IN UNION COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
The cemetery is only
about 20 yards off the highway,
about where the red star is shown on the map.
This
inventory has been created so that others may use the information contained
within for generations to come.
As
with all things, time can change the world around us. We see new buildings and
new roads every day and fail to see that the progress of today begins to slowly
rob us of our past. For without preservation of our past, we loose the
thoughts, feelings, and ideals of those that made us who and what we are today.
With this
listing, it is my intention to preserve the past as best it can be in the world
of today. Unfortunately, by the time my father and I began to work on the
cemetery back in 1997, it was very much deteriorated. It was much overgrown and
full of trash. Headstones were moved out of place, turned over, and some are
missing altogether, sadly lost forever in time. We wanted and needed to restore
the cemetery. We have done the best that a father and son can do. We had to try
to restore the pride and dignity of those gone before us.
Let
us not forget them.
As
long as someone, somewhere reads this listing and the names inscribed within,
they will all still live in us.
I
hope you will find this information useful.
JANUARY
2001
The
Old Bethel Methodist Church Cemetery is located in Union County approximately 3
miles past the Mecklenburg County line on Highway 74 East next to the Pebble
Creek Golf Course.
The
headstones in this book are transcribed as close as possible to the actual
headstones themselves as they read at the cemetery. Spelling has not been
corrected.
Example: If the last name should read CONDER and the
headstone reads CONDOR, ,then CONDOR is how the headstone is listed.
In
these photographs, the headstones are represented by numbers that correspond to
this list and the footstones are noted as the number with an A and or B.
The
[ ] symbols are used to fill in what is
obvious and known to be true by the author.
Example:
If the headstone reads JOHN S. and the author knows that this is the grave
of JOHN SMITH, it will be noted as JOHN S.[MITH]
The
(?) symbols are used when the author was unable to determine a letter or date
on a headstone. The ( )? is used when the author takes a best guess.
Example: JOHN SMITH Died 18_ _ , where the
year can not be determined, it will be listed
as JOHN SMITH 18(??) or if it looks like 1875, the author would write 18(75)?
The
{ } symbols are used to make necessary
notations by the author.
Example: If a
headstone has broken off and has been moved and the rightful place can not be
found, the notation { out of place } would be used.
*Based
on the 1988 newspaper list, the following three names are now absent
in
the cemetery:
*INFANT FREEMAN (1916-1916)
*FRANCES WENTZ (1857-1880)
*The
following have no headstones but are shown to be buried in the cemetery based
on death certificates.
*ROBERT L. GORDON
Born 5/1/1922
Died 11/9/1922
Son of Robert L. Gordon and Kate
(Haywood) Gordon.
*INFANT GORDON
Died 3/12/1931
Lived only 12 hours
Daughter of Frank Gordon and Alma
(Broom) Gordon.
List of Headstones:
1)
CARRIE
A. HAYWOOD
Daughter of J.C. & I.E. Haywood
Dec 22, 1895
July 17, 1900
2) L.
A. HOWARD
Born June 23, 1873
Died Dec 14, 1897
3) BETTIE
[HOWARD]
Wife of S.J. Howard
Born Feb 7, 1847
Died May 8, 1913
We Trust Our Loss Will Be Her Gain And
That With Christ She's Gone
To Reign
4) S.
J. HOWARD
Born Feb 25, 1848
Died Jan 1, 1905
He Died As He Lived, A Christian
5) J.
W. AUBERRY
May 9, 1845 - Feb 24, 1922
6) BERTIE
[AUBERRY]
Dau of J. W. & F. E. Auberry
Born Oct 17, 1881
Died June 9, 1885
Gone To Be An Angel
7) UNKNOWN
8) UNKNOWN
9) UNKNOWN
10) UNKNOWN
11) JOHN
T. ROSS
Born June 10, 1844
Died Jan 11, 1896
All Is Well
12) UNKNOWN
13) UNKNOWN
14) UNKNOWN
15) J.
H. CONDOR
Aged 1 y.
Died Apr. 25, 1884
{ From another list, this might be
Jacob Hoyle Conder }
J.
A. CONDOR
Aged 2 Mo.
Died Dec. 19, 1886
{ From another list, this might be
Joseph Asvury Conder }
INFANT
[CONDOR]
Died Nov 21, 1888
Aged 2 Mo.
D.
C. CONDOR
Aged 6 Mo.
Died May 29, 1889
Safe In The Arms Of Jesus
{ From another list, this might be
Darkus Emmer Conder }
16) A
.J. POLK
Aged 22 y
Died June 12, 1896
M. E. POLK
Died July 28, 1896
Aged 20 Years
F.
L. POLK
Died June 21, 1896
Aged 15 Yrs
(R.
C. POLK )? { Best guess of the author }
17) UNKNOWN
18) A
.J. POLK
Aged 22 y
Died June 12, 1896
M.
E. POLK
Died July 28, 1896
Aged 20 Years
F.
L. POLK
Died June 21, 1896
Aged 15 Yrs
Oh Father Another Will You Hied Us In
Heaven.
19) J(oseph)?
Wil(?????) { Best Guess of the
Author }
20) UNKNOWN
21) UNKNOWN
22) P.
E. POLK
Died Nov 10, 1880
23) P.
E. POLK
Died Nov 10, 1880
Aged 2 Yrs 1 Mo. { need to verify} ?
T.
B. POLK
Died Nov 15, 1894
Aged 2 Mo.
24) T.
W. POLK
Born Apr. 3rd 1894
Died May 28, 1894
25) L.
J. BIRMINGHAM
Was Bornd Apr. 1, 1886
And Dide Aug 3, 1887
26) J.
A. BIRMINGHAM
Dide DC. 1, 1887
27) In Memory of
JOHN
STEGALL
Born Jan 19, 1825
Departed This Life June 25, 1890
Aged 65 Yrs 5 Mos & 6 D's
A Friend To His Country And A Believer
In Christ.
At Rest.
28) See #1 { Found later by the author as a
match }
29) E.
P. LEMMOND
Died NV. The 2. 1875
{ Out of place. Unable to find correct
location. }
30) At Rest
JOSEPH
E. RITCH
May 12, 1844
Mar 21, 1886
Gone But Not Forgotten
31) JOHN
EDWARDS [WENTZ]
Son Of J. M. & S. M. Wentz
May 1, 1873
Sept 26, 1918
Erected By S. M. Wentz
A Light From Our Household Is Gone.
A Voice Loved Is Stilled.
A Place Is Vacant In Our Hearts.
That Never Can Be Filled.
32) UNKNOWN
33) UNKNOWN
34) UNKNOWN
35) UNKNOWN
36) UNKNOWN
37) UNKNOWN
38) INFANT
[HARKEY]
Infant Dau Of W. T. & E. L. Harkey
Born Feb 10, 1885
Budded On Earth To Bloom In Heaven
39) INFANT [HARKEY]
Infant Dau Of W. T. & E. L. Harkey
Born Dec 5, 1877
Darling We Miss Thee
40) WILEY
S. FREEMAN
Dec 5, 1915
Feb 3, 1916
A Little Time On Earth He Spent.
Till God For Him His Angel Sent
41) UNKNOWN
42) UNKNOWN
43) UNKNOWN
44) UNKNOWN
45) UNKNOWN
46) UNKNOWN
47) UNKNOWN
{ Author could not determine if this was a headstone or not }
48) UNKNOWN
49) UNKNOWN
50) UNKNOWN
54) UNKNOWN
55) UNKNOWN
56) UNKNOWN
57) W.
ELMORE [KING]
Son Of H. B. & S. L. King
Dec 15, 1890
Aug 2, 1891
God Blesses In An Early Death
And Takes The Infant Unto Himself
58) UNKNOWN
59) UNKNOWN
60) UNKNOWN
61) J.
T. POLK
Aged 71 Years
Gone But Not Forgotten
Wife
SARAH
A. POLK
Jan 8, 1851
Feb 3, 1923
62) HORACE
O. [POLK]
Son Of J.K. & M.C. Polk
Born June 30, 1985
Died June 19, 1896
63) JAMES
K. POLK
1871-1920
Father
MARY
C. POLK
1873-1944
Mother
64) UNKNOWN
65) Sacred To The Memory Of
ELIZABETH
HOWARD
Born Dec 28, 1803
Died Oct 12, 1877
She Was A Member Of The M.E. Church
66) Sacred To The Memory Of
JAMES
HOWARD
Born Mar 6, 1808
Died Jan 14, 1880
How Grand In Age. How Fair In Youth. Are
Virtue Friendship & Truth.
67) In Memory Of
ELIZABETH
HEMBY
Wife of John Hemby
Born Sept 24, 1797
Died Sept 6, 1883
Jesus Can Make A Dying Bed As Soft As
Doney Pillows And While On His
Brest I Lay My Head And Breath My Life Out
Sweetly There
68) UNKNOWN
69) P.
C.[ONDER]
Died 18(71)?
70) L.
CONDER
Died (N. 10 1870 ?)
71) E { with a sideways E M below and to the left }
72) UNKNOWN
73) UNKNOWN
74) C.
L. C.[ONDER]
Aug 14, 1887
75)
UNKNOWN
(E)? { all that could be read was what looked to be the
Letter E }
76) UNKNOWN
77) In Memory of
FLORENCE
V. [STILWELL]
Born July 9, 1866
Died May 11, 1895
Aged 28 Yrs 10 Mo & 2 Dys
Just As The Morning Of Her Life Was Opening
Into Day
Her Young And Lovely Spirit Passed From
Earth And Grief Away
Kind Angels Watch Her Sleeping Dust Till
Jesus Comes To Raise Th
Just Then May She Wake With Sweet
Surprise And In Her Saviors Image Rise
78) UNKNOWN
79) UNKNOWN
80) UNKNOWN
81) TOBITHIA
[HARKEY]
Wife Of C.W. Harkey.
Born Aug 10, 1836
Died Jan 28, 1897
Aged 60 Yrs 5 Mos & 18 Dys
82) C.
W. HARKEY
Born Feb 3, 1829
Died July 26, 1919
Stranger As You Are Now. So Once Was I
As I Am
Now You Must Be. Take Up Thy Cross And
Follow Me.
83) JOSEPH
A. ROWELL
Born Mar 15, 1860
Died Sept 21, 1903
Aged 43 Yrs 6 Mos & 6 Das
He Was A Kind Affectionate Husband. A
Fond Father. A Friend To All
84) ZELDA
[ROWELL]
Daughter Of J.A. & F. D. Rowell
Born July 16, 1893
Died Jan 13, 1894
[Back of #83]
85) UNKNOWN
86) UNKNOWN
87) W.
E. L. (Feb 6)?
88) Sacred To The Memory Of
JOHN
W. RITCH
Son Of J.O. And P.A. Ritch
Born Sep 5, 1874
Died Sept 15, 1875
Gone To Join The Angels
89) Sacred To The Memory Of
MARRION
C. [RITCH]
Born Oct 8, 1878
Died Sept 29, 1879
Gone To Join The Angels
90) Sacred To The Memory Of
FRANK
W. [RITCH]
Son Of P.C. And S.H. Ritch
Born Oct 1882
Died Sep 1883
It Came Wept Smiled And Died
91) UNKNOWN
92) UNKNOWN
93) ELIZABETH
YANDLE
Born Mar 8, 1789
Died July 13, 1870
Aged 81 Yrs 4 Mos & 5 Days
94) WILLIAM
YANDLE
Born Oct 25, 1782
Died Apr 10, 1870
Aged 87 Yrs 5 Mos & 15 Days
95) ELIZABETH
YANDLE
May 16 1840
July 28, 1910
Aged 70 Yrs 2 Mos 7 5 Days
Gone But Not Forgotten
96) Sacred To The Memory Of
JESSE
YANDLE
Born May 16 1834
Died June 19, 1882
On Tell His Companion And Children Most
Dear To Weep Not
For Him Now. He's Gon. The Same Hand
That Led Him Thrugh Scenes
Must Severe Has Kindley Assisted Him
Home
97) Sacred To The Memory Of
MARTHA
E. YANDLE
Born July 5, 1868
Died Aug 9, 1872
Dearest Daughter Thou Hast Left Us And
Thy Loss We Deeply Feel But
Its God That Has Berept Us He Can All
Our Sorrows Heal
98) In Memory Of
T.
LONNIE YANDLE
Died Jan 25, 1891
Aged 20 Yrs & 25 Days
99) UNKNOWN
100) E.
H.
101) UNKNOWN
102) UNKNOWN
103) Sacred To The Memory Of
CORA
LUCRETIA [YANDLE]
Daughter of William And Mary Yandle
Born June 6, 1872
Died June 17, 1872
She Glanced Into This World To See A
Sample Of Our Misery
Then Turned Her Little Head Aside And
Gave A Sigh Er Too And Died
104) MARY
[YANDLE]
Wife Of Wm. Yandle
Born Mar 30, 1838
Died Apr 26, 1918
At Rest
105) WILLIAM
YANDLE
Born July 3, 1832
Died Dec 5, 1901
At Rest
106) JOHN
P. HARGETT
Oct 1922
June 1932
JOHNNIE
MAE HARGETT
Mar 1918
June 1932
JAMES
P. HARGETT
Oct 1914
1914
Children Of J.P. & Annie Hargett
107) UNKNOWN
108) UNKNOWN
109) UNKNOWN
110) UNKNOWN
111) UNKNOWN
112) UNKNOWN
113) UNKNOWN
114) UNKNOWN
115) Sacred To The Memory Of
MARTHA
E. HOUSE
Born Nov 2, 1872
Died Feb 2, 1876
Gone To Join The Angels
116) Sacred To The Memory Of
CYRUS
R. HOUSE
Born Dec 12, 1859
Died Feb 9, 1881
Aged 21 y 1 m 28 Days
117) Sacred To The Memory Of
EDWARD
L. HOUSE
Born July 20, 1881
Died Nov 16, 1882
Emty Is The Cradel Baby Goen
118) A.[MBROSE]
P.[INKNEY] HOUSE
July 18, 1840
Dec 26, 1918
Aged 78 Yrs 5 Mos 8 Days
Asleep In Jesus Blessed Sleep From
Which None Ever Wake To Weep
119) MARY
MARGARET HOUSE
Nov 20, 1842
Sept 19, 1913
Asleep In Jesus Blessed Sleep From
Which None Ever Wake To Weep
120) MARY
[HOUSE]
Daughter Of J.M. & Angie House
Jan 2, 1897
June 12, 1897
121) L.C.R.
[Footstone of #135, See #135]
122) UNKNOWN
123) UNKNOWN
124) UNKNOWN
125) UNKNOWN
126) UNKNOWN
127) UNKNOWN
128) UNKNOWN
129) UNKNOWN
130) UNKNOWN
131) UNKNOWN
132) UNKNOWN
133) UNKNOWN
134) UNKNOWN
135) LUISA
C. RITCH
Born Aug 10, 1821
Died Sept 27, 1898
A Good Mother Died In The Faith
136) JAMES
S. RITCH
Born Feb 2, 1806
Died May 20, 1888
Died In The Faith
137) INFANT
[RITCH]
Infant Son of W. C. & Mattie Ritch
Feb 1896
138) INFANT
[RITCH]
Infant Son of W. C. & Mattie Ritch
Feb 1896
139) AGNES
J. [RITCH]
Dau Of W. C. & Mattie Ritch
Died June 1886
Aged 2 Ys & 4 Mos
We Miss Our Darling
140) UNKNOWN
141) H.
B. RITCH
Mar 26, 1859
Sept 4, 1916
Erected By His Wife & Children
His Toils Are Past. His Work Is Done.
He Fought The Fight. The
Victory Won.
142) UNKNOWN
143) UNKNOWN
144) ANDREW
STARNES
Feb 10, 1804
June 22, 1899
Homeward To Realms Of The Pure
ELIZA
STARNES
Jan 11, 1823
Oct 12, 1889
Another Sweet Flower Blossoms In The
Dews Of Heaven
145) UNKNOWN
146) UNKNOWN
147) UNKNOWN
148) UNKNOWN
149) LAWRENCE
MARSHALL HELMS
Mar 24, 1850
Sept 12, 1898
His Wife
FRANCES
WENTZ [HELMS]
Aug 17, 1857
Mar 14, 1950
Also Wife Of J.W. Haywood
150) INFANT
[HELMS]
Infant Son Of Mr & Mrs L. M. Helms
Born & Died 1884
How Much Of Light. How Much Of Joy
Is Buried With A Darling Boy
151) INFANT
[HELMS]
Infant Dau Of Mr & Mrs L. M. Helms
Born & Died 1884
Tis A Little Grave, But Oh! Have Care,
For World-Wide Hopes Are
Buried There
152) JANIE
[YANDLE]
Wife Of D. R. Yandle
Dec 5, 1870
July 24, 1914
At Rest
She Is Not Dead But Sleepeth
153) CARRIE
A. YANDLE
Died Sept 20, 1895
Aged 10 Ms 20 Ds
She Is Asleep In Jesus
154) UNKNOWN
155) UNKNOWN
156) UNKNOWN
157) UNKNOWN
158) UNKNOWN
159) LAUNDER
HAYWOOD
Infant Died 1863
Son Of Abigill & John F. Haywood
160) LINDA
HAYWOOD
Infant Died 1860
Daughter Of Abigill & John F. Haywood
161) JEREMIA
HAYWOOD
Infant Died "1858"
Son Of Abigill & John F. Haywood
162) LENORA
ANN [WENTZ]
Dau Of J. M. & S. M. Wentz
Born Jan 25, 1859
Died May 7, 1859
A Little Time On Earth She Spent. Till God For Her His Angel Sent
163) ROBERT
LEE [WENTZ]
Born Jan 21, 1862
Died Feb 25, 18(??)
Our Short-Lived Flew & Returned
Again To God
164) JAMES
M. WENTZ
Father
Born Mar 9, 1837
Died Jan 13, 1899
Resting In Hope Of A Glorious
Resurrection
SARAH
M. WENTZ
Mother
Born Sept 5, 1840
Died Jan 8, 1929
How Desolate Our Home Bereft Of Thee
165) UNKNOWN
166) UNKNOWN
167) INFANT
[DEES]
Infant Son Of J. M. & N. D. Dees
Feb 14, 1909
Feb 18, 1909
A Little Time On Earth He Spent Till
God For Him His Angel Sent
168) NETTIE
D. [DEES]
Mother
At Rest
June 21, 1869
June 1, 1931
169) ELIZA
C. IVEY
Feb 17, 1857
Dec 1, 1925
Meet Me In Heaven
170) UNKNOWN
171) FRANK
A. IVEY
Jan 17, 1888
Aug 21, 1913
172) UNKNOWN
173) UNKNOWN
174) UNKNOWN
175) ELIZABETH
HARKEY
176) JOHN
M. HARKEY
1847 - 1878
177) WM.
AMBROSE HARKEY
1870 - 1918
178) UNKNOWN
179) UNKNOWN
180) UNKNOWN
181) UNKNOWN
182) UNKNOWN
183)
UNKNOWN
184) UNKNOWN
185) UNKNOWN
186) UNKNOWN
187) UNKNOWN
188) B.
C. (II)?
189) UNKNOWN
190) UNKNOWN
191) M D
(C)? 1851
192) UNKNOWN
193) UNKNOWN
194) UNKNOWN
195) UNKNOWN
196) UNKNOWN
197) UNKNOWN
198) UNKNOWN
199) UNKNOWN
200) M.
E. [KIKER]
Wife Of Geo. A. Kiker
Nov 3, 1847
June 26, 1924
Gone But Not Forgotten
201) Sacred To The Memory Of
WILLIAM
CONDER
Born About 1830
Died Feb 8, 1884
Was A Member Of The M. E. Church For A
Long Time And Died In The
Faith
202) UNKNOWN
203) UNKNOWN
204) UNKNOWN
205) UNKNOWN
206) UNKNOWN
207) UNKNOWN
208) UNKNOWN
209) UNKNOWN
210) GEO.
A. KIKER
Apr 5, 1851
June 22, 1889
Consistent Member Of M. E. Church
211) UNKNOWN
212) UNKNOWN
213) UNKNOWN
214) UNKNOWN
215) UNKNOWN
216) UNKNOWN
The following headstones are from another
smaller cemetery located
approximately 100 yards South South West of
the Old Bethel Methodist Church
Cemetery. They are separate but appear to be
related, as some of the last
names in this cemetery are also in the Old
Bethel Methodist Church Cemetery.
1) UNKNOWN
2) UNKNOWN
3) T.G.
KEZIAH
Mar 9, 1875
Jan 23, 1919
Dear Tom Is Gone But Not Forgotten
4) Our Darling Baby
BERDIE
[KEZIAH]
Dau Of T.G. & S.E. Keziah
5)
ELI
CONDER
Died Sept 23, 1897
Aged (5?)8 Ys
{ The name Eli Conder is on both sides
of the headstone }
6) UNKNOWN
7) T.C.
CONDAR
Died Feb 7, 1987
Aged 17 Yrs 8 Mo 24 Ds
Grabie(?)
CONDAR
Died Feb 2, 1897
Aged 1 Y
Two Budds Of Love To Bloom Will God
Above
8) UNKNOWN
9) UNKNOWN
10) UNKNOWN
11) UNKNOWN
12) UNKNOWN
13) UNKNOWN
14) UNKNOWN
15) UNKNOWN
16) UNKNOWN
17) Our Mother
NANCY
M. BYRUM
Born Nov 21, 1833
Died Feb 25, 1913
18) UNKNOWN
19) UNKNOWN
20) UNKNOWN
21) MATTIE
C. LONG
Mother Of Ethel & L.E. Long
May 1877
Oct 5, 1897
In Thee Oh Lord Have I Put My Trust
22) UNKNOWN
23)
UNKNOWN
This page was created on January 18,
2001 by JULIE
HAMPTON GANIS
with material supplied by ANDY
D. HOUSE
Updated June
3, 2009
Doug and Andy House at the cemetery.