Rynd Farm Cemetery

Our History

 

 Ambrose Rynd was born in Ireland in 1738, where he was a wool factor. In 1777, after the death of his wife, he immigrated to America with his only son, John, first settling in West Moreland County. Ambrose brought $1200 in gold from Ireland with him, looking for a suitable investment for his small fortune at the time. In 1800, he purchased 500 acres on both sides of Oil Creek from the Holland Land Company. Ambrose builta cabin, farmed and died in 1837 at the age of 99. He was the first known burial at the cemetery. 

 

Ambrose‘s son, John, had five sons and three daughters to Nancy McCaslin Rynd. One of John‘s grandsons, Cyrus Dickenson Rynd, moved back to Rynd farm with his wife Eliza in 1881. Cyrus farmed, began oil operations and was a postmaster; however he was killed by a train in 1902. CD Rynd and Eliza bore two children: Nancy, born in 1876 and John born in 1878. John bought the original Homestead in 1903 which was reduced to 265 acres. John and his wife Mary had four children, with John D Rynd, a local lawyer of most recent times being the youngest.

 

On September 30, 1895, four people gathered at the Roseville Township building for the purpose of approaching Cyrus Dickenson Rynd and his wife Eliza about the feasibility of purchasing land for a cemetery surrounding the existing family cemetery. Those present were Joseph Bowers, Peter Bankston, A.B. Mudge, and John George Wratten

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The minutes dated October 24, 1895 reflect that Mr. and Mrs. C.D. Rynd or willing to sell The existing cemetery land for a sum of $125.

 

On January 27, 1896 the Rynd Farm Cemetery Association was incorporated and bylaws adopted. The board at the time was: Joseph Bowers, President, Peter Bankson Vice President, A.B. Mudge, secretary and directors George Wratten and L.H. Irwin. Also present remembers J.W. Worden and J.W. Waitz.

 

The next significant land transaction was in 1917 when D.J. Cavanaugh bought the uppermost part of the cemetery for a sum of $400 and transferred it to St Venantius Church for the purpose of Lot sales to congregation members. Also of note in the 110 year history of the cemetery, with the exception of only a few years, the Bankson family has had a member volunteering as a cemetery board member, with O.J. Bankson having the longest tenure today.

 

We hope you enjoy this history as well as the beauty of this land. As with most cemeteries, people buried in the long held tradition of having their feet face as east as possible so that they may meet the creator come judgment day.

 

Some statistics

As of spring 2017 Rynd Farm had 1666 known burials of which 224 were veterans. Of these vets the war they served were: 1 during the War 1812, 31 served during the Civil War, 4 Spanish American, 53 in WW1 , 86 in WW2, 21 during Korea, and 12 in Vet/Nam.

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