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It dawned on me just the other day that as we approach the warm days of spring (hard to believe with the current weather we've been having, I know), the time for exploring old, out-of-the-way cemeteries is winding down. There are a couple of such cemeteries that I wanted to get to during the dead of winter in order to avoid snakes and other scary creatures.
The Gilmore-Evans Cemetery south of Tremont is a cemetery that one needs to visit during colder months, and in fact Cousin Don and I were there two years ago today on a fairly pleasant, sunny day (unlike today). This cemetery is also known as Old Asbury, not to be confused the current Asbury Cemetery located nearby. When the adjoining Asbury Methodist Church burned sometime in the early 1900's (unsure exactly when, would love to know more if anyone has information), the church rebuilt their building which is now located on Highway 23, not too far away. A new cemetery was established near the new church, and the old cemetery was essentially abandoned and is now on private property. The first time I visited the old cemetery, now known as Gilmore-Evans to distinguish it from the newer Asbury Cemetery, I could barely see the headstones and trees were growing up throughout the cemetery. I couldn't explore like I wanted because it wasn't yet winter time. It was a couple of years before I got back to the cemetery, and in the meantime someone had gone in and done some serious clean-up. Yea!!
My Evans ancestors are buried here, and pictured in the top photo are a row of Evans graves. The second photograph is of the headstone of my great-great grandparents, John Thomas Evans and Elizabeth Ann Bishop Evans. Also buried here are William M. Evans and Sarah Pearce Evans, John's parents, as well as some of John's siblings.
The Gilmore-Evans Cemetery was still being used as a burial ground at least as late as 1936 when Elizabeth A. Evans was buried there next to her husband who died in 1929., but the burials at the cemetery seem to really slow down during the 1910's. I suspect that John and Elizabeth were buried there simply because this was the Evans family burial place; the old church probably had burned before they died. The earliest grave appears to be dated 1853: Sarah, wife of Walter Maxey. Sarah was born 1777.
The Gilmore-Evans Cemetery south of Tremont is a cemetery that one needs to visit during colder months, and in fact Cousin Don and I were there two years ago today on a fairly pleasant, sunny day (unlike today). This cemetery is also known as Old Asbury, not to be confused the current Asbury Cemetery located nearby. When the adjoining Asbury Methodist Church burned sometime in the early 1900's (unsure exactly when, would love to know more if anyone has information), the church rebuilt their building which is now located on Highway 23, not too far away. A new cemetery was established near the new church, and the old cemetery was essentially abandoned and is now on private property. The first time I visited the old cemetery, now known as Gilmore-Evans to distinguish it from the newer Asbury Cemetery, I could barely see the headstones and trees were growing up throughout the cemetery. I couldn't explore like I wanted because it wasn't yet winter time. It was a couple of years before I got back to the cemetery, and in the meantime someone had gone in and done some serious clean-up. Yea!!
My Evans ancestors are buried here, and pictured in the top photo are a row of Evans graves. The second photograph is of the headstone of my great-great grandparents, John Thomas Evans and Elizabeth Ann Bishop Evans. Also buried here are William M. Evans and Sarah Pearce Evans, John's parents, as well as some of John's siblings.
The Gilmore-Evans Cemetery was still being used as a burial ground at least as late as 1936 when Elizabeth A. Evans was buried there next to her husband who died in 1929., but the burials at the cemetery seem to really slow down during the 1910's. I suspect that John and Elizabeth were buried there simply because this was the Evans family burial place; the old church probably had burned before they died. The earliest grave appears to be dated 1853: Sarah, wife of Walter Maxey. Sarah was born 1777.
1 comment:
It is mind boggling how much information is packed away in that head of yours.
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