Knox County TN Archives History - Books .....Cemeteries - Chapter XXII 1900
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Book Title: Standard History Of Knoxville

CHAPTER XXII.

CEMETERIES.



The Oldest, That of the Presbyterians—Gray Cemetery—The Confederate or Bethel

Cemetery—The National Cemetery—Soldiers' Monument—Catholic Cemetery—Woodlawn

Cemetery—The Hebrew Cemetery.



THE oldest and perhaps the most interesting cemetery in Knoxville is that of the

First Presbyterian Church, containing as it does the remains of some of the most

prominent characters of the early history of the state. Among those who were

thus prominent and who were buried in this cemetery were Governor William Blount

and his wife Mary, the inscription on the tombstone of the former being:

"William Blount, died 21st March, 1800, aged 53 years." The tombs of these two

people, not only on account of the memories they serve to perpetuate, but also

on account of their peculiar form, are notable, though there are others in this

cemetery of the same form. They consist of four low brick walls, capped with a

large marble slab lying flat upon them, the inscription being engraved on the

flat top, and being thus easily read. These peculiarly formed tombstones are

reminders of the fact that in the ages that have passed as well as in the

present, monuments of different forms were erected and are erected to recall to

mind the services and virtues of individuals to their families or to their race.

Tombs of this particular form were common in India, among the North American

Indians, in England, and in France, though the form now seen in the cemetery of

the First Presbyterian Church, known as dolmens, from "Daul," a table, and

"Maen," a stone, are more common in France than in England, in which latter

country the cromlech, from "crom," a circle, and "lech," a stone, is more common

than in France.



  Some of those buried in the cemetery of this church, over whose remains have

been erected tombstones of this kind are the following: William and Mary Blount,

as above noted; James Scott, Margaret Elizabeth Colhoun, Mrs. Maria Lea, Rev.

Thomas H. Nelson, Mrs. Sarah Jacobs and Mrs. Catharine Strong, Rev. Samuel

Carrick, Hugh Lawson White, Col. John Williams, and other notables of the

pioneer days.



  Gray Cemetery is located in the northern part of the city, between Jacksboro

street on the west and Broad street on the east. Many years ago, when Knoxville

was quite a small place, what is now the southeast corner of this cemetery was

laid out as a burying ground, but the location was not satisfactory to all, it

being, as they thought, too far away. People having relatives buried there could

not get to their graves, the most of Knoxville being then south of Clinch

street. Still the cemetery continued to be used, and finally the city extended

out to and even beyond the cemetery, as it does now to a considerable distance

both toward the north and toward the west. Then, too, there was for a long time

a difference of opinion as to what would be an appropriate name for this last

repose of the dead, some favoring "Greenwood," some "Woodlawn," others

"Greendale," still others, "Fairview," and others other names. At length a lady

present at one of the meetings of the association having charge of the cemetery

suggested that it be called "Gray Cemetery." in honor of the author of Gray's

Elegy, and the suggestion was instantly acted upon, hence the name of this now

beautiful place of sepulture. To the north of it is the National Cemetery, the

two being separated by a stone wall four and a half feet high. The original

company which made application for a charter for this cemetery was composed as

follows: William B. Reese, Marcus D. Bearden, James C. Moses, James M. Welcker,

Joseph L. King, John H. Crozier, and Perez Dickinson. Their application was made

February 9, 1850. In 1889 the ground was purchased for New Gray Cemetery, the

trustees were W. P. Washburn, H. H. Taylor, A. J. Albers, S. B. Boyd, Rev. James

Park. James Craighead and Hugh McClung, Sr. There are eighty acres in the new

plot, and it is two and a half miles from the city on the Clinton pike. At the

time of the purchase it was owned by J. C. Flanders, the price paid being

$9,601.51. A superintendent of the new cemetery was employed in the person of

William Hall, formerly manager and gardener for Perez Dickinson's Island Home farm.



  In May, 1890, A. J. Albers proposed to erect in the old Gray cemetery, on

certain conditions, "The Ella Albers Memorial Fountain;" the conditions were

accepted and the fountain erected. On July 25, 1896, at a meeting held in the

rooms of the chamber of commerce, it was decided to set apart $6,000, which

should be invested and the income devoted to the preservation and care of the

old cemetery grounds. The two cemeteries are under the same management. At this

meeting the trustees elected for two years were Dr. James Park, W. P. Washburn,

A. J. Albers, H. H. Taylor, James Van Deventer, C. M. McClung, and W. W.

Woodruff. W. P. Washburn was chosen President and Lewis Tillman, who had been

Secretary since 1886, was re-elected.



  One peculiar feature in connection with the management of this cemetery is:

that there are not in the ordinary sense of the term any stockholders; each

owner of a lot is a proprietor and has one vote and no more. Among the prominent

people buried in this cemetery are Horace Maynard, Judge John Baxter and W. G.

Brownlow.



  The Confederate or Bethel Cemetery is located about one mile east of Gay

street on the Rutledge pike, and includes four acres of land, two acres of which

was purchased in 1862 of Knox county, and two acres of Joseph Mabry. Ever since

it was established it has been in charge of the Ladies' Memorial Association.

More than 1,600 Confederate dead lie buried in this cemetery, and according to

the present sexton, W. D. Winstead, an old Confederate soldier, there were

buried here in the southeast corner, three hundred bodies of soldiers killed in

the charge on Fort Sanders, immediately after the battle, which, if correct,

when added to the ninety-two buried in neat pine boxes under the direction of S.

T. Atkins, would make three hundred and ninety-two killed in that disastrous
attack.



  Previous to 1884 there was no regular sexton in charge of this cemetery, but

in that year P. Johnson was engaged, serving until 1886, since which time W. D.

Winstead has been the sexton.



  The monument to the Confederate dead in Bethel Cemetery was erected through

the efforts of the Ladies' Memorial Association, and was unveiled May 19, 1892,

that being the day usually observed for the purpose of decorating Confederate

soldiers' graves. On the occasion of this unveiling there were present Gen. E.

Kirby Smith, Gen. William B. Bate, Rev. Dr. James Park, and Col. James E.

Carter. The address of welcome was delivered by Hon. H. H. Taylor, and the

monument, designed to be unveiled by Miss Moody McTeer, was really unveiled by

the strong wind then blowing, and the figure of the Confederate soldier on top

of the monument was thus exposed to view, standing at parade rest on top the

high marble column. General Bate delivered the dedicatory address, and there

were other appropriate exercises. The monument is inscribed to the memory of

soldiers that had bravely fought for the principles which they believed were right.



  The National Cemetery at Knoxville is situated on a slight eminence in the

northwestern portion of the city, the principal entrance being on Jacksboro

street, which passes along the western side of the cemetery. There are also

entrances on the eastern side, one for carriages and one for people on foot.

This cemetery was established in 1865, and laid out according to plans furnished

from Washington. In the center of the cemetery is a mound, upon which stands a

flag staff, from the top of which the national emblem floats while the sun is

above the horizon. Surrounding the central mound is a driveway, and from this

driveway radiate driveways to the circumference of the graves of the dead, which

are arranged in circles, and at the head of each grave is a stone bearing the

name of the dead soldier, when known, and a number, and in case the soldier were

not known, then only a number is on the headstone. Around the cemetery is a

stone fence, 2,650 feet long, 4 feet high and 18 inches wide, which was built by

Patrick McNamara, as a subcontractor under M. D. Bearden. The building of this

wall was begun in November, 1872, and finished in May, 1873. The wall on the

south side of this cemetery separates it from Gray Cemetery, mentioned elsewhere

in this chapter.



  The number of graves in this cemetery at the present time is 3,238, arid

contain the bodies of 2,191 soldiers whose names are known and 1,047 whose names

are unknown. Among the known are thirteen bodies of soldiers that died in camp

at Knoxville during the year 1898.



  On May 26, 1873. Mayor Rule received the following telegram:



HEADQUARTERS SEVENTY-NINTH HIGHLAND REGIMENT.



                          New York, May 26, 1873. 

His Honor the Mayor of Knoxville, Tenn.:

Please decorate the graves of the Seventy-ninth Highland New York volunteers

killed in the defense of Fort Saunders at Knoxville. Their living comrades still

keep their memories dear. Letter by mail.

                                  C. E. STETSON,

                                  Lt.-Col. Commanding.



  This request was handsomely complied with and the entire ceremonies on May 30

were impressive and satisfactory to all. Gen. Joel A. Dewey was orator of the day.



  The superintendents of this cemetery have been as follows: Thomas Ridge,

November, 1865, to October, 1887; James McCauley, October, 1887, to March, 1891:

Thomas Ridge, March, 1891, to November, 1896: W. Clayton Hart, November, 1896,

to July, 1898, and Thomas Ridge, July, 1898, to the present time.



  The incomplete monument standing in this national cemetery, to the Union

soldiers of East Tennessee, is the result of a movement begun at Athens, Tenn.,

in 1892. A committee was appointed at the encampment held there that year to

have charge of the raising of funds and of overseeing the erection of the

monument, the committee consisting of Captain William Rule of Knoxville, late of

the Sixth Tennessee infantry: Samuel W. Hawkins of Huntington, late captain of

Company I, Seventh Tennessee infantry; John Ruhm, Nashville, late lieutenant and

assistant adjutant-general, Fourth United States infantry; A. J. Gahagan,

Chattanooga, late lieutenant Company G, First Tennessee cavalry; H. C. Whitaker,

New Market, late private Company A, Second New York cavalry; W. E. F. Milburn,

Greeneville, late sergeant Company B, Twelfth Tennessee cavalry; L. M. Jarvis,

Sneedville, late captain Company E, Eighth Tennessee cavalry; John C. Smith,

Elizabethton, late private Company F, Second Tennessee infantry.



  On July 4, 1893, an address was issued by the monument committee in which all

comrades were urged to aid the committee in their work of raising funds. A few

days previously Ed. Maynard Post, No. 14, G. A. R., of Knoxville, had pledged

itself to contribute $1,000 to the fund, and said that it would give $1,000

additional if the monument were placed in Knoxville.



  The custodians of funds raised for the monument, in 1896, consisted of G. L.

Maloney, H. T. Cooper, and G. W. Peters. The corner-stone was laid October 15,

1896. The oration on this occasion was delivered by Gen. Gates P. Thurston of

Nashville, and an historical address was delivered by Capt. William Rule. The

entire height of the monument when complete will be about fifty feet. On the

base of it, all that has so far been erected, is the following inscription:



TO THE TENNESSEE MEN WHO LAID THEIR LIVES, A VOLUNTARY SACRIFICE, ON FREEDOM'S

ALTAR; WHO ENDURED WITH FORTITUDE TEMPORARY BANISHMENT FROM THEIR MOUNTAIN

HOMES; WHO FOLLOWED THE FLAG THEY LOVED ON SCORES OF BATTLEFIELDS, AND WHO FELL

CONSCIENTIOUSLY AND VALIANTLY CONTENDING FOR NATIONAL UNITY, THIS MONUMENT IS

LOVINGLY ERECTED BY THEIR SURVIVING COMRADES AND FRIENDS. THEY CHOSE THEIR IDEAL

OF THE RIGHT WITH INVINCIBLE RESOLUTION. CHEERFULLY BORE THEIR BURDENS AND

UNFALTERINGLY MET DEATH FOR THE SAKE OF HOME AND COUNTRY.



  The Catholic Cemetery is situated on the Rutledge pike about one mile east of

the principal part of the city, and immediately west of the Confederate

cemetery. It was purchased July 5, 1869, and contains six acres of land, for

which $855 was paid. The ground at the time of purchase was so rough that it was

feared by many people it would prove a failure; but by hard work it has been so

far beautified that it is now in good condition and in time will be very

beautiful. There are numerous monuments in this burial place that tower above

the young trees, yet there is one monument that is especially noteworthy, a tall

and massive shaft of fine granite, erected to the memory of Thomas White, father

of Professor W. T. White, principal of the Girls' High School. The cemetery is

well kept, and is growing more and more beautiful every year.



  The Woodlawn Cemetery was established in 1893 by I. L. and C. M. Ford. It is

situated three miles southeast of the city on one of nature's loveliest spots.

The Ford brothers have had built an excellent turnpike road, well macadamized to

the cemetery. The plat embraces thirty acres, which has been laid off with

driveways and upon which grows a luxuriant crop of blue grass. They have also

planted a large number of ornamental trees and shrubbery. The Ford brothers have

made a special study of driveways and lawns. To the thirty acres, the owners

also have 100 acres adjoining, which they will convert into cemetery property

when necessary. The present plat is about to be enclosed with an iron fence. The

first interment made in the cemetery was James M. Whittle, December 23, 1893.

The officiating clergyman was Rev. Thomas Corwin Warner, who has died since and

also sleeps in Woodlawn. There have been something over three hundred interments

made in the cemetery.



  Early in the Civil war Mr. A. Schwab brought home the body of his young son,

who had enlisted in the Confederate army and had fallen in one of the

engagements in Virginia, or had succumbed to disease. There were then but few

Israelites in Knoxville, and they possessed no burial ground. One of their

number, Solomon Lyons, offered a lot 50x120 in what was then called Shieldstown

for this purpose, which was accepted, and young Schwab was laid to rest there.

Several interments were made in 1862-63, one among them, Isaac Stern, also a

soldier in the Southern army.



  In August, 1864, the first organization among Knoxville Israelites was formed,

called "The Knoxville Hebrew Benevolent Association," the names recorded as

joining being Solomon Lyons, D. March, Edward Stern, Moses Stern, Joseph Lyons,

Louis David, Joseph David, Isaac Hooman, Sampson Hirsch, Isadore Fishel, J.

Solomon A. Gosdorfer, G. Gottlieb, Samuel Guggenheim, Jacob Spiesberger, B. W.

Wise, David Marks, M. Heart and F. Heart. To this organization the firm of

Mayer, Lyons & Co., who did business here before the war, then conveyed the lot

above mentioned. Several years afterwards it was ascertained that the lot in

which the interments had been made belonged to Hon. Peter Staub, and that the

lot adjoining it on the west side had been conveyed to the Hebrew Benevolent

Association. The association then purchased from Mr. Staub the lot in which the

interments had been made. Some twenty-five interments had been made, when

Congregation Beth-El (the successor of the Knoxville Hebrew Benevolent

Association) came to the conclusion that the ground was not suitable for a

burial ground, and purchased five acres near the present terminus of the

Middlebrook car line. The ground was surveyed and platted by Professor John K.

Payne, Civil engineer. When the new cemetery was purchased it was the intention

to remove the bodies from the old, but opposition was developed, and families

that had relatives buried there have continued to inter their dead in the old

cemetery.*



   *For information concerning the Hebrew Cemetery the author is indebted to Mr.

Frank Heart.



Additional Comments:
From:



STANDARD HISTORY

OF

KNOXVILLE TENNESSEE



WITH FULL OUTLINE OF THE NATURAL ADVANTAGES, EARLY SETTLEMENT, TERRITORIAL

GOVERNMENT, INDIAN TROUBLES, AND GENERAL AND PARTICULAR HISTORY OF THE CITY DOWN

TO THE PRESENT TIME



EDITED BY

WILLIAM RULE

GEORGE F. MELLEN, PH. D., AND J. WOOLDRIDGE COLLABORATORS



PUBLISHED BY

THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY

CHICAGO 1900

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