Sugar Grove Cemetery

It appears that Anna Sims might have been one of the first, if not the first, burial in the cemetery. Her tombstone is the oldest still standing and the land was originally owned by her husband, Lawson Sims who died in 1859. Tombstone records indicate that Rebecca Reed and Eliza Kelly died between the time that Anna and Lawson died.

A rather tragic tale is of the murder/suicide of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Copeland, a hired hand of the Sims'. Most people think they were the first burial, but this is not true as the murder/suicide didn't happen until February of 1859.

By 1881 approximately 48 irregular sized spaces were staked out by family members for burial purposes. This is the original part of the cemetery, lots 166 to 214. In 1881 people of the community thought it was necessary to add additional land and plot out the cemetery, measuring off the old lots and making all lots on new ground acquired to one specific size, 31' x 8', wherever possible. This new land acquired made the cemetery 3.62 acres with lots from 1 to 215.

On December 16, 1962 additional land was given by Florence Miller of 1.5 acres which added an additional 148 lots, 10' x 16' making a total of 5.12 acres with a total of 363 lots. Some of these lots were taken off for roads in the old part of the cemetery.

The records of 125 years ago and the books are badly worn and falling apart. We thought it would be good to record and preserve these records for future generations.