Speers died from a lick by a horse, and it is generally believed that his remains were interred in Gibsonton Cemetery, on the original Speers farm near Belle Vernon on the Monessen road.
This was the first burial place in the immediate area, Rehoboth Cemetery's first interment coming later, in 1790.
The first burial ground intended for Belle Vernon was on Goulds Hill, now known as East Belle Vernon, or "Seldom Seen".
The remains of Louis CISLEY were the first to be interred in this ground. Then followed the burials of Casper EBNER, Joseph BILLITER and his two sons, James and Lewis.
The next burial place was at the old Free Will Baptist Church in Belle Vernon, on Wood St., near Flint Alley. Mrs. William HUTCHISON, who lived on the road beyond La Grange school house in Rostraver Twp., was the first person buried in this graveyard, in 1843.
Because of the increased population of the town and vicinity, better facilities for the burial of the dead were necessary.
Hence the organization and incorporation of Belle Vernon Cemetery Association on Nov. 1, 1866.
Denton LYNN, Noah Q. SPEERS, J. M. SPRINGER, J. S. VAN VOORHIS, Daniel SPRINGER and Bazil BRIGHTWELL purchased a plot of ground from James H. SPRINGER for burial purposes and organized the Belle Vernon Cemetery Association.
A charter for this Association was granted by the Westmoreland County court on May 13, 1867. The first meeting was held Sept. 27, 1867 and Denton Lynn, Noah Speers , J. S. Van Voorhis, Bazil Brightwell and Daniel Springer were named managers, Van Voorhis was president.
The first person buried in this ground after its purchase was Abrah SMOCK, who died in Belle Vernon Sept 24, 1866. Prior to this date however, the ground had been known as the burial place of the Springer family.
Other burial places were located on the Thomas REDD farm at the mouth
of Maple Creek now a part of Charleroi; the Smith FRYE farm on the hill
above North Charleroi, and the high ground not far from the school house
in North Belle Vernon.
© Copyright 1999 by Michael A. Donaldson
All information submitted to this page remains, to the extent the law allows, the rightful property of the submitter.
The submitter agrees that it may be freely copied, but never sold or used in a commercial venture without the knowledge
and written permission of its rightful owner. Rootsweb, and the owner of this site, make neither claim nor estimate of the validity or accuracy of
any information submitted. All information should be independently researched.