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Franklin County, Pennslvania Updated: September 9, 2010 The Slate Hill graveyard is located in Montgomery Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
  For upward of 100 years burials had been made in the plot. Today there are but few gravestones with inscriptions but there are many native stones scattered about.The gravel lane to the cemetery is several miles east of Mercersburg, on the east side of Pennsylvania Route 16. The American Flag and the large monument can be seen from the highway
This cemetery was desecrated by men on a bulldozer back in April 1983. A neighbor observed this destruction where the gravestones were plowed down and run over to break them in pieces. Sadly, the neighbor did not know any descendants of the people buried in the cemetery and was legally limited to actions to stop the desecration. However this neighbor was able to stop the total destruction of the cemetery. The farm adjacent to this cemetery is known as the Heister Farm. The owner of this farm currently tills the soil all around this cemetery and was the owner when the desecration took place. Since the desecration, visitors must walk through planted crops to reach the cemetery. The name of the owner of this farm along with photographs of deeds, indentures, surveys, maps, other historical and government documents, and newspaper articles about this cemetery are on the Slate Hill Cemetery (History) webpage.
A number of years ago (1940's) a marker was placed for two revolutionary soldiers, Oliver Anderson and David Humphrey, his father‑in‑law. Chester A. Anderson, Archibald O. Anderson, both of Upton; Mrs. Roy Stouffer, Williamson; Mrs. D. Singer Geiser and Mrs. Charles E. Wolff, both of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, were responsible for the erection of the marker. All were great-grandchildren of Oliver Anderson. The picture of the marker located at left was taken November 10, 2001. The marker was repaired several times over the years by descendants of Oliver Anderson. On August 24, 2004, Rollie and Ray Anderson, great-great-grandsons of Oliver Anderson, placed a new concrete top on the Marker to prevent further damage from freezing water. The photo of the marker at right was taken August 25, 2004.
Two Plaques are embedded in the Monument listing information on the two Revolutionary soldiers
Another small marker is located nearby in the cemetery with the words:
-Slate Hill- Associate Congregation Church & Cemetery Site Built by Scotch-Irish Settlers in Early 1700's As Church of Scotland Seceders. Merged with United Presbyterian in 1800's Beneath this field lie the remains of many early pioneers
Lane from cemetery (Two Top Mountain in background) Monument with Two Top Mountain in distance Adding concrete top to monument (Aug 2005)
Newspaper Article:
  The following information was taken from a Franklin County newspaper article (located at right), date unknown:
MARKER ERECTED AT RESTING PLACE OF TWO SOLDIERS
Memorial Marks Montgomery Twp. Graves of Men Who Fought in Revolution
MERCERSBURG, April 30 - A Monument has been erected in the early graveyard on the Heister farm in Montgomery Township, to mark the resting place of two Revolutionary War soldiers, David Humphreys and his son-in-law, Oliver Anderson. The monument is built of native stones, bearing on the east side two markers of marble with the following inscriptions: “Oliver Anderson, Pvt. 2 BN.’Pa. Mil. Rev.-War, 1810. David Humphreys, Pvt. Pa. Mil. Rev.-War, 1795.” This monument was put up through the united interest of the following descendants of these men: Chester A. Anderson and A. O. Anderson of Montgomery Township, Mrs. Roy Stouffer of Williamson, Mrs. Charles Wolff and Mrs. ‘Singer' Geiser of Waynesboro. When General Washington was hard pressed by Cornwallis, in his Position between Trenton and a bend of the Delaware, he outwitted the British commander, made a wide detour around his camp, won the battle of Princeton, and retired to a strong position at Morristown. The stratagem General Washington used, was to leave a group of picked men to keep the fires burning at his camp on the Delaware, and to continue the noise customary about the camp, so that the British soldiers would not suspect that all but a handful of men were hurrying towards Princeton. One of these men, who piled on the wood, kept up the camp sounds, and successfully deceived the British was Oliver Anderson, Pvt., Second Battalion, Pennsylvania Militia. From one generation to another his story has been told, and his resting place known and treasured, although the early markings had disappeared. Contributions/Updates to this Genealogy and Web Site are Welcome. Point of Contact is millerr@innernet.net Additional information is located on my sister's web site: |
