To unearth the stories from the graves in an historical cemetery on a windswept hill in Jefferson Hills is to watch American history come to life.

Lt. Alexander Beall and Capt. Thomas Walker were among a federal regiment stationed in the area during the Whiskey Rebellion to control farmers protesting a federal tax on liquor. The officers died in January 1795 during the smallpox epidemic.

Benjamin Bowen served in Company E of the 22nd Cavalry regiment of Pennsylvania during the Civil War, while Charles D. Fuller was a soldier in the 147H Pennsylvania volunteer infantry during the Spanish-American War of 1898.

There are also soldiers buried there from the Revolutionary War, World War I, World War II and Vietnam.

On Oct. 27, fifth-grade pupils from Jefferson Elementary School visited the resting place of these American patriots in Lobbs Cemetery, off Walton Road, near state Route 837 in Jefferson Hills.

"I never knew it was so close, in our back yard," said Jake White, 11, of Jefferson Hills.

"It was kind of sad, but I thought it was pretty cool," said Nate McClure, 10, also of Jefferson Hills.

The gathering kicked off the campaign by the West Jefferson Hills Historical Society to restore the roughly 2¹/₂-acre site that has fallen into disrepair.

For the 23 youngsters, the field trip was a lesson in scientific ways to document the cemetery, all while acquiring an appreciation for preserving it.

They were joined in their efforts by their parents, and about 90 historical society members, local officials and three archaeologists.

After all the material is compiled, the nonprofit organization plans to apply for grants to finance a restoration of the site, which local lore says once was an Indian burial ground.

Money will also be sought to place military markers on the graves of veterans.

Joyce Schmidt, of Jefferson Hills, president of the historical society, said that while the cemetery has fallen on hard times, it has never been forgotten.

"Every Memorial Day for years, the borough lays a wreath by the cannon near the entrance in a ceremony with a military speaker," she said.

Prior to their visit, students learned about archaeology. "We were trying to give them real-life experiences," said teacher Kelly Landers about applying those skills.

The lesson soon grew to include an appreciation of American history.

"Once they got to the cemetery, they were enthralled with the history there," she said. "They were especially excited that George Washington had a hand in local history," she said, referring to his decision as president to send troops to suppress the Whiskey Rebellion insurrection.

Besides military history, the site offers a glimpse into the hardships of frontier life; the 900 recorded graves include victims of mining and railroad accidents, drownings, epidemics, and infant deaths.

"I think life would be hard and rough back then," said Bethany Cocuzzi, 10, of Jefferson Hills.

"I think that it would be cool to see how they did all their stuff because they didn't have electricity or computers or anything," she said.

The historical society compiled a listing of burials using former compilations, funeral home records, newspaper articles and obituaries, Internet sites, libraries, and family interviews.

The listing includes four members of the Lobb family, early settlers for whom the cemetery is named.

In 1932, Edward and Marie Beedle conveyed the property to the then-Jefferson Township. The cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

While that status affords the site some government protection from an encroaching development, said archaeologist Diane Beynon Landers, it doesn't stop the aging process.

"What happens in places [such as] Lobbs is that it is becoming deteriorated from neglect and natural weathering over time. Tombstones have fallen over and inscriptions can't be read.

"Vegetation has encroached to where there are graves in the forest which can't be found," she said.

Dr. Landers, of Jefferson Hills, is an archaeologist with GAI Consultants in Homestead. She is the mother-in-law of Kelly Landers, and a historical society member.

On the field trip, she and fellow GAI archaeologists Eric Scuoteguazza and Anne Hennon, both of Butler County, taught the students how to map the cemetery; how to record inscriptions and photograph tombstones; and how to locate unmarked graves.

The students erected colored flags to signify historical periods and military personnel on headstones.

"We wanted to give the students a life experience outside the classroom in historic preservation, and the importance of preserving our historic sites in our own communities," she said.

Dr. Landers said her team will return to use the Global Positioning System to measure in the grave locations and to create a modern map of the cemetery.

The map and the additional information will be submitted to the state Bureau for Historic Preservation.

Jake said his experiences at Lobbs left him with a greater appreciation for the sacrifices of soldiers, especially of the Civil War era, which he studied in school.

"Looking at the graves and the writing on them makes it more believable," he said.

He said he hopes to meet a veteran on Sunday, Veterans Day.

"I'll tell them, thanks," he said.

To join the historical society, call Mrs. Schmidt at 412-384-5436, or complete an application at the Jefferson Hills Public Library.