"Mount Oliver Church and Cemetery" Traditional Geocache
Northstar and Gemini: Cemetery sometimes in need of maintenance. Access issues at times. Archiving but keeping up for historical purposes for reference.
"Mount Oliver Church and Cemetery"
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Size: 
(small)
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That “Old Time Religion” was good enough for the worshipers at the Mount Oliver Church outside Maloneton for many years… It was one of the Old Regular Baptist Churches that sprang up in Kentucky during it’s formative years…
In the mid to late 1800’s and well into the mid 1900’s, Mount Oliver Church was the focal point of the surrounding communities… After a hard week’s work, folks gathered at the white clapboard church for spiritual renewal and socializing…There was always a picnic to be found in the summer time… In the colder months, someone was always inviting one another over for dinner at their house…
As the older members passed on and their descendents moved away, the church congregation dwindled …Today the building still stands and is a reminder of the great faith of our ancestors and the struggles the church helped them through over the years... The church like many old churches, has a cemetery that bears honor to the members who have gone on…
Some of the folk buried here are from my dad’s favorite cousin Miriam Mullins’ family…It was a family that worked hard to make a living but were not without tragedies… Fred Mullins (1921-1947) who served in World War II, died of a war related illness…Lee and Matilda Mullins lost two of their children- Bertha Mullins (born and died on July 3, 1921) and Willie (1903-1921)… Cicero Mullins (1884-1944) buried his daughter at the age of 2- Mearl Mullins (1913-1915)… And EE and Mary Mullins buried their son Kenneth (born and died 1930) here as well…
The Vanovers were grandparents to the Mullins boys… David Vanover (1840-1914) was ascended from the Vanovers of Massachusetts, some of the early settlers of the U.S. that were part of the original 13 colonies… David served Kentucky during the Civil War… He survived the war but was killed in a construction accident while working on the railroad… He and Mary Vanover (1855-1931)are parents to EM Vanover who married Effie in the 1920's...
Miriam herself had her first date with her husband Eddie Mullins here at the old church, having been invited to attend church and a picnic in the cemetery with his family… The old church was the place where new relationships began and where comfort for life’s tragedies were found…
Another tragic story of those laid to rest here surrounds Rhoda (1859-1940) and Reason Greenslate (1871-1938) …Rhoda married 1st William Hall and was the mother of 4 children: William, James, Henry & Charles Hall… She second married Reason ( Reese) Greenslate April 18, 1900...But in December of 1925 the Portsmouth Daily Times wrote of mayhem and murder surrounding the couple and their son…"The holiday season was anything but calm and bright for the this family... Reese Greenslate, step father of the deceased, in what was termed self defense, killed Hall after having inflicted two knife wounds to the elder Greenslate on the C & O Platform in Greenup County… As Mrs. Greenslate pulled her son, Charles Hall off her husband, he reached for the shotgun and fired one single shot into the bowels of Hall... Charles had the reputation of being a "bad man."... At the inquest Mrs. Greenslate testified that the shooting occurred in order to save the life of Mr. Greenslate…" (Portsmouth Times)
Other Civil War soldiers are interred here as well…Moses Burke (1842-1924), Green Pitts (1846-1925), Marion Osborne (1859-1926) and William Riggs (1827-1912)… Their service shall not go unnoted…
This is another great old church that stands as a testament to how strong the faith of those with the pioneering spirit was and another great old cemetery full of interesting people who lived interesting lives and sustained great hardships along the way but stood tall in their faith in spite of life’s trials and tribulations…
The cache is a camouflaged large plastic round container with a log book, bring a pen…While here pause a moment to reflect on the history of this old church and think back to the laughter and the sorrow of the lives of people who once called this church a special place…
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gerr, crevzrgre.