Near Straughn in Henry County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Richsquare
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 29, 2023
1. Richsquare Marker
Cemetery Established in 1832
National Registry of Historic Places
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1832.
Location. 39° 51.141′ N, 85° 20.482′ W. Marker is near Straughn, Indiana, in Henry County. It is on South County Road 250 East half a mile north of East County Road 600 South, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5685 S County Rd 250 E, Straughn IN 47387, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Indiana. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: William Grose (approx. 5.3 miles away); Gen. William Grose House (approx. 5.3 miles away); Judge Joshua H. Mellett (approx. 5.6 miles away); Civil War Memorial - Henry County Indiana (approx. 5.7 miles away); Dedicated to the Henry County Veterans (approx. 5.7 miles away); Henry County Courthouse 1869 / Raintree County (approx. 5.7 miles away); First Henry County Courthouse (approx. 5.7 miles away); Underground Station (approx. 6.8 miles away).
Regarding Richsquare. Excerpt from the National Register nomination:
Quakers settled on the rich farmlandalong the Flatrock River near the National Road and the area soon became known as the Richsquare neighborhood. The area was about four miles wide and seven miles long and housed the Richsquare Meetinghouse and Cemetery, the Richsquare Academy (demolished c.1932), and several farms. It was the center of community life for this anti-slavery, Quaker settlement. The name Richsquare was made at the suggestion of Jeremiah Parker in remembrance of a Friends' Meeting in North Carolina.
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The first meetinghouse was built in 1831 near the site of the current building. In 1841 a small frame schoolhouse was built to the east of the meetinghouse. A fire destroyed both buildings in 1851 which resulted in the construction of a larger building to accommodate both the school and bi-weekly Quaker meetings. The community continued to grow and after the 1865 school term, a new school was built ½-mile south of the current meetinghouse. The bi-weekly meetings continued to be held at this location.
In 1895 the current meetinghouse was built. Members continued to meet twice a week until 1910-1911 when the mid-week meeting was discontinued due to low attendance. Sunday meetings lasted until 2000 when the congregation disbanded due to dwindling membership.
Also see . . .
1. Richsquare Friends Meetinghouse and Cemetery.
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 29, 2023
2. Richsquare Marker
2. Rich Square Friends Cemetery. Short history of the cemetery and a list of those buried within it. (Henry County Genealogical Services) (Submitted on May 3, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 15, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 3, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 554 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 3, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
