171. Old Winchester Burial Grounds & "Our Jonnie" (1956 and 2019)

July 5, 1956
Group Begins Work On Restoration Of Old Winchester Burial Grounds

Notice the size of the trees compared to the workers.  

Close up of workers. 

     It's no forest fire, but Winchester and White River township citizens helping clear away second-growth trees and brush at the old cemetery on Western avenue. Work on the restoration of the grounds began Wednesday, but donations and considerable weekend help are needed to carry on the project begun on the Fourth of July by Mayor Ralph West, Sr. IN the lower photo one of the several grave markers is shown. Eleven soldier's graves were uncovered Wednesday. The one here, inscribed "Our Jonnie," apparently marks the grave of a young Civil war soldier. (NOTE:  Our Jonnie is not a civil war soldier as discovered later in research.)

     Work on the old cemetery restoration project began Wednesday, with Mayor Ralph West, Sr., and a handful of interested citizens making a noticeable start on clearing away trees and brush from the Winchester burial grounds on Western avenue.
     Merrett Monks, former state representative, was on hand all day and felled the first tree as the project got under way.
     Included among those spending the holiday on the project were Mr. Monks, Mayor and Mrs. West, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Hawley and son, Jack Gillum, Warren Thornburg, Gene Keener, Kenneth Marquis, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Bell, Bob Curry and sons, Joe Casey, Fred Campbell, Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Dudley and daughter, Carol Hayes and a number of neighborhood youths.
     The workers were treated to five cases of soft drinks by the Meadow Gold dairy and sandwiches were served.
     Mayor West announced today that Trustee Louie Grow of White River township donated $50 in behalf of the township to help the restoration project. Earlier donations totaled $41.
     Considerable additional funds will be needed to carry on the project to restore the historical area where 11 soldiers' graves were uncovered Wednesday.
     Mayor West hopes that through donations and possible city aid, the cemetery may be restored completely into a historical monument. Persons or groups interested in backing such a project are asked to send their donations to the "Old Cemetery Fund" in care of Glenn Wall, city clerk who is acting treasurer of the project.

July 10, 1956 

Reader Questions Grave of Soldier.

     A reader takes the Journal-Herald to task for its Saturday story and photo of "Our Jonnie" at the Old cemetery. Facetiously the alert reader writes:
     "Editor:
     "In your article on the "Old Cemetery" in the issue of July 7 you say "eleven soldier's" graves were uncovered Wednesday. The one here (referring to the picture of the stone with the sculptured infant reclining on top) inscribed "Our Jonnie," apparently marks the grave of a young civil war soldier."
     "My recollection of this stone, which has excited the curiosity of several generations of Winchester people, was that the body buried beneath was that of a young child, so I went out to have a look and sure enough, this is what it says on the stone:
     "John D., Son of L. D. and H. E. Carter, Died Dec. 29, 1862, aged 5 years 7 mo. & 18 days."
     "There are cases on record of boys as young as 14 years serving as drummer boys in the Civil War, but this is the first, and probably the only case, of a 5-year-old soldier. It would be interesting to know in what branch of the armed forces little Jonnie Carter, aged 5 years 7 months and 18 days was serving when he was so untimely mustered out.
     "As to the other 10 soldiers whose graves were uncovered last Wednesday, perhaps some will be found with a military history even more astounding than that of Johnnie Carter."

1995
I. Marlene King
     Now and Then is a 1995 film. The plot follows four women who recount a pivotal summer they shared together as adolescents in 1970. Written by Ina Marlene King who based it loosely on her childhood in the Winchester area. Filmed in Georgia. I. Marlene King is currently best known as the executive producer of Pretty Little Liars. 
     Little Jonnie who is referenced in the film is based on a cemetery headstone in the Old Pioneer Cemetery, Heaston Cemetery, just north of the Armory located in Winchester, Randolph County, Indiana. 

DVD release poster. 

Movie release poster. 

2019
Heaston - Winchester Cemetery

John D. "Jonnie" Carter

Born: May 11, 1857, Winchester, Randolph County, Indiana.
Died: December 29, 1862, Randolph County, Indiana.

Jonnie, the son of:

Son of Levi Dexter Carter
Born: 1826 in Montgomery Co., OH. Died: 1894 in Delaware Co., IN. Burial: Beech Grove Cemetery, Muncie, Delaware Co., IN.

Son of Hannah E. Hutchens
Born: 1836 in Randolph Co., IN. Died 1918 in Delaware Co., IN. Burial: Beech Grove Cemetery, Muncie, Delaware Co., IN.

1860 United States Federal Census
Home in 1860: White River, Randolph, Indiana.
Post Office: Winchester.
Dwelling Number: 1165.
Family Number: 1140.

Levi D. Carter, age 30, male born in Ohio. Occupation: Blacksmith. Real Estate value: 900 and personal property value: 300.

Hannah E. Carter, age 24, female born in Ohio.

John D. Carter, age 3, male born in Ohio. Attended school: yes.

Lula E. Carter, age 9/12 (9 months), female born in Ohio.

Polly Hutchens, age 54, female born in North Carolina.

Louisa Butts, age 14, female born in Indiana.

To learn more about the people buried in the cemetery, visit RCHS on a Friday afternoon.

Want to learn more?
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Facebook group: Randolph County Indiana Historical and Genealogical Society

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