SLATE HILL CEMETERY - Armstrong Co., PA -- It took me considerable time to locate this cemetery partly because not many poople know it by the above name. It seems there was a name change, or attempted name change to Cownshannock Cemetery.

By pure accident I inquired of a caretaker at another cemetery in the area. He walked me tot he top of a hill, pointed across the valley and said there is Slate Hill Cemetery - over there. I said WOW! how do I get there? He then gave me directions, very accurate ones I might add. He then asked me how I knew it as Slate Hill Cemetery. I replied that some of those buried there are my ancestors and I have some family history of them. That is when he told me that not many people refer to it as Slate Hill anymore.

One of the people buried there is my 2nd great-grandfather; Rev. George Rairigh b. 22 Aug 1793 and d. 10 Oct 1856. I have a copy of his Last Will & Testament which contains the following information regarding that cemetery. In distributing his land he included this bequeath "EXCEPT 1/4 part of an acre, where our graveyard is, which I give to my friends and neighbors for a burying ground." Evidently he owned the ground this cemetery was located on and it was the family burial ground.

A little more trivia regarding that cemetery. A person by the name of Archie F. Rairigh drew a plot map of that cemetery in 1909, a copy of which in 1991 was on display at the Carson-Boyer Funeral Home in Rural Valley, PA. Is it there as of 18 Nov 2011? I don't know. But to cemetery buffs it might be worth your time to check it out when you are in Rural Valley.

I will be adding missing names to the cemetery listing. Some have first names, some don't. I believe that this information is accurate due to it being produced in 1909.

A little bit of further information regarding Rev. George Rairigh. The old building across the road at the intersection of Route 85 and Miller Road I was told is the church where George preached. Also I have a copy of a book titled "The Church of The Brethern in Western Pennsylvania" which has much Rairigh history in it. It seems George, on a few occassions, walked to Ohio to attend church functions there. He swam across rivers on his journey.

PS If you intend to visit this cemetery plan on doing so in dry summer weather as the road to it goes through a corn field, more suited to high riding vehicles.

A WORD ON CEMETERIES AND COCHRAN IN GERERAL

Cochran Cemetery located between Templeton and Mosgrove, PA has been in existence many many years. It has been maintained by individual plot owners until the establishment of the Cochran Cemetery Association in recent years.

As one knows maintenance of this cemetery, by perpetual care, requires money hopefully donated by lot owners. Unfortunately donations are falling short of what is required to pay a caretaker and lot owners need to step up and support this cause. There are at present 1,300 internments in the cemetery. A few bucks from lot owners each would insure the ongoing care which is needed. Let us continue to be proud of this cemetery. And respectful of our loved ones buried there.

SLATE HILL CEMETERY - Armstrong Co., PA -- It took me considerable time to locate this cemetery partly because not many poople know it by the above name. It seems there was a name change, or attempted name change to Cownshannock Cemetery.

By pure accident I inquired of a caretaker at another cemetery in the area. He walked me tot he top of a hill, pointed across the valley and said there is Slate Hill Cemetery - over there. I said WOW! how do I get there? He then gave me directions, very accurate ones I might add. He then asked me how I knew it as Slate Hill Cemetery. I replied that some of those buried there are my ancestors and I have some family history of them. That is when he told me that not many people refer to it as Slate Hill anymore.

One of the people buried there is my 2nd great-grandfather; Rev. George Rairigh b. 22 Aug 1793 and d. 10 Oct 1856. I have a copy of his Last Will & Testament which contains the following information regarding that cemetery. In distributing his land he included this bequeath "EXCEPT 1/4 part of an acre, where our graveyard is, which I give to my friends and neighbors for a burying ground." Evidently he owned the ground this cemetery was located on and it was the family burial ground.

A little more trivia regarding that cemetery. A person by the name of Archie F. Rairigh drew a plot map of that cemetery in 1909, a copy of which in 1991 was on display at the Carson-Boyer Funeral Home in Rural Valley, PA. Is it there as of 18 Nov 2011? I don't know. But to cemetery buffs it might be worth your time to check it out when you are in Rural Valley.

I will be adding missing names to the cemetery listing. Some have first names, some don't. I believe that this information is accurate due to it being produced in 1909.

A little bit of further information regarding Rev. George Rairigh. The old building across the road at the intersection of Route 85 and Miller Road I was told is the church where George preached. Also I have a copy of a book titled "The Church of The Brethern in Western Pennsylvania" which has much Rairigh history in it. It seems George, on a few occassions, walked to Ohio to attend church functions there. He swam across rivers on his journey.

PS If you intend to visit this cemetery plan on doing so in dry summer weather as the road to it goes through a corn field, more suited to high riding vehicles.

A WORD ON CEMETERIES AND COCHRAN IN GERERAL

Cochran Cemetery located between Templeton and Mosgrove, PA has been in existence many many years. It has been maintained by individual plot owners until the establishment of the Cochran Cemetery Association in recent years.

As one knows maintenance of this cemetery, by perpetual care, requires money hopefully donated by lot owners. Unfortunately donations are falling short of what is required to pay a caretaker and lot owners need to step up and support this cause. There are at present 1,300 internments in the cemetery. A few bucks from lot owners each would insure the ongoing care which is needed. Let us continue to be proud of this cemetery. And respectful of our loved ones buried there.