Pine Hill Cemetery

This cemetery was once nestled on the back roads between two small coastal communities. Those small communities exploded with development and became known as the cities of Port Richey and New Port Richey. The cemetery came into existence in 1916 when the ladies of the New Port Richey Civic Club saw the need for a cemetery in their own town. They began seeking local property to establish this cemetery. George R. Sims, one of the community's prominent businessmen and property owners, generously donated the 2.2 acres where the cemetery was placed. Mr. Sims also helped with some of the early business decisions made regarding the cemetery. On September 27, 1917 the Pinehill Cemetery Association was formed by a group of ladies from the New Port Richey Civic Club. The six ladies listed as the original charter members of the cemetery where Minnie Broersma, Lonnie Clark, Alice Davis, Jennie Leach, Emma Rowan, and Nettie Sheldon. May 27, 1919 the New Port Richey Press reported that the Cemetery Association called a meeting to discuss and devise means for putting the cemetery area into proper condition. The association stated that their cemetery property needed to be cleared and fenced. They also discussed the plots needing to be laid out with stakes at the corners of each, for the purpose of later locating and identifying them.

According to a Feb. 16, 1920, New Port Richey Press article, New Port Richey's new cemetery will be known as the Pine Hill Cemetery, which is beautifully located 1 1/2 miles north of town. Mr. Randolph and one other party whose name is illegible in the article surveyed the 2 1/2 acre plot. The articles states, that soon lots and driveways will be put in. The article also states that Mrs. J. H. Moran was president of the cemetery association at the time.

There are also several other articles, later printed, announcing the group gathering and cleaning the cemetery on a regular basis. There were funds collected for this purpose. On May 15, 1926 the cemetery property was deeded to the city of New Port Richey. At this point the cemetery's maintenance became the responsibility of the city of New Port Richey, along with the help from family members of the deceased. It still remains this way today.

On June 06, 1930 the New Port Richey Press reported:

Inquiry elicited the information from Coucilman A. J. Pauels, who is in charge of the cemetery, that the first person buried in Pine Hill cemetery was C. E. Freel, a Federal Soldier, in 1917. Since then there were buried in the soldiers’ plot: Moses Grey, Hiram Seeley, John Daulby, Allen B. Fekler, S. B. Davis, and J. B. Huff. In addition learn the history of Moses Grey private or family plots, Benjamin Garrett, John O. Humphrey and John W. Gurney. At present there are but two stone markers in the soldiers’ plot. The government furnishes these stones free upon proving the identity of the soldier and his service to the United States. Councilman Pauels is anxious to learn the war history of Moses Grey, C. E. Freels, and John Daulby, and would appreciate any information given or he would like to be put in touch with any of their friends.

According to a historic plaque at the cemetery C. E. Freel is Clifford E. Freels.

[Census and military records show a Clifford Diff Freel, born Feb. 11, 1877, in Iowa. He married Fannie last name unknown; a daughter was Marjorie Marie Freel. It is not known whether this is the person buried in Pine Hill Cemetery.]

For many years this cemetery suffered at the hands of numerous vandals. What the vandals didn't get the lawn mowers did. There are a number of unmarked graves in this cemetery many that at one time had temporary metal markers for them. The cemetery has been recently cared for and is in much better condition than it was in the days past. There are still many signs of past neglect that can be seen through unmarked graves and broken headstones.

There are many establishing members of the cities of Port Richey and New Port Richey interred here, making this a historic cemetery. This is one of the few cemeteries in Pasco County that contains no burials of Confederate Soldiers however the cemetery includes more than 10 Union soldiers interred here.

Among the veterans interred in the Pinehill Cemetery is Medal of Honor recipient James W. Huff. James was born in either Washington County or Washington Township, Pennsylvania ca. February 2nd 1840-1843, either the exact location or date of James’ birth is clear, as there are conflicting records on both. However an early map of Washington Township in Pennsylvania show the Hoff Family owning land and according to "Early Census Records of the Huff/ Hoff/ Hough Family" compiled by Max. K Huff the 1850 census for Washington Township list head of household John Hoff, 60 married to Catherine Hoff, 55 enumerated with children Joseph, John, Ann, Charles, William, James- born 1843 and Mary Jane Hoff, the only James in Pennsylvania census records close enough to James W. Huff’s age. According to service records during the Civil War James W. Huff enlisted in Vanburan, PA with the 85th Pennsylvania Infantry, on November 14th 1862 he was transferred and served with Company L. of the Fourth Regiment, US Artillery (Regular Army), however it was not this service that he received his medal of honor for.

After his Civil War service James enlisted as Sergeant with Company L of the First US Calvary. In 1873 after Brig. Gen. George Crook became commander of the Department of Arizona in 1871 he undertook a series of winter campaigns by small detachments, which pacified the region by 1874. In the years that followed, the Indian Bureau's policy of frequent removal created new dissatisfaction among the Apaches. Dissident elements went off the reservations, led by Chato, Victorio, Geronimo, and other chiefs, and raided settlements along both aides of the border, escaping into Mexico or the United States as circumstances dictated. It was during these winter campaigns that James W. Huff was injured. According to records from the Department of Veterans Affairs on April 12th 1875 James received a medal of honor, the highest military honor, citing his "Gallant engagements with the Apaches". Sometime after his military service James moved to Georgia and retired, according to the 1900 federal census James W. Huff born February 1840 was living in Fulton County, GA. under occupation it reads retired soldier. James was married to Tilea Huff born December 1852, their children Lucy born 1882, Josi?, born 1884, Tilea born 1888, James born 1891 and Edgar born 1896 were also enumerated with James. According to the 1910 census James W. Huff, 67 was living in Carroll County Georgia in the "Militia District- Turkey Creek", in this census his occupation list him as a "overseer of a rifle range"; with his age listed at 67 years this would mean he was born in 1843 conflicting with the previously mentioned 1840. Again enumerated in the household are Tilea, 51, James, 18 and Ed, 14. According to an April 21st 2002 St. Pete Times article James moved to New Port Richey in 1919, according to the 1920 federal census James, 72 was living in district #17- New Port Richey with wife Tilea, 60 and sons James W. Jr., 28 and Edgar, 26. James W. Huff was laid to rest, in the Pinehill Cemetery, on November 30, 1927

The cemetery has two parts, an east and west side. These two sides are divided in the center with road that circles the outside. The recent efforts of Walt Casson are not going un-noticed. Walt has been spending countless hours resurveying this cemetery for the purposes of designing a new plat map. Many times this is not an easy task since some of the burials are not always done in a straight line and sometimes they lay on the outside of the plotted spaces; the Pinehill Cemetery is in better condition than most in this respect.

** NOTE- I would like to dedicate the writing of this cemetery's history to, long time Pasco County and New Port Richey resident, Walt Casson. Mr. Casson's dedication for the history of New Port Richey and his life long work as a surveyor have been the drive behind this project. There are also members of Mr. Casson's family interred at the cemetery. I would like to thank Mr. Casson for the endless hours of work he has put into the Pine Hill Cemetery. His work does not go un-noticed with me. - Thank You, Mr. Casson. **