Lincoln County, NC - Machpelah Presbyterian Cemetery ~~~~~~~~~~ MACHPELAH PRESBYTERIAN CEMETERY Lincoln County, NC By Michael B. Lawing To get to this cemetery from Lincolnton, N.C., go east on Highway 27, turn left on Highway 73, go about 1/2 mile past East Lincoln Middle School, and turn Right onto Old Plank Road. Go about 200 yards and turn right onto Brevard Place Road, The Cemetery and Church will be on your right. There is a historical marker at the corner giving some information about the cemetery and some of the people that are buried there. The cemetery dates back to 1801, and is surrounded by a wall built of stacked rocks. Originally a family plot, there are evidently some unmarked graves in the cemetery, some of the graves have broken markers, and other markers are weathered and unreadable. No effort was made to take rubbings from the markers to be able to better read the information on them. The cemetery is very well cared for, and the back row of markers are very unusual with many uniformly shaped headstones and footmarkers. According to Our State Magazine, the present building on the site dates back to 1848 and reportedly still contains the original pews and a slave gallery. Some information contained below about the first pastor of Machpelah Church (Rev. Robert Hall Morrison, D.D.) also comes from the magazine. Since many of the persons buried here appear to have played a role in the development of the region and the state, more information than the usual dates of birth and death has been given. Census taken January 22, 2002. This cemetery is worth stopping by to look at if you happen to be in the area. SURNAMES ABERNATHY, BALLARD. BRASWELL, BREVARD, BYNUM, CLARK, CLONTZ, FORNEY, GRAHAM, HAYNE, HUNTER, JOHNSTON, KIRKMAN, LLOYD, McCORKLE, NANTZ, NEWTON, RAYNAL, REEL, SHRONCE, THOMPSON, WILSON Abbreviations: w/o - wife of: d/o - daughter of: s/o - son of: m - married: b - born: d - died: (words in brackets not totally legible): _____ - unable to read or missing. Entries without a line skipped between are on same marker. Beginning at the row closest to the church, left to right. Rows in middle and front part of cemetery are not as well aligned. Morrison, Joseph Graham - Sept.17, 1885 - June 25,1971 Morrison, Pearl Gardner - Oct.19, 1889 - Nov.26, 1975 Morrison, Robert Hall - Feb.19, 1880 - Dec. 4, 1964 Morrison, Portia Lee Owen - Dec. 26, 1882 - Apr.19, 1968 w/o R. H. Morrison Wilson, Ronald Bonar - Nov.18, 1883 - Sept.11, 1947 Wilson, Anna Jackson Morrison - Aug. 10, 1883 - Oct.16, 1976 w/o R. B. Wilson Raynal, Mary Graham Morrison - Sept. 21, 1873 - Oct. 10, 1911 - w/o Rev. C. E. Raynal d/o Capt. & Mrs. J. G. Morrison Lloyd, Louise Davis Morrison - Dec. 31, 1875 - Aug. 28, 1909 Lloyd, Frank E. - Feb. 5, 1877 - May 3, 1963 Morrison, Capt. Joseph G. - June 1, 1842 - Apr. 11, 1906 Morrison, Jennie Davis - Sept. 14, 1847 - Dec. 24, 1935 - w/o Capt. Joseph G. Morrison Morrison, Reverend Alfred James - No visible dates (Morrison), ____ d. Nov. 13, 18__ Aged 39 y s/o ____ and (M. G.) Morrison Morrison, Mary Graham -d. Apr. 27, 1864 Aged 63 y w/o R. H. Morrison, D.D., d/o Gen. Joseph Graham Morrison, Robert Hall - Sept. 8, 1798 - May 13, 1889 First Pastor of Machpelah Presbyterian Church, First president of Davidson College, Father-in-Law of Generals Stonewall Jackson, Daniel H. Hill, Rufus Barringer. Helped to organize the Rutherfordton (N.C.) Presbyterian Church in 1834. Graham, Major General Joseph - d. Nov 12, 1836 - age 77- Commanded 15 engagements in Revolutionary War, Wounded Sept. 26, 1780 near Charlotte, N.C. Graham, Isabella - d. Jan 15, 1808 - 45y 5m- Consort of Gen. Joseph Graham Graham, Polly - d. June (21), 1801 -13y 1m 24d- Eldest d/o Joseph & Isabella Graham Graham, Isabella - d. Oct. 22, 1807 - 1y 8 m Graham, Robert Montrose - d. Sept. 20, 1821 - 22y 8m Graham, Alfred - d. Nov. 16, 1835 - 32y 8m Graham, James - no dates on marker - following information condensed from The History of Old Tryon and Rutherford Counties 1730 - 1936 by Clarence W. Griffin p. 172 - born in Lincoln County, N.C. Jan 9, 1793, graduated from Univ. of NC at Chapel Hill in 1814. Moved to Rutherford County at the age of 22. Served as member of state House of Commons 5 years, Served in U.S. Congress 4 terms. Died in Rutherford County Sept. 25, 1851, buried near Lincolnton. s/o Gen. Joseph Graham and brother of William Alexander Graham who served as U.S. Senator and Governor of N.C. Graham, Mattie L. and Sophie A. d. Nov. 1878 age 1m infants of W. _ & J. L. Graham Graham, Florie L. - 1866 - 1900 d/o W. A. & J. L. Graham Graham, Julia Wayles Lane - Apr. 14, 1845 - Jan. 23, 1909 w/o Major W. A. Graham, m. June 8, 1864 d/o John Wayles Lane & Julia Robertson Lane Graham, Major William Alexander - Dec. 28, 1839 - Dec 24, 1924 s/o Gov. William Alexander Graham and Susan Washington Graham. Capt. Co. K 2nd N.C. Cav; Major, 19 St. Troop, N.C. Cav.; Served in NC Senate 1874-75, 1879, State House 1905, Served as NC Commissioner of Agriculture 1908-1924, died in office. Graham, William - July 26, 1873 - July 3, 1943 - s/o W. A. & Julia L. Graham Row 2 Begins, left to right Newton, James Henry - June 21, 1865 - May 3, 1936 Newton, Rosabelle Reinhardt - Apr. 18, 1880 - Aug. 4, 1961 Abernathy, Luther A. - June 1, 1858 - Sept. 3, 1945 Abernathy, Catherine A. Asbury - Sept. 17, 1870 - Dec. 12, 1930 Ballard, Jack E.- Nov. 20, 1924 - Jan. 14,1925 s/o Robert & Pearl Ballard, Nannie E. Killian - Oct. 6, 1889 - Sept. 20, 1922 w/o R. A. Ballard Brevard, Col. E. A. - Oct. 10, 1787 - Aug. 29, 1854 Brevard, Capt. Alexander - Apr. 1755 - Nov. 1, 1829 74y 7m Brevard, Rebecca D. - Mar. 20, 1762 - Nov. 24, 1824 w/o Alexander Brevard Hayne, Eloisa Davidson Brevard - June 30, 1785 - Aug. 29, 1820 35y 3m w/o William Edward Hayne Leaving 5 children, Isaac William, Rebecca Harriett, Franklin A., Eloisa Mary and Sarah Martha. And in memory of an infant daughter, Nov. 16-23, 1807, and a son, Alexander Brevard Hayne - July 15, 1813 - Aug. 24, 1814. Brevard, (Jane) (M?Whorter) (Dec. 3, 1824) 6m 3d d/o Capt Robert and Sarah Harriet Brevard Forney, Harriet Brevard d. July 15, 1829 2y 5m 22d d/o Daniel M. & Harriet Brevard Forney (Brevard), (Helen) Kirkman d. Sept. 6, 1864 6m 9d d/o (T.W. & C.M..) Brevard Brevard, Dr. E. A. 1839 - 1871 Brevard, Lt. S. M. d. Aug 21, 1864 - fell near Petersburg, Va. aged 21 yrs. Brevard, Honorable Theodorus W. 1804 - 1877 Brevard, Caroline E. Mays 1811-1892 w/o Theodorus W. Graham, Lena Forney Reinhardt - June 22, 1886 - June 9, 1970 w/o Joseph Graham m. June 10, 1948 d/o Robert S. & Laura Pegram Reinhardt Graham, Joseph - Oct. 23, 1887 - Oct 8, 1957 s/o Major Wm. A. & Julia Lane Graham Row 2 ends - row 3 and all following not as well ordered Abernathy, Welborn Blair - Sept. 14, 1889 - Feb. 16, 1946 1st. Lt. US Army WWI Abernathy, Christine Thompson - Mar. 26, 19(00) - Mar. 17, 1983 Brevard, Capt. Alexander Franklin - Oct 3, 1825 - Oct. 22, 1909 Broken Marker Brevard, Sarah Harriett - Mar. 10, 1802 - Nov. __ 1829 - w/o Capt. Robert Brevard, d/o General Ephriam Davidson. Left 2 children, Alexander Franklin and Ephriam Joseph Brevard. Brevard, Ephriam Joseph - Sept. 26, 1828 - June 8, 1885 Graham, Evelyn B. - June 20, 1894 - Feb 24, 1966 (Nantz), William O. - Oct. 19, 1883 - June 7, 1884 s/o L. C. Nantz Ballard, James H. - April 17, 1849 - July 11, 1932 Ballard, Eunice L. - Dec 29, 1852 - Apr. 7, 1925 Johnston, William, M.D. - d. Sept. 30, 1854 61y 10m 30d Bynum, Nancy - dates illegible - aged 66y 10m w/o J.W. Bynum (Hunter?), Nancy Jane - Dec. 31, 1834 - Feb. 2, 1857 d/o C. L & Sophia Hunter Hunter, Capt. G.W. - d. July 16, 1863 - Mortally wounded at Chancelorsville, age 22 Hunter, Catherine Lyman - d. Apr. 25, 1865 age 52, w/o Dr. C. L. Hunter Hunter, Dr. Cyrus Lee - Born Gaston Co, N.C. Dec. 13, 1807 - Died Lincoln Co. Dec. 15, 1881 Shronce, Benjamin - Nov. 27, 1892 - Mar. 22, 1961 - PFC 306th Military Police Co. WWI Readings now grouped by Family plots Braswell, Betty B. - Feb. 17, 1926 - Mar. 11, 1977 d/o Lewis & Edna Ballard Ballard, Lewis S. - Feb. 17, 1894 - May 7, 1976 - Pvt. US Army WWI Ballard, Edna Roberts - May 31, 1898 - Jan. 23, 1992 Ballard, Joseph Frank - Oct. 31, 1922 - June 1, 1981 - PFC US Army WWII Reel, George Ballard - Sept 21, 1887 - June 14, 1975 Reel, John McClean - Nov 25, 1872 - Sept. 26, 1948 Reel, Bessie C. Micheal - May 20, 1887 - Nov. 17, 1922 w/o John M. Ballard Reel, Alda Vertie - Apr. 27, 1912 - Dec. 12, 1912 d/o John M. & Bessie Reel, Blair William - July 10, 1920 - May 3, 1947 Reel, Inez Abernathy - Dec 12, 1919 - Nov 1, 1998 Reel, John Ervin - Nov 16, 1925 - May 16, 1952 Clark, Kathryn Goode - Dec. 8, 1925 - June 14, 1991 w/o David Clark, David - July 2, 1922 - April 18, 1997 - Husband of Kappy Clark, Sally McKensie Died Apr 2004 Jordon, Anna Grace Died Apr 2004 Thompson, J. Clint - Mar. 15, 1898 - Dec. 6, 1968 Thompson, Ferrye A. - Apr. 27, 1895 - Aug. 2, 1987 Ballard, Lewis S. Jr. - Dec. 13, 1918 - May 21, 1990 Ballard, Sue G. - Oct. 2, 1919 - McCorkle, ______ - Jan 1, 1861 - July 6, 1951 Clontz, Edgar Lawson - 1904 - 1989 Temporary Marker ______________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Michael B. Lawing & W.D. Floyd - wdfloyd@rfci.net ______________________________________________________________________