Edward Stratton was an elder in Salem MM for many years; he also held many other offices in the Society of Friends. Stratton travelled to Carmel to assist his brother-in-law Wilson Hall during his final illness in 1890 (Salem Daily News, 3/31/1890).
The following year, Salem MM began the process of relinquishing the old burial ground on Depot Street. The Hicksite and Gurneyite meetings sold their interest in the property to the Wilbur meeting. About this time, a new ordinance banned burials in Salem outside of the "Hope Cemetery." Stratton was appointed to open all graves, collect any remaining bones. Two young men assisted him in relocating remains from the southern portion of the property. The remains were re-interred in the northern portion of the burial ground and in the Hope Cemetery. Building lots were created along the southern portion of the former burial ground and sold to raise funds for the maintenance of the remaining graves (Salem Daily News, 4/16/1891).
Sources: EAQG 4:285, 658-659, 769, 771-772, 917 |
