NORTON CREEK CEMETERY (aka ROWE-RUTHERFORD), 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 in the data, or information readers may have about unmarked graves 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 cemetery below are the same as those contained in the book "Madison County Florida Cemeteries" authored by Joseph T. Eichelberger (Privately Published: J. T. Burval, Charleston, WV (1990)). In some cases, additions and corrections have been made. They are 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 marker, especially if it was unusual or damaged. A truly outstanding work, which will serve us well in preserving 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 25, 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. ******************************************************************************* NORTON CREEK CEMETERY, ALSO KNOWN AS THE ROWE-RUTHERFORD CEMETERY LOCATED JUST NORTH OF NORTON CREEK, AND EAST OF FLA. 53 ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. 7.3 MILES SOUTH OF MADISON, 1.3 MILES SOUTH OF I-10. TAKE DIRT ROAD JUST NORTH OF BRIDGE ON 53. IT SWINGS BACK NORTH. TAKE FIRST RIGHT. GO PERHAPS .1 MILE. CEMETERY LIES TO SOUTH AMID TALL TREES. CANNOT BE SEEN FROM ROAD. BEGINNING IN NORTHWEST CORNER, WORK SOUTH TWO GRAVES ENCLOSED BY AN IRON FENCE: MRS. ELIZA ROWE/ BORN AUG.19,1822/ DIED JULY 25,1889/ AGED 66 YEARS, 11 MOS, 6 DAYS/ SHE HAS CEASED FROM SORROW AND CARE/ AND ANXIETIES FOR LOVED ONES HERE/ AND GONE TO LIVE WITH JESUS/ IN HEAVEN FOREVER WE TRUST COLEMAN ROWE/ BORN MAY 8,1812/ DEC'D SEPT 26,1883/ AN HONEST MAN'S THE NOBLEST WORK OF GOD ANOTHER IRON FENCE SURROUNDS A SINGLE INFANT'S GRAVE. THERE IS A HEAVY METAL MONUMENT, BUT NO INFORMATION REMAINS. JUST NORTH OF THE NEXT IRON FENCE: INF. DAU./ OF M.R. AND/ LARRA J./ FAIRCLOTH/ BORN NOV/ 20,1886/ NOV 20,1886 [ BUT THE LOCATION OF THE FOOTSTONE IMPLIES AN ADULT GRAVE.] ANOTHER IRON FENCE CONTAINS THREE MONUMENTS: ELIZABETH RUTHERFORD/ BORN/ JULY 11,1800/ DIED JAN 13,1882 JORJAN J. RUTHERFORD/ BORN/ FEB 24,1824/ DIED/ APR 16,1900/ AGED 76 Y'S. 1M. 24D/ KIND FATHER OF LOVE, THOU ART GONE TO/ THY REST,/ FOREVER TO BASK MID THE JOYS OF THE/ BLEST. [BROKEN STONE, TOP LYING ON GROUND.] ADLINE RUTHERFORD/ BORN/ FEB 1,1831/ DIED OCT 16,1902/ FOREVER THOU HAST/ FROM US _____[GONE?]/ TO THE REGION FAR/ ABOVE./ WE TO THEE ERECT THIS/ STONE/ ?????????????????? SOUTH OF FENCED AREA: LUIZA ELLEN/ WIFE OF/ WILLIAM H. MILLS/ BORN/ DEC 3,1866/ DIED/ SEPT 9,1893/ NOT LOST BUT GONE BEFORE/ [AT FOOT:] LEM MARTHA ANN/ FAIRCLOTH/ BORN SEPT 2, 1834 [ ? THE "3" LOKKED MORE LIKE AN "8" WHICH IT OBVIOUSLY CANNOT BE.] / DIED DEC 31,1886/ MOTHER, THOU HAS/ T FROM US FLOWN/ TO THE REGIONS/ FAR ABOVE/ WE TO THE ERECT/ THIS STONE/ CONSECRATED BY OUR LOVE. [CONCRETE MONUMENT.] TWO METAL MONUMENTS MARK A CHILD'S GRAVE. THERE IS A SINGLE METAL MONUMENT OUT OF THE GROUND AND LEANING AGAINST A TREE. SOUTH END OF CEMETERY INFANT OF/ EDWARD/ AND/ FLARENCE/ HARRELL/ BORN FEB 26,/ 1903 AND DIED THE SAIM ANNIE STOKLEY [THIS IS PROBABLY AN ADULT GRAVE. THE SECOND "N" AND THE "S" WERE REVERSED. MARYAN JANE/ PHILLIPS/ WIFE OF JAS. PHILLIPS/ WAS BORNE/ JUNE 13,1827 -/ DEPARTED THIS LIFE/ APIRL 15,1861 SALOMAN/ PHILLIPS/ WAS BORN 1784/ AND DIED/ 1858 [Born in Gopher County, NC. He mvd to FL in 1845 and died 14 April 1858 in Madison Co. FL] [Buried next to him is his wife ANN (Stubbs) PHILLIPS b 1807 in SC. She died in Madison Co FL, and was buried 8 MARCH 1894.(date of death still unknown)] MARTHA JANE/ WIFE OF/ JAMES PHILLIPS/ BORN MAY 1,1888,/ DIED 1868/ TO FORGET IS VAIN ENDEAVOR/ LOVE REMBANS/ LAST FOREVER BRICK SLAB, CONCRETE VENEER. ADULT'S GRAVE. VENEER CRACKED. NO INSCRIPTION. SOUTH END AGAIN INFANT'S GRAVE. CONCRETE SLAB, BADLY BROKEN. INSCRIPTION ETCHED IN CONCRETE: IN MEMORY/ OF/ JOHN R. WILLIAMS/ SON OF J.X.[?] & Z.[?]N./ WILLIAMS WAS BORN/ DC 10,1881 & DIED/ SEPT 23,1883[?] [NOTE: THE DATES ARE DIFFICULT TO READ. THE SECOND "8" IN EACH DATE WAS ESPECIALLY HARD TO READ.] DALLAS P. / McPHERSON/ DIED/ FEB.15,1862/ AGED 17 YEARS/ SWEET BE THY REST/ TILL HE BID THEE ARISE/ TO HAIL HIM IN TRIUMPH/ DESCENDING THE SKIES. BROKEN STONE: THOMAS B. McDANIEL/ BORN NOV 2,1839/ DIED MAY [ MAR?] 8,1898/ LET ME DIE THE/ DEATH OF THE RIGHT/EOUS AND LET MY/ LAST DAYS BE/ LIKE HIS [DATES WERE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO READ.] NELSON W. READ/ SON OF W.H. & J./ READ BORN AT/ PORT DALHOUSIE/ CANADA JAN 20,1846/ DIED NOV 28,1863[?]/BLESSED ARE THE DEAD/ WHICH DIE IN THE LORD BRICKED-UP TOMB - TOP BROKEN-IN. ADULT'S GRAVE. BRICKED-UP TOMB - TOP BROKEN-IN. CHILD'S GRAVE. IN MEMORY OF/ JAMES M./ SON OF J.G. & MISSOURI WILLIAMS/ BORN MARCH/ 27,1879 DIED AUG 28,1880 CYPRESS STAKE MARKS GRAVE. IT APPEARS THAT THERE WERE OTHER GRAVES HERE ALSO. THERE ARE OTHER PIECES OF WOOD WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN MARKERS. END OF CEMETERY Recorded before 4 November 1988