Family honors a veteran of the Revolutionary War

GREENE -- The Woofter family of Vernon and Fowler wanted to honor their great-great-great-great grandfather who served in the Revolutionary War so they gathered this week to lay a special marker at Pioneer Cemetery.

The historic cemetery north of the intersection of state Routes 46 and 87 has many older markers with local Greene Historical Society members noting there are at least three Revolutionary War soldiers buried there.

Hartford native Ron Woofter, who now lives in Bowling Green, traveled to Greene to be with his three sisters and one brother for the dedication of the new marker for their relative.

Woofter contacted Mary Bartholomew, president of the Greene Historical Society, about replacing the stone for Aaron Rice, his great-great-great-great grandfather.

"She liked the idea and suggested a ceremony once it is installed celebrating that and America's 250th anniversary,'' Woofter said.

Three generations of the Woofter family attended the dedication and included the five siblings and their children and a grandchild.

Bartholomew said there are three Revolutionary War soldiers buried at the Pioneer Cemetery, all with the last name Rice. The three are Aaron Rice, Enoch Rice and Ephram Rice.

The new marker for Aaron Rice lists the dates 1749-1832 and notes he was a veteran of the Revolutionary War.

"The five of us are fourth-generation grandchildren to Aaron Rice," Woofter said.

He said the original marker for Rice had faded and was broken, making it difficult to read. Woofer said he tried to clean it by taking the marker to his relatives' home in Hartford, but that did not work so he returned it to the cemetery.

"I had been thinking about replacing it for several years and finally got around to doing it," Woofter said.

Woofter, his siblings and about 10 other relatives and historical society members sang "God Bless America" before he gave a short presentation for the marker dedication.

Regina McAlister of Fowler said it was really nice to have the new marker. She said despite living in Fowler, this was the first time she has been at the cemetery.

Karen Likens of Vernon said it was nice to honor their fourth-generation grandfather.

"I am a very patriotic person and when I heard my great-great-great-great-grandfather was buried here and today we are honoring him with a new marker, I was very happy. I appreciate my brother getting a new stone for him," Likens said.

Marjorie Hunkus of Vernon said the old marker is at her home, and she was the local connection for Woofter in moving forward with the replacement marker.

"We did this project together. I am also patriotic like my sister said. The marker looks so nice," Hunkus said.

Dennis Woofter of Fowler said he remembered coming to the Pioneer Cemetery and seeing the condition of the marker and knew something had to be done.

Greene Township Trustee Eric Kohler, who attended the dedication, said he helped make the base for the marker to help the family.

"I helped get the old marker out and a stone company came in and did the base. I helped trim up the area by the marker," Kohler said.

Resident Liz West said Pioneer Cemetery is the oldest of the five cemeteries in the township.

Bartholomew said members of the local cemetery committee place flags on the markers for eight veterans buried at Pioneer Cemetery and others.

"It is hard to get people interested in history and to help at the cemeteries," she said.

She said the local Boy Scouts used to place the flags on the markers, but no longer do so.

Bartholomew said Rice died in 1832 and there are markers dated earlier than that at Pioneer Cemetery. She said the historical society made a special sign for the Pioneer Cemetery listing the names of the many people who are buried there.

Following the ceremony, members of the family went to the historic township hall for a tour of the building.

Hunkus said they saw a photo of Alma Christy, who was a longtime elementary teacher for the local schools.

"She was our mother's teacher. Mrs. Christy taught school for many years," Hunkus said.