Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-05-01

MIA Kirk, died May 18th, lS45, ageC
13 years. A venerable oak that stood
at the head of the grave had spread
out its great rugged roots and claspec
the cold marble in close embrace
Rugged it to its great
rugged heart. There it haG
nestled secure, unbroken and un
defaced for nearly half a century,
while decay ravaged all around. L
seemed that the grass grew greenel
here and the soft evening breeze
whispered lovingly as it kissed the
huttering leaves of the protecting
tree.
When l first came here" resumed
Mr.. Rogers, "a great many people
asked to see the man who was cast
ashers.' did not understand at first
but l have since learned all about the
monument and the story. 1t is quite
romantic. See that stone there, 'Sa'
cred to the memory of Mary j. Gate
wood, of Bath county, Virginia, be-
loved wife Of G. Bias Well, the
story is that there was wreck off the
coast of Maryland and baby was
cast ashore. A lady, who was watch
ing on the beach caught it up and
hollered, See, its clothes are cut
bias. So they named the youngster
e. Bias. Oh, you needn't look at me
that CLASSY kind of way. | didn't say
it was so. That's the story they tell.
Mr.. Wilkins, the jewelry man, told
me about it. And they do say the
baby was adopted by the father of the
lady, whose name is carved on the
monument there as that of his wife.
You ought to have been here this
morning to see the baptizing in the
pond down by the railroad the
About twenty darkies were ducked,
and by the way there's the last resting
place of DIR. TOncry, who gave all his
wealth to colored HardShelI Baptists.
He built the church on Main street
that was burned during the riot Of
'64. A darby cut his name on that
stone"
In rambling about the cemetery
enough was seen to FIJI much more
space than can be given here. Among
the most prominent graves are those
of Mayors Winchester, Lawrence and
Spickernagle; Hon. V. D. Barry, born
in County Antrem, ireland, August
4th, 1894, died April 18th, 1854, aged
SO years; Supreme Judge VIM. B
Turley, died 18th MAY, 1851, aged 81
years; Lieutenant WV. Bishop, born
at Lexington, KY, October llth,
1904, died at Memphis February 9th,
1865; also Thomas Frederick Lennox,
comedian, died October 18th, l849;
Joel Aiken, who was shot through a
window on the southeast corner Of
Market Square in June l847; Henry
Van Pelt, senior editor Memphis APP
peal, died April 23d, 1851; James w.
Thompson, who died in graveyard in
South Memphis Augu,t 18th, 1853,
and many others whose names the re-
porter had not time to note.
Contrasted with its condition a few
years back, when it was unenclosed
and unguarded, it has the appearance
Of another grave yard. Nearly all the
graves which mark the last resting
places Of persons who have relatives
here have been reclaimed from the
general decay, nicely rounded up and
sodded, and in many.instances planted
with flowers. The Old Folks assess
themselves six dollars q year each,
and the sum total is applied to keeping
up the walks and shrubbery, and
maintaining superintendent, who is
nov able, except in rare instances, to
point out the graves to inquiring rela-
tives.
The Old Folks have decided 70 dec
crate the graves May 9th.