ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY, VA - CEMETERIES – Lexington Presbyterian Cemetery ----¤¤¤---- Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection LVA Titled Files: Survey Report, Lexington Presbyterian cemetery: 1936 Nov. 10 Research made by James W. McClung Cemetery Location: On the east side of South Main Street, on top of the hill, opposite the square between White and Lewis Streets Lexington, Rockbridge County, Virginia DATE: 1797 OWNERS: The first owner of record in Rockbridge County, of the site of this Cemetery was James Berry, and on April 5, 1797, he sold and deeded to William Lyle, Matthew Hanna and Arthur Walkup, Trustees of the Lexington Presbyterian Congregation, a lot located as above described, fronting one hundred and sixty=nine feet on Main Street and contained one-half of an acre. On November 5, 1810, Benjami8n Darst deeded to the Trustees of this same congregation, a lot adjoining this one, of one hundred and sixty-nine feet front and same size as the former lot. >From time to time, the Trustees of the Lexington Presbyterian Church and Congregation have added additional land to this cemetery, from adjoining property, until today it contains approximately six acres, and while it is a community cemetery, it is owned and controlled by the trustees of the Lexington Presbyterian Church, and the Trustees of this church are the present owners, 1836. DESCRIPTION: This site is on top of the hill and is well drained. It fronts on the Main street approximately three hundred and fifty feet and runs back from Main Street to the east and southeast, sloping from the center gently to the eastern line. There is a stone wall in front along Main Street, about four feet high and two feet thick, with a stone capping. The entrance is from its center on Main Street with a driveway about two-thirds of the distance back, and then in a circle around the back part, back to the main driveway. The entrance is guarded by double iron gates across the driveway, with a smaller iron gate for personal entrance. Its surface is level with no mounds, in order that a lawn mower can be operated. There are a number of beautiful trees of considerable size with smaller ones coming on. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In this sacred and well kept enclosure in full view from the front entrance, stands the bronze, stone monument of Stonewall Jackson, showing him standing as if he was surveying the field before going into battle. This monument was unveiled in 1891, before a crowd of at least thirty thousand people. Here also is buried his first wife and only child, Julia. Near by the great chieftain, silently bivouax Confederate soldiers, generals and commissioned and non-commissioned officers and privates, numbering approximately four hundred. Two Virginia Governors, James McDowell and John Letcher sleep in this enclosure. Its gates are open to all, and here we find interred in the silent necropolis, professional men, teachers, merchants, farmers, laborers, matrons, maidens, children and infants, who had only one look at this world and then fell into the wakeless slumber. There is one grave marked by an inexpensive stone, which contains all that is mortal of Mrs. Margaret J. Preston, a Virginia poetess, the daughter of a Presbyterian Minister and the wife of Colonel J.T.L. Preston, a professor at the Virginia Military Institute. The lyre was broken and she laid it down in her 777th year, to take up the “Golden Harp” which was awaiting her. Among the approximately five thousand graves in this cemetery, there are at least 25 graves of ministers, 2 were Episcopal Ministers, - General William Nelson Pendleton, D.D., Chief of Stonewall Jackson’s Artillery and the Rev. William S. Campbell. The remaining 23 were all of the Presbyterian faith, and their names are as follows: Rev. Daniel Blain Rev. Andrew Davidson Rev. Robert J. Taylor Rev. John L. Kirkpatrick, D.D. Rev. John W. Pratt, D.D. Rev. John Holmes Bocock, D.D. Rev. J. Crawford McClung Rev. Thomas L. Preston, D.D. Rev. John Alexander Preston, D.D. Rev. William W. Houston, D.D. Rev. Ebeneezer D. Junkin, D.D. Rev. David W. Shanks, D.D. Rev. David C. Irwin Rev. James Smith Rev. Harvey Gilmore Rev. Beverly Tucker Lacy, D.D. Rev. William M. McElwee, D.D. Rev. William S. White, D.D. Rev. James Kerr Rev. A. Wallace Ruff Rev. Joseph F. Baxter Rev. William W. Ruff Another grave of interest is that of Colonel William F. Wilson, with this inscription on this stone: “A Texan Revolutionist in 1836 In Mier Prison, Mexico, 1842 Died in the Confederate Service” Colonel Wilson was the friend and compatriot of “Big Foot” Wallace. He went out to Texas to avenge the death of his brother. He and “Big Foot” Wallace were in Mier Prison together, and both escaped by drawing white beans. “Big Foot” Wallace fills an honored grave in Texas. There are only 3 colored people buried here, as the colored people have a cemetery of their own. One of this is David Buck, who had served the church long as a sexton, and the congregation honored him by giving him burial in their midst. Another was Samuel Hays, who had been a trusted servant in the family of Robert L. White, and at his death, he was buried in the family lot. The third was Amy Hill, who had bought her freedom and owned some property in the town. One the eve of her death, she requested a Mr. Taylor to have her buried among the “white folks” and this was done. The 3 Superintendents of the Virginia Military Institute, who first guided the destiny of this famous institution are buried here: General Francis H. Smith General Scott Shipp General Edward West Nichols SOURCES OF INFORMATION: Court Records, Clerk’s Office. Rockbridge County, Lexington, Virginia. Scrap Book belonging to the Misses Withrow of Lexington, Virginia, Letter in the scrap book written in 1903 by R.M. Tuttle, and published in one of the local papers. Lexington Presbyterian Church Records, and James W. McClung, a member of the board of trustees for thirty years. Visit by worker. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joan Renfrow NOTICE: I have no relationship or further information in regards to this family. ___________________________________________________________________