The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
The first death noted in South Henderson Township was the daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Joseph DeHague. Messrs. James Ryason and Robert Russell were requested to dig the grave on a mound south of Mr. DeHague's house on the bluffs in what is now called the Kemp Cemetery.
With two spades they set to their task, but only a little ways down they found what they supposed to be a round rock so continued digging.
After finding a second and third round rock, they examined them and discovered that they had uncovered human skulls. Hastily, the returned the skulls to their grave and covered them up and then commenced digging a resting place for the DeHague girl in another spot.
In the meantime, a neighbor named Vannetta went by horseback to a carpenter's cabin and had a coffin made and returned to the sad home with it; from there Vannatta carried the remains to the graveyard before him on the horse and the last rites were said.
1882 History of
Henderson County