Patoka Memorial
Cemetery
Orange County,
Indiana
Compiled by
Mary Jane (Hobson)
Deel
August 1983
Transcribed to
computer by
Mary Jane (Hobson)
Deel
September, 2004
The following information was compiled from the work sheets
of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
In order to make the information available to others who might seek it, I have
endeavored to include all of the information I was provided with. I have
attempted to copy spelling and dates as listed and apologize for any
typographical errors.
For the information of anyone not familiar with the Patoka Memorial Cemetery,
it is just off of State Highway 145 in Orange County, in the vicinity of
Painter Creek Boat Ramp. It sits on the hill above the lake and provides a
beautiful view of Southern Indiana scenery.
A perpetual care fund was set up
for the upkeep of the cemetery, so it is well taken care of. Several lots are
available for future burials.
I undertook this indexing because of my ancestors whose remains were relocated
during this project. This listing is dedicated to their memory.
My heartfelt thanks go to Mr. Roger Williams, Director of Relocations, United
States Army Corps of Engineers. Without his assistance this index would not
have been possible, for it contains information that is not available
elsewhere.
Mary Jane (Hobson) Deel
French Lick Indiana
This map shows the approximate original location
of the cemeteries that were within the construction area of Patoka
Lake. Although a few of the cemeteries were located in Crawford and
Dubois Counties, the majority were located in Orange County. Twenty-six
cemeteries were relocated to Patoka Memorial Cemetery in 1976 and 1977.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers supervised the disinterment and
re-interment of the remains located within the cemeteries.
Public notice was given of the impending relocations, with an
extensive effort made to locate any next-of-kin. The Corps of Engineers
worked closely with those relatives who were located and notified each
of the scheduled relocation date of their family members. The
next-of-kin were given the opportunity to be present during the
relocation process.
A religious leader was in attendance during the relocations
and the services of local morticians were utilized in transferring the
remains. *
All cemeteries were carefully examined to ensure that all
remains were transferred. In many cases, the grave sites of the early
settlers of the area revealed nothing more than darkened earth where
the burial had been. When this is what was found, the soil was
carefully removed and placed into a burial container. If a site
contained a marker of any kind, with or without an inscription, it was
transferred with the remains. All sites thought to be a burial site
were given a number and each was thoroughly examined. If a burial site
contained no marker or a marker with no information, and that site was
not claimed by a next-of-kin, it was listed as "unknown". If no
evidence of remains were located at a numbered site, that site number
was marked as "deleted".
* Information received from a mortician who assisted during the transfers.
