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| Tractor Crossing |
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| Deer Crossing |
It
isn’t unusual when traveling country back roads to come across road signs
warning drivers of deer or other unseen hazards. But this sign was a first for
me… It’s meaning?
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| Grave in the Middle of the Road |
There
is a grave in the middle of the road.
But
the grave was not always in the flow of traffic.
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| Settler's Cabin |
Nancy
Kerlin married William Barnett in 1808 and they settled near what would become Amity, Indiana. They raised several children before Nancy died on December 1,
1831.
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| Indiana Wilderness |
Her
family buried her on top of a small hill that overlooked Sugar Creek, one of
her favorite spots. Soon others were also buried in the makeshift graveyard, and
over the years a small county cemetery developed.
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| Local Longhorn |
But
then progress reared its head and decided that a road needed to be built to connect Amity
with other thoroughfares in the state.
Around
the turn of the century, Johnson County decided to take the road directly
through the cemetery, which meant that the graves would need to be relocated.
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| Johnson County Courthouse |
But
Nancy Barnett’s grandson, Daniel G. Doty had a problem with that. He did not
want his grandmother’s grave disturbed. Doty went to the county and voiced his
opposition to the plan but nothing changed. So, Doty decided to take matters into his own
hands.
When
the county work crews arrived to begin moving the graves that morning, they discovered Doty, sitting on his grandmother’s grave – with a loaded shotgun.
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| Road Crew |
Again,
Doty told the county that his grandmother would stay where she was. If they
insisted on trying to move her grave, they would have to deal with him…
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| Graves That Were Moved |
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| Nancy Barnett's Grave |
The
county concurred and left Doty and his grandmother’s grave alone. All that
remained after the other graves had been moved was Doty, sitting on Nancy
Barnett’s grave – still holding his gun.
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| Historical Marker |
In
1912, a concrete slab was placed over the grave to protect it. A historical
marker was added in 1982 by Barnett’s great, great grandson Kenneth Blackwell
and his son, Richard Blackwell.
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| Nancy's Grave ON CR 400S |
If
you’d like to make the journey to see “the grave in the middle of the road,”
travel south out of Indianapolis on U.S. 31 about 25 miles. You’ll travel
through the town of Franklin, Indiana and continue south on 31 before turning east
on County Road 400S about 1.5 miles.
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| Divided Roadway |
It’s
a part of unique American history; the result of the perseverance and determination of
those who call themselves "Hoosiers."
~ Joy
