Rice Covenanter Cemetery ^{New! Popular}

In 1817, Isaiah Reid Sr. led the Scottish Covenanter Christians in founding a community called Walnut Ridge in Washington County in the brand new state of Indiana. The name Covenanter, in 17th century Scottish history, applied to those who bound themselves by covenants to maintain Presbyterianism as the sole religion of Scotland. Scotland faced great struggles over religion and their persecution for the next 200 years. Many Covenanters migrated to Ireland and finally to the colonies of the United States.

According to Mary Reid Lusk (Isaiah Reid Senior's daughter) “The Covenanters of South Carolina were very much dissatisfied with Negro slavery and its accompanying evils and being desirous of freeing themselves from the influence and responsibilities growing out of the pernicious institution began in companies and societies to immigrate to the Free states.”

“In 1814 or 1815 my father (Isaiah) with his family came to some friends at Charleston, Clarke County Indiana. We remained at this place for two years. In the latter part of 1817 we came to the Walnut Ridge.”

The Covenanter Cemetery began in 1819. The Cemetery's legal name is Rice Covenanter Cemetery, for John Adam Rice, the caretaker of the Cemetery. His grave is located near the gate. The first burial at the cemetery was Isaiah Reid, Sr in 1819 (1760-1819). There are 25 Veterans buried at Covenanter Cemetery from the Revolutionary War to Current. There are 275 known graves and several unmarked graves (lost or broken stones). The Cemetery is still in use today.

Isaiah Reid Senior's daughter, Mary Reid married Rev Robert Lusk. Mary later became known as Granny Lusk, a "Granny" Doctor in the community. Her husband had been a doctor; upon his passing, she read his medical journals and received an honorary Doctor's degree from Indiana University. Isaiah's son, Isaiah Reid Jr, 1799-1883, was a Conductor and Station Master on the Underground Railroad in the early 1850's/1860s.

There are many rose bushes that were planted in honor of one of the original families buried there. Their ancestral story can be found in the historical fictional account in the book "The Rifle and the Rose". Robert Elliott is an ancestor of Frank Faunce, author of "The Rifle and the Rose". The Rifle and the Rose is a work of historical fiction and weaves real historical records with fictional narrative to tell the sweeping, multi-generational love story of Robert C. Elliott and Elizabeth Campbell set against the backdrop of early America.

Another interesting person buried in the cemetery is Granny Lusk. She was the "doctor" of the town at one time. She was not a doctor, however she was the person everyone went to when they were sick or injured. She is included in a mural of historical people that is in downtown Salem.

Due to the historical significance of the pioneer burials, community volunteers and local cemetery commissions have actively worked to protect and maintain the grounds, including recent fence installations and regular care.

The modern Covenanter Cemetery leadership has a 3 person board, with a dozen Trustees who oversee and manage the Cemetery. The leadership maintains the church, gazebo, Memorial Garden and the grave sites. They are all volunteers; Annual fundraisers pay for mowing 2x/month from April until September and any maintenance work or supplies that are needed.

A major restoration of the chapel occurred in 2021. Amish builders were hired to construct it and the fencing for the memorial garden to protect the garden from the animals.

If you're ever in the area, take a moment to visit this historic cemetery. It's a lovely site, quiet and peaceful.