This old cemetery, located by Fred Fuller Park in Kent, always caught my eye while driving along Route 59, but I never had the time to stop and check it out.  During the summer of 2004, I finally had the opportunity to explore and photograph Pioneer Cemetery while accompanying the Speed Freaks guys on a location shoot for their newest movie, "The Red Skulls." 
 

 

  

Also known as Stow Street Cemetery and Old Pioneer Cemetery, this historic cemetery was established in 1810, and contains the graves of the area's settlers, including members of the Haymaker family.  It is well-maintained, although there are signs of damage that seem typical for a cemetery this old.

 

 
These three worn stones mark the graves of
(from left) Frederic, Mary Ann, and an
unknown person.  The engravings of a hand
pointing to heaven is a common symbol found
on old gravestones like these.

 

 

 

Not all gravestones here are so worn away.  This beautiful stone marks the grave of Elijah Rockwell, who died March 30th, 1837 at the age of 42.

The inscription below reads: 

Gruge not when Christians go to rest,
They sleep in Jesus and are Blest.

 

     
 
 
This cross-shaped gravestone hidden within
some vegetation marks the grave of Byron
Depeyster, who died in 1879 at the age of
43, and his wife, Elizabeth, who died in 
1918 at the age of 80.

 

 

     
 
 
These broken gravestones found embedded in
the ground mark the graves of Mary Frost (who
died in 1842 at age of 66) and her daughter,
Laura Ann, who died 2 years earlier, on June
28th, 1840, at the age of 31.

 

 

 This marker for the Anderson family is surrounded
by plants and bushes.  Buried in this family plot are:

Sarah Ann Anderson, born June 6th, 1813.  She died
December 3rd, 1859 at the age of 46.  Her inscription
reads, "Dying Is But Going Home."

Lida M. Anderson (inscription pictured 
here), born August 12th, 1832.  She
died July 16th, 1891 just before her 59th
birthday.  Her inscription reads "Asleep
in Jesus."
 
Benjamin F. Anderson, born January 13th,
1809.  He died March 3rd, 1888, at the age
of 79.

 

  

 

 

More broken tombstones.  In the foreground is the tombstone for the 2 year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Stough. His name is unknown.

The remaining stones are illegible.

 

  

 

This nice-looking brownstone gravestone marks the grave of Ephraim Avery, who was born June 15th, 1791, and died at the young age of 23, on September 20th, 1814.  He was a veteran of the War of 1812.

 

 

     
 
 
 
The broken tombstone on the left is for
Elizabeth Parmele, (date of death unknown).
Her husband, Elisha, is buried next to her.
He died on September 4th, 1865, at the age
of 81.

 

 

  

 

 

These moss-covered stones are wholly illegible.

SOURCES:

For more information on Pioneer Cemetery, including a list of cemetery inscriptions, check out the USGenWeb file by clicking here.

To read the interesting history of the Haymaker family, check out this website.