The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-07-02
a Very Old GRAVEYARD.

| Three miles south of this place, OIL
the MOoresville pike, about two hun.
bred yards above the bridge across
| Lytle's creek, there is situated the old
| est graveyard in Maury County. Not
far from this graveyard there used to
stand a small brick church, which has
1 entirely disappeared The field is now
| owned by Mr.. John Francis, as is also
1 the graveyard. Near this church the
| first settlement was made south OF
Duck river. Old uncle Joe Brown, who
died not long ago, was one of the first
| settlers. He lived to be nearly hun
dred years old, and was we'll known
here. The graveyard is overgrC VII
with briers, bushes, trees, &c, and is in
| a very dilapidated condition. Over the
grave of l.. Bestes five trees are grow
ing; one of them is more than foot in
diameter. We will give some of the
inscriptions: Zones Erwin, born Sep.
22d 1744. died June 2Sth 1881, aged So 3"
Near him lies his wife Mary Erwin
who was born 1850, died 1888. A little
farther on we read, 'Sacred to the mem
ory of the widow Jane Brown, who de-
parted this life June 1st, 1881, born IL 40:
A member of the Presbyterian church"
Not far off we read; "Capt. VIM. Ander-
son died April 9th 1884, born 1855; aged
79.' Near him we find "Mrs Nancy Gull
lege, who was born 1744, died 1919, aged
65." Next is "In memory of Mrs. Jane
p. Shelton, cODsOrt of G. w. Shelton,
born Oct. 18th 1917, died April 9th, 1847."
"PoIy Breckenridge, born Nov. 18th
1901, died 1914" 'Robert Caruthers
born I776, died 1929, Reader it is we'll
with thee" eliza L. LOOney, wife OF
K. G. Looney, and daughter of K. and
E. r. Caruthers. She bore her atfllctlon
with patience and died Dec. 18th 1888,
born 1872" "Parry W. Porter born
!: i iS iha
noblest work of Cod" Near him his
wife Elizabeth Thomas Porter, born
l772, died 1882. "She loved her children
and they loved her" it reads on the
stone. Next we find Isaac Newton
Porter was born 1902, and died 1923. 'Ho
was civil and courteous in his manners.
Honorable in his views. Industrious in
his habits, and correct in his actions.
In life beloved and respected; in
death resigned and lamented. Thus
humanity weeps over the flowers of
youth, the life Of Society cut down and
crushed by the hand of an assassin"
Thomas Dixon born 1863, died 1851,
aged 81 years 10 months and days"
Thomas j. w. Quarles, died 1884, aged |
D." There are many others with only |
a simple stone at the head and foot, and |
there are some thet have neither.
Sadly attentive the tall oaks are |
keeping their sad vigils over the graves |
OF these silent sleepers, and among their |
leaves thesoft wind signs requiem in |
unison with the silvery notes OF the forest |
warbler, whose lay is toned to "mouru-
full cadence low" as he perches him>
self on a leaning tombstone. Time has
left his footprints there; a sunkon |
grave, broken stone, and decayed |
fence show that his work is still going |
on. Nothing is there to disturb tho |
rest of these lone sleapers; even the |
bright little stream goes by with gem
tie murmur so as not to disturb them in |
their silent homes "under tho sod and |
dew awaiting the judgment day" A |
few years and this "hOme OF the dead" |
will be remembered no moro by man. |
Slowly and surely the hand of time is |
covering them up. Silently will they |
rest there until time shall be no more. |
RCgUjCScnt an pace.