Haunted Eller Cemetery

Eller Cemetery was first established in the 1800s as a small community graveyard for deceased locals to rest. Situated in the town of Fishers, Indiana, the grounds are actually enveloped by a residential neighborhood and made more inconspicuous by the surrounding dense and muddy forestry. Originally called West Liberty Cemetery, a church once sat adjacent to the property in the historic Quaker region of the city. Virtually all of the headstones belong to relatives of the Eller family, who once owned the land. However, there is an element that dates back to the Civil War. Its most notable grave now commemorates a soldier who was once thought to be a deserter, James Payne. While burials only occurred between 1854 to 1918, the area is still available to freely investigate, despite literally being the backyard of one of the houses there. As with many places connected to tragedy, the graveyard is believed to still be haunted by James Payne’s spirit. At first, he was alleged to have gone rogue while serving, thereby trapping him there for all eternity. However, it’s since been confirmed that he was actually more honorable and is seen as being the caretaker of the area. Of all the tombstones, his is the only one that faces in a different direction as the others. I heard about the location on a paranormal program that seemed to lead the investigators somewhat subconsciously straight to Payne’s headstone. When I visited, I actually felt the same experience, like something or someone unseen wanted me to end up at that particular spot. While there in broad daylight, I verbally asked if James was present. Almost immediately, an audible response bounced back in affirmation. Looking around, it was obvious that nobody living was lurking nearby. Local lore is all too familiar with the legend, in fact it became the inspiration for the real-life paranormal novel “The Ghost of Cheeney Creek”. The cemetery is so well camouflaged that just driving by the cul-de-sac, you don’t even realize what’s waiting for you just feet away.