Murray Cemetery

 

Locality: Roanoke County                  Temporal Period:                  4th quarter 19th c. – 4th quarter 20th c.

Realty Map:          114.00-1-64                            Cultural Affiliation:              Euro-American

USGS Map:           Garden City                           Landform:                              Ridge top

Grid Locus:            D-12                                        Elevation:                              1360 feet

UTM Easting:       591750                                    Aspect:                                  Northwest

UTM Northing:    4111170

 

Site Dimensions: 80.3 by 77 by 83 by 45.6 feet

 

Survey Description:  Site consists of a small family cemetery with at least 38 interments enclosed by a fence constructed of wood posts and wire mesh.  Eighteen graves were marked with uninscribed fieldstone markers, eight with marble and granite headstones, six with metal markers, three with cement markers, and one with glass box and plastic flowers.  Two unmarked graves were visible as ground surface depressions.  Other unmarked graves may be present.  All of the observed graves ranged in orientation from 80 through 95 degrees.  Historic plantings included oak trees, cedar trees, and yucca plants.  A deciduous forest surrounds the site.  One metal tool shed was located within the cemetery enclosure.  Site was field inspected, photographed, and headstone inscriptions were transcribed and compared to previous site documentation.  Site size was derived from local real estate maps.

 

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 observed on inscribed headstones.  These dates ranged from 1880 through 1980; however, the presence of uninscribed headstones and unmarked graves may reflect an earlier use of the site.  Site is marked on local real estate maps and labeled “cemetery,” but it is not depicted on the USGS Garden City map sheet.

 

The Murray Cemetery was first surveyed by the RVHS and their report provided biographical documentation for five of the interments in the cemetery (RVHS 1986:  185).  However, information for three of the interments was limited to the names Dock Murray, Elisha Murray, and  Preston Murray.  Grave markers for these individuals were not observed during the 1998 survey.  The following biographical information was transcribed from the headstones observed during the 1998 survey.

 

Marker Inscriptions:

 

                Duncan                                  Charles T. Duncan                               Susen [sic] E.

Annie E.                 Charlie T.               1904 – 1957                                            Stamback

Apr. 15, 1901         Dec. 3, 1904           (metal marker with marble                   1848 – 1935

________             Mar. 16, 1957         footstone – CTD)                                 Age 87

(footstone:  AED)

Murray Cemetery (continued)

 

Leroy Stamback                                    Calvin Stamback                                   Myrtle J. Stamback

Born Feb. 25                                          Born Oct. 10, 187?                                1886 - 1958

1845                                                        Died Sept. 18, 1931                               (metal marker)

Died Sept                                               Age 57

19, 1923                                                  (cement head & foot stones)

Age 78

(cement head & foot stones)

 

Mr. John L. Stamback                          Mrs. Emma M. Stamback                    Laura Irene Oyler

1869 – 1964                                            1880 – 1965                                            1921 – 1980

(metal marker)                                       (metal marker)                                       (metal marker)

 

M. Elizabeth Ferris                               illegible metal marker                           glass box with plastic flowers

Wife of

Oscar H. Oyler

Oct. 25, 1925

Nov. 30, 1968

 

(Pete)                                                      Sonia D. Foley                                      Elsie

Junior Eugene                                       1977 – 1977                                            Daughter of

Sheperd                                                                                                                 J. H. & M. J.

Jan. 21, 1929                                                                                                          Murray

Nov. 6, 1964                                                                                                          Dec. 6, 1902

(metal marker at foot:                                                                                           Dec. 20, 1902

Junior E. Shepard                                                                                                 Asleep

1929 – 1964)                                                                                                          (footstone: EBM)

 

Mother                   Father                     _______ A. Beckner                           grave marked with cement block

Sarah A.                 Boston W.             (metal marker,

Murray                   Murray                   dates illegible)

Mar. 19, 1844         Dec. 5, 1841

_________           Jan. 30, 1880

Asleep in Jesus

(footstones:  SAM and BWM)

 

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