A Beautiful Sunday Indeed!
A few days ago me and my gravin' buddies, Alvin and Gene, went on an adventure. Our first stop of the day was the Russell Cemetery in Benton Co., AR. This cemetery is located just outside of Gravette and is well-cared for. Here are the overviews:
The cemetery contains several really interesting stones, but perhaps this stone was the most interesting:
M.E., Wife of A.J. Russell
Our next stop was the Beavers Cemetery, located in Bella Vista, AR. The cemetery is somewhat cared for and has some really nice stones in it. However, being the thorough investigators that we are we walked the perimeter of the cemetery and discovered some more graves. The cemetery is much bigger that originally thought!
Overview of Beavers Cemetery
Grave of Lewis Beavers
After this cemetery, we headed over to Pea Ridge, AR and tried to locate the Foster Cemetery on Mariano Rd. We were unsuccessful however and decided to eat lunch instead. After lunch, we met up with Darla, who was to be our "guide" to the Mahurin Cemetery located near Garfield, AR. This is a fairly old cemetery and you really need to have a four-wheel drive to reach it. Or at least a good pick-up. You must travel up a hill and go across land to reach it. You do need permission to visit this one. The folks are really nice, but they mince no words when they tell you to ask permission to access the cemetery or get into to trouble. So ask permission before going to this cemetery. It is well worth the trouble! Here are a few select photos for you to look at:
Sarah Ann (Mahurin) Ross Blevens
Sarah E Green
Sallie (McNeil) Mahurin
Rev. Benjamin Cephas Mahurin
Overview of Mahurin Cemetery
Another Overview of Mahurin Cemetery
Our last stop was at the Pratt and Pace's Chapel Cemeteries near Avoca, AR. How we came to arrive at these cemeteries is interesting. Darla, our guide to the Mahurin Cemetery, told us that somebody had told her about this possible "little" cemetery that could be seen from the road (Hwy 62 north of Rogers). So, being the "gravers" that we are, me, Alvin, and Gene set out to find this. We found it! Actually, we discovered that although it looks small from the highway, it is actually quite large. Both are very interesting cemeteries and have some old burials in them. This next one is perhaps not the oldest, but the man who is buried here was definitely born before many of the other people. He is buried in the Pratt Cemetery.
Hardin Weatherby (Note that he was born in 1768)
John A.M. Trolinger
This child was also buried in the Pratt Cemetery. There is a story behind this one. His death date was buried for many, many years. At least since the mid 1970s when the cemetery was recorded by the Northwest Arkansas Genealogical Society (NAGS). In their books, he is listed with the birth date and no death date (since it was buried then). Well, as you can see in the photo, it is not buried anymore.
The Pratt Cemetery
Pace's Chapel Cemetery is located right next door to Pratt Cemetery. Here is a lovely overview of a portion of Pace's Chapel:
Pace's Chapel Cemetery
Christian Christopher Sager
Though there are many interesting stones in Pace's Chapel, perhaps this stone of Christian Christopher Sager, is one of the more interesting. Sager is a name that is associated with my own family, specifically the Chastain family. If you ever visit Pace's Chapel, this is a must-see.
Thus ends our little adventure for that day. I hope you have enjoyed our little jaunt back into the past. Leave me a comment if you have!
