In April of 2004, the following photographs were taken during a GPS survey and cursory investigation of the Maria Creek Baptist church and cemetery site in Knox County, Indiana. The survey work was undertaken by HAR at the request of the Knox County Cemetery Commission.

The church site and cemetery date to 1809 and were among the first of this kind in Indiana. Historically, there were over 200 marked graves in the Maria Creek cemetery. By the 1970's less than two dozen monuments remained in the wooded edge of an agricultural field along Maria Creek. At some point the forest was cleared for farming and most of the markers were apparently removed. Presently, there is only one full marker intact, that of Charles Polke (Polk), a Revolutionary War veteran and member of the last territorial House of Representatives. This field is cultivated right up to all sides of the Polke monument.

As can be seen in the following photographs, there are several stones that have been and are being disturbed by current agricultural use.

Select a thumbnail below to view larger images

Charles Polke grave
Polke marker and surrounding field
(photo taken facing SW).


Plow-scarred base stone
Base stone uncovered by recent plowing.


Base stone location with respect to the Charles Polke monument
Base stone foreground,
Polke marker background
(photo taken facing SE, 129-degrees).


Another plow-scarred fragment
Fragment of tablet marker.


Fragment position with respect to Charles Polke marker
Fragment of tablet marker foreground,
Polke marker background
(photo taken facing ESE, 99-degrees).


Yet another fragment some distance from the others
Second tablet marker fragment.


Fragment foreground, Polke monument in the background
Second tablet marker fragment foreground,
Polke marker background
(photo taken facing approximately NE).

A map of the site and coordinates of surface features may be downloaded. Right-click here and
select Save Target As from the menu.(Adobe Reader required)

Update: Several folks have written requesting an update to the status of this cemetery. There has been some progress since we originally posted the photographs this summer, so we'll add it here and if more information becomes available this page will continue to be updated.

To their credit, the Department of Historic Preservation and Archaeology (DHPA) a division of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) promptly responded to the initial report of ongoing damage at the Maria Creek cemetery site. A Conservation officer (CO) was dispatched by the DHPA to investigate and confirm the reported damage.

Reportedly the property owner has not been cooperative with the Knox County Cemetery Commission or with the DNR in this matter. However, the DNR CO was able to elicit a promise from the tenant farmer of no further agricultural use or disturbance in the vicinity of the Polke grave site and surrounding cemetery beyond this Fall's harvest. Knox County law enforcement officials have been informed about the current condition of this cemetery and there are locals who are observing the site to make sure that the promise of no future disturbance is kept.

Recently an Indianapolis Star article shed light on this endangered cemetery, and there are rumors that other papers in the Vincennes area may soon follow suit.

Hopefully, something further can be done to secure the future of this important early Indiana Baptist church site and its cemetery. Suggestions for preservation efforts should be directed to Knox County Cemetery Commission members: Bob Hill, Bicknell, (812) 735-3360 and or Jon Andrews, Vincennes (812) 882-8191.

Photos and comments provided by Historic Archaeological Research.