Freed-Hardeman Connections
Researching the Restoration Movement in Mississippi and West Tennessee
Cemetery Walk
McNairy County, TN
07/21/2010
Wayne Kilpatrick and I spent most of the day of July
20, 2010 "cemetery walking" in McNairy County, TN. We
started out with breakfast at Shoney's in Corinth.
Then we went to the cemetery behind the Oak Hill
Christian Church building where three Kendrick
preachers are buried. At one time this church was a
non-instrumental church of Christ.
Oak Hill Christian Church building
After that visit, we went by the Acton church of Christ and had a good visit with the preacher Joe Story and several members of the church. Wayne's great uncle, J. R. Bradley did some preaching in that area over 100 years ago. He is researching his life with plans to write a book about his life.
Acton Church Building on right
Later, we met a member of the church at the Liberty church of Christ cemetery. Wayne was looking for some his kinfolks named Wade. I visited the graves of Henry and Ruby Dodd, longtime supporters of Freed-Hardeman University. I was on the program at Freed-Hardeman with brother Dodd when the university honored Marvin and Jewell Rainey during the 1996 lectureship.
We stopped for lunch at Stantonville. I had a sandwich of a thick slice of bologna and cheese on wheat bread which I am sure was not good for my cholesterol but it brought back memories of picking cotton in Mississippi and a bologna sandwich for lunch. The only thing missing for lunch was a cold bottle of RC Cola.
Our next visit was the Clear Creek Cemetery where Nancy Larimore, mother of T. B. Larimore and Mollie Larimore Meeks, is buried. Wayne and I felt as if we were on standing on "holy" ground when he thought about who was standing there for Nancy's funeral nearly 108 years ago: The families T. B. Larimore and Mollie Meeks (Mrs. R. P. Meeks) and N. B. Hardeman who spoke at the service. Many of those buried in the cemetery were members of the church at Clear Creek including several preachers. I have created a virtual cemetery of Preachers and members of the Clear Creek church of Christ.
Inscription on the tombstone of Nancy Larimore
We stopped to take a photo of the historical marker on Highway 64 where Sheriff Buford Pusser died in an automobile accident in 1974.
In search for the grave of J. H. Dunn, we went to the Dunn Cemetery and found only a few marked graves in the abandoned cemetery. No one named Dunn was found.
As we headed back to Corinth, we visited Purdy which was nearly destroyed by a tornado last May. This town is the former county seat of McNairy County and home of Purdy University (1855-60) attended by R. P. Meeks and T. B. Larimore. We saw the abandoned mansion of Col. Fieldling Hurst, the renegade Union Army commander. We stopped for a photo in Bethel Springs for a photo of the historical marker noting "The Hurst Nation."
It was a good day: good fellowship with Wayne, good research, good exercise resulting in a good nights rest.
Oak Hill Christian Church building
After that visit, we went by the Acton church of Christ and had a good visit with the preacher Joe Story and several members of the church. Wayne's great uncle, J. R. Bradley did some preaching in that area over 100 years ago. He is researching his life with plans to write a book about his life.
Acton Church Building on right
Later, we met a member of the church at the Liberty church of Christ cemetery. Wayne was looking for some his kinfolks named Wade. I visited the graves of Henry and Ruby Dodd, longtime supporters of Freed-Hardeman University. I was on the program at Freed-Hardeman with brother Dodd when the university honored Marvin and Jewell Rainey during the 1996 lectureship.
We stopped for lunch at Stantonville. I had a sandwich of a thick slice of bologna and cheese on wheat bread which I am sure was not good for my cholesterol but it brought back memories of picking cotton in Mississippi and a bologna sandwich for lunch. The only thing missing for lunch was a cold bottle of RC Cola.
Our next visit was the Clear Creek Cemetery where Nancy Larimore, mother of T. B. Larimore and Mollie Larimore Meeks, is buried. Wayne and I felt as if we were on standing on "holy" ground when he thought about who was standing there for Nancy's funeral nearly 108 years ago: The families T. B. Larimore and Mollie Meeks (Mrs. R. P. Meeks) and N. B. Hardeman who spoke at the service. Many of those buried in the cemetery were members of the church at Clear Creek including several preachers. I have created a virtual cemetery of Preachers and members of the Clear Creek church of Christ.
Inscription on the tombstone of Nancy Larimore
We stopped to take a photo of the historical marker on Highway 64 where Sheriff Buford Pusser died in an automobile accident in 1974.
In search for the grave of J. H. Dunn, we went to the Dunn Cemetery and found only a few marked graves in the abandoned cemetery. No one named Dunn was found.
As we headed back to Corinth, we visited Purdy which was nearly destroyed by a tornado last May. This town is the former county seat of McNairy County and home of Purdy University (1855-60) attended by R. P. Meeks and T. B. Larimore. We saw the abandoned mansion of Col. Fieldling Hurst, the renegade Union Army commander. We stopped for a photo in Bethel Springs for a photo of the historical marker noting "The Hurst Nation."
It was a good day: good fellowship with Wayne, good research, good exercise resulting in a good nights rest.
Kelley Bant Doyle, Sr
07/08/2010
I recently visited the
grave of Kelley B. Doyle, long time music teacher and
choral director at Freed-Hardeman, and song leader and
preacher. He is buried in Pisgah Cemetery near
Henderson. I also have a memorial honoring him at
www.findagrave.com. His widow, Dot, is a resident
at the Chester County Nursing Home in Henderson, TN. I
had brother Doyle for a Sight Singing class at FHC in
the summer of 1966. Great memories!
W. A. Crum
07/09/2009
William Allen Crum
1837-1911
Click Here to Read More About W. A. Crum
William Allen Crum,
Born
Sept. 10, 1837,
Died
May 24, 1911.
In Life, Non-Sectarian:
An humble Disciple of Christ --
A Christian:
Always Advocating the
"Unity of the Faith in the
Bond of Peace."
He worshipped God and Loved
MANKIND.
His Creed, The BIBLE.
Dowell Flatt
07/09/2009
Dowell Flatt
1941-2003
Buried in the same cemetery is another preacher, Hiram Way.
Midwest Restoration Research Trip
07/03/2009
Midwest Trip - June 25-30, 2009
Tom Childers, Scott Harp, and Wayne Kilpatrick traveled over 3,000 miles on a restoration research trip through Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. We had good weather and few disappointments in our finds. Some photos from our first two days of travel are posted at www.friendsoftherestoraion.com, but after 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. schedule, there was not much time for posting to the site.
We located the graves of over 72 preachers and church leaders. Here are what I consider our top finds.
1. Celia Stone, second wife of Barton Stone. She is buried in Hannibal, MO.
2. The abandoned grave of Jeremiah Vardeman who the moderator for one of Alexander Campbell's debates. No, we did not get any chiggers, ticks, or snake bites.
3. The tombstone of George Ann Shaw, 14 year old daughter of Knowles Shaw. What are the chances that George Ann Robertson of Georgie Robertson Christian College has the same name as the daughter of Knowles Shaw who preached several times in Henderson, TN?
George Ann Robertson - Nov. 6, 1874-Nov. 9, 1895
George Ann
Daughter Of
J.F. & L.A.
Robertson
Born
Nov. 6, 1874.
Died
Nov. 8, 1895
Blessed Are The Pure In
Heart For They Shall See
God.
George Ann Shaw - June 3, 1856 - Dec. 29, 1869
The Georges in the life of Knowles Shaw
Knowles Shaw was converted from the preaching of George Campbell.
Shaw was baptized by George Thomas.
He married Martha, the daughter of George Finley.
He named his daughter "George Ann" after her material grandfather, George Finley.
Children of Knowles and Martha Shaw
George Ann Shaw - June 3, 1856 - Dec. 29, 1869
Mary Elizabeth Shaw - Oct. 31, 1858
John Albin Shaw - Feb. 18, 1869
Carey W. Shaw - Feb. 26, 1864 - July 25, 1865
Knowles Shaw, Jr. - Feb. 14, 1869 - August 13, 1869
Tom Childers, Scott Harp, and Wayne Kilpatrick traveled over 3,000 miles on a restoration research trip through Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. We had good weather and few disappointments in our finds. Some photos from our first two days of travel are posted at www.friendsoftherestoraion.com, but after 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. schedule, there was not much time for posting to the site.
We located the graves of over 72 preachers and church leaders. Here are what I consider our top finds.
1. Celia Stone, second wife of Barton Stone. She is buried in Hannibal, MO.
2. The abandoned grave of Jeremiah Vardeman who the moderator for one of Alexander Campbell's debates. No, we did not get any chiggers, ticks, or snake bites.
3. The tombstone of George Ann Shaw, 14 year old daughter of Knowles Shaw. What are the chances that George Ann Robertson of Georgie Robertson Christian College has the same name as the daughter of Knowles Shaw who preached several times in Henderson, TN?
George Ann Robertson - Nov. 6, 1874-Nov. 9, 1895
George Ann
Daughter Of
J.F. & L.A.
Robertson
Born
Nov. 6, 1874.
Died
Nov. 8, 1895
Blessed Are The Pure In
Heart For They Shall See
God.
George Ann Shaw - June 3, 1856 - Dec. 29, 1869
The Georges in the life of Knowles Shaw
Knowles Shaw was converted from the preaching of George Campbell.
Shaw was baptized by George Thomas.
He married Martha, the daughter of George Finley.
He named his daughter "George Ann" after her material grandfather, George Finley.
Children of Knowles and Martha Shaw
George Ann Shaw - June 3, 1856 - Dec. 29, 1869
Mary Elizabeth Shaw - Oct. 31, 1858
John Albin Shaw - Feb. 18, 1869
Carey W. Shaw - Feb. 26, 1864 - July 25, 1865
Knowles Shaw, Jr. - Feb. 14, 1869 - August 13, 1869