MACON COUNTY, GA - CEMETERY Oglethorpe "Smallpox" ***************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm *********************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Volunteers Barbara English West has a wonderful page including photos! http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~englishsurname/ourkin.htm Click on: Cemetery Data listing - Select Smallpox Cemetery Source: pg 476 The History of Macon Co. Mrs. Louise Frederick Hays Located: Oglethorpe. About 1 mile east from the courthouse. Take the "old road from Oglethorpe to Montezuma" towards the Flint River. Visible from the road is the "old" Gold Kist peanut mill with siloes for storing dry peanuts. This cemetery is located on a triangle piece of land where the two railroads intersect just after they have each crossed the Flint River. Quite overgrown. Perhaps was the location of Timothy Bernard's Trading Post, and may have even been an early Indian burial site. Names from The History of Macon County by Hays. Mrs. Moody, grandmother of Mrs. Mary Bethia Moody English [Mrs. English was 89 in 1935 when Mrs. Hays book was written] (possibly Mary Moody wife of Josiah Moody--see below) Jimmie Williams [pg 181 "James Williams, who was kindhearted and fearless, helped to bury many, but finally succumbed himself and is buried there"] Elizabeth, consort of William Robinson Died 11 June 1851 May, Mary F.W. ? 1820 - Feb 1853 (wife of Rev. P.L.J. May) (died of smallpox) *dates based on 1850 Census May, Infant 12 days old 1853 - Feb 1853 (died of smallpox) Rev. P.L.J. May did not die in the epidemic although several sources state that the entire family did. Biography submitted by descendants give more details. Probably other burials and may have smallpox victims from the epidemic , thus the name "Smallpox Cemetery" at one time. NOTE: Historical Sketches of Oglethorpe, GA. by Lois E. Payne. states that the epidemic took place in 1858 and that the people would not use that cemetery after the epidemic had passed and things returned to "normal". Note: Rev. May, the local Methodist minister, contracted smallpox during his preaching circuit. "He was carried out into the stillness of the night and buried in the silent cemetery." His entire family suffered the same fate. [This is in error - see Biography] Macon Messenger June 25, 1856 Married at the Methodist Church in Buena Vista (Marion Co) Ga on the morning of the 17th inst by Rev. Smith Davenport, Rev. P.L.J. May of Salem, AL, to Mrs. Emily E. Clark of the former place. The only disinfectant used was onions; each household had a bunch hanging in its kitchen. NOTE: http://members.aol.com/dixieten/moody/history.html The children of Josiah and Mary were first named in the 1850 Census: sons, JOSIAH, age 26, b. abt .1824; JAMES M., age 22, b. 1829; ALLISON, age 11 b. abt. 1839; daughters, MARY age 17 b. abt. 1833; CAROLINE, age 14 ? (b. Mar. 18, 1834). From the estate records for Josiah Moody we know at least two additional children survived to adulthood: daughter MALINDA, b. abt 1815 and son WILLIAM b. abt. 1820. Mary Moody is the Mrs. Moody recorded in Macon Co. history as a smallpox victim of an 1858 epidemic and buried in the smallpox cemetery. Josiah died on August 14, 1860 in Americus, GA. He is most likely buried in Oak Grove Cemetery there in the plot of son William Moody =========================================== 1880 Floyd DeSoto Series: T9 Roll: 146 Page: 102B & 103A May, P L.J. w m 63 Emily w f 48 Pleasant w m 14 son Holmes w fm 8 1870 Floyd Co. Rome P.O. Series: M593 Roll: 149 Page: 163 HH758- 746 May, Pleasant L.J. 52 m w Running Saw Mill $1500 $2000 Emily E 39 f w Pleasant E 4 m w 1860 Fulton Co. 2-WD Atlanta Series: M653 Roll: 122 Page: 748 May, P.L.J. 41 M merchant GA Emily 39 f Susan 19 Josephine 17 James 16 Mary 14 Emma 10 Eddy 2 Infant 2/12 pg 125 1850 Census Macon Dist 1002 May, P.L.J. 32 M.M (Methodist Minister) James H 7 Mary F.W. 30 f Susan E 11 Josephine H 9 Mary 4 Emily A 2 1840 Census In the household of Susan May in the 741st District the info reads this way: 1 male age under 5 (child of PLJ and Mary or unknown older female?) 1 male age 20-30 - PLJ was 22 2 females under 5 (children of PLJ and Mary? - Susan was abt 1) 1 female 15-20 - see below 1 female 20-30 - one of these could have been Mary (20) and one a sister to PLJ 1 female 50-60 - Susan, the mother I knew Mary Davis May’s cause of death as small pox from her obit in the 24 June 1853 Southern Christian Advocate. However, in the notice the date of her death was reported as 10 Feb 1853, Oglethorpe.