batesville's memorial park cemetery

7
Batesville's Memorial Park Cemetery Author(s): Paul T. Wayland Source: The Arkansas Historical Quarterly, Vol. 15, No. 3 (Autumn, 1956), pp. 267-272 Published by: Arkansas Historical Association Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40022902 . Accessed: 15/06/2014 17:11 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. . Arkansas Historical Association is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Arkansas Historical Quarterly. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 185.2.32.21 on Sun, 15 Jun 2014 17:11:27 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Upload: paul-t-wayland

Post on 20-Jan-2017

214 views

Category:

Documents


1 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Batesville's Memorial Park Cemetery

Batesville's Memorial Park CemeteryAuthor(s): Paul T. WaylandSource: The Arkansas Historical Quarterly, Vol. 15, No. 3 (Autumn, 1956), pp. 267-272Published by: Arkansas Historical AssociationStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40022902 .

Accessed: 15/06/2014 17:11

Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at .http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp

.JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range ofcontent in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new formsof scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].

.

Arkansas Historical Association is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to TheArkansas Historical Quarterly.

http://www.jstor.org

This content downloaded from 185.2.32.21 on Sun, 15 Jun 2014 17:11:27 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Page 2: Batesville's Memorial Park Cemetery

BATESVILLE'S MEMORIAL PARK CEMETERY

By Paul T. Wayland Batesville, Arkansas

One of the oldest public cemeteries in what is now the state of Arkansas, is located in Batesville, on College Avenue, between Third and Fourth streets. This old ceme- tery, known as the Memorial Park Cemetery, dates back many years before Arkansas became a state and is the last resting plaqe of some of those early settlers who came to the White river valley to carve out a home and help build a town. The cemetery has not been used since 1872 when, because it was completely filled, it became necessary for the town to acquire another burial ground.

Standing under the leafy boughs of big oak trees, like tired sentinels, are old monuments bearing the names of people who contributed much to the early growth of the region. The ravages of time have marred many of the old markers. Some have been broken and others have fallen to the earth, mute evidence of what has transpired in this area since that day, almost 150 years ago, when the first funeral was held on the brow of the little "hill back of the cedar grove."

In that cemetery are people whose descendants are now scattered all over this and other states. The oldest legible headstone in the cemetery bears the death date of July 29, 1816, and the name "Jane Kinman, Consort of Billy Kin- man."

Many of those buried in the Batesville cemetery came here in the early days from states east of the Mississippi, including New Jersey, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

In order to preserve for posterity the information now

availably in the old cemetery, the writer took the time to

get every legible name in the cemetery, as well as the birth date and the death date, where possible. In some instances the date of birth, for instance, was not given. But what information was available was taken and recorded. A copy of that record is submitted as follows:

Maria B. Case, born Sept. 25, 1846; Joseph Williams,

This content downloaded from 185.2.32.21 on Sun, 15 Jun 2014 17:11:27 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Page 3: Batesville's Memorial Park Cemetery

268 ARKANSAS HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

died Feb. 20, 1840, in the 71st year of his life; Malinda A. Wycough, born Feb. 3, 181 1, died Dec. 14, 1865 ; Wycoff child (name not legible) born 181 7, died 18 18; Thomas Wycough, born Aug. 11, 1847, died April 7, 1848; Martha Kinman, born Dec. 12, 1829; Jane Kinman, consort of Billy Kinman, died July 29, 1816; Catherinje Wycough, born March 23, 1818, died June 2J, 1872; Mary A. Mc- Guire, born Aug. 7, 1828, died May 21, i860; Wm. L. McGuire (age 47 years) died Jan. 28, 1850; Janetthe Mc- Guire, born June 10, 1853, died May 7, 1871 ; Cyntha Mc- Guire, died Dec. 26, 1849 5 John McGuire, died 1843 ; George Harrison Pelham, a native of Clark county, Ky., died July 19, 1835; Richard Henry Pelham, a native of Marion county, Ky., died July 15, 1834; A. B. Sherrill, died Oct. 21, 1836; Jane Searcy, died Jan. 16, 1831 ; Richard Searcy, died Dec. 25, 1832;

Janet H., daughter of Benjamin and Maria Dickinson, died Aug. 6, 1848; Maria Slater, wif;e of Benjamin Dick- inson, born 1819, died 1855; Hon. Beaufort H. Neely, born Dec. 4, 1809, died Aug. 19, 1858; Rodney B. Lournoy, born Nov. 2J, 1849, died 1872; Mary Jane McGuire, con- sort of William L. McGuire, died Sept. 24, 1845; Henry W. Bandy, born Feb. 6, 18 13, died April 15, 1855; Nancy Elizabeth Malinda Bandy, born Dec. 16, 1843, died Nov. 14, 1849;

Catherene Adelea Bandy, died Oct. 19, 1848; Mary Bandy, born 1846, died 1849; a person by the name of Chiles (first name gone) born 1848, in Alabama, died 1872; T. E. Piper "died on the 28th year of his life on the 16th day of Oct. 1850"; Permelia H. Watson, daughter of Rob- ert and Hariette Watson, born May 12, 1846 and died May 24, 1848. Susan Jane Watson, died June 10, 1845; Nancy C, daughter of T. A. and C. E. Baxter, born Oct. 23, 1852, died Sept. 22, 1853; Mary P. Agnew, born in Princeton, N. J., died in Batesville, Arkansas, Jan. 15, 1863; Kate Matilda, daughter of J. W. and O. C. Carrigan, born Dec. 1, 1854, died July 8, 1855; Eliza, wife of George W. Ken- nard, born Jan. 29, 1807, died Nov. 15, i860; (first name broken away) son of James and Emily Porter, born Feb. 1, i860, died July 9, i860; Emma, daughter of J. E. and

This content downloaded from 185.2.32.21 on Sun, 15 Jun 2014 17:11:27 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Page 4: Batesville's Memorial Park Cemetery

BATESVILLE'S MEMORIAL PARK CEMETERY 26o

V. T. Gatewood, born 1859, died 1867; Sarah, wife of Rufus Stone, born Apr. 1802, died July 1854; Rufus Stone, born Aug. 1800, died April 1852; Jacob B. Bentley, son of Joseph E. and Sarah Bentley, born June 3, 1829, died April 5, 1847; Mrs. Lucy Adelia Byers, born Dec. 4, 1810, died July 1, 1846; Sarah Vesta Byers, born Jan. 26, 1810, died Aug. 2i, 1 84 1 ; James, son of Wm. and Lucy Byers, born Jan. 18, 1833, died Feb. 6, 1833 at Mt. Vernon, Ohio.

The history of the Memorial Park Cemetery is a chap- ter in the history of Bates ville, Arkansas. One man who was important in the early days, not only in Batesville, but throughout the northern part of Arkansas, and whose body was buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, was Richard Searcy. He was one of the three men who, in 1822, as "owners and proprietors o£ the town of Batesville," signed the deed of conveyance which, together with a plat of the town at that time, are on record in the Independence county court house.

The above action was taken shortly after Independence county had been formed and Batesville selected as the county seat. The first effort was made at that time to make a syste- matic plat of the town, providing a space for the "public square" which was between Walnut and Market street.

Searcy was appointed judge of the Territorial Court in 1823, and served in that capacity until John Quincy Adams became president. James Woodson Bates was then appointed to the office. In previous years Searcy and Bates had been very close friends and associates. However, as a result of a newspaper controversy that friendship was forever severed and they were bitter enemies the rest of their lives. In 1828 Searcy was a candidate for congress. His opponent was Ambrose H. Sevier. There was a heated campaign and had it not been for interference from Bates, Searcy1 might have won the nomination. But before the campaign ended Bates threw his influence to Sevier resulting in Searcy's de- feat by 130 votes. That campaign brought to an end Searcy's political career and he died in Batesville four years later, on December 25, 1832.

H'allum, the historian, described Richard Sjearcy as a wonderful man, "a good writer, a fine advocate before a jury, a good lawyer before a court, and a pleasing, effec- tive speaker."

This content downloaded from 185.2.32.21 on Sun, 15 Jun 2014 17:11:27 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Page 5: Batesville's Memorial Park Cemetery

2^0 ARKANSAS HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

Another grave of special note is that of William L. McGuire who came to Batesville in the 1830's. He was a popular man and served as sheriff of Independence county from 1842-47. His wife was the former Jane Searcy, a niece of Judge Richard Searcy. His death occurred in 1850, his wife having died five years before.

The most elaborate monument in the cemetery is the one that was erected by Judge William Byers who at the time was one of the wealthiest men in Independence county. He had the monument, which is some 15 feet high, erected to the memory of his first wife and to their son and daugh- ter. William Byers lived until the early 1880's and by that time the old cemetery was filled with graves and he was buried in Oaklawn Cemetery.

Another well known person in his day, whose grave may be found in the old burying ground was Judge Beaufort Nejely, whose death occurred in 1858. Judge Neely had married the widow of William F. Denton, a promising young lawyer, only a few years before his death. Her maiden nam,e was Margaret Desha.

Ther;e are street names in Batesville that tie in well with the family names in the cemetery. Such street names as Neely, Wycough, Case and Porter have been in existence for many years.

The old cemetery is now in the heart of the business district, but when the first graves were dug it was well on the outskirts of the town. Even as late as 1821, when the first town plat was made and recorded, the cemetery was two blocks beyond the yend of the street, and in a wooded area. It was about the year 1826 that John Miller, Robert Crittenden, Charles Kelley and Richard Searcy, being th;en the sole owners of the land upon which a part of the town of Batesville was situated, being more particularly described as that part called the old or lower part, verbally gave and dedicated to the town the land to be used as a cemetery. The land had been used since 1816 as a burial place. For the next 30 years, although there had been no written agree- ment, the plat was accepted and used as the public burial ground on the faith of the grant made in 1826.

By 1856 it was decided that a written deed should be

This content downloaded from 185.2.32.21 on Sun, 15 Jun 2014 17:11:27 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Page 6: Batesville's Memorial Park Cemetery

BATESVILLE'S MEMORIAL PARK CEMETERY 27I

made in order that the city might properly improve and otherwise beautify the cemetery. Accordingly, on April 5, 1856, a deed was made by the then owners of the land, and was made in favor of John L. Fraley as Mayor and Joseph H. Egner, David S. Fraley, Uriah Maxfield, Ben- jamin Dickinson and Ralph Kellog as councilmen, and to their successors in office and "to those in all time who may successfully exercise the chief municipal power in said town whether the same office be in existence or not ... in trust for the use and benefit of the town of Batesville." The plot was described as lying back from Main street "beyond the property owned by Issac Folsom Senior and of the property called the cedar grovje."

That the city did start an improvement program on the cemetery is borne out by an item in the Independent Balance of July 8, 1858, in which was stated; "We arte grateful to learn that the town council have at last decided to enclose our grave yard with a neat fence. . . The grave yard has long been neglected . . . with a neat enclosure round it and about $50.00 spent on removing old trejes and clearing out and topping* the young trees, it can be made one of the most beautiful burying grounds to be found anywhere." The same item stated that $500.00 had been set aside by the town council for the project and it was the opinion of the editor that $350.00 would have been ample for the job. However, the members of the council, realizing the historic value of the old cemetery as well as the fact that some of the leading citizens of the young city had been buried there, were determined to spend whatever was necessary in order to make it truly "the most beautiful burying ground to be found anywhere."

The cemetery was used for the next 14 years, or until it became so filled with graves it was practically impossible to add more. By the middle of the 1860's there was con- siderable complaint of the crowded conditions there. Many of the early graves had either been marked with only a small stone or had been left without any type of marker, and as

graves became crowded it was not uncommon when dig- ging a new grave, to dig into the remains of another.

On February 20, 1870 the North Arkansas Times

This content downloaded from 185.2.32.21 on Sun, 15 Jun 2014 17:11:27 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Page 7: Batesville's Memorial Park Cemetery

2^2 ARKANSAS HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

voiced a demand for a new cemetery when it said: "A long felt need in this community is a suitable place for the burial of the dead. Every citizen, probably, is aware that the lot at present used for that purpose, has long since been full, and now it is almost an impossibility to dig a grave there without disturbing th.e bones of someone buried years before. On a recent occasion no less than four graves were dug before a location could be found for a new grave with- out intruding upon others. . . The subject of locating a new cemetery has been introduced in the town council and has met with much favor there. . ."

By 1872 a site had been located for a new cemetery and after that year, judging from the dates on the head- stones,; the old on,e was never used again. If it was there is nothing to indicate as much. We know that Oaklawn Cemetery was opened up that year.

From the time it was abandoned as a burying ground, until reqent years, the old cemetery was badly neglected. As a result many of the old headstones were broken down and a surprising number carried away. There is no way of estimating the number of graves that are without an identifying marker - some, no doubt, graves of prominent people.

A few years ago, through the efforts of the Batesville Garden Clubs and others interested in the project, a con- certed effort was made to beautify the Memorial Park Ceme- |tery and make it not only a place of beauty, but also estab- lish it in its rightful place as an important chapter in the history of Batesville. All unsightly trees and bushes were cleared away, concrete walks were built through the ceme- tery and concrete benches made and placed at convenient spots in the deep shade of the old oak trees. A nice carpet of grass has been acquired and flowers now bloom there in season. During future years, no doubt, further efforts will be made to establish the grave locations of other prominent people who were buried there but whose exact grave location at the present is unknown.

This content downloaded from 185.2.32.21 on Sun, 15 Jun 2014 17:11:27 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions