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The Old Stone Church Cemetery is located on the east side of Shenango Road in Chippewa Township, ear Brady's Run, Beaver, Pennsylvania, just opposite he original site of the Old Stone Church. The road leading to this location is now called Church Lane. Here are 85 graves in this plot-nine of which cannot be deciphered. All of the headstones are of the same type (sandstone) as that of John Inman, dated 1798.
Although the ravages of time and the elements have radically erased any sign of the Old Stone Church building, there is still a legible tombstone in the church yard that dates back as far as 1798. The following inscription can still be read on this marker: "In loving memory of John Inman who departed this life in 1798. age 10 years, 8 months, 20 days." Records show that is was the first interment.
The burial dates range from 1798 to 1921 when the last headstone was set into place. A complete investigation of the old cemetery was made a few years ago and all of the graves are now recorded for posterity.
Using an iron rod as a digging tool, 14 graves were unearthed from under heavy mounds of dirt and underbrush. One such grave reads: "Eliza Jane, daughter of L. H. Douthitt departed this life July 16, age 5 years, 2 months and 12 days." It is not known how long these graves have lain covered and unidentified. It is also interesting to note that many of the burials are of children under the age of two and of young people in their early teens.
While little is known about these persons, they undoubtedly came from families who had much to do with the beginning habitation of Beaver County and the early history of this area.
At least two Revolutionary War Veterans have been laid to rest here: Matthias Shanor and Thomas Stratton. Matthias Shanor came to this district shortly after he was mustered out of the Revolutionary Army in 1783.
He bought two hundred acres of land on the north branch of Brady's Run which later became the Old Thomas Stratton Farm in Chippewa Township. The woods were infested with wild beasts, especially wolves, and at night when traveling through the woods it was necessary to keep a fire burning to keep them from attacking. This is typical of early settlers. Matthias Shanor married Sophrania Poe, sister of Andrew and Adam Poe, who vere known as Indian fighters. The Poe brothers are buried in the Old Mill Creek Cemetery, Hookstown, Pennsylvania.
The name "Chippewa" is a shortened English version of an old Indian word, Chipwayanwok, which means tailskins. This name was given to the Indians who lived in this area because of the nature of their dress. The tails of animal skins formed a fringe around the outer edge of their jackets and other clothing and thus they became known as the "Tailskins" or the "Chipwayanwok" tribe.
The Old Stone Church near the cemetery was destroyed by fire in 1848 while a service was in progress one Sunday morning. A spark from the log fireplace set fire to a portion of the interior of the tiny meeting house. The worshippers lost no time in making a hasty exit, securing water from a nearby spring they finally doused the blaze. According to an old family Bible, much damage was done.
The last known baptism to be held in the Old Stone Church is as follows word for word from this old Bible: "Matilda McCaughtry born May 4th, 1856. Baptized by Rev. Robert Hopkins at the Stone Meeting Enon Circuit, Pittsburgh Conference, November 8th, 1857."
Because this old church was built of stone and called the "Meeting House", it has been suggested that perhaps it was of the Quaker Faith. This is without foundation for the older residents of the community were queried and without exception declared they had always heard their parents and grandparents say it was a Methodist Church.
Persons yet living remember seeing the Old Stone Church that stood on the farm of Thomas Stratton in varying stages of decay. The Stratton's, recognizing the need for a new home, decided to use the stone from the old church to build a foundation for their new home. So, with an oxen team, the stones were carted off in 1890 to be built into the new foundation.
The Old Stone Church was founded in 1796, three years after the treaty with the Indians opened the territory North of the Ohio River for settlement. The original building was 25'x2O', and it was built of native sandstone. It was the only church in this area not built of logs.
A deed for the Old Stone Church was recorded in Beaver County Court House, August 11, 1846. Approximately one acre of land was deeded to the church by James and Elizabeth Davidson, for a "consideration" of $25.00.
While little can now be learned from the records or from living persons regarding the beginning of the church, there is still an identifying mark left in existence, and that is the Old Stone Cemetery.