Oak Hill Cemetery

Oak Hill Cemetery

"She is singing now with the angels...."

Riley Twp
Vigo County,Indiana

Oak Hill Cemetery is located at 10055 S. State Road 46 in Riley Township, Vigo County, Indiana. Oak Hill (Old Oak Hill) Cemetery is a church cemetery next to the Oak Hill Church. It spans across the State Road 46, with additional burials. To reach this cemetery, drive east out of Riley, Indiana on SR 46, 2.01 miles. The church is on the right side of the road with the cemetery after. You can pull right into either side of the road to park.

Civil War veteran, (11th Regiment, Co. D), Ephraim Williams Kester, his wife, and children are buried here. Ephraim's family seems to buried together and the family plot is pictured below.

This family plot contains 4 stones, one being Ephraim and wife, an obelisk clearly marked "Children of EW&SS KESTER", and 2 other with initials "HMK" "JFK". Neither the obelisk children or the initialed stones match up with documented children of Ephraim?! I will update this page as I locate more info on births for this couple. You can view the photos below, and I will list these children as belonging to Ephraim and his wife, Sarah Samantha (Hixon) Kester.
The obelisk stone with three additional children's names was extremely hard to read and I only have guessed at some of the names. Please keep this in mind.

Civil War veteran (85th Regiment, Co I), Benjamin Franklin Kester is buried across the road from Ephraim, along with other Kesters. Benjamin F Kester is the son of Jesse & Lydia (Webster) Kester. Dr. Benjamin Kester (father of Ephraim W. Kester) and Jesse Kester were brothers. The following is not a complete listing. Click names for photos of stones.

Ephraim W Kester family Four stones for this family plot
Kester, Ephraim W & Sarah Samantha (Hixon) son of Dr. Benjamin Kester
Reverse side of above stone E W Kester, Co D 11th Reg, Ind Vol Inf, 1861-1865

Small obelisk stone with three children of Ephraim W & Sarah Samantah (Hixon) Kester:
EW & SS Children's obelisk See Side 1 closeup for more detail.
Kester, Albert W son of EW & SS Kester - Side 2
Kester, Henry N son of EW & SS Kester - Side 3
Kester, Jewy? son/daughter? of EW & SS Kester - Side 4

Two more stones with only initials - Above children of Ephraim W & Sarah Samantah (Hixon) Kester:
H M K Henry M. son of EW & SS Kester
J F K Jewy F son/daughter? of EW & SS Kester

Kester, Mahlon & Mary (Hixon) Civil War - Co I 85th Reg Ind Vol
Kester, Cora B dau. of Mahlon & Mary (Hixon) Kester
Kester, Benjamin Franklin & Mary (Knight) son of Jesse & Lydia Kester / Main Headstone
Kester, Benjamin Franklin Footstone
Kester, Mary (Knight) wife of Benjamin F Kester
Kester, Leo Carl son of Ben F & Mary Kester - b. 1888 d. 1967
Kester, Edgar & Mary Florence (Stoops) son of William E & Susan Kester
Kester, Ona M dau. of Edgar & Mary F (Stoops) Kester
Ona's headstone verse: "She is singing now with the angels. Hymns of praise to the savior she loved. We can almost hear no disappointment in heaven, as we fancy she sings it above"

Kester, Eloinsa M Unknown - please email me if you can identify this person.
Eloinsa M Kester closeup shot 10 years of age? Died in 188?