In 1796 a group of about a dozen or so men came to the area of Little Beaver Township – in what later became Lawrence County, Pennsylvania – and settled large tracts of land along the Little Beaver Creek. The land was owned by a speculation company and in exchange for clearing and maintaining the property the settlers were eventually granted ownership to half of it. Among the early settlers in 1796 were John Sprott, Samuel Sprott, John Beer, James McCowin, William Robison, Philip Aughenbuagh, and James Wilson.
When Jean (or Jane) Hunter Beer, the wife of early settler John Beer, died in November 1797 her husband set aside an acre of his property and buried her there. Other people were soon buried next to her and before long a small cemetery was established. Among the popular surnames of those interred there include Alcorn, Anderson, Bennett, Chestney, Coblentz, Fields, Gibson, Goschke, Imboden, Kale, Lambright, Lindner, Madden, Marshall, Martin, McAnlis, McCowin, McKean, McRoberts, Moore, Riddle, Scott, Shaffer, Sprott, Thomas, VonBerg, Watt, and Zeh. There are also a handful of military veterans from early conflicts to include three from the War of 1812.
In 1877 the burial ground was officially incorporated as the Little Beaver Cemetery when fifty-nine local men pooled their resources to start a cemetery association. An accurate record of those buried at the cemetery was also kept beginning in 1877. It seems the charter was for the new section of the cemetery, as the old may have legally been a separate entity.
There are also a handful of military veterans from early conflicts to include three from the War of 1812. Among the more honored veterans is local Enon Valley soldier Cpl. Earl J. Watt, who was killed in action during World War I. Watt, a twenty-four-year-old “Doughboy,” was wounded during the Battle of Chateau-Thierry in France on July 16, 1918. He received medical treatment but soon returned to the front lines despite his wounds. He was killed in action while fighting German forces on August 22, 1918. He was buried in France but his remains were eventually returned to the United States in 1921. After a service at the Enon Valley Presbyterian Church on Sunday, July 19, 1921, his remains were interred with full military honors in the Little Beaver Cemetery. An American Legion Post (Earl J. Watt Post #638) was established in Enon Valley in August 1921 and named in his honor. The post disbanded in November 1930 and was relocated to Mount Jackson. After World War II the veterans of Mount Jackson and Bessemer combined and moved the Earl J. Watt Post #638 to Bessemer, where a new Legion building was built in 1953.
The cemetery association was reorganized in June 1931 with provisions to maintain its upkeep. An article in the New Castle News of June 22, 1931, mentions, “The amended charter also provides for the taking over of the old cemetery, but which the new cemetery is surrounded. Certificates entitling persons financially interested in the old cemetery to vote, are also to be issued.” Seems like an odd statement because I know the old one-acre portion of the cemetery is now located in the middle of Little Beaver Cemetery, so maybe the article meant to say “but which the new cemetery surrounds.”
The non-denominational cemetery is located in a rural setting along Route 351 to the northwest of Enon Valley. It is still in active use today and is always very well-maintained.
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Comments
Patrick McCaskey #
Hello,
In doing Genealogy research on the McCaskey family, we have an entry that states that Elizabeth McCaskey was interred in the “Presbyterian Burying Ground near Enon PA.”
Elizabeth died 6 MARCH 1847 in Little Beaver PA. Her birthdate was 10 July 1787.
Elizabeth was married to William McCaskey who died 31 January 1838 in Little Beaver PA. I suspect he is also buried there. His birthdate is listed as 2 March 1764.
Any assistance in confirming the location of this burial ground would be appreciated.
Thank you
Patrick McCaskey
Kathy #
I am researching my Smith family. My great great grandfather was born in Little Beaver in Sept 1797 and died there in 1863. He was married to Sarah Wright. They had a son named Joseph Henry Smith also born there in 1833. Joseph moved to Iowa as an adult. I am seeking more information about John and Sarah.
Judy Foster #
Patrick and Kathy, I am president of Enon Valley Community Historical Society. Please contact me at this email, and I will do my best to help you. We have a rev Dilworth’s diaries that have a lot of info about early Settlers in LBTwp.
roy donald goss #
hi judy
i went to little beaver school from first to fifth grades, it burned down when i was in 5th grade, and we finished the year at besemer. i went to enon for 6th.grade—we moved to ohio, and i went to new middletown for 7th. we then moved to near pittsburgh, pa. and i went to neville island school from sept 1945
march 1946-we moved back to enon valley, and i finished 8th grade at enon. some of my classmates were richard zeh, maryellen kelch. carl breaden, etc. would it be possible to get the names of my other classmates from the 8th grade class of 1946.thank you r. don goss
Patti Hanks #
I can write the same message as Kathy wrote above (#2). I’m also researching John Smith (1797-1863) and Sarah Wright Smith. I come through the line of their son Philip (Joseph Henry’s brother).
I’ve been looking for John Smith’s parents for quite a few years and haven’t been able to find them.
Also, findagrave.com has John Smith listed as being buried in both the Little Beaver Cemetery and the Rocky Springs Cemetery. I believe he is buried at Rocky Springs because John and Sarah’s youngest son, William, who died in the Civil War in his late teens is also buried there.
Other Surnames related to this family are McCown, Young, Yeager, Irwin, and Crawford.
Thanks for any advice or direction you can give me,
Patti
Cathryn Scott #
Hi, I am looking for information on William Scott. He is my 4th great grand father. He had a son, born in 1806 (Archibald Scott) in Beaver County, PA. Tax records I have from Archibald said that William Scott was a captain in the Beaver County Militia and died of camp fever while at Erie PA, in the War of 1812. Archibald eventually married Elizabeth McCandless (James Ewing was here first husband) and they moved to Illinois from Washington, PA. I did see a William Scott that went to Erie, PA with the 138th Militia from Little Beaver, but I cannot be sure it is the right William.
I know the county lines and names have changed a number of times, so I’m not sure I’m looking in the right place, but any information would be helpful. Thanks!
Patty Russell #
Is there a map with all the plots/graves and who is buried?
Thanks,
Patricia May Schuster, Lambright Russell
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