Page 29 - WPA Book
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Works Project Administration – Articles from Rockingham County
CEMETERIES
1. SUBJECT:
Hershberger-Wynant Graveyard.
2. LOCATION:
1 ½ miles east of Bridgewater, Virginia, on North River.
3. DATE:
1824, date of oldest marker.
4. OWNERS:
Aldine Kooler, present owner.
5. DESCRIPTION:
This is a private cemetery enclosed by a stone wall, with no gate entrance, with board steps – not rotted away –
over the wall. This cemetery is full and long since abandoned. The walls are in fair condition. The walls show
signs of decay but are a splendid speciman of early masonry. The markers are of peculiar shape, some standing
and some covering the graves. Some of the inscriptions are illegible.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Inscriptions:
(1) Jacob Wynant Born Dec. 10, 1780 Died in March 1855.
(2) Annie” wife of Jacob Wynant born February 12, 2025 Died October 31, 1863.
(3) Lydia Wynant wife of Henry Wynant born Dec. 11th 1813, died April 3rd 1857, 37 year 3 m. 22 da.
(4) Osgeola son of H.H. & R. Wynant, Died April 29th 1859 age 9 mos. 23 days.
(5) Sacred to the memory of Mary Young Daughter of J. and Elizabeth Hershberger. Died October 19th 1838,
age 19yr. 3 mo. 28 da.
(6) Sacred to the memory of Benjamine Hershberger, Born January 18, 1824. Died May 11th 1856, age 26
years. 3 months 25 days.
(7) Jacob Hershberger born October 10, 1788, died September 15th, 1861.
(8) Anna Maria Hershberger, born March 27, 1757, died June 27, 1824, age 67 years 3 months 29 days,
(9) Miss Rebecca Hershberger born August 29th, 1840. Died October 6th 1860.
Others died after 1860, and some epitaphs not legible. Others of the Hershberger family buried in an
abandoned cemetery in Mt. Crawford, Virginia. Two and one-half miles east.
7. ART:
None.
8. SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
Informant: Aldine Kooler, owner of the Hershberger place.
Tombstone inscriptions. Visit by worker.
List of Tombstones 5
Hershberger, Mary Young 6
Hershberger, Benjamine 7
Hershberger, Jacob 8
Hershberger, Anna Maria 9
Hershberger, Rebecca 1
Wynant, Jacob 2
Wynant, Annie 3
Wynant, Lydia 4
Wynant, Osgeola
February 6, 2025 W.A. Byerly
Bridgewater, VA
Page 28 of 482
CEMETERIES
1. SUBJECT:
Hershberger-Wynant Graveyard.
2. LOCATION:
1 ½ miles east of Bridgewater, Virginia, on North River.
3. DATE:
1824, date of oldest marker.
4. OWNERS:
Aldine Kooler, present owner.
5. DESCRIPTION:
This is a private cemetery enclosed by a stone wall, with no gate entrance, with board steps – not rotted away –
over the wall. This cemetery is full and long since abandoned. The walls are in fair condition. The walls show
signs of decay but are a splendid speciman of early masonry. The markers are of peculiar shape, some standing
and some covering the graves. Some of the inscriptions are illegible.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Inscriptions:
(1) Jacob Wynant Born Dec. 10, 1780 Died in March 1855.
(2) Annie” wife of Jacob Wynant born February 12, 2025 Died October 31, 1863.
(3) Lydia Wynant wife of Henry Wynant born Dec. 11th 1813, died April 3rd 1857, 37 year 3 m. 22 da.
(4) Osgeola son of H.H. & R. Wynant, Died April 29th 1859 age 9 mos. 23 days.
(5) Sacred to the memory of Mary Young Daughter of J. and Elizabeth Hershberger. Died October 19th 1838,
age 19yr. 3 mo. 28 da.
(6) Sacred to the memory of Benjamine Hershberger, Born January 18, 1824. Died May 11th 1856, age 26
years. 3 months 25 days.
(7) Jacob Hershberger born October 10, 1788, died September 15th, 1861.
(8) Anna Maria Hershberger, born March 27, 1757, died June 27, 1824, age 67 years 3 months 29 days,
(9) Miss Rebecca Hershberger born August 29th, 1840. Died October 6th 1860.
Others died after 1860, and some epitaphs not legible. Others of the Hershberger family buried in an
abandoned cemetery in Mt. Crawford, Virginia. Two and one-half miles east.
7. ART:
None.
8. SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
Informant: Aldine Kooler, owner of the Hershberger place.
Tombstone inscriptions. Visit by worker.
List of Tombstones 5
Hershberger, Mary Young 6
Hershberger, Benjamine 7
Hershberger, Jacob 8
Hershberger, Anna Maria 9
Hershberger, Rebecca 1
Wynant, Jacob 2
Wynant, Annie 3
Wynant, Lydia 4
Wynant, Osgeola
February 6, 2025 W.A. Byerly
Bridgewater, VA
Page 28 of 482
