MY OLD SALEM CEMETERY TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS SCRAPBOOK
(Madison County, Tennessee)
Jonathan K. T. Smith
Copyright, Jonathan K. T. Smith, 1995

MISCELLANEA

(Page 31)

The information on this page was gotten together with the cordial help of Jack Darrel Wood, Tennessee Room Librarian, Jackson-Madison County Library.

Image "oldsal5.jpg" is missing

Copy from original burial notice, donated to the Tennessee Room, Jackson-Madison Co. Library by Mrs. Cartmell Townes.

 

Old Salem Cemetery

            While Cotton Grove today is a pretty little village, the interesting old Phillips house and the vine covered tombstones of Old Salem Cemetery Hill are all that remain today of the original settlement of Cotton Grove. The Virginia creeper covers practically the entire cemetery and just now is profusely covered with little violet-blue blossoms. The first preacher of Old Salem is said to he buried across the road from the church site and there stands now a scrubby old oak. to mark his grave.

            The graves of many other, early settlers are to be found in the cemetery just south of the old church site. The oldest grave there to that of Sarah Huntsman, first wife of the old one-legged lawyer Adam Huntsman. She died in 1825. Adam and all three of his wives are lying there side by aide. Other very old graves were James Caldwell, died 1841, several Smiths, Lockards, Persons, Garrets, Hendersons, Wallicks, McDonalds, a number of Browns. They were the children of Robert Brown, who was one of the first eight members of the First Methodist Church of Jackson, and, relatives of Adam Brawn, who helped to organize Brown's Church and gave the gate for the building. I do not think there are any members of this family of Browns still living here.

"Miscellaneous Personal Notes on Madison County Pioneers, "THE JACKSON SUN, March 27, 1945, page 2, by Marie Collins Johnson, a great-great granddaughter of Gabriel and Miram Anderson. As to the old-time minister having been buried somewhere on the "flat" ground opposite the cemetery, it may or may not be factual; something like folklore with a bit of truth to it.

She was on safer ground, perhaps, when writing in another article in this newspaper , March 26, 1945, page 7. "Old Salem Church was the first Methodist Church in the vicinity about three miles northeast of Jackson. The church was used for a school during the week and many living today /1945/ who learned their three R’s in Old Salem Church and Schoolhouse. The very first teacher was a man named Taylor."

From Robert H. Cartmell’s Civil War Diary, under date, December 20, 1862, page 183. "The Rebels /Confederates/ were with /in?/ 3 or 4 miles of Jackson, had a small fight at the graveyard just beyond Salem Camp Ground. I heard the firing this morning. The Federal cavalry or a part of them were drawn up close by our house. /Cartmells lived on what is now East Chester St./ They said the Rebels were driving their men before them & I had better move my family. The negroes /sic/ except George & Jhosephene /sic/ took a panic & run in the direction of old Mrs. Jones, each one with as much as they could carry of clothes & bedclothes. I took Mary Jane and children to town and could not get back. started & got near half when Genl. Sullivan in command here had me stoped. . . . I came out this morning. . . . I am here alone tonight."

The plateau, even fields north and adjoining the cemetery made a fine place for a camp-ground, towards the west of which ran Jones Creek, a necessary feature for camp-meetings. Lt. Colonel Adolph Dengler, 43rd Ill. Inf. wrote in his Dec. 28, 1862 report about the location, "That part of the Lexington road near which the engagement of December 19 took place runs through a plateau, bounded on either side by a ravine running parallel to each other. The road runs through the ravine, closest to Jackson, in a northeasterly direction till it reaches a grave-yard called Salem Cemetery, from whence it takes a due easterly course. (WAR OF THE REBELLION RECORDS, Series One, Volume 17, Part I.)

R. N. Cartmell wrote in his Diary (#15). Dec. 1897, pages 142-143, about an old-time preacher named James Hamilton who was licensed to preach (Presbyterian) in 1831. "This man Hamilton was said to have been an eloquent preacher (red headed preacher). I heard Col. T. P. Jones say he heard him preach at the old Salem Camp Ground. Hamilton became estranged from the church. Jones said that he saw him later in New Orleans in a gambling room." He was dead by Oct. 1837 when his death was noted in a meeting of Presbytery. (IBID., page 139)]

 

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