Coon-Richardson Cemetery

Locality: Roanoke County Temporal Period: 4^th quarter 19^th c., 1^st , 2^nd, 3^rd

Realty Map: 76.15-3-25 quarters 20^th c.

USGS Map: Bent Mountain Cultural Affiliation: Euro-American

Grid Locus: J-3 Landform: Ridge top

UTM Easting: 586510 Elevation: 1140 feet

UTM Northing: 4120710 Aspect: Flat

Site Dimensions: 62.8 by 43 by 64.5 by 41 feet

Survey Description: Site consists of a cemetery with at least 24 interments enclosed by a galvanized pole and chain-link fence. Graves include 20 marked with inscribed marble/granite headstones, 1 marked with an uninscribed fieldstone marker, 1 marked by uninscribed marble blocks, and two unmarked depressions in the ground surface. Graves are oriented from 105 to 110 degrees. Cemetery contains some small saplings and a minimal growth of honeysuckle. It appears to undergo periodic cleaning. No historic plantings were observed in the cemetery; however, periwinkle groundcover was visible along the outside perimeter of the site. Site is located in the rear lot area of a residential subdivision. Site was field inspected, photographed, and headstone inscriptions were transcribed and compared to previous site documentation. Site size was obtained by measuring the horizontal extent of the fence that encloses the cemetery. However, local real estate maps document the smaller dimensions of 47.6 by 24.5 by 52 by 25.08 feet for the cemetery.

Survey Date: 4/98

Field Notes: x Yes ___No

Photographs: x Yes ___No

Reference(s): Roanoke Valley Historical Society

1986 Roanoke County Graveyards Through 1920. Privately printed, RVHS, Roanoke.

Additional Comments: Assigned temporal period was based on death dates inscribed on observed headstones. These dates range from 1893 through 1962. However, the presence of unmarked graves and uninscribed headstones may reflect an earlier or later use of the site. Site is marked on local real estate maps but is not marked on the USGS Bent Mountain map sheet.

The Coon-Richardson Cemetery was surveyed by the RVHS and their report provided biographical information transcribed from 14 headstones that predated 1921 (1986: 97). During the 1998 survey biographical information was transcribed from all observed headstones in the cemetery. However, differential erosion on some of the headstones made transcription difficult or impossible. The following information represents a complete list of markers observed during the 1998 survey. Text printed with bold italics indicates inscriptions that were illegible during the 1998 survey but documented by the RVHS.

Coon-Richardson Cemetery (continued)

Marker Inscriptions:

Mary Lucy Hoyte S. In memory of Sarah M. Coon

Daughter of Born our father wife of

John Coon Dec. 10, 1864 John Coon John Coon

Born Died Born Born

Feb. 4, 1859 Mar. 18, 1899 May 26, 1822 Aug. 14, 1829

Died Died Died

August 20, 1907 July 21, 1896. Mar. 20, 1908,

18 yrs 6 mos 16 ds. Aged

(headstone broken and 78 yrs. 9 mos. 6 d’s.

eroded; base intact)

Emma C. Fannie Lou Albert Coon

Wife of Born Oct. 29, 1887(?) Milton Magdalene

J. P. Richardson Died June 16, 1894 1873 – 1959 1868 - 1951

Born Aged 3 y’s, 7 mos, & 17 dys.

Nov. 10, 1864

Died

Feb. 11, 1905

Father Mary Frances Coon F.H. Richardson Martha S.

Thomas J. Coon wife of Born wife of

1851 – 1930 T. J. Coon Aug. 31, 1832 F.H. Richardson

Born Died Born

Oct. 1, 1851 Feb. 21, 1912 Mar. 9, 1837

Died Member of Co. Died

Apr. 28, 1893 F. 42th Va. Reg. May 4, 1897

Lonia Belle Minter D. Zirkle Lula G. Harris Frank P. Harris

Infant Dua. Of Born Dec. 3, 1907 July 3, 1872

J.H. & J. A. Mills June 22, 1899 Mar. 7, 1914 Aug. 28, 1915

Born Died

Sept. 28, 1891 Nov. 19, 1899

Died July 18, 1895

Paul D. Edwards Charles J. Coon C. H. Zirkle Eliza J.

Feb. 16, 1924 Apr. 22, 1961 July 10, 1875 wife of

Aug. 13, 1925 Aug. 28, 1962 June 2, 1924 John Zirkle

Born

July 1, 1835

Died

Jan. 6, 1906

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