CAMPBELL SINK CEMETERIES, Lee, Madison County, Florida File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Joseph T. Burval, e-mail: JBurval@mindspring.com COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Copyright (c) 1990 by Joseph T. Burval, Publisher. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the Publisher. The publisher donates the contents of this file in digital format to USGenWeb Project Archives for inclusion in USGenWeb's Digital Library (Archives) for the purpose of making this work freely available to researchers under the rules and policies of The USGenWeb Project. USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. This file may not be removed from this server or altered in any way for placement on another server without the consent of the State and USGenWeb Project coordinators and the contributor. CORRECTIONS AND ERRORS: Comments from readers concerning errors or additions to the data should be addressed to Joseph T. Burval, 1995 Parkwood Road, Charleston, West Virginia 25314, USA or e-mail at JBurval@mindspring.com ******************************************************************************* INTRODUCTION The tombstone inscriptions for the cemeteries below are previously unpublished. This is information that Mr. Joseph T. Eichelberger sent to me in 1993 for adding to his book "Madison County Florida Cemeteries". As publisher, I did not add this information to the book during later printings. This information however, is digitally reproduced here to make this information available to the USGenWeb Project Archives. Mr. Eichelberger surveyed all the cemeteries of Madison County, Florida known to him over an eight year period from about 1985 to 1993. In most cases, the date of the survey, as well as, the date of his second survey used to verify his data is included at the end of the listing. The reader will note the detail that Mr. Eichelberger has used to record the inscriptions in this work. This work is more than a listing of names and dates. It is the next best thing to actually seeing the gravesite in person. Its content shows the author's obvious extraordinary effort to preserve what he called the "flavor" of the tombstone by recording full inscriptions. His work includes misspellings, error notation and describing the marker's location so it can be found by the reader. Often a description of the tombstone, especially if it was unusual or damaged is included. A truly outstanding work, which will serve to preserve our heritage. Mr. Eichelberger very concisely and modestly explained his work in part as follows: "This project has been a one-man effort. As a result the readings and the typing have not been checked by a second party. To make matters worse, the elapsed time between reading the tombstones and typing the listing from notes has been rather great. Reading old notes written hurriedly in the field can be a trying experience, especially if the writer's handwriting isn't too neat." "An effort was made to preserve the "flavor" of the inscriptions by retaining misspellings and errors. In general, no attempt was made to correct any data, but occasionally observations have been inserted. These are in square brackets [] except where no confusion should result. It is hoped that few errors have been introduced in recording and typing the data, but surely some have been." It is a pleasure to donate this work to the USGenWeb Project Archives to make this very valuable information available to all researchers interested in Madison County. J. T. Burval Charleston, West Virginia October 28, 1998 ******************************************************************************* SYMBOLS USED: A "/" is used to indicate a new line on the tombstone. A "//" indicates a new section of the tombstone. "FHMM" means funeral home metal marker. "CRI" means cannot read inscription. A "#" indicates a cross as used on stones and memorials, and denotes military Service. Brackets [] indicate the authors comments and are used to distinguish comments from the tombstone inscription. Two names side by side indicate either a common headstone or two headstones on a common pedestal. Two names side by side with a third name below and indented, indicate that all three names are included on a common headstone or that all three headstones are on a common pedestal. ******************************************************************************* CAMPBELL SINK CEMETERIES These abandoned cemeteries are located 1 mile west of Lee and .3 miles south of West Farm Road. From Madison, take US 90 east to Macedonia Church, turn south 1 mile, cross RR tracks, go east on West Farm Road to first graded road south. Turn south, go 1/2 mile and take graded road east. There is an abandoned church on the west side of the intersection (barely visible through the trees), and a large oak on the east. Proceed due east 1 mile (where the road turns south continue east on an unimproved road). The cemeteries lie 1/8 mile east. They are on private property and the owners' permission should be obtained before entering. There are two cemeteries at this location: The Campbell Family Cemetery located on the north edge of property owned by Mr. Ronald Mathis of Sardinia, Ohio, and a larger cemetery located immediately north on the property of Mr. Roy Ellis. The history of the cemeteries is not known to the writer. As far as could be determined, the graves for both cemeteries were for blacks. The Campbell Family Cemetery is small (say 30' square) and has been recently cleared by Mr. Mathis. Two large brick gateposts stand on the north side, while a concrete walk has been built along the west side. One person stated that an [iron?] fence once surrounded the cemetery, though it is no longer in evidence. Graves are close together, and all, save possibly one, are covered by concrete slabs. Unfortunately, a very poor grade of concrete was used for several slabs. Data scratched into these particular slabs is nearly impossible to read. Three concrete benches are evident. Unless noted otherwise, data have been scratched in by hand on the concrete slabs. CAMPBELL FAMILY CEMETERY Concrete Walk.. west side - "Installed by Davey Campbell 1930” ROW 1: Begin west side, north corner, just south of a concrete bench, proceed south – ?????a Townsend/?? October 1921 Senie[?] B. Campbell/?? December 1921/ 1/11/46 (Daniel? Arnie? Annie?] O.[G7] Campbell/ August 14 1924 [Date is probably birth date. Something was scratched in below it but is unreadable.] Wm. G.[A?] Townsend/Dec 27, 1924/ 1-11-40 ROW 2: Begin north end, proceed south - Monument at head of slab - Lillie P. Miller/ 11/19/1921 /1/17/1982 A concrete flower pot Two slabs with no identification Headstone at end of slab - Leroy A. Stephens/ 4/27/1938 / 6/19/1968 A second concrete bench Row 3: Begin north end, proceed south – Marble monument: #/John A. Campbell/Florida/Sgt Co D/427 Service BN/QMC/World WAR T/May 7 1889/APRIL 10 1961 .... Scratched on foot of slab - John A. Campbell/Died October 10, 1961 ... There is a metal PR marker at the foot - no identification remains. Not Beggs. Thomas Campbell/Sept 17 1898/March 3 1971 A small pile of bricks and broken concrete may mark a grave. If so, it is probably that of an infant. Row 3: Begin north and, proceed south - Row 4: Begin north and, proceed south - Concrete Bench This slab is laid northwest to southeast, while all the others run east to west - Mr. Walter Campbell., Sr./1900-1989 [From a FHMM (not Beggs)] ... Mr. Ellis stated that this Mr. Campbell lived on the property on which the cemetery is located, and was the last of the family who remained in Madison County. His son lives in Tallahassee. END OF CAMPBELL FAMILY CEMETERY Recorded 23 November 1993 by Samuel E. Phillips. Checked same date by Joseph T. Eichelberger. **************************************** CAMPBELL SINK CEMETERY, NORTH This cemetery (approximately 100’xl00’) is presently a disaster. Several years ago a tornado passed over the cemetery, doing a great deal of damage. The County later cut and removed several large damaged trees, but did not clean up the debris. As a result, there are piles of limbs scattered throughout the cemetery. Seedlings, which will be saplings in another year or two, abound, and briars are beginning to make their presence felt. The piles of debris are such as to make distance measurements nearly impossible, so it was necessary to merely note the graves and their general locations rather than to locate them relative to each other. Entrance was from the southwest corner. Proceed east to about the center, then north. Near the center at the south end are two sunken graves for adults. Two graves for adults with iron "headstones" and "footstones" - the. identification is long gone. Just west of the above is a sunken grave for an adult. Just north of the previous two is a small- footstone marking the grave of an adult. Proceeding north there is a broken granite stone 20" wide, 24" high, 2" thick: Thomas Wilson/Born/Feb. 12, 1863/Died/Sept. 7, 1899/God took him and he now/is another link in Heaven. Broken marble footstone marks a grave - probably that of an adult. Concrete stone about 10” high, 20” wide and 5” thick - Bellamy/Shelly/Aug 5, 1879/??Sept. 7, 1915?? [Place no faitb in this last date - extremely difficult to read] - There is a concrete slab for this grave, and the grave is apparently for an adult. Sunken area could hold one, possiblv two, grave(s) for adult(s). Monument 21 high, 18" wide, 4” thick - down - Jane Wilkin/Wife of/John Wilkin/Born A.D. 1832/Died A.D. 1907/Age 75 years/Gone- but not/forgotten. ... Footstone: J.W. Beggs FHMM: Willie Wilkins[Wilkin?]/Dec 17, 18?3/March 13, 1948 Marble headstone 3’tall, 16” wide, 3” thick - on pedestal - marble footstone - Lucy McEntyre/wife of/T.J. McCastile/Born/At Evergreen, Ala./May 12, 1870/Died/At Lee, Fla./Nov. 16, 1907. Footstone. Marble headstone 2’ tall, 10” wide, 2” thick on pedestal - Peter Washington/Born/Feb. 16, 1907/Died/July 4, 1908?At Rest - - Marble footstone - P.W. Small concrete stone 20” high 10” wide, 1 1/2” thick. Small. Footstone: Henry Harring/Born/July 1., 1909/Died/Jan. 1, 1910/ No flower can drop to soon ... [rest is unreadable] Monument 18” high 12” wide 2” hick, off pedestal: Susan/White/Died/Aug. 24, 1908/She's not dead, but awav. North end of cemetery Go west to northwest corner. Proceed south along west line: There are four concrete slabs, covering four graves, in the northwest corner. The 3rd and 4th were broken during the recent tornado, and the graves are filled with water. 1. Beggs FHMM: Daniel Hester?/Mav 10, 1897/July 27, 1958 [Not exactly legible]. 2. No marker of any sort. 3. Beggs FHMM: Rose ?????/??? 16? 1889/Nov? 15? 1950? [Almost impossible to read.] 4. Beggs FHMM: Tom Mosley/Age 9/Jan 11, 1953 Sunken grave for an adult. Two Beggs FHMM on ground in front of a broken monument (see just below): 1. Maire [Marie? Mary?] B?arnegus/July 15,1870/Aug 8, 1977 2. [Left half of TD tag is gone] 1886/1938? 1928? Marble stone - top is off pedestal – 16” square by 6” thick - On sloping top: MOTHER - on front: Mattie/Canegie/Sept 17, 1865/.Aug 8, 1947//Marble footstone. Sunken grave for an adult. Low concrete stone 36" wide, off pedestal - Hevia Gay (slain)/ Mar. 26, 1907 June 2, 1941//small footstone. Broken stone on pedestal, top gone, no inscription remains, turned 45 degrees, possiblv has been moved. Small concrete marker on concrete pedestal - turned slightly - top gone - may have been moved. The remaining inscription reads: 12 1900/Died Oct/1 1903/Asleep in/Jesus Nearby are a concrete headstone and a concrete footstone for a child's grave. No ID. Moving northeast perhaps 30 feet: a sunken grave, probablv for an adult. Marble stone 3 1/2 feet tall, 16” wide 2” thick set in marble pedestal. Masonic emblem at top: W.H. Conoly/Born/Sept. 27, 1853/Died/Nov. 13, 1910/ He died as he lived a Christian. Just west - a sunken grave, probably that of a child. There is a tiny marble footstone for the grave. Broken concrete headstone on concrete pedestal. - top gone - no inscription remains - turned 90 degrees - a concrete footstone indicates the grave was for an adult. At least two sunken graves for adults. Back to north end, proceed east. There are a number of sunken graves, all for adults, along the north end of the cemetery. The first (most westward) contains a fragment of a headstone, but it is buried so deeply that it would have to be dug out. Another just east of the above. Another just south of the next above. Another just east of the next above. Now go south - At least four sunken graves near a large oak on whose side something has been carved. Marble headstone: #/William Brown/Florida/Pvt US ARMY World War I/June 4 1887 Oct 31 1970 - Beggs FHMM agrees with above. [From the Beggs PH: The full name was William Boisey Brown. He was buried in a walnut casket which in turn was placed in a wooden box in lieu of a vault.] Beggs FHMM: Mr.[?] Milton Haris[?] Broin[?]/December ???????/October[?] 16, 1915[?] 1975[?] 1947[?] 1949[?] Beggs FHMM: Linda Loretta Mays/4 yrs old/d Oct 17,1964 Just east FHMM with data missing. Go south – Richland P. Goodwin FHMM, Cross City: Lonnie Robinson/ d Mav 15, 1966/ 67 yrs. old. END OF CEMETERY Recorded 23 November 1993 by Joseph T. Eichelberger and Samuel E. Phillips, Jr. Most data cross-checked, but not all.