Madison County, Indiana - Chapter 40, 1897

With the settlement of Anderson a public cemeterj- or bur\-ing ground became necessary. At the March session, 18'52, of the County Commissioners they made the following order with reference to the matter ; -- Oidered, that William Curtis, agent of ISIadison County, for Andersontown, the seat of justice of said county, do make and execute to John Berry, in consideration of a certain lot of ground by said Berry transferred, for the purpose of a burying ground, a deed for Lots No. 15 and IC), in the south-east square of Andersontown." And again at the January session, 1834, it was, "Ordered, that Joseph Shannon be, and he is hereby appointed county agent for the seat of justice of Madison Count), and that he is iiereby instructed to receive a good deed of John Berry for a buryingground, agreeably to said Berry's undertaking, and also to collect the amount of donation subscribed thereon."

It does not appear of record that Mr. Berry ever executed a deed as required by the county Board, but the ground designated by him was used for years by the citizens of Anderson and surrounding country as a place of interment. This cemetery was situated at the east end of Tenth street on a hill studded with graceful forest trees. It was used for many years as a burial-ground but was finally vacated, the remains of those buried there being reinoved to a cemetery laid out by Collins Tharp on a strip of land lying just west of Delaware street between Eleventh and Twelfth streets. In 1867-8 the hill upon which the first cemetery was located was removed by the P. C. C. & St. L. Railway Co., in order to obtain gravel for its roadbed and the partial remains of a number of persons who had been buried there and forgotten were hauled away and dumped along the line of the road as so much dirt.

In 1863 it became apparent that a larger cemetery was necessary and the Anderson Cemetery Association was organized. Ground was purchased across the river north of the city and the Tharp cemetery was abandoned. Those having friends buried there remo\ed tlieir reiiKiins to tlie new place of sepulture. The first interment in the new cemetery was tiiat of James iVI., infant son of Mr. and Mrs. William Crim, and the grave was dug by James liattreall and Bryant Taylor. The child died in August, 186H, of the dread disease, diphtheria. This disease became epidemic that year in Anderson and the idols of many households were stricken before it ceased its ravages. In ISIJT the Catholic church purchased the ground on South Brown street since known as St. Mary's cemetery and subsef|uentlv consecrated it as a place of burial. The first person buried in this cemetery was Michael, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. ^lichael Carmody.