On February 1, 2024, we had the opportunity to visit the small family cemetery of Cissna-Patterson. This visit was made possible by the diligent efforts of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the 1930s and the recent work of Paul Goode, Doug Williams, and Patty Robinson from the Seal Township Office. Thanks to their dedication, this once-obscure cemetery has been rediscovered. It’s remarkable to consider the historical context surrounding some of the graves, such as that of Charles Cissna. According to his obituary from 1827, his funeral procession included his widow, nine children, a large circle of friends, and members of the local militia, the Piketon Blues.
The location of Cissna Cemetery, also known as Patterson #2 Cemetery, had been lost over time, with only estimated locations documented by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) surveys of the 1930s and later cataloged by the Pike County Genealogical Society. While both surveys acknowledged the existence of the cemetery, their precise locations remained unproven. The paths of roads in the 1930s sometimes diverge from today’s routes, and even as recently as 1953, when Patterson Heights was platted, the landscape that serves as our reference point for locations has changed. According to oral tradition, a farmer ceased bulldozing a path into the woods from the east when a headstone became visible, marking the vicinity of the cemetery.
Upon learning of the possible burial ground, the members of the Seal Township Office visited the site and discovered remnants of fence wire buried in the leaves. Upon further investigation, they probed the earth and uncovered three unengraved fragments of headstone slabs. According to the WPA survey, the site measures 30 feet by 15 feet, and the wire fencing uncovered on two sides roughly aligns with these dimensions.
The WPA survey indicates the presence of 16 gravesites. However, it’s important to note that the survey only documents the burial locations of veterans. The grave of Charles Cissna, recorded as having a vertical headstone, was not located during our visit. It is believed that Charles’ wife, Dorcas Woolcott Cissna, and their son Evans Cissna are also buried there, although their gravesites are unmarked.
During our visit to this small family cemetery overlooking the Scioto River Valley, we observed only a newly built wooden fence and a low mound of earth, with a small fieldstone marking the site.
