Oakwood Cemetery will host a Cemetery Walk Saturday, Sept. 14. InkFreeNews file photo.

News Release

WARSAW — Oakwood Cemetery and the Kosciusko County Historical Society will present a Cemetery Walk at Oakwood Cemetery 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 12:30-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14.

Guides will lead attendees along a route that will honor 12 prominent citizens who are interred at Oakwood and who contributed to the development and growth of the county.

Local actors will be stationed at the gravesite of each honoree and present a short synopsis of that person’s contribution to local history.

Volunteers from the Kosciusko County Historical Society will be on hand in the cemetery chapel to answer questions about local history and genealogy.

Attendance is free.

Highlighted Citizens

Dr. Jacob Boss (1834-1874) In 1852 Boss bought 127 acres of land, 30 acres of which he sold to the city of Warsaw to establish Oakwood Cemetery on the condition that he would be the first one buried there. And he was. This is the 150th anniversary of Oakwood Cemetery.

Dr. C. Clifford DuBois (1878-1978) DuBois came to Warsaw in 1905 when he set up his medical office in the Hayes Hotel. He was a pioneer, being the first doctor in the county to use vaccinations, insulin, and a blood pressure machine. He wrote a book called “Bringing Up the Baby.” He served as mayor of Warsaw from 1932-36 during the Great Depression and maintained basic municipal services when there was little money to do so–it was long rumored that he paid the teachers out of his own money. He died at age 99.

Betty Reed DuBois (1888-1966) DuBois grew up in Warsaw in the Hayes Hotel, of which her father was the founder and manager. She was Dr. DuBois’ assistant and stalwart supporter while raising their two children.

John B. Chapman (1797-1877) Chapman was a trained physician, a lawyer and a local visionary who platted Warsaw, named it, facilitated the coming of the railroad through Kosciusko County, served in the state legislature and has two lakes named after him. He was a restless man with a restless mind, who moved frequently and always imposed his vision for a place wherever he lived.

Jane Dickey Cowan (1811-1876) Cowen started the first secondary/high school in the county in 1851. She was the only teacher for 25 years and taught many well-known local people. She was an energetic leader in all her endeavors, including the Methodist Church and the Dorcas Society. She taught right up until she died of heart failure.

Rozella Ford (1876-1964) Inheriting 626 acres of farmland from her father, Dr. Daniel Ford, Rozella became the most successful lady farmer in Kosciusko County. In 1961 land was leased from her to establish the Rozella Ford Community Golf Course on the condition that it would always be a public golf course. To this day, it still is.

John and Annie Hansman (1884-1950; 1890-1981) John Hansman was a two-time mayor of Warsaw in the 1930’s, best known for his excitable personality and love for his wife’s cooking and his bicycle, which is on display in the Old Jail Museum. Annie was known as popcorn Annie because while John sold tickets at the Centennial Theater, she sold popcorn.

Virginia Healey Asher (1869-1937) Asher was born into an Irish Catholic family in Chicago, where she attended the Moody Institute and became a Protestant Bible teacher. She was a featured singer with Billy Sunday’s revivals and was a musical partner of Homer Rodeheaver. She established women’s Bible study groups in the wake of revivals all over the U.S., many of which outlived her. Her signature song was The Old Rugged Cross, a recording of which, in duet with Homer Rodeheaver, sold more than a million records when the recording industry was in its infancy. Her gravestone reflects her standard song.

Tommy (Thomas L.F.) Hubler (1851-1913) Hubler joined the 12th Indiana regiment with his father’s permission at 9 years old as their drummer boy. He was probably the youngest and one of the best drummer boys in the Union army. He eventually became the personal aide to Brigadier General Reuben Williams.

Robert “Coach” Lichtenwalter (1926-2015) Lichtenwalter was best known for the heart he had for kids as the executive director of the Baker Youth Club for over 30 years. Since he loved to fish, he would take his PE classes to Center Lake where he taught them to fly fish.

Homer Rodeheaver (1880-1955) Rodeheaver was a well-known musical director and evangelist in the revival movement in the United States during the first 20 plus years of the 20th century, mostly serving the revivals held by Billy Sunday. His trademark was his trombone, which he used to direct the singing of the audience. He was a pioneer in publishing and recording sacred music, including gospel music, the headquarters of which were located in Winona Lake. His home, Rainbow Point, in Winona Lake, is a landmark. He established philanthropy that continues to this day.

Gen. Reuben Williams (1831-1905) A newspaperman all of his life (beginning in his teenage years) who started the first newspaper here, The Northern Indianian, and whose journalistic efforts eventually led to what is now the Times-Union. He was descended from soldiers starting with the American Revolution and served his country well as a Union officer in the Civil War, eventually earning the title of Brigadier General. He was known to be a gentleman and civic-minded man in peace time.

Justin Orville Zimmer (1884-1951) Zimmer was a salesman for the DePuy Mfg. Co. until 1927 when he wanted to manufacture a more innovative style of leg splint. Along with J. J. Ettinger and Donnabelle Cox he started the Zimmer Mfg. Co. On June 24, 2015 Zimmer merged with Biomet to become Zimmer Biomet, one of the largest orthopedic companies in the world.