Melton Cemetery - Vernon Parish Louisiana Submitted by Jane P. McManus ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From Leesville, take LA Hwy. 117 toward Kurthwood, and go approximately 12.0 miles. Turn right (South) onto unimproved dirt road, but immediately after turn, there is a locked gate. Melton Cemetery is located approximately 4.0 miles down this unimproved road which traverses lumber company property, and would be almost impossible to find even if precise directions were given. Gene Stephens of Simpson, a descendant of the Melton & Grant families, escorted me to the cemetery, and related the history of the Melton & Grant families. The road can be negotiated by 4-wheel vehicle, and by truck if it there has been no rain. After several right turns onto old logging roads, the road became impassable by truck on the day we visited. We parked and walked approximately 1.0 miles to the cemetery which is located on the left side of the path. Tombstone inscriptions were recorded as approached by Jane P. McManus, 9 November 1994. The information had been previously recorded in 1976 by Jack Hadnot, local Vernon Parish Historian, who also identified some of the individuals known to have been buried in this cemetery. Gene Stephens also provided information on known, but unmarked, burials. This data is provided in brackets, and should be verified. Submitted by (jane_mcmanus@yahoo.com). The cemetery had been abandoned many years ago, but when Gene Stephens returned to Vernon Parish to live, he organized relatives to clear brush, weeds, and debris from the area, and erect a fence to protect the site in the future. At one time, old bricks lined the graves of several children of Stephen Nathaniel Grant & Mary Jackson, but during renovation, they were found scattered throughout the area. These have been collected and placed at the base of the marked graves. Also during the renovation, a beautiful cape jasmine bush was uncovered in the center of the cemetery. Obviously it had been planted many years ago, and had survived the ravages of time, and destruction by animals and fire. A new sign has been erected over the front gate that reads "Melton Cemetery." At one time, the homestead of George Washington Melton & Eliza Jane Rice could be seen from this burial ground. Now, that homestead is no longer standing, and neither are the other homes that were in this small community. All that remains today are acres and acres of tall pine trees, with this small, neatly tended, fenced enclosure marking the burial place of these early settlers of Vernon Parish. * * * * * Parker, Erastus, son of Mr. & Mrs. H. C. Parker - b&d 30 Oct 1905 [son of Henry C. Parker & Minnie Bagents, grandson of John Bagents, Sr. & Sarah Jane Grant] Bagents, Sarah J. Grant, wife of John R. Bagents - 1 Dec 1849/6 Jun 1904, 55 yrs 6 mos 5 das [d/o Stephen Nathaniel Grant & Marie Celina Armand] Grant, Stephen [Nathaniel] - 27 Nov 1820/3 Jun 1878 [Son of Stephen Grant & Marie Rosa Sidec; he married first Marie Celina Armand, and 2nd to Catharine Fuller Tinsley] Grant, Catherine Fuller Tinsley - 16 Sep 1828/23 Oct 1892 [She married 1st to Josiah Tinsley, and 2nd to Stephen Nathaniel Grant on 4 Sep 1862, and was his 2nd wife. Catharine was the daughter of Josiah Fuller & Elizabeth May.] [Turner, Sarah Alice - b. 10 Jun 1844 FL/7 May 1876 Vernon Parish] [base of tombstone only] [burial identified by Gene Stephens; dates supplied by W. Reginald Turner, Florien LA] Turner, Mary E. - 5 Nov 1847/9 Feb 1931 [Sarah & Mary Turner were daughters of William W. Turner & Sarah Holmes Crumpler] Eaton, James - [no dates, h/o Ida Lee Latham.] [wooden stake in right front corner] [This was last burial in the cemetery, during the early 1940's, identified by Gene Stephens.]] [2 weathered sandstone rocks marking burials - no information] * * * * * [Note: Although there were no visible unmarked burials other than the wooden stake next to the front fence, the 2 sandstone rocks near the front gate, and the missing tombstone for Sarah Turner, the below listed individuals were identified as known burials by Jack Hadnot, prior to his death, & Gene Stephens.] [Unmarked burials identified by gene stephens]: Jackson, Sarah Permelia Melton - [ca 1856/24 Dec 1881, 1st wife of John Daw Jackson, daughter of George Washington Melton & Eliza Jane Rice] Jackson, Elizabeth Vianai, Infant of John Daw Jackson & Sarah P. Melton - [b&d 24 Dec 1881] Melton, George Washington - [Nov. 1820/ca 1900-1910] Melton, Eliza Jane Rice - [ca 1823-1825/ca 1880-1900] [wife of George Washington Melton] Mitchell, Quintilla - [ca 1881/9 Sep 1888] [daughter of John R. Mitchell & Eliza Jane Melton, granddaughter of George Washington Melton & Eliza Jane Rice] Ford, Howard, infant son of Tom Ford & Nezzie Bagents - [b. 14 Feb 1922] [grandson of John R. Bagents & Sarah Jane Grant; grandson of Stephen Nathaniel Grant & Marie Celina Armand]