Carey

Several of the Cephas children lived in or near the Shelby County, Ohio, area. One of Cephas’ sons, John W. Carey, became a noted builder and businessman, founding Sidney’s first bank, opening the National Hotel, and constructing Carey’s Hall. Another son, William, was a respected judge and an early Sidney school teacher.

Cephas passed away on March 13, 1868. Members of the Carey family, including Cephas, Jane and Rhoda are buried in the Carey Cemetery which is now surrounded by privately-owned farmland, near Hardin. This cemetery, which closed just before the turn of the century, was used between 1814 to 1896 and is perhaps the oldest in Shelby County. In addition to members of the Carey family, it contains Revolutionary and Civil War veterans.

Neglected for nearly a century, a major cleanup effort was undertaken in the early 1980s by Lewis Diehl, with the assistance of his wife, son and a family friend, who spent their entire summer working in the cemetery. They removed excess trees and dense underbrush, raised fallen tombstones and pieced together broken monuments. Lew also compiled a new record of burials.

After this effort, the cemetery once again fell into great disrepair. The Shelby County Historical Society is in the process of cleaning it up, (under Tom Homan’s supervision) seeking to restore and preserve the cemetery’s many burial stones. Given its local historical significance, it is likely that the Society will choose to commemorate this location at some time in the future. To reach the cemetery, take State Route 47 west out of Sidney to Hardin. Turn right on Hardin-Wapak Road and follow north for approximately 1/4 mile. The cemetery is on the right side, located approximately 200 yards off the road. The brick home, immediately north of the cemetery, on the left side of the road, was constructed by the Careys. At some point, the trustees may make arrangements to ‘open’ the cemetery to public access, but for now, the land surrounding the cemetery is privately owned. Until such time, the Society asks that any ‘visitors’ respect the property owner’s privacy and simply view from the road.