Page 41 - WPA Book
P. 41
Works Project Administration – Articles from Rockingham County
CEMETERIES
1. SUBJECT:
St. Peter’s Union Church Cemetery.
2. LOCATION:
Two and one half miles south of Shenandoah, Virginia, and ¼ mile east of Route 602
3. DATE:
About 1750.
4. OWNERS:
St. Peter’s Union Church.
5. DESCRIPTION:
This cemetery is in very good condition, having been cared for by members of different denominations who
held services here.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Here we have one of the oldest cemeteries in the valley, established along with one of the oldest Churches. It
has the same name as it did when established about one hundred and eighty years ago. Today it is still a union
cemetery, and has belonged to several different denominations, Lutherans, United Brethren, Methodist, and
Presbyterians. They hold services in the little old log church near by and have their different Sunday Schools in
the old Church.
The oldest grave which has a date is 1818, but it is recorded that Mathias Shuler came from Germany about
1730 and was buried here about 1750. It is not certain whether his was the first burial here. It is known that
William Cravens and John Bear, two noted Methodist preachers held audiences spell-bound here in 1770.
This cemetery must have been for a long time a burying place in the valley as it is near the camping grounds of
Indians when they occupied the valley.
Some of the Stovers are buried here, who are supposed to be descendants of the first settlers by that name in this
country. Others have limestones with amateur inscriptions.
The inscriptions are as follows:
1818, December 22, Mary Ammon deceas. Christopher Ammon’s wife.
William Dean, Died Jan. 31, 1857. Aged 60 yrs. 11mos, 25 da.
In Memory of Eliz[abeth]th Peterfish daughter of Daniel and Eve Dovel. Born Jan. 31, 1823, Died July 4, 1852.
Hiram Baugher, Dec May 23, 1852.
Sacred to the Memory of Mary M. Peterfish, the daughter of Joan Munger and wife of John Peterfish.
Born Dec. 29th, 1781 and died June 3, 2024 Aged 45 years, 5 mo & 5 d.
Sacred to the Memory of Mary Ann Stover wife of Joseph Stover, Born Dec. 9th, 1799, Died Feby 1st, 1849
Aged 49 years, 7 months & 20 days.
E.R.
1830.
7. ART:
Photograph.
Page 40 of 482
CEMETERIES
1. SUBJECT:
St. Peter’s Union Church Cemetery.
2. LOCATION:
Two and one half miles south of Shenandoah, Virginia, and ¼ mile east of Route 602
3. DATE:
About 1750.
4. OWNERS:
St. Peter’s Union Church.
5. DESCRIPTION:
This cemetery is in very good condition, having been cared for by members of different denominations who
held services here.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Here we have one of the oldest cemeteries in the valley, established along with one of the oldest Churches. It
has the same name as it did when established about one hundred and eighty years ago. Today it is still a union
cemetery, and has belonged to several different denominations, Lutherans, United Brethren, Methodist, and
Presbyterians. They hold services in the little old log church near by and have their different Sunday Schools in
the old Church.
The oldest grave which has a date is 1818, but it is recorded that Mathias Shuler came from Germany about
1730 and was buried here about 1750. It is not certain whether his was the first burial here. It is known that
William Cravens and John Bear, two noted Methodist preachers held audiences spell-bound here in 1770.
This cemetery must have been for a long time a burying place in the valley as it is near the camping grounds of
Indians when they occupied the valley.
Some of the Stovers are buried here, who are supposed to be descendants of the first settlers by that name in this
country. Others have limestones with amateur inscriptions.
The inscriptions are as follows:
1818, December 22, Mary Ammon deceas. Christopher Ammon’s wife.
William Dean, Died Jan. 31, 1857. Aged 60 yrs. 11mos, 25 da.
In Memory of Eliz[abeth]th Peterfish daughter of Daniel and Eve Dovel. Born Jan. 31, 1823, Died July 4, 1852.
Hiram Baugher, Dec May 23, 1852.
Sacred to the Memory of Mary M. Peterfish, the daughter of Joan Munger and wife of John Peterfish.
Born Dec. 29th, 1781 and died June 3, 2024 Aged 45 years, 5 mo & 5 d.
Sacred to the Memory of Mary Ann Stover wife of Joseph Stover, Born Dec. 9th, 1799, Died Feby 1st, 1849
Aged 49 years, 7 months & 20 days.
E.R.
1830.
7. ART:
Photograph.
Page 40 of 482
