Bean Cemetery Inscriptions Rhea County, Tennessee Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by Edna Clack Woodchippy@aol.com This cemetery lies on the West bank of White's Creek, the dividing line between Rhea and Roane County, Tn.. off US Hwy 27. During a visit there in 1981, I could only find one stone still standing, that of Nancy Parks, below. It is almost impossible to get to it now due to highway construction and private property owners fencing it and running cattle on it. It lies on a high, steep knoll, on the North West side of the railroad. Durng my research on this cemetery, I talked with many people over 90 years old who had lived here all their lives. They were shocked and dismayed to find that the WPA had listed this as the Kirkland Cemetery. According to them, it has always been known as the Bean Cemetery and claim that it was one of the very largest in this area, the north end of Rhea County. Indeed, it lies on the old property owned by the prominent Bean family. The TVA moved some graves there in the late 1930's and early 1940's when they were preparing to back up the water behind Watts Bar Dam. Based on their description of the area where TVA placed the graves, I did find the area of new burials outlined with field stones, but no markers. Below is the inventory taken by the WPA in the 1930's: Follow the Lon Foust Highway from Dayton north to White's Creek about 25 miles, turn West a few hundred yards to White's Creek Railroad bridge. Just near the bridge in the woodland, you will find the ...... graveyard. This is a very old graveyard and is now abandoned. John F. Thompson Feb 12, 1816 May 8, 1816 "Time how short, Eternity, how long." Nathan Whittenbuerg Dec 16, 1816 Feb 25, 1892 75 yrs. M J Whittenberg Nov 10, 1862 Nov 12, 1890 23 yrs. Kirkland family plot. Six graves in a row. Concrete wall around. KIRKLAND Mary M, Sept 15, 1854 Jan 22, 1888 Daughter of A L & M M Kirkland, 34 yrs Crawford H Feb 14, 1849 July 5, 1873 Son of A L & M M Kirkland,24 yrs Catherine McDaniels Sept 17, 1851 Dec 14, 1932 81 yrs A L Kirkland Feb 14, 1818 June 26, 1900 82 yrs "There is no parting in Heaven." Mary M April 4, 1813 May 20, 1883 70 yrs Wife of A L Kirkland "My faith looks up to thee." Minerva J Mar 24, 1857 May 15, 1888 31 yrs Daughter of A L & M M Kirkland Effie Bean Oct 17, 1881 Nov 23, 1882 age 1 year, 1 mo Anne, Sept 15, 1886 Dec 16, 1886 3 mos. 1 da. Daughter of Joseph & Mala Brandon George M Apr. 2, 1880 Oct 6, 1882 2 yrs. Son of J T & S Bean Infant son of J T & S Bean (?) Geo. M. Bean Aug. 8, 1858 July 6, 1880 22 yrs Josie Bean Aug 13, 1854 Mark - Bean Dates worn away Geo M Bean Aug 12, 1862 Lizzie Montgomery June 28, 1867 Jan 5, 1900 33 yrs. Daughter of D & M Montgomery David Montgomery Aug 16, 1842 June 19, 1879 37 yrs Rachel E Brandon Mar 13, 1844 Mar 30, 1875 31 yrs Judith Ann Brandon Sept 18, 1824 Mar 30, 1870 Twenty graves with large sand head stones. No names or dates. Nancy Parks May 6, 1873 Dec 19, 1847 Wife of Robert Parks [The confusion on these dates, is theirs, not mine- Edna Clack] Large sandstone slab on top of rock wall. Slab 6 X 12 ft. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Edna Clack ====================================================================