Alton Cemetery is located in Concord Township, DeKalb County, State of Indiana. It is located on State Road 101, 1/3 mile north of the Spencer Township line. The following is an attempt to combine the history and background of the cemetery with a complete survey of the burial sites.
A new survey of the plots and tombstones in the Alton Cemetery was undertaken in the summer and fall of 2002. The last survey of just the tombstones was taken by Fayne E. Harter on August 21, 1971. This survey is located on the internet list of cemeteries. Since that time, 31 years have passed, and it was noted that there were more interments as well as some known discrepancies in the listing. Thus, a new survey was undertaken by Lavon Hart in cooperation with the present caretaker, Harold Curie. They also checked the memories of the older members of the church, as well as documentation that was available. This account is published for those that are interested in the historic significance of the Alton Cemetery, located in Concord township on State Road 101.
The real beginnings are established in the founding history of the Coburn Corners Church of Christ. Therefore, as the church developed, so did the cemetery history.
The earliest record of the church at Coburn Corners is found in a leather bound, plain ruled notebook with a leather slide fastener. On the outside is lettered the words “Church Record Book”. The earliest writing is in ink now faded brown but still legible. In later entries the ink is still black and easy to read. The last entry is in pencil. The date of the first entry is not known. The oldest date must have been after March 5, 1838, for it was written after the changing of the name of the township from DeKalb to Concord. This occurred on the date given above. It was probably written before July 1, 1846, for a revision is made of the roll at that date. The last entry was made in 1890.