Polen Cemetery, Salem Twp., Jefferson County, Ohio – Josh Kustrin completed the cleanup of the Polen Pioneer Cemetery in January of 2007. Josh selected this cemetery to work on his Eagle Scout Project. The cleanup began with weeds up over his head. Josh, his family, and troops cleaned the cemetery, installed posts for a future fence to be installed, and put up a beautiful sign, donated by local business owner, Matthew Mazzerferro.
In December of 2006 Flora L. VerStraten read the tombstones in the Polen Cemetery. It appears several tombstones are missing as Flora was informed that a descendant by the surname of POLEN, that owns a local golf course took one (or more} tombstones home to make repairs to them years ago. They have not been returned to the cemetery. The owners of the home adjacent to the cemetery requested that the weeds remain high on their side of the cemetery. They don’t want to see it or care for it and want nothing to do with it. There is trash and other debris that gathers from the nearby home and property in the cemetery. Plans will be to continue to restore the cemetery tombstones and to install a privacy fence facing the next door landowners at a future date to hopefully control litter, neglect and abuse. One can see the reason why we are involved with the cemetery restoration and preservation project. Here is an example of what is missing {when we compare our current tombstone inscriptions to that of an earlier reading done by local historian, Mr. D.W. Thompson}. The ravages of time work against preservation of area tombstones and cemeteries in just forty years! There are several sunken areas, native stones, and empty stone bases. Photo - Josh Kustrin installing the Polen Cemetery sign as part of his Eagle Scout Project in December of 2006.
Taken from Wm. Polen Bible – Catherine (Kitty) Pegg, aunt of Wm. Polen, died Aug 18, 1848, 93 yr. buried in the Polen Cemetery. Known missing and/or illegible tombstones – Elizabeth Polen Wallace {w/o James, d. Sep 14, 1851}, Sarah Polen and Elizabeth {Dorr} Polen (died Jan 9, 1829, first known burial in cemetery). Several illegible native stones were viewed throughout the graveyard. Infant daughter named, Mary MurialPolen also missing. Nathaniel Polen, husband of Rachel, buried here - no stone located only footstone with NP found. NOTE - At least eleven if not more native stones, illegible.
