OUR CLAYBROOK HERITAGE
(Madison County, Tennessee)

By Jonathan K. T. Smith
Copyright, Jonathan K. T. Smith, 1993.

KEY FAMILY GRAVEYARD

Located on the farm of Kenneth D. Sneed and within sight from Tennessee Highway 20 [U.S. 412]. Burial area contained inside of a metal fence. Two long rows of burials.

Beginning with the eastern row, north to south:

ELIZA A.
wife of V. T. KEY
Born Oct. 7, 1811
Died Oct. 12, 1890
Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

WALTER T. KEY
Born Apl. 7, 1810
Died Nov. 18, 1877

ANNE M. LOVELACE
Born May 3, 1816
Died Nov. 24. 1853

ALMIRA
Daughter of J. T. & A. LOVELACE
Born Sept. 1848
Died Apr. 1849

CHARLES W.
son of Walter & Eliza KEY
Born Dec. 17, 1845
Died Mar. 29, 1867

JOHN W.
son of Walter & Eliza KEY
Born Aug . 5, 1842
Was mortally wounded at Chickamauga and died at AtlantaGa., Nov. 18, 1863
Aged 21 yrm. 2 mos. & 13 days
Was member of Co. B. 6 Tenn. Reg. C.S.A.

Our Little Darling
MARY KEY
Infant Dau. of Thom. H. & Mary Patti HARTMUS
Died July 9, 1872
Aged 6 weeks & 2 d's.
            T. Maydwell
            Memphis

FRANCES BAXTER
Dau. of T. H. &M. P. HARTHUS
Born Oct. 3, 1887
Died Sept. 14, 1888

WALTER KEY HARTMUS
son of Patti. KEY and Maj. T. H. HARTMUS
Born Jan. 28, 1878
Died Dec. 1. 1899

A double stone:
Major THOMAS H. HARTHUS CSA
Born May 4, 1835
Died Mar. 23, 1903
Served 3 yrs. on staff of Gen. Wm. B. Bate
1862- '65
/and/
MARY PATTIE
Daughter of W. T. and E. A. KEY
Wife of Maj. T. H. HARTMUS
Born Dec. 17, 1849
Died Apr. 2, 1900
/and, vest side/
In memory of ANITA KEY
Dau. of T. H. & Patti KEY HARTMUS
Born July 21, 1880
Died Jan. 12, 1904
Buried in Pantheone Cemetery. Toluca, Mexico

 

The western row, north to south:

Gone
THOMAS F. BERRY
Born Nov. 5, 1833
Died Jun. 21, 1874
My own. my all. farewell
Thy spirit smileth with me in my slumber
Thy voice steals o'er me with its gladsome numbers,
A soft and magic spell.

ANNIS
wife of Thos. F. BERRY
Born Dec. 31, 1837
Died May 4, 1867
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

Sacred to the memory of
MARTIN KEY
Born Oct. 16, 1780
Died Dec. 17, 1857

/seemingly an unmarked space/

Sacred to the memory of
JUDITH KEY
Born Jan. 2, 1787
Died Feb. 16, 1841

MARY ELIZA
Daughter of M. B. & V. L. KEY
Born Dec. 21, 1865
Died ___ __, 1866
/stone broken at death line/

MARTIN B. KEY
Born Sept. 1, 1829
Died Aug. 20, 1873

Our Mother
VIOLET L.
wife of M. B. KEY
Died Sept. 30. 1892
Aged 60 yrs. 2 m's. & 20 d's.
No pompous marble to Thy name we raise.
This humble tomb bespeaks Thy praise.
Parental fondness did Thy life attend,
A tender Mother and a faithful friend.

a double stone:
W. M. KEY
Dec. 9, 1855
Mar. 11, 1920
MAMIE.
His Wife,
Apr. 21, 1856
Feb. 1, 1925

 

These epitaphs were read by Jonathan Smith, Feb. 3, 1993.

 

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