground.
We would like to report that this spot has been kept sacred to the memory of Wm. Smith and his friends, but "time marches on." Trees grew old, decayed and were not replaced. Some of the bodies were moved to other cemeteries. The ground was dug up, Smith's bones were put into a wood box, moved to another part of the plot and placed under the marble slab that marked the former site of his burial place.

Pages from Alliance History:
contributed by Nancy Hoover Valentine and Gwendolyn Hartzell
North Benton
"William Smith died in 1837 and, at his request, was buried on his own farm in a small family cemetery which lay on the summit of the hill west of the present Presbyterian Church. It is recorded that 22 burials were made there, these being members of his family and some immediate friends.



The cemetery is located in Smith Township, Mahoning County, Ohio, and is # 7287 (Indian Mount Cemetery) and # 7289 (Old North Benton Cemetery) in "Ohio Cemeteries 1803-2003", compiled by the Ohio Genealogical Society.