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[[File:Elyton Cemetery 2020.jpg|right|thumb|375px|View of Elyton Cemetery in 2020]] | [[File:Elyton Cemetery 2020.jpg|right|thumb|375px|View of Elyton Cemetery in 2020]] | ||
'''Elyton Cemetery''', located at | '''Elyton Cemetery''', often called '''Old Elyton Cemetery''' is a small cemetery located on a one-acre plot at 426 [[2nd Avenue North]] near [[Arlington Home and Gardens]]. It is known as the oldest cemetery in the present limits of [[Birmingham]]. The land that the cemetery is on was purchased by Colonel [[John Dupuy]] in [[1821]] as part of a 40 acre tract of land. Colonel Dupuy bought the land from [[William Ely]], for whom the city of [[Elyton]] was named. The cemetery was deeded to the city of Elyton before Dupuy's death in [[1856]]. | ||
There are 142 burials recorded at this cemetery, the oldest belonging to an "Infant Son" who was born and died in [[1805]]. Elyton Cemetery is also the burial place of [[Joab Bagley]], the first probate judge elected by [[Jefferson County]] voters. Most of the cemetery's burials predate the founding of [[Birmingham]] in [[1871]]. The latest burials were those of [[Agnes Nicholson]] in [[1919]] and [[Velma Mae Melton]] in [[1987]]. | There are 142 burials recorded at this cemetery, the oldest belonging to an "Infant Son" who was born and died in [[1805]]. Elyton Cemetery is also the burial place of [[Joab Bagley]], the first probate judge elected by [[Jefferson County]] voters. Most of the cemetery's burials predate the founding of [[Birmingham]] in [[1871]]. The latest burials were those of [[Agnes Nicholson]] in [[1919]] and [[Velma Mae Melton]] in [[1987]]. Even as early as [[1872]] there were reports that the cemetery was in a, "very dilapidated condition." | ||
In [[1891]] a fund of $450 was raised to restore the aging plot, but by [[1904]] the ''[[Jones Valley Times]]'' was again bemoaning that, "cattle browse in its silence, the hog roots among the tombs, and everything has a neglected aspect as though among the living there was no one who loved them, no one who remembered the precious dust. No fence; the earth full of caves where graves have sunk down, giving the whole place the appearance of having been forgotten long ago." | |||
In [[1914]] an '''Elyton Cemetery Memorial Association''' was formed to clean and restore the cemetery. The committee, which included [[M. T. Porter]], [[Sam Greene]] and Judge [[W. M. Walker]], planned, "to erect a concrete wall, wire fence or privet hedge around the cemetery." | |||
In [[1951]] the state of the cemetery was again a cause for concern, with weeds and vines covering the ground, markers toppled and broken, fences left in remnants, and a small baseball diamond in use by neighborhood children, with marble markers used for bases. In [[1958]] juvenile court judge [[Talbot Ellis]], grandson of pastor [[C. C. Ellis]], brought together a group of civic leaders and descendants of people buried at Elyton Cemetery to formulate a long-range maintenance plan. The group hired college student [[Hubert Whittle]] to begin clearing overgrowth, but progress was undermined when a group of vandals toppled and damaged many of the tombstones. Though the [[West End Lions Club]], [[West End Civitan Club]], [[Elyton Civic Club]] and [[Elyton Garden Club]] all participated in planning, together they raised only $200, far short of the $1,800 needed just to enclose the site with a fence. | |||
A historic plaque was dedicated at Elyton Cemetery by Mayor [[George Seibels]] on [[December 14]], [[1969]]. The headstone of pioneer [[Williamson Hawkins]], who died in [[1875]] and was buried on a family plot, was relocated to Elyton Cemetery in [[1970]]. | A historic plaque was dedicated at Elyton Cemetery by Mayor [[George Seibels]] on [[December 14]], [[1969]]. The headstone of pioneer [[Williamson Hawkins]], who died in [[1875]] and was buried on a family plot, was relocated to Elyton Cemetery in [[1970]]. | ||
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In the brick courtyard of the cemetery was a marble statue known as the "Laughing Girl", though it has not been seen intact since the mid- to late 1970's. According to the [[Birmingham History Center]], there is a chance that the statue was sculpted by [[Giuseppe Moretti]]. | In the brick courtyard of the cemetery was a marble statue known as the "Laughing Girl", though it has not been seen intact since the mid- to late 1970's. According to the [[Birmingham History Center]], there is a chance that the statue was sculpted by [[Giuseppe Moretti]]. | ||
==Notable burials== | ==Notable burials== | ||
* [[Joab Bagley]] ( | * [[Joab Bagley]] (1808–1875), first [[Jefferson County Probate Court]] judge | ||
* [[Thomas Davidson]] ( | * [[Elijah Brown]] (1797–1860) | ||
* [[John Dupuy]] ( | * [[Bluford Cornelius]] (1825–1892), saddler and harness maker | ||
* [[Elizabeth Dupuy]] ( | * [[Thomas Davidson]] (1826–1861), minister | ||
* [[William C. Eubank]] ( | * [[John Dupuy]] (1789–1856) | ||
* [[Elizabeth Hawkins]] ( | * [[Elizabeth Dupuy]] (1798–1847) | ||
* [[Nathaniel Hawkins]] ( | * [[William C. Eubank]] (1818–1874) | ||
* [[Richard Hawkins]] ( | * [[James Grace]] (1775–1820) | ||
* [[Samuel Hawkins]] ( | * [[Elizabeth Hawkins]] (1789–1878) | ||
* [[Williamson Hawkins]] ( | * [[Maria Hawkins]] ( ), wife of Nathaniel | ||
* [[John T. Martin]] ( | * [[Nathaniel Hawkins]] (1817–1877) | ||
* [[James Mudd]] ( | * [[Richard Hawkins]] (1846–1902) | ||
* [[Sarah Swearingen Mudd]] ( | * [[Samuel Hawkins]] (1828–1856) | ||
* [[H. G. Nabors]] ( | * [[Williamson Hawkins]] (1790–1875) | ||
* [[Sion Nabors]] ( | * [[Williamson M. Hawkins]] (1839–1863), Confederate captain | ||
* [[John T. Martin]] (1956–1883) | |||
* [[Lewis Martin]] (1823–1859) | |||
* [[Nathaniel McFarlin]] (1852–1883) | |||
* [[J. W. Montgomery]] (1841–1886), merchant | |||
* [[James Mudd]] (1790–1847) | |||
* [[Sarah Swearingen Mudd]] (1794–1844) | |||
* [[H. G. Nabors]] (1836–1872) | |||
* [[Sion Nabors]] (1832–1874) | |||
* [[Agnes Nicholson]] (died 1919) | * [[Agnes Nicholson]] (died 1919) | ||
* [[Alfred Roebuck]] ( | * [[Evan Nicholson]] (1832–1897), Methodist minister | ||
* [[Frank Oden]] (1848–1887) | |||
* [[Noah Webster Pool]] (1879–1892) | |||
* [[Alfred Roebuck]] (1814–1871) | |||
* [[Nancy Scott]] (died 1834) | * [[Nancy Scott]] (died 1834) | ||
* [[Mortimer Smith]] ( | * [[Mortimer Smith]] (1847–1860) | ||
* [[Robert A. Smith]] ( | * [[Robert A. Smith]] (1809–1836), Methodist minister | ||
* [[George Worthington]] ( | * [[William Tegner]] (1829–1898), shoemaker | ||
* [[Matilda Worthington]] ( | * [[James Wilcox]] (1823–1863) | ||
* [[George Worthington]] (1808–1843) | |||
* [[Matilda Worthington]] (1815–1853) | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* "Alabama News" (May 31, 1872) ''The Southern Argus'' (Selma), p. 3 | |||
* "Elyton Cemetery" (November 10, 1904) ''Jones Valley Times'', p. 1 | |||
* "Cemetery Notes" (May 1914) ''Park and Cemetery''. Vol. 24, No. 3, p. 84 | |||
* "The vanishing scene— County landmark falls on sad times." (May 11, 1951) {{BN}}, p. 18 | |||
* Alexander, Lorine (October 12, 1958) "What's to be the fate of our old cemeteries." ''The Birmingham News Magazine'', p. 18–19 | |||
* Marshall, David (December 13, 1969) "[http://bplonline.cdmhost.com/cdm/ref/collection/p4017coll2/id/1709 Pioneers' graves to be remembered at Elyton's acre]." {{BN}} - via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections | * Marshall, David (December 13, 1969) "[http://bplonline.cdmhost.com/cdm/ref/collection/p4017coll2/id/1709 Pioneers' graves to be remembered at Elyton's acre]." {{BN}} - via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections | ||
* {{Satterfield-1976}} | * {{Satterfield-1976}} | ||
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* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&GSob=c&GSsr=121&GScid=733298&CRid=733298&pt=Elyton%20Cemetery& Elyton Cemetery] at findagrave.com | * [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&GSob=c&GSsr=121&GScid=733298&CRid=733298&pt=Elyton%20Cemetery& Elyton Cemetery] at findagrave.com | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Birmingham cemeteries]] | ||
[[Category:1834 establishments]] | [[Category:1834 establishments]] | ||
[[Category:2nd Avenue North]] | [[Category:2nd Avenue North]] | ||
[[Category:Elyton Cemetery burials|*]] | [[Category:Elyton Cemetery burials|*]] | ||
Latest revision as of 13:47, 9 May 2020
Elyton Cemetery, often called Old Elyton Cemetery is a small cemetery located on a one-acre plot at 426 2nd Avenue North near Arlington Home and Gardens. It is known as the oldest cemetery in the present limits of Birmingham. The land that the cemetery is on was purchased by Colonel John Dupuy in 1821 as part of a 40 acre tract of land. Colonel Dupuy bought the land from William Ely, for whom the city of Elyton was named. The cemetery was deeded to the city of Elyton before Dupuy's death in 1856.
There are 142 burials recorded at this cemetery, the oldest belonging to an "Infant Son" who was born and died in 1805. Elyton Cemetery is also the burial place of Joab Bagley, the first probate judge elected by Jefferson County voters. Most of the cemetery's burials predate the founding of Birmingham in 1871. The latest burials were those of Agnes Nicholson in 1919 and Velma Mae Melton in 1987. Even as early as 1872 there were reports that the cemetery was in a, "very dilapidated condition."
In 1891 a fund of $450 was raised to restore the aging plot, but by 1904 the Jones Valley Times was again bemoaning that, "cattle browse in its silence, the hog roots among the tombs, and everything has a neglected aspect as though among the living there was no one who loved them, no one who remembered the precious dust. No fence; the earth full of caves where graves have sunk down, giving the whole place the appearance of having been forgotten long ago."
In 1914 an Elyton Cemetery Memorial Association was formed to clean and restore the cemetery. The committee, which included M. T. Porter, Sam Greene and Judge W. M. Walker, planned, "to erect a concrete wall, wire fence or privet hedge around the cemetery."
In 1951 the state of the cemetery was again a cause for concern, with weeds and vines covering the ground, markers toppled and broken, fences left in remnants, and a small baseball diamond in use by neighborhood children, with marble markers used for bases. In 1958 juvenile court judge Talbot Ellis, grandson of pastor C. C. Ellis, brought together a group of civic leaders and descendants of people buried at Elyton Cemetery to formulate a long-range maintenance plan. The group hired college student Hubert Whittle to begin clearing overgrowth, but progress was undermined when a group of vandals toppled and damaged many of the tombstones. Though the West End Lions Club, West End Civitan Club, Elyton Civic Club and Elyton Garden Club all participated in planning, together they raised only $200, far short of the $1,800 needed just to enclose the site with a fence.
A historic plaque was dedicated at Elyton Cemetery by Mayor George Seibels on December 14, 1969. The headstone of pioneer Williamson Hawkins, who died in 1875 and was buried on a family plot, was relocated to Elyton Cemetery in 1970.
In the brick courtyard of the cemetery was a marble statue known as the "Laughing Girl", though it has not been seen intact since the mid- to late 1970's. According to the Birmingham History Center, there is a chance that the statue was sculpted by Giuseppe Moretti.
Notable burials
- Joab Bagley (1808–1875), first Jefferson County Probate Court judge
- Elijah Brown (1797–1860)
- Bluford Cornelius (1825–1892), saddler and harness maker
- Thomas Davidson (1826–1861), minister
- John Dupuy (1789–1856)
- Elizabeth Dupuy (1798–1847)
- William C. Eubank (1818–1874)
- James Grace (1775–1820)
- Elizabeth Hawkins (1789–1878)
- Maria Hawkins ( ), wife of Nathaniel
- Nathaniel Hawkins (1817–1877)
- Richard Hawkins (1846–1902)
- Samuel Hawkins (1828–1856)
- Williamson Hawkins (1790–1875)
- Williamson M. Hawkins (1839–1863), Confederate captain
- John T. Martin (1956–1883)
- Lewis Martin (1823–1859)
- Nathaniel McFarlin (1852–1883)
- J. W. Montgomery (1841–1886), merchant
- James Mudd (1790–1847)
- Sarah Swearingen Mudd (1794–1844)
- H. G. Nabors (1836–1872)
- Sion Nabors (1832–1874)
- Agnes Nicholson (died 1919)
- Evan Nicholson (1832–1897), Methodist minister
- Frank Oden (1848–1887)
- Noah Webster Pool (1879–1892)
- Alfred Roebuck (1814–1871)
- Nancy Scott (died 1834)
- Mortimer Smith (1847–1860)
- Robert A. Smith (1809–1836), Methodist minister
- William Tegner (1829–1898), shoemaker
- James Wilcox (1823–1863)
- George Worthington (1808–1843)
- Matilda Worthington (1815–1853)
References
- "Alabama News" (May 31, 1872) The Southern Argus (Selma), p. 3
- "Elyton Cemetery" (November 10, 1904) Jones Valley Times, p. 1
- "Cemetery Notes" (May 1914) Park and Cemetery. Vol. 24, No. 3, p. 84
- "The vanishing scene— County landmark falls on sad times." (May 11, 1951) The Birmingham News, p. 18
- Alexander, Lorine (October 12, 1958) "What's to be the fate of our old cemeteries." The Birmingham News Magazine, p. 18–19
- Marshall, David (December 13, 1969) "Pioneers' graves to be remembered at Elyton's acre." The Birmingham News - via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
- Satterfield, Carolyn Green (1976) Historic Sites of Jefferson County, Alabama. Birmingham: Jefferson County Historical Commission/Gray Printing Company
- Ellaby, Elizabeth (December 12, 2013) "Moretti or Forget it? An Unidentified Artwork Wants to Know" 1807 Blog Avenue/ Birmingham History Center - Accessed December 29, 2013
External links
- Elyton Cemetery at findagrave.com