MY RIVERSIDE CEMETERY TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS
SCRAPBOOK PART VI
by Jonathan K. T. Smith
Copyright, Jonathan K. T. Smith, 1995

SOME OBITUARIES OF PERSONS
BURIED IN RIVERSIDE CEMETERY
WITH PERTINENT TOMBSTONE
INSCRIPTIONS, IF AVAILABLE
(Part 2, Notes by Lot with Obituaries)

(Page 43)

LOT 440, LYON
[Lots 439-A and 440-A in Tombstone Inscriptions]

An ornate scroll tombstone:
Mrs. M. D. LYON
Sept. 15, 1805-July 1, 1886

JACKSON SEMI-WEEKLY WEST TENNESSEE WHIG, July 3, 1886:
Mrs. M. D. Lyon died at the residence of her son-in-law, Dr. B. L. Rozell, on Main street, Friday night, at the advanced age of 80 years 9½ months. She was born in Jackson county, Tennessee, September 15th 1805, was married the 24th of March 1824 and moved to Jackson in March 1825 and has been a citizen ever since, 61 years last March. She had been here through all the eventful changes which have intervened and from a few log huts has known the history of Jackson to the present time. She has been an exemplary and devoted member of the Methodist Church for 50 years, and has been worth much to Jackson and the world has been made better by her having lived. The bereaved relatives have our sympathy in their sorrow. The funeral took place from the first M. E. Church at 9: 30 this morning. Dr. Guilford Jones will officiate, assisted by Rev. A. W. Jones.

 

LOT 87-E, LYERLA
[Lot 87 in Tombstone Inscriptions]

On this lot are three ruined, formerly elegant tombstones, with grave-length slabs over the remains of the youth below, children of D. A. and M. A. Lyerla. Two tombstones bearing inscriptions are completely missing; the northernmost is intact but inscription-unreadable. It appears to have borne the names of two children. In 1937, Ingram James copied three of the four names on these three tombstones as:

D. A. LYERLA, son of D. A. & M. A. Lyerla
Jan. 19, 1871-July 9, 1882

LENA, dau. of D. A. &M. A. LYERLA
Jan. 13, 18__ -Apr. 27, 1883

BONNIE, dau. of D. A. & M. A. LYERLA
Aug. 1, 1881-Apr. 8, 1871

The dates for Bonnie are obviously jumbled.

A newspaper death notice appears for one of the children, presumably the second child whose name was on a shared-tombstone, missed by Ingram James.

JACKSON SEMI-WEEKLY WEST TENNESSEE WHIG, April 10, 1886:
We sympathize with Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Lyerla on the death of their infant daughter, Minnie Cleveland Lyerla, aged 18 months, which occurred Thursday the 8th inst., after an illness of three weeks of pneumonia. The funeral took place yesterday morning from the residence . . . remains of the bright little babe were placed beneath the flowers in Riverside.

 

LOT 4, JESTER

Evidently in an unmarked grave near his parents, John Gilmore Jester and Rose Hannah Jester, mentioned in a death notice:

TRIBUNE and SUN, Jackson, Tennessee, February 12, 1880:
Jester. In this city on Monday, Feb. 9th 1880 /died/, Harry, son of J. G. & R. H. Jester.

 

LOT 39, South ½, LEE

In 1937, Ingram James was able to read this now virtually unreadable inscription:

ROBERT E., son of Ira & Alice LEE, Jan. 17, 1871-Mar. 17, 1886

JACKSON SEMI-WEEKLY WEST TENNESSEE WHIG, March 20, 1886:
We sympathize with Mrs. Ida /Ira/ Lee in the death of her only son, Robt. E. Lee, aged about 15 years, which occurred at her residence 2 miles north of this city, Wednesday the 17th inst. The remains were buried at Riverside.

 

(Page 44)

tombstones, north to south, of Lees:

1. LENA P. dau. of I. & A. LEE [Lena pearl Lee]
   Born Oct. 8, 1875
   Died Apr. 21, 1896
2. ALICE, wife of Ira Lee
   Born in Union Co., S.C.
   Dec. 6, 1853
   Died Feb. 11, 1890
3. IRA LEE
   Portions of name only can be read; birth date eradicated; appears to state that he was the husband of Alice Lee. Shows death date: June 2, 1882.

Ingram James read birth date as Sept. 1, 1863, which was assuredly a misread (year). Madison Co. Court Minute Bk. 16, page 161 shows that Ira Lee died "on the 2nd day of June 1882 and his widow, Alice, was appointed administrator of his estate."

4. ROBERT E. LEE
   /The dates on this narrow shaft tombstone, appearing in a wide curving fashion, cannot be read certainly now. Ingram James in 1937 reported it read: Robert E., son of Ira & Alice Lee, Jan. 17, 1871-Mar. 17, 1886./

 

[Lot 344A]

THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL, Memphis, Tenn., May 9, 1995 carried the obituary of RUTH BLACKWELL HENDERSON, aged 89, a retired nurse, who died May 5, 1995 at Bay Shore Towers in Pasadena, Texas; that she was to be buried in Riverside Cemetery, Jackson. Lawrence-Sorenson Funeral Home had charge. She was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church in Pasadena. Widow of R. B. Henderson. Left two daughters: Mary H. Wood of Pasadena, Texas and Betty Ruth Murphy of Phoenix, Arizona; 13 grandchildren, 28 great-grand-children and 4 great-great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Henderson is buried in Lot 344A in Riverside Cemetery. The tombstones on that lot read, north to south:

1. D. DAY
   Aug. 21, 1854-Feb. 28, 1920
2. LENOIR D. CRUM
   1886-1976
3. R. B. HENDERSON
   1901-1968
4. A Pasadena Funeral Chapel marker, reading:
   RUTH HENDERSON
   5-4-1906-5-5-1995
5. J. D. DAY
   1853-1938
   /with footstone: Father/
6. AMANDA, wife of J. D. DAY
   Born Dec. 2, 1855
   Died Aug. 31, 1889

 

LOT 247, McCUTCHEN
[Lot 247½ in Tombstone Inscriptions]

This is the John W. McCutchen family lot. Those members with tombstones reading from south to north:

1. ANNIE BESS, dau. of J. W. &Minnie
   McCUTCHEN
   Died Mar. 9, 1886, Aged 5 yrs. & 11 mos.

Notice of her death was published in the JACKSON SEMI-WEEKLY WEST TENNESSEE WHIG, March 10, 1886, to the effect that Annie Bess, daughter of J. W. McCutchen died March 9, 1886.

2. LITTLE FRANK
   McCUTCHEN
   /Rest of inscription worn away/
3. LITTLE FLOYD, son of J. W. &Minnie
   McCUTCHEN
   Died ___1___, 1891 (or 1892)
   Aged 19 months

 

(Page 45)

LOT 420-A, STILL

north to south:

Double tombstone:
JAMES F. STILL, 1856-1914
FANNIE HARPER, his wife, 1858-1918

Immediately south of the shaft tombstone is an initialed stone:
Dr. CAS

and just south of it another one:
Dr. SAS

shaft tombstone, four-sided:
Dr. STANFORD A. STILL
Died 1860 (east side)
Dr. WOODFORD A. STILL
Died Sept. 1875 (north side)
Dr. WM. F. STILL
Died 1872 Aged about 60 Yrs. (west side)
Dr. CHAS. A. STILL
Died July 9, 1884, aged 76 years. (south side)

The death certificate of James Franklin Still shows that he was born Oct. 8, 1836, Marshall Co., Kentucky. Died Dec. 16, 1914 in Jackson, Tenn. Son of Wyatt F. Still, born Tenn. and ___ Wimoth, born in Tennessee

U.S. 1880 Census, Madison Co., Tenn.: Chas. A. Still, age 70; he and parents born in Virginia. James F. Still, nephew, age 22, he and parents born in Kentucky.

WHIG-TRIBUNE, Jackson, Dec. 7, 1872:

At his residence, three miles South of this city, on Wednesday, 4th inst., Dr. Wm F. Still, in the 62nd year of his age.         Dr. Still was born in Buckingham county, Virginia, on the 22nd day of February, 1810. His father moved to Warren County Ky., near Bowling Green, in the year 1818, where his son William F. grew up and was educated. He left his father's home in 1833 to make his fortune in the West, and settled in Durhamville, Lauderdale county in this State, where he resided until 1836, during which year he removed to this place, Jackson, Madison county, Tennessee, and settled permanently for the purpose of practicing his profession.         In the spring of 1839 he threw up a lucrative practice and retired for his health, to his farm, south of this city, where he lived up to the time of his death. Dr. Still was a man of more then ordinary ability, and stood very high in his profession. He was a good citizen and a Christian gentleman. We tender his weeping wife and his relations and friends our deepest sympathies.

 

Madison County Will Book A, pages 146-148:
William F. Still, executed will March 7, 1872; probated January 1873. Bros. Charles A. Still, Woodford S. Still, executors. Wife, Almira E. Still, a dower in homestead "on which I now reside," known as the Newsom place, 438 acres, and personalty; also dower rights in lots in Jackson. After wife's dower set aside in 438 acres, bros. Charles A. and Woodford A. Still to have equal shares in other property. Nephew James A. Still, now of Warren Co., Ky. $1000. At my bros.' deaths, interest in estate equally to children of my late bros. James S. Still and Wyatt F. Still, sister Mary Ann Gott. Witnesses: P. C. McCowat, Sion W. Boon.

IBID., page 356, will of Almira E. Still, executed July 7, 1885; probated Feb. 1887. To sister Ella T. Haughton and John T. Harris entire estate, including tract in Civil District 8 on which "I" live. John T. Harris, executor. Witnesses: John L. Wisdom, William M. Wharton.

— * — * —

THE JACKSON SUN, November 19, 1875:
Died. In this city on Sunday last, Mrs. Sarah S. Rushing, wife of Joel Rushing, aged about 58 years. Deceased was one of the oldest citizens of Jackson. . . .

GOODSPEED'S HISTORY OF TENNESSEE, Madison County (1887), page 901, in bio. sketch about Joel Rushing, states that Sarah Prewett Vick (widow of Nathan Vick) was married to Joel Rushing in 1859, as his second wife.

The location of Sarah Rushing's grave in Riverside is unknown to me.

[HTML editor's note: Joel Rushing is buried at Cotton Grove Cemetery.]

— * — * —

 

(Page 46)

LOT 299, MOORE

West Row, south to north:

In Memory of
FANNIE C., wife of
Willis MOORE
May 15, 1851-July 31, 1914

SARAH L. GORDON, wife of
Willis MOORE
Jan. 15, 1841-Mar. 5, 1893

W. J. MOORE
Aug. 1, 1810-Mar. 9, 1905

A tombstone totally effaced, but Ingram James read it, in 1937:
HARRIET MOORE
Died Sept. 1, 1890, aged 76 yrs.

GILLIAM J., son of H. & W. J.
MOORE
Feb. 12, 1844-June 14, 1874

ANDREW J., son of W. J. &
Harriett MOORE
Oct. (?) 1848-March (?) 1871

East Row, south to north:

WILLIS MOORE
Aug. 1, 1835-Feb. 14, 1918

EMMETT WILLIAMS
1878-1937
Love's last tribute

OUIDA B. WILLIAMS
1878-1952
In Loving Memory

Death certificate of Willis Moore, Madison Co., Tenn., shows that he was born in Tenn., Aug. 1, 1835 and died Feb. 14, 1918. Son of William J. Moore, born So. Carolina; Harriett King, born in So. Car.

1900 U.S. Census, Madison Co., Tenn. Enumeration Dist. 97, sheet 2:
Willis Moore, farmer, born Aug. 1835 (a widower)
Gordon M. Moore, son, born August 1872
Ouida Moore, dau., born June 1878
Fannie Gordon, sis-in-law, born May 1851

WHIG and TRIBUNE, Jackson, Tennessee, June 25, 1874:
At his father's house in this county, on Sunday night the 14th, Mr. Gilliam Moore after a prolonged illness.

 

LOT 300, CARUTHERS

In 1937, Ingram James was able to read the following small, upright markers located in the northeast corner of this lot:

LUCY HOWARD, infant daughter of
J. & M. CARUTHERS
Born Feb. 5, 1871
Died Dec. 7, 1871
/I also copied this same data with verse:
Angels have need for tender
buds for their gardens so
fair. They graft them on
immortal stems to bloom
forever there./

FRANCES ALICE,
dau. of J. A. &Fannie E.
CARUTHERS
Died December __
/Now, one can only read the given and surnames; rest effaced/

THOMAS, son of J. A. & Frances E. CARUTHERS
Died June __
/Now, one can only read the surname; rest effaced/

WHIG-TRIBUNE, Jackson, Tennessee, December 9, 1871:
In this city, on Thursday morning the 7th inst., Lucy Howard, infant daughter of T. J. and Mary Jane Caruthers, in the 10th month of her age. . . .

 

(Page 47)

LOT 311B, HOSFORD
[Lot 311-B, north in Tombstone Inscriptions]

Double tombstone:
ERIE S. HOSFORD (N. W. side)
Born Aug. 28, 1834
Died Oct. 19, 1893
LUCIE E. HOSFORD (S. W. side)
Born July 28, 1838
Died Jan. 8, 1895

ERIE S. HOSFORD, JR
Born Dec. 20, 1867
Died Aug. 9, 1896

WILLIE W. HOSFORD
Born Jan. 23, 1860
Died June 22, 1862

GOODSPEED'S HISTORY OF TENNESSEE (Madison Co.) Nashville, 1887, page 874:

Maj. Erie S. Hosford, agent for the Illinois Central Railroad at Jackson, Tenn., was born in Crawford County, Ohio, August 28, 1834, and is the son of Asa and Alta (Kent) Hosford, natives, respectively, of New York and Pennsylvania. Erie S. Hosford was reared to manhood and educated in his native State. At the age of seventeen he engaged in the railroad business in Ohio, and in December, 1852, came south. In 1853 he accepted the position of civil engineer with the Mobile & Ohio Railway, and served the company in this capacity and as passenger conductor and master of transportation until December, 1865, when he was made division superintendent of the road. He served the company faithfully and efficiently until July 1, 1886. In November, 1886, he entered the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad, at Jackson. In 1859 he married Lucy E. Scales, a native of Tennessee. They have four children living: Walter S., Erie S., Nat. S. and Asa S. Maj. Hosford is and always has been a Democrat in politics; he is a Mason, Knights Templar degree, and is one of the prominent citizens of Jackson.

 

LOT 237, HUTCHERSON-PEARSON

East Row, south to north:

THOMAS D., son of J. L. &Annie E.
PEARSON
Born June 11, 1888
Died July 23, 1889

CORNELIA W. PEARSON
1887-1891

LEVI WOODS PEARSON
1900-1901

West Row, south to north:

JOSEPHINE McCOMAS PEARSON
1840-1924

JOHN L. PEARSON
1860-1932

ANNIE E. PEARSON
1865-1958

WILLIAM E. PEARSON
1896-1910

Shaft tombstone, double:
WILLIAM C. HUTERSON
Born Nov. 6, 1805
Died Nov. 21, 1875
ELIZABETH P. HUTCHERSON
Born Sept. 20, 1814
Died May 26, 1895

Elizabeth P. Hutcherson was appointed guardian /1876: County Court Minute Book 14, page 18/ of her grandchildren/ children of Dr. Levi B. Herron, decd./, including Anne Edwards Herron who married John Lafayette Pearson.

John L. Pearson and Annie E. Herron were married April 12, 1886. (Madison County Marriage Book I., page 443)

JACKSON SEMI-WEEKLY WEST TN WHIG, April 14, 1886:
A happy event took place at the residence of Mrs. W. W. Herron, at Spring Creek yesterday morning, it was the marriage of Mr. Jno. L. Pearson of Claybrook to Miss Annie E. Herron, Rev. E. B. McNeil, officiating. The groom was a former merchant of this city but is now of the firm of Pearson Bros. of Claybrook. He is a most worthy and moral young man. His bride is a sweet and beautiful young lady. The happy pair left at 11 o'clock yesterday on a bridal tour to St. Louis and Chicago. May their life be perpetual springtime.

 

(Page 48)

THE JACKSON SUN, November 26, 1875:
At the residence of his son-in-law, Harvy Milligan, Esq., in this city, on the 21st inst., after a short but painful illness, William C. Hutcherson, in the 71st year of his age /died/. Deceased was born in Virginia in 1805 and moved to this county in 1820, where he resided without interference up to his death. He was married in May 1830 to Miss Elizabeth May, by whom he raised a large family. His venerable wife and a large family of children and grandchildren survive him.

 

LOT 218-A, BROSIUS
[Lot 218 in Tombstone Inscriptions]

Geo. N. Brosius, according to Ingram James.

In his Riverside Cemetery listing of 1937, Ingram James noted a tombstone "too deep in ground to read." Even this much inscription has since been discarded; all that is left is the stub and base of this stone. This would surely have been the grave and tombstone of George W. Brosius, who died May 4, 1872.

WHIG-TRIBUNE, Jackson, May 11, 1872:
        At his residence in this city, on the 4th of May, of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis, Mr. Geo. W. Brosius, in the 45th year of his age.
        Mr. Brosius had been a Railroad Conductor from early manhood, and died, it may be said, "in the service." He had been for four years in the employ of the Mississippi Central Railroad, with his home in this city at the time of his death. No man stood higher as an officer or gentleman than he, and upon his grave was shed other tears than those of wife and children. He leaves a wife and five children, whose anguish and sorrow is too deep for words. May the great omnipotent merciful God — the God of the widow and the orphan — soothe and strengthen them in their sad and mournful bereavement.

In MY RIVERSIDE CEMETERY TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS SCRAPBOOK, Part III. (1992), I inadvertently quoted this obituary as being in 1882 rather than as it should have been: 1872.

 

LOT 303, TOTTEN and Others

Archibald W. O. Totten was a prominent lawyer of Jackson; served on the Tennessee Supreme Court, 1850-1855. His and his wife's graves are unmarked on this lot. THE MEMPHIS APPEAL, Memphis, Tenn., March 17, 1863 noted that, Harriet C. Totten, wife of A. W. O. Totten died in Jackson, Tenn., March 1, 1863. Further information is given about the Tottens in MY RIVERSIDE CEMETERY TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS SCRAPBOOK, Part 1. (1992), page 14.

 

LOT 123, KEITH

JOHN Y. KEITH
1838-1919

THOS. W. KEITH
1866-1902

CHARLES S. KEITH
Born Feb. 3, 1872
Died July 2, 1874
/A plain marker, "Our Baby," is also positioned on this grave./

WHIG-TRIBUNE, Jackson, Tennessee, July 4, 1874:
In this city, on Thursday morning last /July 2/, Charles Sabreski, infant son of John Y. and Virginia E. Keith, aged two years and five months.

Griffin Fun. Home Record: Virginia E. Keith, Feb. 1842-Dec. 21, 1932. Dau. of J T Cavness /Caviness/ and Mary McCall. Buried Riverside Cemetery.

 

LOT 175-W, KELL
[Lot 175 in Tombstone Inscriptions]

Buried north to south, under tombstones marked simply, individually:

FATHER, MOTHER (bears Kell name), BROTHER

WHIG-TRIBUNE, Jackson, Tennessee, July 14, 1873 carries a tribute of respect to Isaac C. Kell, former member of the Jackson Silver Cornet Band. He died at his home in Pinson June 7. The cemetery's sexton notes his burial in Riverside. Perhaps he is one of the individuals buried in this lot. He was about 35 years old.

 

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