HAYWOOD COUNTY, NC - CEMETERIES - Rathbone-Hicks Family Cemetery ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Ralphene Rathbone ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The Rathbone-Hicks Family Cemetery is in an extremely remote area of the Pisgah National Forest within Haywood County, NC. Hurricane Creek Road is an obscure turn off of I-40 West just after MP 8. The road itself can only be traversed with a 4-wheel drive vehicle and great care must be taken in several areas of rock outcroppings, crossing Hurricane Creek and if one meets a vehicle. The cemetery is not on any map or register that I have researched but is in Cemeteries and Family Graveyards in Haywood County, NC, by George Augustus Miller, Sr. My brother found it twenty-five years ago while deer hunting. He has mentioned it frequently since and we ultimately made the trip yesterday, November 1, 2003. When he found it there was dense undergrowth and trees with diameters varying between 12-16 inches. About five years ago he returned to find it cleared, covered with a natural herb layer, azaleas in each corner and fenced. High in a nearby tree is a sign that designates the name 'Rathbone-Hicks Family Cemetary'. There appears to be four rows of graves including obvious impressions of spaces of interment that currently have no markers. There are a total of nine graves marked with natural stones bearing no markings. Some have remained erect while others are leaning, or lying down. One grave is marked with a pile of rocks. The only grave marked with a natural stone bearing primitive markings denotes 'Maggie Hicks 11-2-1905 1908'. The remainder are marked with somewhat decorative but weathered tombstones. Three stones bore death dates during 1911 and my brother has a theory of an outbreak of scarlet fever. The only double stone included the following: Jesse Rathbone Margaret Rathbone Born Born Feb. 9, 1829 May 1, 1836 Died Died Nov. 3, 1911 Dec. 9, 1915 FATHER AND MOTHER Other Tombstones: Robert Edward Lee Rathbone Jane S. Rathbone James Crisly Rathbone Feb. 10, 1873 Nov. 7, 1884 May 22, 1865 Apr. 3, 1884 Nov. 25, 1911 Apr. 26, 1922 Purnel Rathbone William M. Rathbone George White Rathbone Mar. 4, 1831 Feb. 10, 1860 Apr. 28, 1855 Oct. 27, 1911 Apr. 28, 1926 May 4, 1926 Each of the stones listed above includes footstones with initials. Ralphene Rathbone D7 Turkey Pen Gap Horse Shoe, N. C. 28742 828-877-4861 rky99@hotmail.com