Graphic rendering of the text AP HomeSlavery to
freedom
African American mourners follow a horse-drawn carriage and casket down the street of a small town, circa 1895. Image created with the assistance of AI.  Graphic rendering of the text Rising Free, Free Persons of Color

Vibrant Black communities arise
from the ashes of slavery

Midland Cemetery~ 
Names of Persons Buried at Midland Cemetery

Newspaper Notices of Interments, 1894-1899

Midland Cemetery was rescued from neglect by local historian Barbara B. Barksdale, who began the Friends of Midland organization. That organization is the best source of information on the cemetery. They can be contacted at the following address:
Friends of Midland, P. O. Box 7442, Steelton, Pennsylvania 17113-0442.

Below are transcriptions of interment notices at Midland Cemetery published in local newspapers between 1894-1899. Notices are listed in chronologial order by date of publication.

Newspaper notices from 1900-1903 are here.

This is not a complete list of the burials at Midland. Supplemental lists of names are listed below, and are added as we transcribe documents, interview persons, and discover new information.  Click here for an alphabetical list.


Wilkeshelm, Reverend Jacob
Yesterday afternoon the funeral services of Rev. Jacob Wilkeshelm, the aged A.M.E. minister, took place in the Adams street church. Rev. Mr. Brock, of Chester, presiding elder, preached the sermon. Intermanent was in Midland cemetery.
Harrisburg Daily Independent, 17 August 1894

Carpenter infant
An infant child of S. Carpenter, of 500 South Third street, was buried yesterday. The child died on Sunday. The remains were interred at the Midland cemetery.
Harrisburg Daily Independent, 18 February 1896

Hill, John W.
Sudden Death at Steelton.
John W. Hill, of the firm of Hill & Thomas, undertakers on East State street, this city, died suddenly last night at his home in Steelton. Coroner Krause was notified and made an investigation. It is said the man drank some tea, became very ill and died. Physicians will make a post mortem examination and endeavor to ascertain the cause of death. A notice of his serious illness appears in the Steelton correspondence on the third page.

John W. Hll, a colored resident of Adams street, is dangerously ill at his residence from the effects of drinking some concoction of herbs. Hill had a cold and one of the members of the family made a "tea" to cure it, which made him very sick.
Harrisburg Daily Independent, 28 March 1896

The funeral of John W. S. Hill, the man who died suddenly on Friday, took place this afternoon from the Methodist church on Adams street, of which Mr. Hill was a member for a number of years. Rev. W. H. Edwards officiated. He was assisted by other ministers of town. Swatara lodge, Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, Stevens Post, 520, G.A.R., of Harrisburg, attended in a body. The funeral was one of the largest held in this place for years. The church was filled with people. The remains were interred at Midland cemetery.
Harrisburg Daily Independent, 31 March 1896

Scott, David
The funeral of David Scott took place yesterday. The Gallilean Fishermen, of which deceased was a member, attended the funeral in a body. Floral tributes were numerous. A large number of people were in attendance. Interment was made at Midland cemgetery.
Harrisburg Daily Independent, 03 August 1896

Lewis, Lindsay
The funeral of Lindsay Lewis took place yesterday from the A.M.E. church and was largely attended. Interment was made at Midland Cemetery.
Harrisburg Daily Independent, 29 August 1896

Tate, Annie
The funeral of Miss Annie Tate, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Tate, took place to-day from the family residence on Adams street. Services were held at St. Paul's Baptist church. Interment was made at Midland cemetery.
Harrisburg Daily Independent, 16 August 1897

Steele, Maria M.
Mrs. Maria M. Steele, a highly respected colored lady, died at her residence, 862 North Front street, yesterday afternoon. She has been a resident of the borough for many years. Deceased was a devout Christian and has been a member of the A.M.E. church many years. She was aged 72 years and has a large circle of friends who will regret to learn of her death. Her funeral will take place on Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock from her late residence. Funeral services will be held at the A.M.E. church, on Adams street, and will be conducted by Rev. W.H. Edwards, pastor of the church. The remains will be interred in the Midland cemetery, near Enhaut.
Harrisburg Daily Independent, 10 November 1897

Jackson, Jeremiah
Died at the Soldiers' Home.
Six months ago Jeremiah Jackson, a gallant member of the colored troops during the rebellion and one of the first to enter Richmond after it surrendered, went to the Soldiers' Home, at Erie, and on Thurday last he died. On Sunday his remains arrived and after services in the A.M.E. Church, were interred in the Midland cemetery, Rev. Brooks officiating. Deceased was 64 years old and was a highly respected citizen. Many went to view the remains.
Harrisburg Telegraph, 24 January 1899

Jordan, Washington
BURIED THIS AFTERNOON.
Washington Jordan, aged 73, who died on Tuesday at his home on Adams street, was buried this afternoon at 2 o'clock. The services were held at his late residence. The remains were interred in the Midland cemetery, near Enhaut. The funeral was attended by a large number of relatives and friends.
Harrisburg Daily Independent, 09 February 1899

One of Steelton's oldest and most respected colored citizens, Washington Jordan, died at his home on Adams street on Monday night, after only a short illness, aged 73 years. He is survived by a wife and several grown children. His funeral will take place to-morrow afternoon.
Harrisburg Telegraph, 08 February 1899

Hall child
FUNERAL YESTERDAY.
The funeral of the child of Mrs. Annie Hall took place from the family residence on Adams street yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The remains were interred in the Midland cemetery, near Enhaut.
Harrisburg Daily Independent, 08 March 1899

Poulston, George
BURIED YESTERDAY.
The funeral of George Poulston toook place from the family residence yesterday morning. The remains were interred in the Midland cemetery, near Enhaut.
Harrisburg Daily Independent, 16 March 1899

Rivers, Susan
The remains of Miss Susan Rivers, who died in Philadelphia, were brought to this place yesterday and interred in the Midland cemetery, near Enhaut.
Harrisburg Daily Independent, 13 April 1899

Funeral of Susan Rivers.
At 1 o'clock to-day services were held over the remains of Susan Rivers, of Philadelphia. Her remains arrived here on the mail train and were taken to Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Locust street. Interment was made in Midland cemetery. No particulars have been learned regarding her death.
Harrisburg Telegraph, 12 April 1899

Berrie/Berry, George, Joseph, Frank
Sudden Death at Lochiel.
Frank Berry, a colored man of Lochiel, was found dead in an outhouse on Saturday night. Coroner Krause was notified, held an inquest and heart disease was pronounced as the cause of death. Deceased was about 45 years old.
Harrisburg Daily Independent, 19 June 1899

FUNERAL OF GEORGE BERRIE.
The funeral of George Berrie, a respected colored resident of the borough, took place from the family residence, on Main street, yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Short services were held at the house, after which the funeral cortege proceeded to the A.M.E. church, Adams and Second streets, where the funeral services were held and conducted by Rev. M.C. Brooks, pastor of the church. a large delegation of members of Swatara lodge, No. 1901, G.U.O.O.F., of which he was a member, attended the funeral. The remains were taken to Midland cemetery, near Enhaut, for intermant.
Harrisburg Daily Independent, 21 June 1899

Funeral of Joseph Berry.
Swatara Lodge, G.U.O.O.F., had charge of the funeral obsequies of their late fellow-member. Joseph Berry, who was found dead at Lochiel on Saturday night. Services were held yesterday at the late home of the deaceased on Main street. Interment was made at Midland cemetery.
Harrisburg Telegraph, 21 June 1899

Hart, John
DROPPED DEAD.
A Colored Man, at Steelton, Dies Suddenly This Morning.
John Hart, colored, aged 55 years, and employed in the rail mill at the Pennsylvania steel works, dropped over dead at his boarding house, in Steelton, this morning.
He worked all of last night and was in good health. Some time during the morning he visited a barber shop and after being shaved started for his boarding house and after reaching the same expired in a few minutes. The deceased has a family in Maryland. Coroner Krause was notified of the sudden death.
Harrisburg Daily Independent, 21 June 1899

The funeral of Mr. Hart, colored, who died very suddenly a few days ago, took place from his late residence yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The funeral services were held in the First Baptist church, on Adams street, and were conducted by Rev. C. I. Baxter, pastor of the church. The remains were interred in the Midland cemetery, near Enhaut.
Harrisburg Daily Independent, 24 June 1899

Lewis, Thomas
Thomas Lewis, a colored man of respect and many friends, died yesterday. He had only been living here a short time. His funeral took place this afternoon from his late home on Adams street, interment being made in Midland cemetery.
Harrisburg Telegraph, 26 June 1899

Davis, Laura
FUNERAL YESTERDAY.
The funeral of Mrs. Laura Davis took place from her late residence yesterday afternoon. The funeral services were held in the A.M.E. church, on Adams street and were conducted by REv. M.C. Brooks, pastor of the church. The remains were interred in the Midland cemetery, near Enhaut.
Harrisburg Daily Intependent, 01 September 1899

Holmes, Josephine
DIED IN THE HOSPITAL.
Mrs. Josephine Holmes, wife of Daniel Holmes, died at the Pennsylvania hospital on Sunday. The remains were brought here for burial. She was in the hospital for about three months and her death was unexpected. Her funeral took place yesterday afternoon and the remains were interred in the Midland cemetery, near Enhaut.
Harrisburg Daily Independent, 11 October 1899


Additional Burials at Midland

Additional Names, List B
Additional Names, List C
Additional Names, List D

More Midland Pages

The Civil War Burials at Midland
African American Burial Traditions at Midland
World War Burials at Midland
Gallery of Home Crafted Tombstones
Gallery of Plot Boundary Markings
Artifacts of a Historic Cemetery

Other Pages

Steelton Death Certificates, 1892-1893
About the Friends of Midland

The People of Midland

Clayton E. Carelock

Return to Midland Introduction

Afrolumens Project Home | Enslavement | Underground Railroad | 19th Century | 20th Century

Original material on this page copyright 2023 Friends of Midland Cemetery and Afrolumens Project