Part 3
The First Fifteen Years
Most of the history of the early years can be found on the tombstones of the cemetery behind the present church building. The first burial in this cemetery was Daniel R. Garrison, who died at the age of thirteen in June of 1831. His father and uncle had come to Vestal before 1820. Three other stones date before 1834. Theodore Sharp, Jr. on 9/22/1831; "infant" Drake on 4/16/1832; and Effy Ann Narrason on 9/12/1833.
The list of burials in our cemetery to 1852 abounds in family names of those who really made early Vestal, and probably also our Church. Take a walk there when you can and read some of the old stone markings.