Lewis-Powell Cemetery

Locality: Roanoke County Temporal Period: 19^th c. – 20^th c.

Realty Map: 111.00-2-1.9 Cultural Affiliation: Euro-American

USGS Map: Bent Mountain Landform: Ridge bench

Grid Locus: C-11 Elevation: 2660 feet

UTM Easting: 579020 Aspect: Flat

UTM Northing: 4112370

Site Dimensions: 100 by 100 feet

Survey Description: Site consists of a small family cemetery with at least 29 graves. Identified graves included 15 with inscribed markers, 13 with uninscribed fieldstone markers, and one unmarked grave identified on the basis of a ground surface depression. Other graves may be present. Graves are surrounded by a galvanized pole and chain link fence. Site is covered with mowed grass, and no historic plantings were observed. 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.

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.

Additional Comments: Assigned temporal period was based on the 1844 through 1997 range of death dates inscribed on observed headstones. However, the presence of uninscribed fieldstone markers and an 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 “Lewis cem.” The cemetery is also marked on local realty maps but the parcel is not labeled as a cemetery .

This cemetery was initially surveyed by the RVHS and recorded as the “Lewis-Powell Cemetery.” Biographical information was documented from inscriptions on seven headstones that predated 1921 (1986: 152). The RVHS also documented some information for the unmarked graves of Catherine Lewis King, Joseph Rayburn King, and Sallie F. Johnson King. During the 1998 survey, an obelisk base and two displaced footstones (inscribed VMJ and CCP) were observed on the ground surface next to the obelisk marking the grave of Viola King.

Marker Inscriptions:

Joseph Thomas Powell Clara Fralin Powell Charles Douglas Powell

Feb. 23, 1894 July 25, 1894 (Chuckie)

Feb. 19, 1974 Sept. 2, 1976 Sept. 4, Mar. 31,

Daddy Mama 1964 1984

(double marker with (double marker with Always in our hearts.

Clara Fralin Powell) Joseph Thomas Powell)

Lewis-Powell Cemetery (continued)

Dexter A. Merritt B. Viola M. King Andrew

1912 – 1997 1902 – 1980 wife of Lewis Jr.

Powell Steven Willet Virginia

And PVT

W.C. Johnson Capt A Lewis, Sr.

July 20, 1942 VA Regt

(obelisk) Revolutionary

War

1759 1844

Powell Lula Powell Oakey King

Mary Beckner Whitt Steven Morris Powell

Aug. 8, 1886 July 5, 1876 died Dec. 2, 1966 1863 - 1954

Mar. 8, 1966 Aug. 29, 1970

George Wilson Charles C. John Thomas

Powell son of Powell

1858 – 1926 G.W. & O.V. Infant 1903

(uninscribed fieldstone Powell (uninscribed fieldstone

at foot of grave) Born in at foot of grave.

Dallas, Tex.

Nov. 26, 1882.

Died in Verley Abner

Bluefield, WV Powell

Dec. 15, 1908 Nov. 14, 1923

(obelisk) Mar. 27, 1943

Additional information documented by the RVHS:

Catherine Lewis King / Daughter of Andrew Lewis, Jr. / Born in 1789 / unmarked grave

Joseph Rayburn King / son of Catherine Lewis King and Joseph King / born 1820 / unmarked grave

Sallie F. Johnson King / wife of Joseph Rayburn King / no dates

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