The Olde Rockport Pioneer Cemetery is located on the grounds of the South Spencer County School Corporation on Fifth Street, Rockport, Indiana. It contains the graves of Rockport's pioneer settlers including Daniel Grass, the founder of the town.

Article from The Rockport Journal, June 24, 1927, Author - The Rambler

How would you like to raise up from your grave sixty years after you were buried to find no marker except some blackberry bushes, on your grave? The Rambler took a stroll through Rockport's first cemetery the other day and found just such a condition. He was able to find only four upright markers, and four lying flat on the ground and badly broken. On these monuments appear the names of John H. Smith, Lucy Smith, Leo Tarleton Smith, S. D. Smith (a soldier), the wife of Daniel Willmot, B. H. Walters, Sarah Walters, Joseph A. Gray, Nancy Gray and Sophia Frederika Ruebenaker.

Sunken spots indicated other graves but no markers were discovered. Where are the graves of Daniel Grass, Doctor Stephen or Joseph P. Cissna and other pioneers who were buried on this plot? Is the city of Rockport showing proper reverence and respect for the remains of those who first settled here? Blackberry bushes are not respectable monuments to the dead. If the graves cannot be accurately located, why not clear away the bushes and erect a large monument which will memoralize all those who are buried in Rockport's first cemetery? Only willingness on the part of the present day citizens is needed to do the job.
THE RAMBLER

Olde Rockport Pioneer Cemetery Manuscript
PDF - 2 MB
Compiled by Dakota L. Schmitt
July 2008
Boy Scout Eagle Service Project

This is an excellent document that contains detailed information about the cemetery.

In 2003, the Spencer County Historical Society started cutting brush and marking stones with vinyl markers. They have contributed over 50 hours on the project. Remnants of the old iron fence that surrounded the cemetery have been found along with stones that have fallen over. A dumpster has been moved and no dumping signs will be posted. The South Spencer Key Club is going to be involved on scheduled work days.

These two images show the Daniel Grass stone before and after cleaning.

This is believed by some to be the remains of the iron fence that was around part of the cemetery. Could this be part of the iron fence post or is it just trash?

January 24, 2004 Work Day

Twelve people showed up for a work day in the cemetery. Our goal was to clear brush and pick up trash. Five of the people were members of the South Spencer High School Key Club. These young, energetic people were a great help. The temperature was in the 30's but the sun was out and you could keep warm by working.

Photos of the cemetery before the work day. About 60 hours of work were done before the day started.
Looking South
Looking East
Looking West, From Back of Cemetery
Looking Southeast

Seven truck loads of brush and wood were removed from the hill. One load of trash was removed. Grapevines as large as your arm were cut. About 40 man-hours were contributed and great progress was made.

Everyone was excited when a high school girl found a fallen tombstone of Steve Cissna who died in 1841.

Another work day or two will have the primary hill cleared of brush which will help in the location of any other stones.

February 28, 2004 Work Day

Nine Historical Society members reported for another work day. More brush was hauled and trash was cleaned up from the grounds. No Key Club members were present. Two members worked on the property on February 23. The grounds are looking much better but a great deal of work remains. Of concern is the regrowth of shrubs and stumps that have been cut as Spring is near. A member found two new stones that appear to be carved bases under trash and trimmings that had been dumped. No words were on them. Over 126 hours of work has been devoted to the project.

Here are two photos taken after the work day.
Looking South
Looking East