Walter Dickerson was born on 17 June 1763 in Rocksbury, Morris County, New Jersey. His lineage is from Philemon Dickerson, an indentured servant and one of the earliest settlers in the Massachusetts Colony in 1621 as part of the Puritan Migration. 

Walter was raised and served in the New Jersey Militia as a Private under his Uncle, Captain Thomas Dickerson, in Major Hutchins Troops. The New Jersey theater was a hotbed of Revolutionary War activity. The Dickerson family owned a tavern in Morristown, New Jersey, on Spring Street. During George Washington's stay in Morristown Head Quarters, Benedict Arnold was court-martialed at Dickerson's Tavern on Spring Street for charges related to profiteering from military supplies in Philadelphia. This led to his eventual treason of the United States. The Dickerson family also owned an iron ore mine that provided cannons and ammunition for the Continental Army. This park is now a State Park in New Jersey. The Dickerson Family in New Jersey has a legacy of Governors, Judges, and US Representatives.

Walter suffered a foot injury during his service, which led to his discharge. Following the Revolution, Walter married Penelope Heaton in Roxbury, New Jersey, on 2 March 1785. Walter and his wife had eleven known children. They moved west following the Cumberland Trail. First, he went to Washington County, Pennsylvania, and then to Butler County, Ohio, before settling here in Vigo County, Indiana, where he was granted 160 acres for his service in the war. It was commonplace in those days to grant war pensioners land in lieu of money since the US Government had little cash and plenty of land. The land we were standing on was in the middle of this land grant. They moved here in 1835. Walter's home was directly across the National Road, where the old orphanage was located. This knob was chosen as the cemetery location due to it being a high point on the property.

The family was one of the early settlers of Lost Creek Township. They created and ran a lumber/sawmill used for schools, bridges, and homes in the area. Walter served on the National Road Commission. They were quite prominent early settlers in this community. Serving as postmasters, teachers, County Commissioners, storekeepers, etc. 

The Patriot passed away on 8 October 1855 at 92. It has been said his death was the result of being thrown off a horse. Regardless, he led an amazing life and is one of over 2,000 Patriots buried in the State of Indiana.

This cemetery contains many of Walter's and Penelope's offspring. There are three grandsons buried here who died in the Civil War. There are also other veterans buried here as well. The family sold the property in the early 1900s and ceded the cemetery to the Township Trustee. On 27 May 1929, the DAR provided the current US military stone in a ceremony. In the early 1970s, Anthony Hulman owned the property and gave it to the City of Terre Haute for a Championship Golf Course.