Batson Church and Cemetery - 1832
Batson Cemetery  in Liberty Township, Henry County, Indiana is located on CR #500E, about one half mile south of SR
#38. It was set aside as a neighborhood burial grounds in 1844 by Thomas Batson, naming Jacob Crane, William
Bland and John Odom as the trustees of the Batson Cemetery.
The white clapboard building known as Batson Church - officially the Dublin Pike Church was built in the 1870's.
Dublin Pike runs the distance between New Castle and New Lisbon and was once an Indian trail.  The church was
transported to it's current location in the early 1900's (according to the written account of a local farmer named
Yauky) in 1900.  It was moved from it's former location at Chicago Corner to the Batson Cemetery. The afformentioned
Mr. Yauky (aldona) was the caretaker and grave-digger at Batson Cemetery for many years and kept a detailed
diary about his daily activities and the goings on in the world in the 1950's.
More Info about Batson can be found at:
Henry County Genealogical Services
Batson Church and Cemetery - 1832
Batson Church and Cemetery - 1832
Dinkins-Runyan Family
Collectors World
Music page. Turn up the
volume!
Mark Orr
"Amidst  rows of pews, and brilliant hues
of streaming stained glass glory".
(From the poem
"Mrs. Jackson and the Congregation by
Mark Orr ®).

Batson Church pews.
"And as she spoke of
faith and hope to the
restless congregation
a line formed at the
altar , barring
provocation"
From the poem "Mrs. Jackson
and the Congregation", by
IMark S. Orr 2005®
Veleda Dinkins, Alice
Nipp Runyan, Ed Runyan
and Georgia Runyan
Nipp.
Jesse Dinkins
Sarah Frances
Runyan Dinkins,
Henry County Pioneer
William Isaac Dinkins
(1861-1941)
Noah Runyan 1st
1777-1839
One of the first
Runyan's in Henry
County
Catharine Runyan
Wife of Noah
Died Sept. 9 ,1855
These are some of
the earliest Batson
burials.
Christopher Long grave marker , a short distance from Batson Cemetery , now stands alone. This site used to
be a burial ground but was plowed over by the land owner. Most of the markers were relocated to Batson.
Long was a Revolutionary War veteran. The first photo was taken by myself in 2009....the second taken by
(unknown) many years ago.
The lane that leads to Batson Cemetery. On this day the
Church and Cemetery were completely hidden from the
main road.
Outbuilding behind Batson Church....
has seen better days.
* Fell down in 2007 and removed.
A photo that shows just how beautiful this
place is....and an historic site as well. We
should do all we can to preserve this
resting place of peace.
Some ghostly mourners gathered around a
grave beneath the tree?
New sign placed on entrance in October
2006A re-dedication is to follow.
New sign placed in October 2006
marks Batson  as an Historic
Cemetery listed in registry. Placed
by VFW Ladies Auxillary.
Horses were used to move Batson Church to it's present
location. It was pulled down Dublin Pike which used to be
an Indian trail.
The previous location was thought to near New Lisbon,
Indiana. If you have any info please write me:
IAN AT COLLECTORSWORLD
The piano inside Batson Church today.
Photo taken 2006
Church as it appears today.
2006
Podium and Cross as they  appear
today. ~2007
Batson Church is a hot spot for vandals.
It's scheduled to be re-painted in 2007.
This photo of Batson Church and Cemetery was
taken on an early August morning in 2006. It's a
beautiful place when deserted which is most of
the time.
Batson Cemtery Flag on a still
August morning 2006.
To date I've counted over 75
Runyan/Dinkins/Orr family members who
have been laid to rest at Batson Cemetery.
SEE MAP OF RUNYAN BURIALS HERE
Awesome photo taken after a hard rain in July
of 2006...the sun is coming back out.
North East corner of Batson Cemetery. There
are many markers that are illegible......I'm still
looking for many that are known to be here but
are in disrepair or completely gone.
Letter From
Civil War
Musician
Abraham Runyan
All photos were taken by  Ian St. Ian (Mark Orr Photography)  except where noted
...and are copyright protected and can be used with permission
only....2004,2005,2006  Collectors World Online.Com
Email me with your
Runyan,Dinkins,Goar,Gordon,LaBoyteaux,Mullen
and other family information!
Marker for Abraham Runyan (1829-1899)
"Mus"n  Abra'm Runyan
Co. "G"
84th  Ind. Inf.
Civil War Fifer
My GG Grandfather.
Marker for Thomas and Mary Runyan.
Thomas was born in 1799 and died in 1877.
He was the son of Noah Runyan.
There are no church services held at Batson
Church now..so these beautiful  Sunday
morning views are seen by few.
One of the "Twin Outhouses" that
stood at Batson for decades.
Both are gone now.
Benjamin Runyan (1796-1864)
Buried beside wife Nancy Slinger Fink (ca 1803-1873).
Nancy Slinger Fink Runyan. Wife of Benjamin
Runyan . Nancy born about 1803 and died in
September of 1873.
George and Elizabeth "Betsy" Mullen Runyan.
George (1808-1889) Son of Noah (1777-1839).
Elizabeth (ca 1800-1881)
George was the son of Noah Runyan (1777-1839) and
Catherine LaBoyteaux Runyan (1783-1855), both of whom
are also buried at Batson Cemetery.
*(Actually Noah is thought to be buried in a nearby field that
once was an earlier cemetery, and his stone was moved to
Batson when that cemetery was plowed under).
Looking in from the entry-way to Batson Church. Imagine all the
church services, weddings, funerals and other activities that took
place here during it's century of use. I often visit here on Sunday
mornings and just sit quietly and take it all in.  Though it's reported to
be one of the most haunted cemeteries in Indiana...I have found
nothing but peace and beauty here. I hope there comes a day when
the boarded up windows are open to daylight again and the stained
glass windows replaced.
Mrs. Jackson and the Congregation
To those who came before us........
A poem by Mark Sean Orr

Sunlight lit Mrs Jackson's face
as she began to tell her story.
Amidst rows of pews, and brilliant hues
of streaming stained glass glory.
The congregation passed the plate
as Huldah testified.
I wondered where she'd found her faith
since Mr. Jackson died.
She'd turned to the Bible and found her comfort there.
Her son turned to the bottle and pretended not to care.
And as she spoke of faith and hope
to the restless congregation.
A line formed at the altar barring provacation.
even the irascible Mr.Maddy
knelt down on bended knee.
He thanked the lord for his Becca
and loving family.
God in his amazing glory was in our church that day.
He used a future angel to to show us all the way.





Mark Orr
Copyright ©2007 Mark Orr
Rate this poem
Beautiful and serene Batson Cemetery sits high on a hill on County Road
500... hidden from all but those who seek it out, in Henry County, Indiana.
Some notable names of those buried here include: Dillhorn, Dinkins, Enright,
Erhart, Gilbert, Goar, Gordon, Goudy, Hamilton, Kissell, LaBoyteaux, McLean,
Millikan, Morris, Mullen, Needham ,Neff, Orr, Peed, Ramer, Runyan (over 50
Runyans), Smith, Stout, VanZant, Wilkinson, Wilson ,Wisehart and Yauky.
These are the people who pioneered Henry County and the surrrounding
counties. They cleared the land and built the first schools,churches and mills.
Farmers,woodworkers,plowmakers,preachers,teachers,coopers,seamstress
es,soldiers,blacksmiths and more. They lived , loved and raised their families
here through hardship and good times. Their dreams, the same as ours...to
live a good life and pave the way for future generations.
Marriage License for Abraham Runyan and
Annie Margaret Kissel.
Click photo for larger view.
Marriage License for William Isaac Dinkins and
Sarah Frances Runyan.
August 17, 1882 Click photo for larger view.
New Castle, Indiana
Date July 4 1899
Meeting of "Old Settlers"
Honored included:
Abraham Runyon who died
Mar 8 1899
James Runyon  who died
Dec 20 1898
Listed in the New Castle
Democrat on July 14th 1899