Locality:
Realty Map: 6021106? 20th
c.
USGS Map:
Grid Locus: L-12 Landform: Ridge bench
UTM Easting: 588110 Elevation: 1020
feet
UTM Northing: 4125880 Aspect: East
Site Dimensions: 42
by 66 feet
Survey Description:
Site consists of a cemetery with at least 43 graves. Observed graves included 11 marked with
marble headstones or headstone fragments; three graves missing headstones but
marked with footstones; two low, box tombs made of brick; at least 19 graves
marked with fieldstones; and at least eight unmarked graves visible as ground
surface depressions. Numerous fragments
of marble headstones were observed on the cemetery surface and these headstone
fragments may have been associated with additional graves. This cemetery has been severely vandalized
and a number of graves have been desecrated.
Vandalism hindered the recognition of graves and precluded an accurate
count of the number of graves present. A
brick wall capped with ceramic edging enclosed the graves. Remnants of an iron gate were observed along
the northwest wall. The observed graves
were oriented to the northeast. Historic
plantings included oak trees, boxwoods, yucca, and periwinkle. Site was field inspected, photographed, and
grave marker inscriptions were transcribed and compared to previous
documentation. Site size was estimated
by measuring two walls of the brick enclosure.
Survey Date: 11/98
Field Notes: _x_Yes ___No
Photographs: _x_Yes ___No
References:
1986
Works Progress Administration of
Document #82.
Additional Comments:
Assigned temporal period was based on the 1833 through 1933 range of
death dates inscribed on observed headstones.
However, the presence of uninscribed fieldstone markers and unmarked
graves may reflect an earlier or later use of the site. The cemetery is not marked on the USGS Salem
map sheet or on local realty maps. Site
appears to be located on the northwest part of a large, undeveloped parcel and
located to the immediate south by south-west of a residential development that
was planned around
This cemetery was initially surveyed in 1936 by the Works
Progress Administration of Virginia and recorded as the “Trout-Miller Cemetery”
in Document #82 of the Historical Inventory of Roanoke County, Virginia. The WPA file provided biographical
information for eight graves and described the cemetery as “. . . a private
one. About it is a brick wall. In the enclosure are about fifty graves. It is in good condition.”
More than fifty years later, the RVHS surveyed the cemetery
and documented biographical information derived from inscriptions on 16
headstones that predated 1921 (1986: 232-233). This list included information transcribed
from seven of the headstones recorded by the WPA. The WPA also recorded the headstone for
George Trout, but only the footstone for this grave was observed during the
RVHS survey.
Trout-Miller
Cemetery (continued)
This cemetery had been severely vandalized following the
RVHS survey and prior to the 1998 survey.
Portions of the brick enclosure were destroyed, at least five of the
graves were desecrated, most of the headstones and footstones were dislodged
from the ground, and many headstones were broken. Disturbance to graves included the excavation
of three graves, and both of the low, box tombs had been opened and the
contents removed.
Other graves may have been desecrated. The surface of the cemetery is now covered
with a scatter of whole and broken headstones.
While this cemetery requires care, relocation of the graves should prove
to be problematic, and any restoration efforts or repairs should be approached
with much forethought and caution.
Marker Inscriptions:
Michael Airheart Mary
J. Brosius In
memory of
Born Wife
of my
husband
April 26, 1818 F.J.
Brosius George
H. Miller
(stone sunken remainder Died Born
of inscription illegible) Oct.
10, 1883 Died
Dec’r 31, 1864
Aged Aged
33 years
38
yrs. & 24 days 5
mos. & 6 dys.
EJS JWT
JCT
(footstone only at (footstone
only) (footstone
only)
desecrated grave)
Mary Jane Elizabeth
Simmons Virgie
K. Simmons
Consort of Jan.
15, 1919
Jacob C. Miller July
13, 1925
Daughter of Joseph and Ann (footstone: ES
Deyerle who departed this desecrated
grave) George
E. Simmons
Life Aug. 4th 1843
Ag’d 20 yrs.
9 mos. & 18 days;
Headstones documented by the WPA & RVHS but not observed
during the 1998 survey:
Anna Airheart / wife of / Michael Airheart / Born / Aug. 26,
1818 / Died /
Lizzie M. Bell /
Consort of Lewis J. Bell / of Lynchburg / Dau. of J.P. & Hannah Kizer of
Salem, Va. / who died on the 5th of October, 1850 / in the 18th
year of her age
Elizabeth /
Daughter of Michael & Elizabeth Trout / Consort of Michael Miller / August
13, 1793 /
Michael Miller /
June 13, 1790 / August 8, 1863
Mary Jane /
Daughter of / Jno. & Elizaberth / Noffzinger / departed this life / Feb. 11th
1833 / Aged 2 yrs. 2 mos & 10 days
Eliza J. Shaver /
wife of John / Trout Died / April 3rd 1853 / Aged 33 yrs. & 3
days
George Trout /
son of John & / Eliza J. Trout Died
/ May 2, 1857 / Aged 19 yrs. 2 mos. & 14 days
In memory of /
Laupah, dau. of / David E. & Sarah / Trout / Died Jan. 17, 1867 / Aged / 5
mos. & 4 days
Sacred to the
memory / of Mary Trout, Consort / of
George Trout / Born Feb. 4th,
1792 and / departed this life / Jan. 25 1856 Aged / 63 yrs. 11 mos. & 21
dys.
Headstone documented by the WPA but not observed during the
RVHS or 1998 surveys:
George Trout / January 11, 1782 /