The OES visited Luray Cemetery on August 14, 2007. Located on Refugee Road in Union Township, Licking County, Luray Cemetery is northeast of the National Trails Raceway. The town of Luray was laid out by Adam Sane and Richard Porter in 1832. At that time, the community was bustling with activity. The nearby Ohio Canal and National Road made Luray a fine commercial center. “But since the men that made it such have passed away, and railroad facilities have attracted the commerce to other points…the towns of Moscow and Luray have nearly passed away.” As can be seen by this 1881 account, not much was left of the bustling town of Luray. Surely, many of the fine pioneers that made Luray grow and prosper are buried in the Luray Cemetery, however on our visit, this cemetery was in serious disrepair. Many of the tombstones were broken and in piles. A small, wrought-iron fenced section was completely overgrown with weeds. A few metal Veteran’s markers and flags still waved to commemorate our nation’s heroes; a Confederate soldier as well as a World War II soldier are buried in the cemetery. According to records, the oldest tombstone belongs to Abraham Keller, who died in 1811.
Location Information: Inactive Cemetery [Safe]
Luray Cemetery is on the south side of Refugee Road SW just west of State Route 37; Licking County.
Photographs
This metal gate served as the entrance to Luray Cemetery.
There were quite a few standing tombstones, but there were many unmarked graves.
The entire cemetery was about the size of a football field.
The tombstone of Catherine Kirkendall leaned against a tree. Catherine died on January 17, 1835, six days after her 21st birthday.
The marker for James Kirkendall, who was only 11-years-old when he died on February 13, 1848.
There were several piles of broken tombstones in various areas of the cemetery. The stone facing us belonged to Honor Buckland, who died in 1838 at 24.
The cemetery seemed to be mowed regularly, but many stones were in disrepair.
Barbara Wells' tombstone. She died on November 23, 1875 at 83-years-old.
A veteran's flag was in the middle of this tombstone pile.
This fenced section of the cemetery was very overgrown.
Several broken tombstones leaned against the tree next to the fenced section.
This rather unique tombstone was too worn to read.
For some reason a Confederate Soldier marker was next to the tombstone of George Wells, Jr. He died in 1848, well over a decade before the start of the Civil War.
The tombstone for Lucinda Holmes was well preserved even though it was on the ground. She died at 24 in November 1840.
The tombstone of Nancy Ann Holmes. She died on September 18, 1829 at 68-years-old. She was married to James Holmes, a Revolutionary War veteran, and had fifteen children.
This strange concrete tomb was at the rear of the cemetery.
The marker on top of the tomb stated it belonged to James Holmes, Jr. and Emily Wigdon. James died on January 13, 1848 and Emily died on May 27, 1865.
This tombstone leaned against a tree and was nearly covered by brush.
These three tombstones were all made in a similar style.
A Confederate marker was at this weather-worn grave.
