THE CEMETERY AT THE BOYS INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL

THE CEMETERY AT THE BOYS INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL
Lancaster, Ohio
aka Ohio Reform School & Farm, and in the closing days,
FAIRFIELD SCHOOL FOR BOYS
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1856 – Ohio Reform School (Reform School & Farm)
1884 – Boys Industrial School
1964 – Fairfield Schools for Boys – Closed 1979
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The following information has been extracted from Cemeteries
of Hocking Township, Fairfield County, Ohio. Published 1994.
Fairfield County Chapter, Ohio Genealogical Society, Lancaster, OH., Page 1-3.
and was researched and given to us by Debbie Moio, Lancaster, Ohio.
Accompanying photos were provided by Lisa (Robinson) Schorr,
member of the BIS Museum Group
BIS CEMETERY
This cemetery, sometimes called Boot Hill, is located in Section 35 on the grounds of the former Boys Industrial School (originally called the Ohio Reform School & Farm) and later called Fairfield School for Boys and primarily was for the burial of the young inmates from the BIS and other state schools. There is at least one employee buried here and perhaps some family members of employees. Many of the markers appear to be handmade of brick and cement and have no inscriptions. This is now the site of The Southeastern Correctional Institution. Although not in the fenced-in area of the prison, you should get permission to visit this cemetery.
Copied June 15, 1994 by Patsy Kishler, Patty Peery, Karen Smith and Carol Swinehart with the help of Rick Chuvalas.

Rows copied from northeast to southwest beginning in the row at the edge of the woods farthest from the road. Information in brackets [ ] refers to the cottage in the institution where the young man had been residing.
ROW 1
3 stones without inscriptions
ROW 2
BUCKHOLZ, Theodore, [Cuyahoga], born Nov. 9, 1896, died May 9, 1913
4 stones without inscriptions
GOODMAN, Bryan, [Lagonda], born Apr. 19, 1897, died Nov. 4, 1913
DUNN, Wesley, [Hocking] born Aug. 19, 1899, died Nov. 23, 1913
MURCHISON, Fred, [Bushnell], born Oct. 4. 1903, died Feb. 4, 1914
2 stones without inscriptions
ROW 3
GORDON, Calvin, [Hocking], born Oct. 30, 1887, died Apr. 9, 1902
DONALDSON, George, [Cuyahoga], born in Michigan Oct. 5, 1884, died Mar. 30, 1902
HESS, Charles R., [Union], born Mar. 23 1887, died Feb. 4, 1902
Sandstone marker without an inscription
“Clyde” (lamb on top of stone)
PADDOCK, Robert N., infant son of Robert and Mary, born May 15, 1886, died Sep. 30, 1886.
Sandstone marker without an inscription
Illegible marker
ROW 4
5 stones without inscriptions
HOWS(?), “Little Frank”, son of FW & SO, died Aug. 25/26, 1887(?), aged 2y or 3y 1m _d
2 stones without inscriptions
PASKINS, Robert, 1950-1968
ROW 5
8 stones without inscriptions
KING, Benson, died Jan. 23, 1989
SMITH, John, died July 11, 1989
JOHNSON, Edward, died Jan. 20, 1941
ADDIS, Lester, died Aug. 18, 1942
Stone without inscription
MORRIS, Robert K., 1953-1969
ROW 6
JOHNSON, Edward H., #3577, died Oct. 23, 1882, aged 11y
HOLMES, Harry, #3580, died Jan. 30, 1882, aged 13y
DAVIS, Enos, #2351, died Jan. 14, 1881, aged 13Y
GRIMES, John, #3161. died Nov. 27, 1880, aged 11y
REICHERT, George, #3859, died Sep. 30, 1880, aged 11y
7 stones without inscriptions
ROW 7
GORTNER, Stephen A., 1859-1941 (Instructor at BIS 1912-1941, beloved for his outstanding devotion and Christian example.)
THOMAS, Eugene, born Dec. 20, 1933, died Nov. 19, 1983
PLUMMER, James E., born Mar. 4, 1922, died Dec. 16, 1983
BALDWIN, Oscar, born Sept. 24, 1924, died Feb. 21. 1984
CLEVENGER, Walter E., born Jan. 31, 1926, died Sept. 11, 1985
ROW 8
KIRK, David L., [Hocking Correctional Facility], born Nov 11, 1930, died Dec. 21, 1987
BELL, Allen, [Hocking Correctional Facility], born July 10, 1924, died Feb. 23,
1989
BEACH, Marvin, [Hocking Correctional Facility], born Jan. 16, 1924, died
Sep. 28, 1989
ANTHONY, Mark Sr., born Nov. 10, 1925, died July 20, 1990
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THE WORDWRIGHT’S COMMENT – The boys at the BIS and later FSB were not merely numbers on a record card. This record of those buried in the BIS CEMETERY is an essential part of the history of an institution that worked with boys for nearly 125 years and was one of the more innovative progressive institutions for juvenile offenders in the United States. We have copied the data exactly as it was written by the genealogical group noted above and affirm spelling of names is as on whatever information appeared on said monuments. Bill & Jean Venrick, March 1, 2011.
COPYRIGHTED 2011