Locality:
Realty Map: 8.00-1-8 Cultural Affiliation: Euro-American
USGS Map: Catawba Landform: Ridge bench
Grid Locus: D-13 Elevation: 1740 feet
UTM Easting: 580640 Aspect: South
UTM Northing: 4138520
Site Dimensions: 190 by 200 feet
Survey Description: Site consists of a large community cemetery surrounded by a metal post and wire mesh fence. At least 96 graves were identified on the basis of 71 marble markers and 25 inscribed and uninscribed fieldstone markers. Six displaced or fallen grave markers and at least 8 unmarked ground surface depressions suggest the presence of 14 other graves. Most of the headstones and graves were orientation toward the northeast. However, some headstones are oriented to the southwest and this may reflect an original route of access into the cemetery. Interments in cemetery are segregated by extended family and friends. Some graves are surrounded by low enclosures made of poured cement or cut stones. Historic plantings include periwinkle and yucca. Site is well maintained. Southeast boundary of site is less than 10 feet from Route 779. An unimproved “driveway” provides access at the south corner of the site, while an iron gate and set of stone steps are located at the east corner of the site. Site was field inspected, photographed, and headstone inscriptions were transcribed and compared to previous site documentation. Site size was estimated by pacing the horizontal extent of the surrounding fence lines.
Survey Date: 7/97
Field Notes: x Yes No
Photographs: x Yes No
Reference(s):
1986
Additional Comments: Assigned temporal affiliation based on
headstone inscriptions; however, the presence of numerous uninscribed
fieldstone markers may indicate an earlier use of the site. Death dates on observed headstones range from
1861 through 1992. A majority of the
inscribed markers are twentieth century.
Site is marked on the U.S.G.S. Catawba map sheet and labeled as “Catawba
Cem.” Site is also marked on realty
maps. Many individuals in the local area
refer to the site as the
The RVHS surveyed this cemetery and reported biographical information from 70 headstones that predated 1921 (1986: 42-45). Not all of the headstones documented by the RVHS were relocated during the present survey. Some inscribed on fieldstone markers are no longer legible, and, presumably other markers are no longer present. The following information was also taken from headstone inscriptions in the cemetery. This information is primarily related to graves that postdate 1920 and earlier graves not previously recorded. Bold font indicates corrections to previously reported information. Interested readers should also consult the RVHS report.
Marker inscriptions:
Mother Ann
Anderson
Grace Porter wife
of
Humphrey W.L.
Porter
Lemon Joseph B. Porter Preben Martens
Otho O. Annie
P.
Eual Evans Hattie Mae Damewood Frank M. Damewood
World War II
-
Ralph Minard Laughlin Cora May Payne John W. Payne
LCDR
USNR
World War II
Walter N. Carroll William Watson Carroll George Roscoe Painter
Born
James Lewis Garst, Jr. James Lewis Garst, Sr. Infant Son of
Ensign USN
South Pacific
James Dillard Garst Mary Lewis Garst Lula Woods Garst
Robert E. Garst Elijah N.S. Lee Infant Son of
PVT
World War I
Garst Samuel B. Loury
Robert Edward Edith Asbury Sept. 21, 1840 Mary E.
Editor-Teacher Reporter
1900-1980 1910-__
(Obelisk) (Toppled obelisk)
Minnie C. Rosia Young C.W. Young Armstrong
Mary A. Perry Noel A. Perry Perry
Born
Died
Gone to a bright home Bankers
&
Where grief cannot come. OMO
Born
R.D. Vandergrift Sarah F. Barbara
Born Vandergrift wife of
Died
Aged
73 ys 2 mo 8 ds Aged
77 ys 10 mo 19 ds
Vandergrift Painter Mary Shelton
to be ashamed.
Henry E. Moomaw Lewella Moomaw John W. Damewood
Born
Died
At rest
Loved by all She
spent her life
In service of others
Wm. P. Anderson Robert E. Lee Wheeler Long
Forever with the Lord
In memory of Lydia Ruth Hartley M.E.L.
Geo. W. Cameron
1819-1866
Tommie Howard Robert E. Lee Wheeler Long
wife of
R.E. Lee
At Rest
Annie Myrtle
Rest In Peace
At Rest.
William Edgar Anderson Mary E. Albright Kate S.
PFC
World War II R.E. Lee W.F. Long
Asleep in Jesus Died
Blessed
Thought
Dau. Of Wife
of
HA & EH
Born
Died All is well
N.A. Lee Maggie J. Roland J.
Wife of Wife of Lee
R.J. Lee R.E. Lee Born
At Rest. Died
[Obelisk] Charles W.
Died Died
Aged 63 years Aged 81 years
Headstone and footstone for Griffin Vandergrift (1813-1877) were dislodged and leaning against the northeast fence. An uninscribed and broken headstone was associated with a footstone marked “M.C.G.” The following headstones were recorded in the RVHS report but were not observed during the 1997 survey: Susan Armstrong (1811-1866) ; Margaret Armstrong (1843-1907); Mary Armstrong (1810-1858); and Pietro Merola (Born 1853, Died aged 29 yrs.). According to the RVHS report, the observed Armstrong obelisk marks the graves of Margaret and Mary Armstrong.