STUART CEMETARY - Henderson County ****************************************************************** File transcribed and contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:(zens@mindspring.com) USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ****************************************************************** Directions: From Hendersonville, NC take route 191 N. towards Asheville, but after several miles, and crossing the Mills River, go left (west) on North Mills River Road. This follows the north fork of Mills River. Go about 4 miles. Take a right on Dave Whitaker Road - #1346. Drive about a quarter to half mile and take a left on Rose Cove Road (unnumbered, but marked with state sign). This gravel road drives right through Howard McElrath’s farm and property. Get permission at the fenced house on the right from Mr. McElrath. The road that goes directly between the outbuildings and up the mountain leads to the cemetary, but have Mr McElrath explain it. Lat/Longitude: 352430N 823800W (as best I can judge) on USGS map for Dunsmore Mountain, NC The Stuart cemetary is noted on the USGS map as 'Stuart Cem" and according to Howard McElrath (78 yrs old), is called locally “Shanghai Cemetary” though no one in recent memory can recall why. Another local knew it as "either Shanghai or Maple Grove." It is positioned at the entrance to the valley where the Seniard (pronounced like 'senior') creek flows and, again according to McElrath, the Seniards were the first settlers of this valley and were French Huguenots, though he wasn’t quite sure what that meant. They were here before the Civil War. The cemetary is minimally well kept up and a 4-wheel drive could get to it easily. Howard’s wife who is from the mountains north, decided to be buried there because she loved the mountains and hers is the most modern stone in the cemetary. What Howard refers to as “Soapstone” I normally call “Greenstone” but here I will refer to as simply “native stone”. 1. Jessie Wallin McElrath Nov 9 1917 Dec 1 1991 Mother and Grandmother [This is Howard’s wife who died in a car crash. It is Howard's desire to be buried next to his wife here.] 2. YANKY ROSE [Native stone. The name has been scratched in somewhat crudely, but since it took some time to do this it is probably not vandalism. The back of this native stone is split and only the right hand is partly legible - available as a .JPG file] _____________ |XXXXXX mory | |XXXXXX | |XXXXXX E | |XXXXX 5 1804 | |XXXXX 05 ds | ---------------------- 3. Mrs Rebecca Rose [Native stone, somewhat worked. There is the faintest of writing on the back, and it is regularly spaced. Unfortunately it is undecipherable.] 4. Bill Rose [This is non-native stone and worked into the shape of a cross. No dates given] 5. Della R. Underwood 1881 - 1976 [There is no stone at all, just the plaquard that the funeral home provides in aluminum] 6. [Native stone, shaped but unmarked] 7. M E S [Native stone with unreadable markings.] 8. - 9 [Native stone, unmarked] 10 - 12 [Native stone, unmarked with footstone] 13. In Memory Of George W. Son Of John & Sarah Moore Born June 27 1861; Died Nov 3, 1880 “Not Lost But Gone Before” [Non-native stone] 14. Julius L. Son Of J.H.S. Moore Born Nov 18, 1851 Died Oct 20, 1869 Aged 11y 11m 2da [Footstone “J L M ”, non-native stone] 15. In Memory C. A. Fletcher Daughter of D. Williams [This could also be Williahs] Wife of A.C. Fletcher Born Feb 20, 1838 Died Nov 13, 1892 [Footstone C.A.F., non-native stone] 16. Memory of Julia Fletcher Daughter of A.C. & C.A. Fletcher Born Jan 2, 1881 Died Dec 9, 1881 [Footstone unmarked, non-native stone] 17. Neuman Stuart Apr 22, 1877 Apr 29, 1891 “At Rest” [Footstone unmarked, non-native stone] 18. Rachael P. Stuart Wife of W.M. Wright Jan 28, 1846 Apr 20, 1920 “Faithful to her trust Even unto death” [Non-native stone] 19. Melvin M. Stuart Born 1846 Died Oct. 5, 1921 [Footstone M M S, non-native stone] 20. In Memory Of Infant Child of David And Manerva/ E. Taylor [This is native stone, but very well worked and matching the shape of the small footstone] 21. In Memory Of Manervia E. Stuart Wife of David Taylor Born May 5 1850 Died July 22 1875 Age 25yrs 2mo 17ds [Footstone M E S, non-native stone. Also, I am aware of the discrepency between the spelling of her name on her stone and the stone of her child. Copied exactly as seen.] 22. In Memory Of Mary M. Stuart Born Nov 4, 1835 Died May 10, 1875 Age 39yrs 6mo 4ds [Non-native stone] 23. Leah S. Stuart Born Nov 17 1842 Died May 7 1872 Age 29 yrs 5mo 21ds [Non-native stone] 24. In Memory Of Margaret C. Stuart Born Dec 25 1855 Died June 5 1875 Age 19yrs 5mo 10ds [Non-native stone] 25. In Memory Of Lois J. Stuart Wife of S.P. SA Born Dec 25 1855 Died Aug 21 1888 Age 25yrs 17mo 27ds [Non-native stone] 26. Sacred to the Memory of Isam P. Stuart Born Sep 5, 1804 Died Mar 1, 1888 Age 83yr 6mo 5ds 27. Sacred to the Memory of Serenia T. Wife of I.P. Stuart Born Feb 10, 1815 Died Apr 15, 1887 Age 72yr 2mo 5ds [Non-native stone] 28. Ellar. Daughter of J.L. & S.A. Reeves Sep 21 1885 Feb 22 1888 [Non-native stone] 29. Selena A. Wife of J. L. Reeves July 9 1850 Feb 22 1890 [Non-native stone] 30. Jackson L. Reeves Co A. IBN NC Jr. RES C.S.A. [Non-native stone] 31. Ann Duckett Born July 5, 1845 Died Nov 24 1874 Aged 29y 4m 3d [Native stone, extremely well-worked. The wording is still legible and the shape is a triangular top that is copied even in the footstone.] 32 - 33 [Native stone, unmarked with footstones] 34. Pinkney T. Son of I.H. MA. SELW [Unclear] Born Jan 13 1863 Died Jan 26 13 days [Native stone, well-worked.] 35 - 38 [Native stone, unmarked with footstones] 39 - [Unmarked. This is a mill-stone with the hole in the middle squared off to form a marking-stone. According to Howard McElrath, the “4 or 5 unmarked graves in the bottom corner (probably 35-39) are unmarked graves of negro slaves, originally owned by Isam P. Stuart.] ==================== [Researcher’s note: According to Howard McElrath, it was Melvin M. Stuart (#19) who bought had placed most of the earlier stones. Also, the day was very overcast and so many of the pictures of the gravestones did not come out that well. However, the pictures themselves are in JPG format and available by request of e-mail - zen sutherland (zens@mindspring.com). Remember to find your family tree, but don't overlook the forest.]