Most cemetery information is kept by the Pulaski County Genealogical Society. However, if the Museum has an artifact on display that relates to a local cemetery, we will add a page. We  have an artifact from Pro Cemetery.

From “Indian Creek Cemetery (commonly called ‘Pro’): its history and its families,” Julia Ann Knarr Binkley. Star City, IN, author, 2002.

History of Indian Creek Cemetery
This picture of the Pro Church showing the stones in the adjacent graveyard was taken before extensive improvements were made in recent years by trustees and interested persons. The grounds and cemetery especially have received appreciable care. Ancient title and abstracts indicate the corruption of the original name “Brough” to “Prough” and still later, “Pro.” From the Star City, Indiana Centennial Booklet, 1959.

A burial ground was begun near the south side of the creek on Peter’s property. No one knows about the first burial. Peter’s own daughter was buried there in 1855 but neighbors had made burials earlier. Stones still stand for Smith, Mack and Baker dated 1846; Smith and Mattix 1847; Mattix 1848; Mattix and Parcel 1850; Shepard 1851; Bacon, Rex, Yount 1852; Hall, Shepard, Plotner 1853; and Mason 1854. There were surely more, perhaps earlier, burials for stones have been broken and removed. Some sites were never marked. Those families all know the place as “Brough’s Cemetery.”

The Indian Creek Church

“The New Union Church in the Southern part of Indian Creek Township was erected in 1879, with the understanding that the house was to be subject to the use of any and all orthodox denominations, tho the property is deeded to the Christians or Disciple Class.”

“Rev. W.J. Rhinehart organized the Christian Class and it is through his efforts, mainly, that the Church was built. Among the Christians are: J.J. Rhinehart, Alexander Yount, Frederick Yount, Elizabeth Gruwell, James Pepper, and Hiram Sluyter. The Christian Class was first organized further south at a schoolhouse in White County.”

[Taken from Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana, published by Batty in 1883.]

Picture of the church in 1981. By this time, the steeple had been removed in order to place a new roof. You can see tombstones behind the church.

The Church was built with two front doors and an attractive steeple (later removed when a new roof was put on). Inside, the furnishings were handmade pews built of local tulip poplar, a large heating stove, an area carpet, an upright piano, gas lamps, a handsome oak lectern, and papered walls.

There was no regular pastor. Preachers traveled a circuit and included the Church at Indian Creek. Notices often appeared in the Winamac newspapers such as this item in the Democratic Journal of March 19, 1887, “Rev. Beade of Waterloo, Ind. Will preach at the Reformed Church in Winamac Sunday eve; at Pulaski Sat. eve.; at Indian Creek Sun. morning at 10 a.m.; and at Bruce’s Lake Mon. eve.”

Page from the Indian Creek Cemetery Association Minutes Book.

Jacob Fross, a New Dunkard minister, traveled up from Idaville to serv the people of this community. He preached to them, married them, and buried them. His name appeared again and again in obituaries of folks buried at Pro. Re. Alvin Hall was another who later ministered to this community. He started as a song leader, traveling with Rev. Fross, then became an ordained minister in the Congregational Christian Conference. Rev. J.E. McCloud was another minister.

Those preachers held protracted meetings (revivals) with baptizing in nearby Indian Creek. Funerals were held in the Church as late as 1962. How many funerals in that Church over the years? Obituaries from Monticello and Winamac newspapers read “funeral services at Indian Creek; Burial at Pro” and ‘Funeral at Pro Church; Burial in the nearby cemetery.”

Sketch of the cemetery showing the Additions (sections)

By 1899, ownership of the cemetery had passed to Pulaski County. It was in neglected condition. So – on July 1, 1899, a meeting was held, an association was formed, rules were written, officers elected and subscriptions (of money) received, as recorded in the minute book by Jno. S. McBeth, secretary. The 70 signers who contributed 10 cents to $1 each were:

  • John Mattix
  • D.P. Teeter
  • J.D. Hoover
  • Jno. C. McBeth
  • Chris Shields
  • Dave Imler
  • Ed McCloud
  • Riley Mason
  • Amos Plotner
  • John Fry
  • Samuel Imler
  • Lute Custer
  • Fred Yount
  • George Davis
  • Joseph McBeth
  • George Key
  • Wm. Hanawalt
  • George Hart
  • W.F. Custer
  • Geo. Crissinger
  • William Rex
  • Caleb Fry
  • Bill Harlow
  • Daniel Shields
  • Mary J. Imler
  • Silas Headlee
  • Joseph Smith
  • Oliver McCloud
  • Allen B. Shields
  • A.W. Lucas
  • Amon Felker
  • W.W. McBeth
  • The sunburst decoration from the front of Pro Church, saved when the church was demolished in May 1982

    W.S. Swayze

  • John Hoch
  • Harvey Rodgers
  • Sidney McCloud
  • Rebeca Lucas
  • Alwilda Davis
  • Mary A. Imler
  • John Shelhart
  • William Rex
  • Geo. L. Buck
  • John E. Reames
  • Fred Reames
  • Rosa Clouse
  • George Kestle
  • Joseph Kestle
  • Ira Malott
  • Mrs. Nancy Hanawalt
  • Wm. Osborn
  • Silas M. Headlee
  • Geo. W. McCloud
  • Wm. Pierce
  • James Pepper
  • Wallington Gaby
  • T.H. Knarr
  • John Lidgard
  • Joe Peters
  • Martin Moyer
  • Matilda Crissinger
  • Geo. W. Hart
  • Jerry Mattix
  • Ben Crissinger
  • Joseph Smith
  • James W. Mason
  • P. Hinshaw
This photograph of Pro Cemetery is not dated.

This list was made from the 70 original signatures in the Indian Creek Cemetery Association Minute Book.

On September 2, 1899, the Association bought one have acre (more or less) that  lay south of the cemetery for $50 from Samuel Imler. Called the “First Addition,” it was platted for lots that sold for $5 each.

On June 15, 1900, the Indian Creek Cemetery Association was incorporated with its purpose stated, “To manage, maintain, and control a suitable burial place for the dead…”

On February 6, 1901, the Commissioners of Pulaski County deeded the original cemetery to the Indian Creek Cemetery Association. By 1913, land for the second addition was purchased and the price for a lot was raised to $10.

Annually, the church was aired and the pews scrubbed in preparation for May 30. By tradition, that was Decoration Day at Pro Cemetery.

Land for the Third Addition was bought from the Malchow Family. Directors continued to take conscientious responsibility for upkeep and improvement of the cemetery. In April and December of 1941, they planted rows of pine trees across the west side, which have grown into a distinctive, attractive windbreak. Tey invested in small American flags which are placed on veterans’ graves for Decoration Day.

Throughout the 1960s, the church was used less and less, as members of the growing Headlee and White Oak Churches had funerals conducted in their churches. Then, the Decoration Day programs were discontinued. Vandals broke into the building. It was needing repairs. The directors decided to remove it.

Pro Cemetery as seen in 1999, photograph by Karen Fritz

Folks in the community were glad to buy the pews. In May of 1982, Orvan Fritz took the building down for the lumber. The sunburst decoration from the church front was saved and can be seen in the Pulaski County Historical Museum at Winamac.

To the center of the churchyard, a drive was laid out, leading to a flagpole circle backed by a large stone inscribed, “Indian Creek Cemetery.”  Foundation stones from the old church were cut and laid, creating semi-circular benches. All this work was done by volunteers working with Bob Crowder – an experienced stone mason. Mildred Crowder added the finishing touch – a special wash on the rocks. The rest of the churchyard was measured off for sale as lots – called the “Fourth Addition.”

Over the years, all income was carefully invested and interest income easily paid expenses. It no longer does, with interest rates down and mowing and insurance costs up.

The association continues under the direction of:

  • Everett Crosby, President
  • Wilma Blackman, Secretary
  • Steven Crosby, Treasurer
  • Leroy Crissinger, Director
  • Robert Malchow, Director
  • Mark Crowder, Director
  • Harold Brooks, Director
  • Richard Ploss, Director
  • Dean Allen, Director
About the name “PRO.”

It was first Peter Brough, the landowner. (See his grave marker at the back of the old section.) After Peter was gone, few people saw the written name. It was spoken “Brough,” “Prough.” (Try saying it over and over.) And so it became “Pro,” a corruption by common usage, and spelled as it sounds.

An Article taken from “The Winamac Republican” May 28, 1929

Decoration Day at Pro Cemetery: Committee invites neighbors and former residents to attend service., By the Committee.

There will be a meeting of the Pro or Indian Creek cemetery association on May 30. Appropriate services will be held by Rev. John E. McCloud of Winamac, and W.H. Wolf of Pulaski will lead the congregation in the singing of the national hymn.

The association is duly organized for the better maintenance of Pro or Indian Creek Cemetery and is incorporated under the laws of the state of Indiana. It is offered by the following: President, Earl Phillips; secretary, M.T. Davidson; treasurer, Ed Crissinger; and trustees, John Fry, Elam Yount and James Mason. John Clark of Headlee has been the sexton the past year and has done his part in making this one of the best cemeteries in the county. We feel that we have made wonderful progress in the past year. Besides putting the cemetery, church yard and road adjacent to the cemetery in a neat, clean and orderly condition we are out of debt and have money in the treasury to finish the year’s business. We have also established an endowment fund and have received several liberal pledges. The legal documents governing this fund will be at the meeting for your inspection. We will also explain the intention and purpose of the fund and will gladly answer all questions pertaining to it.

We earnestly invite you to come and be with us on this day. Come and meet old friends, there will be people here from every part of the state and from adjoining state. Some come to pay tribute to the nation’s heroes, others come to decorate the graves of friends and loved ones, other come to meet old home folks – all come to reflect fond memories of the past.

Again we urge you to come. Come bring flowers and we will do our best to care for them. Come in the forenoon, you may eat your dinners on the lawn in the shade of the great oaks. Come, and let us spend the day together, in such a way that we can return to our homes at evening time with the feeling that we have paid due respect to the heroes of the nation, to our friends, neighbors and loved ones, and to our God.

From “The Winamac Republican,” May 12, 1932

Indian Creek Memorial Service

The usual excellent program was rendered at Pro Cemetery in Indian Creek Township Monday afternoon.

After a fitting service conducted by the Winamac post of the American Legion, those in attendance retired to the adjacent chapel where under the capable piloting of Chairman Earl W. Phillips a program of music, speaking and business was enjoyed.

Rev. Alvin Hall paid a glowing tribute to the pioneer ancestors of 80 years ago and bespoke for the present generation the high courage which he portrayed in them.

These annual services are conducted by the Pro Cemetery Association, who have elected as officers for the coming year: President, Earl Phillips; secretary treasurer, M.T. Davidson, and trustee, Ed Crissinger.