Leesville (Old)Cemetery - Vernon Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Jane McManus ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Old Leesville Cemetery is located where the town of Leesville originated before the coming of the railroad in the late 1800's. In the center of town, take LA Hwy. 171 North, and turn right on East Mechanic Street. Continue until the road ends at the Full Gospel Church. Old Leesville cemetery is affiliated with the church, but is located directly behind the building. The area is fenced and currently maintained by the Leesville Sheriff's Department. Over the years, this old burial ground has been vandalized, stones broken, and in some cases even stolen or removed. There are many unmarked graves. Jack Hadnot, a former Vernon Parish Clerk of Court & Vernon Parish Historian, was an expert on the early families of this area. Before his death, he endeavored to learn who was buried in the unmarked graves in this cemetery. That information and other genealogical information about these early citizens was provided by Mr. Hadnot, and is included in brackets in this listing to differentiate what was actually on the stones and what was not. All pertinent information or epitaphs that were on the stones are included in this listing. Burials were read as approached from the rear of the cemetery toward the front gate. Jack Hadnot originally recorded these tombstone inscriptions in 1975, and the cemetery was recopied and updated by Jane Parker McManus, April 1993. (Submitted on 20 September 2000.) REAR SECTION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [plot] Scaife, William Terry - 30 May 1879/19 May 1908 Scaife, John Jesse - 2 May 1852/20 Apr 1921 Scaife, Allie Ealy - 10 Oct 1860/7 Dec 1921 [w/o John Jesse Scaife] Scaife, Martha Ardis - 25 Apr 1825/7 Aug 1906 Weaver, H. H. - 1840/1901 Weaver, Mary J. - 18 Mar 1850/14 Aug 1905 [w/o H. H. Weaver] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [plot] Allis, Sebastian Albert - 25 Nov 1855/3 Nov 1905 Allis, Susan Seddone - 29 May 1861/17 Nov 1901, 40 yrs 5 mo 18 das Wife of S.A. Allis -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Boyce, Emma, daughter of E. L. & Sallie Boyce - 10 Nov 1899/1 Apr 1900 [outside Allis plot] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [plot] Sorelle, Mildred M. Ford - 13 Jul 1828/25 Aug 1900 Wife of Dr. Thomas W. Sorelle Sorelle, Thomas W. M.D. - 18 Mar 1824/26 Feb 1907 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cleveland, Charles C. - 16 Jul 1854/6 Oct 1906 [outside concrete border of Sorelle] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stewart, Ida May - 25 Jan 1900/8 Jun 1900 Daughter of C.A. & M.E. Stewart -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leach, Joseph D. - 15 Jan 1886/11 Dec 1918 [obelisk] Leach, Mrs. Lillie Belle - 27 Aug 1887/20 Nov 1918 [d/o of J.W. & Addie J. Cavanaugh, w/o Joseph Leach] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Trotti, Lydia Luvenia - 13 Apr 1900/11 Apr 1901 Trotti, Mamie Roselee - 12 Jan 1896/18 Feb 1901 Daughters of W.F. & L.J. Trotti [Identical stones] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brown, Annie, wife of W. A. Brown - 11 Jun 1871/4 Nov 1899 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sanders, H. L. - [no dates] Co. I 6th LA Cav. CSA [born ca 1843-4] [s/o Hugh & Elizabeth ? Sanders][Former Clerk of Court for Vernon Parish, h/o Catherine Cavanaugh][Sanders, Catherine Cavanaugh, wife of H. L. Sanders is buried here; no marker remains][d/o John Cavanaugh & Adeline Johnson] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Winfree, [Elijah] Albert - 22 Apr 1867/27 Apr 1936 Father [Son of Eliijah A. Winfree & Martha J. Franklin] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Boyce, Jane K. McGowen, Wife of G. B. Boyce - 3 Oct 1840/12 Dec 1899 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spears, Zennie E., wife of H. B. Spears - 15 Mar 1872/13 Feb 1905 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CENTER SECTION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Henry, John R. - 23 May 1869/11 Jan 1902, 32 yrs 7 mos 18 das [left side of cemetery] J.W.C. [footstone only - no information] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [4 burials in a row]: Roebuck, Bryant B. - died 15 May 1900][broken stone, only death date remains] Roebuck, Bertha H. - [broken] /6 May 1900 Daughter of J.C. & I.J. Roebuck [broken stone, unreadable birthdate] Sutton, Hurbert, Infant son of S. & P. Sutton - [no dates], aged 29 das Roebuck, Pearl M. - 21 Mar 1883/18 May 1900 Daughter of J.C. & I.J. Roebuck Roebuck, Ida J. [Cavanaugh] - 3 Dec 1852/4 Nov 1928, 75 yrs 11 mos [w/o J. C. Roebuck who probate records indicate died 10 Feb 1936] [stone fallen over] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wade, Andrew Jackson, son of C. H. & Jennie Wade - 28 Aug 1900/8 Jul 1903 [s/o Charles H. Wade & Virginia Hadnot][stone fallen over] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [plot] Davis, Benjamin F. Jr., son of T. J. & Nancy Davis - 9 Nov 1903/5 Nov 1904 Davis, Aurora A. - 29 Jan 1895/12 Jun 1895 Daughter of Thomas J. & Nancy Davis Davis, Nancy [Braddy], wife of T.J. Davis - 29 Sep 1867/6 Nov 1904 [obelisk] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [unmarked grave - no information] Winfree, Lou Smart - 26 Apr 1845/13 Apr 1923 Winfree, Isaac O. - 3 Mar 1842/12 Oct 1902 [Masonic emblem] [s/o Elijah Absolom Winfree & Mary Huddleston; First Clerk of Court for Vernon Parish 1872] [4 crumbling brick tombs, no nameplates or information, possibly members of the Winfree families shown at the conclusion of this listing.] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Smart, Edmond H. - 11 Feb 1813 Marion Co. MS/1 Apr 1860 [s/o John Smart & Jane Perkins] Smart, John - 17 Oct 1771 SC/1854, Married in Liberty Co. GA 1804, immigrated to the territory of Mississippi 1809, came to Louisiana in 1848, died in the then Sabine Parish but now Vernon. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Glovers,? E.P., son of J.G. & Mary E. ?Glovers? - 19 Jun 1898/30 Jul 1898 [almost unreadable stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [fenced area on top of hill]: Wingate, Eva, second daughter of T.C. & H.P. Wingate - 28 Feb 1895/7 Jun 1897 Wingate, Helen Penola - 13 Jul 1865/10 Apr 1911 [w/o Thomas C. Wingate] d/o John F. Smart & Helen Sandell] Wingate, Thomas Carroll - 1865/1939 [Sheriff of Vernon Parish; Senator from Leesville Dist.][stone fallen over, unreadable - no information] White, Mary Saddler - [no dates] aged 5 yrs -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gillis, E.D. - 15 Feb 18?10/28 Jul 1899 [Masonic Emblem] Gillis, Infant daughter of E.D. & Freddie Gillis - [no dates] Gillis, Freddie, wife of E.D. Gillis - 5 Oct 1872/5 Mar 1904, 32 yrs 5 mos -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Taylor, Amanda E. - 12 Apr 1846 Amite Co. MS/20 Sep 1899 Leesville Wife of J.M. Taylor -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [group outside fence in center]: Smart, Martha E. - 6 Nov 1844/1 Jun 1932 [Masonic Emblem] [d/o John McGee & Sarah Winfree; w/o William H. Smart] Smart, William Harrison - 8 Jul 1841/12 Aug 1910 [s/o Rees W. Smart; former Clerk of Court of Vernon Parish] Smart, William H., son of W. H. & M. E. Smart - 8 Nov 1874/10 Sep 1875 [s/o William H. smart & Martha E. McGee] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gibbs, Ella - 7 May 1860/10 Sep 1918 Gibbs, Chas. N. - 10 Jul 1849/6 Sep 1925 [Masonic Emblem] [Double Stone] Gibbs, Eddie Stanley - 3 Apr ?1883?/14 Apr 1894 Gibbs, Joseph Kearney - 5 Feb ?1887?/14 Apr 1894 Children of C. N. & E. G. Gibbs -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kemper, Robert A., son of W.N. & L.P. Kemper - 17 Dec 1869/30 Oct 1876 Kemper, Wm. N. - 13 Apr 1837/6 Jun 1890 [stone broken & fallen over] Kemper, Harriet E. - 21 May 1868/21 Dec 1899 Daughter of W.N. & L.P. Kemper -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weed, Sarah, wife of Louis Weed - 29 Jan 1875/18 Nov 1903 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Talley, Merrette Gordon - 18 Jul 1898/9 Jun 1899 Son of W.H. & M.J. Talley -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Word, Estelle - 4 May 1888/21 Mar 1965 Word, Cordelia- 28 Feb 1884/8 Apr 1899 Daughter of Dr. J.H. & Nettie Word Word, Nettie, daughter of J. H. & Nettie Word - 16 Sep 1894/21 Oct 1901 Word, Dr. J. H. - 11 Jun 1852/29 Sep 1919 [Obelisk & Masonic Emblem] [Former Assessor & Coroner of Vernon Parish] Word, Mrs. Nettie R. [Richardson] - 2 Feb 1860/6 Nov 1942 [d/o Thomas H. J. Richardson & Lethy Ann Smart] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jones, Helen Gould - 5 May 1899/10 May 1899 Daughter of F. [Finas] P. & Lena Jones [unreadable stone, probably for Jones Infant who was born & died 1900, infant of F. P. & Lena Jones, recorded here in 1976] Jones, Lena L. - 27 Jul 1875/6 Mar 1901 [Masonic Emblem] "Harmony #20" Wife of Dr. F.P. Jones [d/o Thomas H.J. Richardson & Lethy Ann Smart] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Harris, Gladys - died 20 Nov 1905, age 5 yrs 3 mos 11 da -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Word, Prentice - 21 Sep 1896/5 Apr 1947 [s/o J.H. Word & Nettie Richardson] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Campbell, Jessie, daughter of Z.J. & Sallie Campbell - 23 Sep 1873/1 Sep 1900 [obelisk] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Geisendorff, Mattie, wife of A. G. Geisendorf - 24 Mar 1873/19 Apr 1904 [unreadable funeral marker - no information] Geisendorff, Arlice - 23 Oct 1898/4 Nov 1899 Daughter of Albert G. & Mattie A. Geisendorff Geisendorff, Albert Graeme - 11 Dec 1872/14 Jan 1905, 32 yrs 1 mo 3 das Born Woodville, Tyler Co., TX/died Leesville -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gallington, Sadie - 15 Jul 1889/12 Jun 1901 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [outside iron fence in center, on hill]: Hagan, Martha Missouria - 10 May 1857/22 Jan 1932 Mother [d/o John R. Smart & Louisa Coward, w/o Luke H. Hadnot & James H. Hagan] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hadnot, Luke Louisa, daughter of L.H. & M.M. Hadnot - 31 May 1890/10 Aug 1901 Hadnot, A. J. - 6 Mar 1880/18 Oct 1906 [s/o Luke Huggins Hadnot & Martha Missouria Smart] Hadnot, Mary M. [Magdalene] Weeks - 10 Nov 1879/29 Feb 1960 Wife of A.J. Hadnot [d/o William H. Weeks & Sarah M. Groves] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Winfree, A. [Absolom] M. - 5 Nov 1856/6 Aug 1883 [s/o Elijah A. Winfree & Mary Huddleston] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [against right fence]: Story, Pauline Thompson - 29 Dec 1899/1 Oct 1988 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Smith, OK Cha - 25 Feb 1954/31 Oct 1989 [funeral marker: "OK-Cha Smith"] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carper, Gretta V. - 21 Apr 1941/11 May 1991 Mother -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [new stones all in a row, mostly infants - back to front]: Foxworth, Infant - 15 Nov 1987 [infant burial] Shelton, Jessie - 17 Aug 1986 [infant burial] Reyes, Sanjuana, daughter of Jose & Maria Reyes - 21 Jan 1983 Graves, Infant - 5 Aug 1987 Hayes, Debra Lynn - 15 Mar 1981/15 Mar 1981 [funeral marker] Lehmann, Carolyn Betty - 18 Nov 1980 [infant burial] Velez, Khymberlae Shantee - 5 Sep 1991 [infant burial] [broken funeral marker - no information] Soto, Gabriel E. - 8 Mar 1980 [infant burial] Hetrick, Nicole L. - 1983 [infant burial] [unreadable funeral marker - no information] Gilkey, Charles Michael - 25 Oct 1988 Infant son of Lt. & Mrs. Michael Gilkey deLugo, Natalia Hernandez - 17 Nov 1926/5 Jan 1985 Mungarro, Rachel - 15 Mar 1989/15 Mar 1989 Daughter of Sgt. & Mrs. Raul Mungarro Rivera, Infant - 10 Jan 1987 [funeral marker] McCoy, Thomas Joseph - 21 Aug 1984/10 Jan 1985 [infant burial] Bates, Katy Marie - 27 Apr 1988 [infant burial] Smith, Infant Daughter of Richard & Carlotta Smith - 11 Oct 1983 Ford, Stephanie & Heather - 29 May 1990 [twins] Infant daughters of Sfc. & Mrs. Donald Ford Ludlow, David Michael, Infant son of David & Katie Ludlow - 28 May 1983 Baker, Joey O'Neal Troyer - 12 Sep 1985, 10 mos [funeral marker] Kickenski, Infant Boy - 1984 Vanbuskirk, Bobby Gene - 2 Feb 1987/2 Feb 1987 Knight, Melani Renee' - 8 Aug 1988/13 Aug 1988 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [front right side, inside main gate]: Reese, John H. - 8 Jul 1912/15 Aug 1983 Father Reese, Bertha C. "Lottie" - 8 Jan 1911/7 Jan 1990 Mother [Double Stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Slaydon, Tanya Lynn - 14 Nov 1971/1 Aug 1987 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hatten, Kaleb & Joshua - 21 Nov 1992 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [These burials were recorded in 1975 by Jack Hadnot; however, the stones were not located in 1993. Some may be the unmarked burials noted above. Winfree, W. F. - [no dates][s/o Elijah A. & Martha Franklin Winfree] Winfree, Sarah P. - 22 Jul 1875/9 Jun 1964 Winfree, Elijah Absolom - [no dates][1815/died after 1889][s/o Phillip W. Winfree & Sarah Hayes, h/o Mary Huddleston & Martha J. Franklin] Winfree, Mary Louise - 18 Aug 1866/25 Jul 1874 [d/o I.O. & Lou Winfree] Winfree, John Absolom - 17 Jan 1869/15 Jul 1874 [s/o I.O. & Lou Winfree] Winfree, Maud - 20 Aug 1871/5 Jan 1878 [d/o I.O. & Lou Winfree] Winfree, Sammie - 23 Jan 1876/30 Jan 1876 [s/o I.O. & Lou Winfree] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cavanaugh, James W. - [broken unreadable stone][s/o James Cavanaugh Sr.] Cavanaugh, Addie J. [Burr] - [unmarked grave] [w/o James Cavanaugh] Cavanaugh, Jewel - [unmarked grave] [s/o James Cavanaugh & Addie Burr] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fertitta, Mrs. - [unmarked grave] [Mother of the Fertitta family that emigrated to Vernon Parish from Italy. Jack Hadnot 1975] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Merchant, Mr. - [the forefather of the numerous Merchant families in this section of Louisiana. Mr. Oliver Merchant stated that his grandfather had carried some of the relatives to Texas in the early days and that on his return to his home near Hineston, Louisiana, he became ill and stopped at the home of Rees W. Smart where he died. He was buried there, and Mr. Smart forwarded his team and belongings to his widow. Reese W. Smart patented the land where this cemetery is located, and Mr. Merchant always stated that the thought that his grandfather was buried in this cemetery. Jack Hadnot, 1975] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Winfree, Martha C. - [no marker found in 1975, but she is known to be buried here. Born 1864, daughter of Elijah Absolom Winfree & Martha J. Franklin.] Winfree, Elizabeth A. (Lydia) - [no marker found in 1975, but she is known to be buried here. Born 1874, d/o of Elijah Absolom Winfree & Martha J. Franklin.] Winfree, Eli Phillip - [no marker found in 1975, but he is known to be Buried here. S/o Elijah Absolom Winfree & Martha J. Franklin.] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wade, Infants - [no stone, but they are known to be buried here. Two children of Charles Wade & Virginia Hadnot.]