Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1933-03-03

that our cemeteries should be lait
off on a diagrammed blue print
containing each plot and grave, TO;
the information of future genera
tions, as we'll as our own.
: In about the year 1869 a bricl
wall was built around this ole
graveyard, by funds raised by pc.
pular subscription. Many citizen
took part, and various entertain.
ments were given for this purpos,
by the ladies of Salisbury. At on,
of these entertainments, at the ole
Meroney Opera House, Miss Annie
Rouzee, then a charming youne
girl of sixteen years, was appearing
on the stage in a lace and silk cos,
tome, which caught fire from thu
candles serving as footlights. She
ran from the stage in a flaming
blaze, and was seriously burned
! Miss Rouzee now Mrs. w. L. Ran
kin, is living with her daughter
Mrs. J. H. Mckenzie.
The brick used in making thi.
wall is quite unusual. 1t is large.
of durable quality, and unobtain-
able at this time. The wall has
fallen down in many places, but
in the rebuilding of it, which is
now going on, enough of the old
bricks have been found to complete
it and restore it in its original
form. The restored wall will have
on top of it a cement coping; it is
being made strong and lasting. A
new entrance at the north end,
large enough to admit automobiles,
is being erected. Two large beau
tiful entrance columns were given
fer this purpose by Mr.. T. M.
Byrd, of this county, and the Sal
isbury Marble and Granite Com
pany is cutting and erecting the
columns as a contribution to the
work of restoration. 1t is intend
ed to erect a bronze tablet at the
old entrance, and crepe myrtle will
be planted entirely around the wall.
Mr.. Clancy Miller, of Salisbury,
has rendered several hundred dol
lars worth of shrubbery to be used
in the Identification of the grave
yard.
In this historic old place are
buried members of many leading
families of Rowan. The Boards,
Hendersons, Caldwelis, Browns,
Murphys, Hamiltons, Fishers,
'Lockes, BoyJSno, CL~-L~-ssT-y=s
and numerous others, who were
leaders in the community, State
and nation.
For generations the Beard family
have been buried here. Their graves
are found on the right as n en-
tiers the main entrance. 1t is quite
certain that John Lewis Beard i:
buried here; but neither of the
graves-that Of the founder, not
that of his daughter, for whom th'
cemetery was established, can now
be located with certainty. Th'
name of the daughter seems to b.
unknown. The will of John Levi
Beard, which is on record in tn
office of the Clerk of the Superio
! Court, was probated in 1889
mentions nine children, directl,
and by reference, and by a research
it is found that none of these die'
as early as 1863. Consequently
the daughter who died, must hav
5 died quite young.
t John Lewis Beard was a yer,
: prominent and influential citize1
of Rowan County, being one o
. the very first settlers. He emigrat
! ed from Germany to Philadelphia
E There he married Christiana SnapT
and shortly afterwards came t
Salisbury. His name was original
1 ly spelled Bard, or Bardt. Immed
lately after being na~ruralized i
I. 1855 he assumed a place of leader
ship in the community. He be
came wealthy and highly esteemed
At first he lived on his farm o
j Crane Greek, now Town Creel
Later he moved to Salisbury. an
built a large home on the spc
where the Courthouse was late
i built.
One of MI. Boards sons W:
S Lewis Beard. He owned a lare
: farm on the Yadkin River, know
as the Bridge Place.. This nam
S was given on account of a larg'
9 splendid bridge he built across til
Yadkin at his place. Ferries wer
a used at the time, and there ha
been some controversy betwee
Lewis Beard and a neighbor, D
Long concerning ferry rights. M!