A cemetery was laid out

A cemetery was laid out, containing about one-half acre of land, by Francis Olmsted and Jonathan Noble, along the division line of their farms, each giving one-half, one-third mile south from Blendon 4 Corners, on the east side of the road. ... This cemetery not having been used by the people generally, the remains of the bodies were removed to the Old Church Pioneer Cemetery, in the center of Blendon township, in October, 1902, and there given a prominent position. In some of the graves, where the bodies had lain for fifty years, there were only small particles left, but in every grave there was some evidence. [1]

The graves that were moved to what is now known as Blendon Central Cemetery include those of Francis Olmsted (d. 1828) and Jonathan Noble (d. 1832), who donated the land to establish the original cemetery. Today the gravestones stand as handsome examples of 19th century tablet markers found in central Ohio. The Noble gravestone features the familiar prepare-for-death epitaph.

FRANCIS OLMSTED,
died January 21, 1828;
in the 68 year of his age.

JONATHAN NOBLE,
died March 28, 1832;
in the 57, year of his age.
Behold and see as you pass by,
As you are now so once was I,
As I am now so you must be,
Prepare for death and follow me.

---

Blendon Central Cemetery, Franklin County, Ohio

[1] Phelps, H. Warren. (1903). First Settlement of Blendon Township, Franklin County, Ohio. The “Old Northwest” Genealogical Quarterly, 6, 40–41.