ABANDONED CEMETERY - Southwest Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Jane P. McManus
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Directions:  From the Vernon/Natchitoches Parish line, go North on US Hwy 117
for approximately 10 miles.  Turn left onto unimproved road (304), and go
approximately two miles.  Turn left again onto dirt lane, just before you
reach 304A (also on the left).  Bear left around the curve and go to end of
lane.  When you see the turnaround ahead, and a telephone pole on the left,
stop and park the car.  On the right in the woods at this location are 3 very
old tombstones, one cracked and broken, and many, many depressions for
unmarked graves.  Obviously this burial ground has been abandoned and lost for
many years, the last marked burial was in 1861.   The Forestry Department
seems to think that this was an old Confederate burial ground, however, there
were no tombstones from that era.  This cemetery was located by Kenneth Erwin
of Hornbeck (Vernon) LA, and reported by Elizabeth Sterling of Hornbeck. 
Tombstones were recorded by Jane P. McManus & Mary Parker Partain of
Alexandria LA on 10 February 1999.


Hawkins, B. B. - 17 Dec 1837 / 26 Mar 1860
Bishop, T. R. - 24 Nov 1816 / 6 Oct 1861
Greer, . ll [broken across name] A. - 1 Aug 1839 / 22 Dec 1859

Note:  A large rock, obviously marking a burial was to the South of the
Hawkins burial.  Another very large concrete piece (that might have been part
of a burial slab) near the Greer burial was inscribed "Dan '81."   There is no
way to know if this was just graffiti (1981) or a burial notation for 1881.  
Another broken piece of the above slab was approximately 10 feet away near
another depression.  




Wilson, James Andrew - [no stone, but died 1896/7 and buried near the large rock to the South]
 [identified by relatives]



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