Muse-Harris Cemetery

Locality: Roanoke County Temporal Period: 2^nd through 4^th quarters 19^th c., 4^th

Realty Map: 86.01-1-24.1 quarter 20th c.

USGS Map: Bent Mountain Cultural Affiliation: Euro-American

Grid Locus: I-4 Landform: Ridge bench

UTM Easting: 585480 Elevation: 1380 feet

UTM Northing: 4119430 Aspect: Flat

Site Dimensions: 68 by 65 by 48 by 52 feet

Survey Description: Site consists of a family cemetery with approximately 28 graves. Observed graves included 24 with inscribed headstones and four with footstones that did not appear to be associated with any of the observed headstones. Three of these footstones were located in the northeast corner of the cemetery and each appeared to have been reset in the recent past. All of the observed graves were oriented to the southeast. It is possible that other graves are present. At the time of survey the cemetery was covered with a high and dense growth of vegetation that hindered observation of the ground surface. Historic plantings included boxwoods, periwinkle, cedar trees, and wild rose. The cemetery is located on a parcel between 5968 & 5975 Landview Drive (Rt. 1515), and it was enclosed by fence constructed of various materials. The southeast and southwest fence lines were constructed with galvanized poles and chain link fencing, the northwest fence line consisted of a recently constructed vertical plank fence, and the fence was no longer present along the northeast side of the cemetery. Site was field inspected, photographed, and headstone inscriptions were transcribed and compared to previous site documentation. Site size was determined by measuring the surrounding fence lines.

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.

Works Progress Administration of Virginia, Historical Inventory, Roanoke County, Virginia,

Document #44.

Additional Comments: Assigned temporal period was based on death dates inscribed on observed headstones. These dates ranged from 1845 through 1997. These death dates suggest the cemetery was active during two periods of time, from 1845 through 1895 and 1983 through 1997. It is not known if the cemetery was active between 1895 and 1997. Site is marked on the USGS Bent Mountain map sheet and labeled “Muse Cem.” Site is also marked on local real estate maps and identified as a cemetery.

The Muse-Harris Cemetery was initially surveyed by the Works Progress Administration of Virginia and recorded as the “Muse Cemetery” in Document #44 of the Historical Inventory of Roanoke County, Virginia. The WPA file described the cemetery as “. . . fenced but not well kept” and provided biographical information from the grave markers of John Muse, Charles W. Muse, and Susan M. Harris. The site was later surveyed by the RVHS and documented in their report as the “John Muse Cemetery” (RVHS 1986: 187). The RVHS report provided biographical information transcribed from 20 grave markers that predated 1921. During the 1998 survey the cemetery name altered to differentiate it from other burial places associated with the Muse family and to acknowledge the earliest dated interments associated with the Harris family. During the 1998 survey a total of 28 graves were observed in the cemetery. These included one fallen grave marker that could not be read and four footstones that did not appear associated with any of the observed headstones.

Muse-Harris Cemetery (continued)

John Muse Susan Charles W. Muse

Born wife of Born

May 8, 1791. John Muse June 3, 1830

Died Born Died

May 19, 1845. Nov. 27, 1803. May 17, 1863

Died (makers mark:

Oct. 30. 1887. Salem, Va)

Age.

84. Y. 11. M. 3.D.

(Double marker ; marker’s mark: Salem, VA)

Benjamin J. Harris Ludy A. Harris Thomas J. Harris

Born Born Born

Dec. 19, 184 Jan. 4, 1861 Sept. 4, 1853

Died Died Died

July 10, 1876. Feb. 5, 1878 Feb. 22, 1875.

Sarah E. William Harris Susan M. Harris

Wife of Born Born

Wm Harris, July 2, 1804. March 3, 1858

Born Died Died

Oct. 9, 1823 Dec. 13, 1868. July 22, 1859

Died

Sept. 26, 1884.

Susan Frances George A. Simmons J. Travers

Wife of Born Muse

George A. Simmons Dec. 5, 1820 Born

Departed this life Died Feb. 5, 1889

march 5, 1879 May 22, 1890 Died

Age 43 years Gone but not forgotten Apr. 25, 1893

Mary Margaret Mike Peters

Wife of Born

Mike Peters Jan. 22, 1861

Born Died

Oct. 1, 1861 Mar. 10, 1895

Died (Both on a

Feb. 16, 1890 double marker)

Fannie John James Andrew Joanah Berton Robert Payton Sarah Jane

Born Born Born Born Born

May 31, 1876 March 6, 1857 June 22, 1872 Feb. 27, 1867 Jan. 28, 1855

Died Died Died Died Died

Apr. 23, 1893 Aug. 19, 1884 May 25, 1893 Mar. 10, 1886 July 7, 1876

(These five inscriptions appear on an obelisk along with the inscription: “Children of John W. & M.E. Muse”.)

Muse-Harris Cemetery (continued)

I am going home George Clarence Muse George “Bill” Muse

Jno. W. Muse Oct. 29, 1917 Jan. 9, 1887 – Dec. 3, 1955

Born Entered into rest His wife

July 22, 1828 Oct. 15, 1988 Erie Lam Muse

Died July 23, 1893 – Mar. 7, 1983

Dec. 27, 1886

Tom

Thomas Lewis Muse

June 20, 1927

June 20, 1997

B. J. M. T.J.H. __.A.H. headstone fallen

(footstone) (footstone) (footstone) illegible

(These three footstones located in northeast corner of cemetery.

All have been reset recently, none appeared to be in their original location,

and the associated headstones were not observed.)

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