Quite out of sight from the roadside which passes it is the Neptune Cemetery atop a rocky ridge. The road passes the foot of the not high hill so close that the little cemetery is hidden from view. A couple of large pine trees can be seen as you approach the cemetery on the state truck highway which leads from Ithaca to Neptune. A glimpse of a tombstone or two can be noted as you pass Elephant Rock; they are straight ahead. The Neptune cemetery site was given as burial place by Thomas Sippy, son of Dr. Joseph Sippy, back in the long ago. Mrs. Lena Reagles of Neptune, is the present secretary of the cemetery association and has the old, old records but for some reason or other they, do not bear any dates. Mrs. Reagles gave some information about the cemetery when we called at her home some time ago. She showed us the old record, and, according to it, the cemetery contained 113 lots. Seven Civil War veterans are buried there and there are government markers for some of them. Among the old soldiers who rest there are Theodore Dockerty, Phillip Warren, John Van Allen, H. H. Butts, Harlow Stoddard and Wm. F. Krause. Many of the older settlers of Neptune and vicinity have found a resting place in the shadow of the tall pine trees. These trees, we were told, were set out by Thomas Sippy, to mark the grave of a Dr. Slack, who was buried there. He had no relatives in that area so far as is known and Mr. Sippy, besides planting the trees, put up a rough stone to mark the spot. Dr. Slack's name appears upon the record but some say the name was not Slack but Slaughter. Among the older settlers to be buried in the cemetery are Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Warren, Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Butts, D. J. Gwin and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Abel Reagles, and Mr. and Mrs. John Philip Schlafer. On the Schlafer lot are markers for five infants, all born dead or lived but a few hours. The stones are marked: Clarance - Clara, twins, 1884 - 1884, Leon 1888-1888; Gertrude 1889-1889; Louisa 1891-1891. Another one was for Agnes who lived two years, born in 1892 and died in 1894. Standing in the cemetery is a marker for Emmett Jaquish, a soldier boy. He is not buried there however. The monument reads: Emmett Jaquish Co. H 46th Wis. Vol. Died May 5, 1864 aged 14 years, 6 months, 19 days. Buried at Chicago. It might be of interest to know that Co. H had as captain Amasa Hoskins, Richland Center, and in the company were 81 men from Richland county. Opposite to the inscription is one for John W. Jaquish who died March 10, 1898, aged 82 years, 10 months and 26 days. Note that Emmett, the young soldier boy was less than 15 years of age at the time of his death. He was indeed a youthful soldier. Abel Reagles and his wife Priscilla are among those buried on the hill. A large stone marks the spot where they are resting and at the base of it are two smaller ones which bear pretty verses, one reads: "We look for thy coming, but you came not, we miss you everywhere, the chair is vacant. I loved you in childhood, I loved you in age; though dead I love you still. Our lives are but a dream, a time flowing stream gliding swiftly away." On the other stone it reads: "Farewell, dear friend, I will never come back any more, so plant ye a tree that may wave over me; Come at the close of a bright summer day, come when the sun sheds his last lingering ray." On the Mark Squires lot the monument notes the passing of several children, Freddie died in 1881, aged 8; Jay passed away on February 12, 1881, aged two years; Earl, July 14, 1888, aged three; Frank, June 14, 1896 aged 14, and Lois, June 17, 1885, aged three years. The first child to be buried in the cemetery was Cora Sippy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Sippy. A simple stone marks her grave; it reads: "Cora Sippy. In memory of little Cora." Nothing else appears upon the marker; no date and no verse, though a little wreath carved in the stone is on top of the marker. The Sippy home was at the base of the hill, a stone's throw from the cemetery. Mrs. Sippy had the child buried at the brow of the hill so she could see the monument from her front yard. The farm, then owned by Mr. and Mrs. Sippy, is now owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Meeker. On the monument for Dr. Joseph Sippy, who's son gave the land for the cemetery, are these inscriptions: "Joseph Sippy died September 11, 1870, aged 79 years, five months." "Martha, wife of Joseph Sippy, Died July 9, 1880, aged 84 years four months." Those are brief words for ones who were so prominent in the affairs of Neptune for it was Dr. Sippy who platted the village of Neptune in 1855 and he gave the village its name. A post office was opened in 1854 previous to the platting of the village site and Dr. Sippy was the first postmaster. As a post office the office was named by the authorities at Washington and Dr. Sippy also chose the same name for the village. At the time there was a log house on the site owned by Daniel Gwin. Stephen Reagles opened a store. The post office was on a route from Sextonville and mail was received once a week. Previous to this Dr. Sippy started the erection of a saw mill which was completed in 1854 and he continued to operate it until 1866 when he sold to Rufus Taplin who in 1883 added a feed mill. Dr. Sippy was born near Harper's Ferry, Virginia, in March 1791. His father was a native of France and came to America with LaFayette during the War for Independence. Dr. Sippy was a stirring patriot and served for a time in the War of 1812. He was married to Martha Cogswell whose mother was a sister to General Gates of Revolutionary War fame. In 1813 Dr. and Mrs. Sippy went to Ohio, making the trip with one horse, without a wagon, packing upon the back of the horse their household goods including bedding and camp kettles. The couple settled in Indiana and in 1852 Dr. Sippy made a trip to Richland county on horseback. He liked the place and came here with his wife and son Thomas and settled in Ithaca. They were the parent of a number of children, one of whom, Thomas, was at one time the sheriff of Richland county. Two of Dr. Sippy' grandsons, A. F. and Bertram W. became noted physicians, the former practiced in Ohio for many years and Dr. Bertram in Chicago until his death. Dr. Bertram Sippy married a Richland county girl, Miss Mabel Lamberson, who is still living. Thomas in later years moved to Akron, Ohio, where his son Dr. A. F., practiced medicine, and it was there that Thomas died. Able Reagles, mentioned elsewhere in this article, went to work for Dr. Joseph Sippy, when 14 years of age and lived with him until 21 years old. He was then married to Priscilla, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Sippy and came Richland county in 1854. Times were hard and food short. Going to Sextonville some corn and beans were bought by Mr. Reagles and his neighbor, Henry Short. They returned about midnight tired and hungry. The Reagles family had gone to bed without food. Some beans were hastily cooked and eaten with a relish by one and all. Ginseng became in great demand and the whole Reagles family went to work with a will to gather it. This kept the wolf from the door and proved the turning point in their fortunes, from which they prospered, and, as the story books say, "lived happily ever after." Thus were the lives and fortunes of all the pioneers bound together. Their efforts were not in vain as fine farms, a prosperous countryside prove that the pioneers of the Neptune area were worthy men and women. Burial are infrequent in the Neptune cemetery now; the last one being on June 6th of this year when Mrs. Christina Hunt was laid to rest. Mrs. Hunt was 84 years of age, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Leiber, early settlers of Willow township. We are told that but one or two more burials are to be made in the cemetery after which it will be used no more. Tonight Little Cora sleeps away the years in the cemetery not far from Grandpa and Grandma - Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Sippy. Peace be with them all. S. F

From "History of Richland County" p.1100
Biography on Abel Ragles

Abel Ragles is a native of Pennsylvania, born in what was formerly Mercer, but now Lawrence county, Jan 28, 1824. When he was five years old his parents moved to what was then Medina, now Summit co., Ohio. At the age of thirteen he went with a neighbor to Indiana to assist in driving cattle. He remained with this man in Fulton county one year, then engaged to work for his uncle, Dr. Sippy, with whom he lived until twenty-one years old. He was then married to Priscilla, daughter of Joseph and Martha (Cogswell) Sippy. His father-in-law gave him a tract of land in Wabash county, which he improved and lived upon until 1854. In May of that year he sold his farm and came to Wisconsin in search of a location. On the 10th of June he entered a tract ofland on section 4, town 10, range 2 east, then returned to Indiana, gathered his crops and remained until fall, when he removed his family, to their new home. They came overland with teams, bringing their household goods and provisions and camping on the way. They were sixteen days on the road. They first rented a small shanty in which they lived a few days, in the meantime, with the assistance of the neighbors, he erected a rude log cabin into which they moved. During the following winter their supply of provision ran very low and it was necessary to do something to "keep the wolf from the door," so Mr. Ragles and his neighbor, Henry Short, whose stock of provisions was in about the same condition, started, each taking a load of lumber, to go to Sextonville, where they tried in vain to sell or trade their lumber for provisions. Mr. Ragles, however, bought two bushels of corn and a bushel of beans, and Mr. Short two bushels of corn. They returned, arriving at Mr. Ragles' about midnight tired and hungry, having eaten nothing since morning. The family had gone to bed hungry, but they got up and Mrs. Ragles hastily cooked some of the beans which they ate with a relish. In June, 1857, his corn crop was cut off by the frost and the prospect was gloomy indeed. About that time there became a demand for ginseng and he and his family went to work with a will to gather it. At this employment they soon earned enough to put them out of the reach of want for the time being. In fact it proved a turning point in their fortuneds, from which they prospered and were soon able to build a small frame house, and later, a frame barn, which was destroyed by fire a few years afterwards together with all its contents, hay, grain and some stock. He has built another barn and a large frame upright part to his house. He is the owner of 202 acres, eighty of which are well improved, and is engaged in raising grain and stock, also keeps a dairy. Mr. and Mrs. Ragles have eight children. The eldest three, Martha, Thomas J. and Annie J. were born in Indiana; Hubert S., Clarence J., robert B., Emma and William are natives of Richland County.

From "History of Richland County" p. 1093-94
Biography on Joseph Sippy, M.D.

Joesph Sippy, M.D. (deceased), one of the pioneers of Richland county, was born near Harper's Ferry, VA, in March 1791. His father was a native of France and came to America with La Fayette during the War for Independence. He left home without the consent of his parents, and was not mustered into service until his arrival in America. After the declaration of peace he settled in Virginia and was there married to Lucretia Johnson, who was born inFredericksburg, VA. When the subject of this sketch was seven years old his parents moved to Pennsylvania and settled in Beaver County, where he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the subscription schools. He was a stirring patriot and volunteered in the War of 1812, served a short time when he was honorably discharged, and soon after was married to Martha Cogswell. Her mother was a sister to Gen. Gates, of Revolutionary fame, and was born in March 1796. In the year 1813 they emigrated to Ohio, making the trip with one horse, without a wagon, packing upon the back of the horse their household goods, including bedding and camp kettles. Such a method of transportation at this day would indeed seem slow and irksome, and shows that these persons must have been of pluck and energy. They made their way to the Cuyahoga river in Cuyahoga county and remained a few months. It was at that time an unhealthy country and consequently he moved and settled in the town of Granger, Medina county, where they were early settlers. They lived there a few years and then moved to the town of Hinkley, in the same county where he commenced the practice of medicine, and also having purchased eighty acres of land carried on a farm. In 1836 he sold out and again started west and this time settled in Fulton Co., IN, where they were again pioneers. A history of Medina county, published subsequently, makes particular mention of this pioneer, as he was a prominent representative man. In Indiana he made his chosen profession a business and had a lucrative practice. This country also proved to somewhat unhealthy and in 1852 he concluded to again change location, and accordingly made a visit to Richland county, coming from Indiana on horseback. Thinking this would b e a desirable, healthy country, he returned to Indiana, and in September of that year, returned with his family and settled on section 31. He was not well pleased with this place but bought it on account of the improvements. As soon as he was comfortably settled he started, accompanied by his son, Thomas, to explore the valley of Willow creek. There was no road and they went prepared to cut their way through. At night they camped under the protection of a shelving rock on section 9. The road now runs under this same rock. Isaac Welton had been following their trail and overtook them at this place, and the next morning they started on foot. Mr. Sippy at this time selected three forties of land---the south half of the west quarter of section 4, town 90, range 2 east, and the southwest quarter of teh southeast quarter of section 4; he afterward bought additional land adjoining land near by until his place was increased to 600 acres. He lived on section 31 two years, then removed to section 4, and commenced improvements on his land. He laid out the village of Neptune, erected a saw mill and made this home until the time of his death which occurred in September, 1870. His wife died in July, 188. He had quite an extensive practice in the county, and was well and favorably known. Seven of his children are now living---Minerva, who married Menzies Manley (deceased), she now lives in Sanborn, Iowa. Hannah, widow of H.L. Welton now living in Kansas. Martha, wife of John Stockton now living inRichland Center. Lydia, wife of Daniel Dodge, now living in Kansas. Precilla, wife of Abel Ragles now in this town. Rebecca, wife of Valentine Stoddard now living in the town of Willow, and Thomas. The latter is the only son and now occupies a portion of the original homestead, where he has a farm of upwards of 300 acres and is extensively engaged in dairy and stock farming. He was born in the town of Hinkley, MedinaCo., Ohio, April 3, 1835. The year following his fther removed to Indiana, where his younger days were spent in school, on the farm and in his fther's store. He came to Richland county with his parents and made his home with them until 1857, when he was married to Laura E. Welton. Her parents were natives of York State, but she was brought up in the State of Ohio. He then settled on the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of the section 4, where he lived until 1870, then moved to the southwest quarter of the same section. He has erected a good frame house, a frame barn with stone basement and now has a good farm well improved. He has been a member of the board and is at present town treasurer, and has been justice of the peace---the latter office he has held almost continually for eighteen years, and during all this time it is remarkable that none of his decisions have ever been reversed, or a change of venue taken or asked, which fact in itself speaks volumes for the good judgment and honesty of this settler. Mr. and Mrs. Sippy are the parents of two children---Asher Francello and Bertram W.; a daughter named Cora died when three years old. These people were true pioneers and endured the hardships and inconveniences of such a life. In the absence of a mill Dr. Sippy's large mortar, with a wheel for a pestle, did the work of grinding for the neighborhood. Thus the people of that day met every difficulty, overcame every obstacle, and in consequence a goodly land with every convenience may here be found, where within comparatively a short time a wilderness prevailed.

From "A History of Fulton County, IN"

From "A History of Fulton County" In 1838 Dr. Joseph Sippy and Hiram Welton laid out a town in section 24, Henry township and gave it the name of Newark. A post office was established one mile west of the village was named Akron. The post office was relocated to the village and the town adopted the name of the post office. Akron was a thriving town of about 800 by the late 1890s. There was one newspaper, the News; one bank; two hotels; one flour-mill; two elevators and one saw-mill. The townwas situated on the Chicago & Erie railroad and boasted a fine agricultural community.