Site Dimensions: 85 by 125 feet

Survey Description: Site consists of a family and community cemetery with at least 90 graves. The identified graves included 30 with inscribed markers, 11 with metal markers, five with metal markers and uninscribed fieldstones, 33 with uninscribed fieldstone markers, and at least 11 unmarked graves were identified on the basis of ground surface depressions. Other graves likely exist. All of the observed graves ranged in orientation from northeast to east. Cemetery is covered with mowed grass. Historic plantings include daylilies and periwinkle ground cover. Site was field inspected, photographed, and grave marker inscriptions were transcribed and compared to previous documentation. Site size was estimated by pacing the horizontal extent of the observed graves. Site is not enclosed by a fence but is bounded by an oval driveway covered with gravel. Local realty map plots cemetery size as 1.10 acres.

Surveyed By: T. Klatka

Survey Date: 9/98
Field Notes: _x_Yes ___No
Photographs: _x_Yes ___No

References: Roanoke Valley Historical Society
1986 Roanoke County Graveyards Through 1920. Privately printed, RVHS, Roanoke.

Works Progress Administration of Virginia, Historical Inventory, Roanoke County, Virginia, Document #99.

Additional Comments: Assigned temporal period was based on the 1857 through 1995 range of death dates inscribed on observed headstones and documented by previous survey work. However, the presence of uninscribed fieldstone markers and unmarked graves may reflect an earlier use of the site. The cemetery is marked on the USGS Bent Mountain map sheet and labeled as the Beamer Cem. It is also plotted on local realty maps and labeled cemetery. Most of the fieldstone markers were unmodified and ranged in size from the common examples with an above ground size of about one foot square to very small examples about fist size. Some of the larger fieldstone markers were modified into a rough, tabular shape. Cemetery also contains a number of broken, illegible metal markers.

This cemetery was initially surveyed in 1936 by the Works Progress Administration of Virginia and recorded as the Beamer Cemetery in Document #99 of the Historical Inventory of Roanoke County, Virginia. The WPA file provided biographical information for the graves of Samuel Beamer (October 1, 1852 - September 4, 1857) and Rebecca Beamer (1820-1875). The WPA file described the cemetery as fenced and well kept. The RVHS also surveyed the cemetery and documented biographical information derived from inscriptions from 10 headstones that predated 1921 (1986: 8-9). Both of the headstones recorded by the WPA were also observed during the RVHS survey and the 1998 survey.

Beamer Cemetery (continued)

Marker Inscriptions:

John Richard Wimmer US Army Jan 17 1935 Apr 20 1991 George D. Wimmer Feb. 12, 1939 Mar. 9, 1946 Lena Mae Austin Died November 1945 Age 50 Yrs 7 Mos 0 Days (metal marker at head of grave) Lena Beamer Wife of Issac Samuel Austin Apr. 13, 1894 Nov. 13, 1945 (marker at foot of grave) Respie J.D. Kirk Born Jan. 1, 1883 Died March 19, 1967 (metal marker) 1.00.F. A. O.K. of M.C. Beamer (larger monument marking head of two graves) Darling Baby Benjamin Paul Mt. Cassell Mar. 31, 1921 Nov. 10, 1923 (footstone: BM)

Wimmer Ora Lillian June 25, 1902 Mar. 9, 1975 Mark D Nov. 10, 1898 Sept. 6, 1967 G.W. Beamer Born May 29, 1809 Died July 21, 1879 Our Mother & Sister Rebecca J. Beamer Born Feb. 11, 1820 Died Sept. 10, 1875. Nannie Strickler Born Nov. 6, 1850 Died Feb. 26, 1879. (footstone: NS) Stewart H. Kirk 1884 � 1954 (metal marker) Norman J. Beamer May 13, 1885 April 01, 1945 Our Father Sam E. Mt. Cassell June 14, 1887 Oct. 28, 1952 Asleep in Jesus

Ervin Edward Wimmer M SGT US Army Korea Jul 19 1927 Oct 10 1995 Austin Issac Samuel Austin May 18, 1888 Dec. 27, 1963 Samuel A. Beamer Born Oct. 1, 1852 Died Sept. 4, 1857 (fragmented footstone) In memory of Rolen Goodwin Son of Joseph & Leana Goodwin Born March 16, 1849 Died March 19, 1873 (footstone: RG) Lottie Mae Kirk Born May 15, 1904 Died June 13, 1917 W.T. Beamer Born July 15, 1887 Died Apr. 8, 1908 Gone but not Forgotten Lucy Viola Shaver Mt. Cassell Dec. 8, 1897 June 30, 1985

Beamer Cemetery (continued)

Infant Ellen Meador Apr. 15, 1901 George E. Hudler PFC US Army Nov 12 1916 Sep 9 1971 George Hudler 1916 � 1971 Aug 11 (metal marker at foot of grave) Emma Beamer Wife of George Ervin E. Meador Jan. 27, 1878 July 03, 1968 In memory of W.E. McDaniel Born. June. 21 1856 Died. Nov. 21. 1921 At Rest (footstone � M; both markers cement) Newton Jessie Lemon 1873 1967 (metal marker)

Howard M. Meador Nov. 15, 1899 Aug. 1, 1900 Paul Samuel Beckner Virginia PFC HQ 440 Medical Co. World War II 1909 Oct 26 1971 Father G. McDaniel 1889 � 1952 Infant of Neal & Irene Lemon Died September 194? (remainder of inscription illegible)

Roger W. Beckner Feb. 28, 1950 Apr. 28, 1968 Roger Wayne Beckner 1950 � 1968 (metal marker at foot) Ervin E. Meador Jan. 20, 1868 Apr. 7, 1936 Sidney W. McDaniel 1922 - 1923 (metal marker next to cement markers) Theodore J. Lemon 1906 - 1967 (metal marker)