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

NOTES BY LOT

(Page 26)

LOT 129, north, HOLLOWAY/ OZMENT

south to north:

Double tombstone:
JOHN O. HOLLOWAY
1851-1935
JENNIE D. HOLLOWAY
1868-1889

EDNA D., wife of J. C. OZMENT
Dec. 11, 1876-May 10, 1897
(This tombstone inscription is now very difficult to read.)

Double tombstone:
(south side)
In Memory of my Beloved Daughter,
MARY WALSTRUM MARTIN, wife of R. D.
ANDERSON
Born July 30, 1852
Died Nov. 30, 1892
(north side)
LILLIE SAMUEL, dau. of R. D.
and Mary ANDERSON
Born Feb. 23, 1891
Died June 13, 1891

The following three tombstones had to be cleaned with water and cloth before they could be read:

MARY SUSAN, dau. of J. K. & Lillie A. WRIGHT
June 25, 1883-Oct. 3, 189l

Our Treasure
JAMES KELLEY, son of J. K. & Lillie A. WRIGHT
Mar. 12, 1891-July 17, 1891

ISAAC PLEASANT, son of J. K. & Lillie A. WRIGHT
Sept. 12, 1886-Aug. 2l, 1888
Our Precious Child

 

Griffin Funeral Home record: John O. Holloway was born Oct. 2, 1851 and died August 20, 1935.

Mary W. (Martin) Illingworth was married to R. D. Anderson, Feb. 23, 1876. (Madison Co. Marriage Book I, page 345)

The U.S. Census, 1880, Jackson, Madison County, Enumerator's Dist. 100, sheet 57:
R. D. Anderson, age 26, Railroad Engineer; born Maryland
Mary Anderson, age 26, wife; born in Maryland
Edna D. Anderson, age 3, born Tenn.

Edna D. Anderson was married in Madison County, Tennessee to J. C. Ozment, December 11, 1894. (Madison Co. Marriage Book 1., page 29)

John Clinton Ozment was employed by Jackson newspapers for years; the JACKSON CITY DIRECTORY, 1900, page 200 gives his vocation as editor of THE SUN newspaper in Jackson.

1891-1892 Jackson city Directory, page 151:
Martin I. W. wks M & O Ry shops, r 610 e Chester

1900 Jackson City Directory, page 176:
Martin Isaac W. carpenter M & O R R shops. h 610 e Chester

Madison County Marriage Book H, page 25. Jas. K. Wright, age 26, born Carroll Co., Tenn. married Lillia A. Martin, born in Maryland, age 24; married September 19, 1882.

U.S. Census, June 9, 1900. Ward 2, Jackson. Enumerator's District 106, Sheet 10:
I. W. Martin, born Sept. 1826, Maryland; parents born in Maryland. Carpenter
Mary Martin, wife, born Feb. 1826, Maryland. Her father was born in England; her mother in Pa. Married 48 years; 7 children, 2 still living
Richard Anderson, grandson, born Aug. 1882, in Tenn. Parents born in Maryland
Mary B. Anderson, granddau., born May 1885 in Tenn. Parents born in Maryland
Morgan Anderson, grandson, born May 1887 in Tenn. Parents born in Maryland
J. C. Ozment, grandson-in-law, born May 1872 in Tenn. Parents in Tenn. "Editor"
Mary Ozment, great-granddaughter, born Feb. 1896 in Tenn. Parents born in Tenn.

 

(Page 27)

LOT 129-East, MARTIN
[LOT 173½, north, in Tombstone Inscriptions]

south to north:

Double tombstone:
(South Side)
My Beloved Wife
MARY SAMUEL MARTIN
Born in Harford Co., Maryland
Feb. 15, 1826
Died July 25, 1901
(North Side)
I. W. MARTIN
Born in Baltimore, Maryland
Sept. 12, 1826
Died Apr. 26, 1910

A fallen, broken tombstone:
DAVID ILLINGWORTH
Son in law of I. W. &M. S. Martin
Died July 14, 1874
Aged 25 yrs. 2 m's 21 d's

Also:
HARRY MARTIN, son of David
& Mary ILLINGWORTH
Born June 11, 1873
Died July 13, 1874

Apparently the infant Illingworth's tombstone bears his nickname, Harry short for Henry.

Isaac W. Martin was for years employed as a carpenter for the Mobile & Ohio Railroad.

WHIG-TRIBUNE, Jackson, July 18, 1874:

In this city Monday evening last, Henry, infant son of David and Mary Illingworth, and, on Tuesday morning early, David Illingworth, aged about 27 years.         Thus, within a few hours, father and son slept the last sleep of earth and entered the mysterious realms of the hereafter. But a few hours before the death of the child the dying father asked that he might look once more upon its face, that he might carry with him into the undiscovered land an earthly impression of his first and only born. His request was granted and the dying eyes of father and son looked into each other the last time on earth. They were buried together, and at the same time preceded to their graves by mournful music, softly breathed by the Jackson Cornet Band, of which the father was an honored member. David Illingworth was a worthy young man, well beloved by a numerous band of friends and companions, and held in high esteem as a modest, but valuable citizen. To his stricken wife, whose double bereavement has shrouded her young heart in clouds of sorrow too deep for the penetration of words, we tender the sympathy of unrestrained tears. May the kind and watchful God of the widow and the mother bring in due time, to her bleeding heart, the tender comfort of Christian resignation.

 

LOT 90, BROWN
[LOT 89½ in Tombstone inscriptions]

East Row, north to south:

Double tombstone:
R. C. BROWNE, 1872-1904
ORA L. RICHARDSON, wife of R. C
BROWNE, 1880-1906

ELIZABETH, dau. of Robt. F. & Sarah R.
BROWN
Born Jan. 8, 1867
Died May 7, 1894

SARAH R., wife of Robt. F. BROWN
Born Mar. 20, 1842
Died Dec. 18, 1875

ROBERT F. BROWN
Born July 3, 1834
Died Sept. 9, 1884

West Row, north to south:

MARY ALICE, dau. of R. F. & S. R. BROWN
Jan. 8, 1869-Jan. 23, 1882

A small, evidently child's tombstone, name portion completely worn away; rest unreadable

 

LOT 64, TINKLE

Buried about midway of this lot of W. T. and Elizabeth Tinkle, with a tombstone:

PRATT TINKLE
1872-1885

WEST TENNESSEE WHIG, April 15, 1885:
Prat, a thirteen-year-old son of W. T. Tinkle died of congestion last Saturday /April 11/ and was buried at Riverside Sunday afternoon

 

(Page 28)

LOT 129½, WRIGHT
[Lot 129 in Tombstone Inscriptions]

south to north:

Double tombstone:
ANNA M. WRIGHT
1862-19__(blank)
FELIX J. WRIGHT
1857-1937

FELIX, son of F. J. &Anna
WRIGHT
Jan. 19, 1897-Aug. 18, 1912
Our Darling One hath gone before

JOHN MORGAN, son of F. J.
& Anna WRIGHT
Oct. 22, 1900-July 5, 1901

JOHN D. BLAIR
Born July 11, 1852
Died Oct. 3, 1878

MARY J. BLAIR, Mother
Dec. 4, 1831-June 28,1909
She is at rest

1891-1892 Jackson City Directory, page 201:
Felix Wright, conductor, IC Railroad

TRIBUNE-SUN, October 4, 1878:

DIED BLAIR — in this city on the 3d inst., after a protracted illness, Mr. Jno. D. Blair, age about 25 years. Deceased was a most worthy and highly esteemed young man, and his death is deeply lamented by a large circle of friends. We tender his widowed mother and family our profoundest sympathy.

 

JAMES BLAIR is probably buried in the unmarked grave-space adjoining Mary Blair on the north.

From the WHIG-TRIBUNE, Jackson, January 6, 1872:
At his residence, in this city, on the 24th Dec., 1871, Mr. James Blair, about 60 years of age. Mr. Blair was one of the pioneers of the county, and was generally esteemed a useful citizen and a man of unimpeachable integrity.

Madison County Court Minute Book 12, page 366. July 3, 1872:
James Blair died on or about Dec. 24, 1871 in Madison County, leaving a widow and five children. Left in personalty an estate worth about $800. Widow, Mary Blair, was appointed administrator of his estate. IBID., page 449. October 9, 1872. Court set aside a year's support from this estate for the widow and children.

June 30, 1860 U.S. Census, Madison Co., page 101: James Blair, age 49, born Tenn. Farmer. Mary Blair, age 29, born Tenn. John Blair, age 8; Martha Blair, age 5; Lizzie Blair, age 3; Abbie Blair, age 60.

June 4, 1870 U.S. Census, Madison County: James Blair, age 40, born Tenn. Farmer. M. Blair, female, age 30, born Tenn. John Blair, age 18, born Tenn.; M. Blair, female age 14, born Tenn.; B. Blair, female, age 12, born Tenn.; Anna Blair, age 7, born Tenn.; F. Blair, female, age 6, born Tenn.

(The age cited for James Blair in the 1860 census tallies closely with the age given him in the death notice, i.e. 60 years old, born about 1811.)

June 17, 1880 U.S. Census, Jackson, Tenn., page 44: Mrs. M. J. Blair, age 46, born Tenn. Father born in N.C., Mother in Tenn. Bettie Blair, age 18, born Tenn.; Anna Blair, age 15, born Tenn.; Fannie Blair, age 12, born Tenn.

F. J. Wright was married to Miss Anna M. Blair, in Madison County, March 19, 1885. (Marriage Book I., page 353)

 

(Page 29)

LOT 307, BESSENBURG

LILLIE L., wife of
Thomas E. BESSENBURG
Born Feb. 12, 1869
Died Jan. 28, 1897

MARY STODARD BESSENBURG
Born Oct. 8. 1861
Died Feb. 3, 1864
Part of "verse" missing, but rest:
Blessed Saviour thou hast bidden babes like us to come to thee

DOVIE THERESA, wife of
J. W. BESSENBURG
Born May 28, 1825
Died Mar. 25, 1887
(broken tombstone)

Madison Co. Marriage Book J, page 298:
Thos. E. Besenburg married Lillie Harris, Feb. 28, 1889

1875-1876 Jackson City Directory, page 31:
Wm. Besenbourg, engine wiper, res.n end Center

The "proper" spelling of this name seems to have been BESSENBURG.

WEST TENNESSEE WHIG, Jackson, Tenn., March 30, 1887:
Died. Mrs. Duffy T. Besenburg, aged 52 years, died at the home of her husband, Mr. Wm. Besenburg in West Jackson last Friday night, the 25th inst. The deceased was a quiet Christian and a good woman. The funeral took place from the First Presbyterian church, Saturday afternoon, Rev. J. H. Nall, D. C., officiating. The bereaved family have our sympathy in their sorrow.

Madison Co., Tenn. Marriage Certificates:
John W. Beasenburg married Davy Theresa Alexander, June 15, 1854.

1880 U.S. Census, Jackson, Tenn. June 24. Enumerator's Dist. 100, page 62:
Wm. Besenburg, age 57, born Germany; parents born in Germany
Dovie T. Besenburg, age 55, born N.C.; parents born in North Carolina
Samuel Besenburg, son, age 22, born Tenn.
Thomas Besenburg, son, age 18, born Tenn.
Emma Besenburg, dau., age 16, born Tenn.
Fannie Besenburg, dau., age 14, born Tenn.

Madison Co. Deed Book 31, page 422:
Dovy T. and John W. Besenburg sold their interest in estates of Granerson and Martha W. Alexander to the other heirs. Dovie having been a child of this Alexander couple. November 12, 1873.

 

LOT 320, GAMEWELL

These three Parker tombstones mark graves in this lot, south to north:

In memory of
ALICE DEW, infant daughter of J. M. & C. K. PARKER
Died April 18, 1850 in the 2nd year of her age

In memory of
LOUA ANN, infant daughter of J. M. & C. K. PARKER
Died Oct. 5th 1849 in the 2nd year of her age

CALLY, infant daughter of J. M. & C. K. PARKER
Died July 6, 1854

U.S. Census, Tenn. Mortality Schedule, page 50:
Allice D. Parker died in April 1850, age 1, of dropsy of the brain. Madison Co., Tennessee.

John M. Parker and wife, Callie King Parker, are buried elsewhere in Lot 170 with Mallory and Theus relatives. The tombstone of J. M. Parker bears no dates. That of Callie King Parker has her dates: July 26, 1829-July 1, 1905. The "1" in July 1905 is very dim, leading persons looking at this date to think no day was given. Robert H. Cartmell noted in his Diary, 1905 page 1, July 3, 1905 that Mrs. Parker was a sister of Tom McCutchen and Mrs. W. W. Gates. Husband had been deceased for years. Will Book A, page 197-198 bears his will, executed Feb. 22, 1875, probated April 1875. Besides his wife he mentions a son-in-law, E. S. Mallory /husband of Jennie Parker Mallory/.

 

(Page 30)

LOT 89-W, COLLINS
[Lot 89½, west in Tombstone Inscriptions]

Entrance to this lot with footstone reading: TEMPLE & COLLINS

north to south:

E. H. COLLINS
no dates

H. C. COLLINS
no dates

MARY COLLINS
no dates

ELIZABETH, wife of
Dr. J. W. COLLINS
Born Nov. 13, 1835
Died Jan. 25, 1884

The first three stones are remnants of cradle tombstones; the dates may have been on the discarded parts.

1880 U.S. Census, Jackson, Tenn. June.
Enumerator's Dist. 101, page 6:
Dr. J. W. Collins, age 45, born Ala; father born Ky; mother in N. C. Physician
Elizabeth Collins, wife, age 45, born Ala; parents born in South Carolina
Gray Collins, dau., age 19, born Ala.
J. W. Collins, son, age 17, born Ala.
Thos. E. Collins, son, age 14, born Miss.
Lula G. Collins, dau., age 8, born Tenn.

 

LOT 63-W½, HAWKS
[Lot 63 south in Tombstone Inscriptions]

DAVID B. HAWKS
Born Nov. 16, 1852
Died Aug. 31, 1886
Aged 33 Years
/base of tombstone is splitting/

next (north) to this tombstone:
ELIZABETH, wife of D. B. HAWKS
Born Dec. 16, 1849
Died Dec. 2, 1911

JACKSON SEMI-WEEKLY WEST TENNESSEE WHIG, September 1, 1886:

DIED D. B. Hawks, hostler at the M. & O. shops, died at his home in this city last Monday morning, of heart affliction, aged about 30 years. He was a popular young railroader and esteemed by all who knew him. His bereaved wife and two little children have our sympathy in their hour of sorrow. His funeral took place from the Central Baptist church, of which he was a consistent member, yesterday afternoon, Rev. H. B. Wester, of Columbus, Ky., officiating. He was buried by Friendly Hand Lodge, No. 201, B. of L. F., to which he belonged.

 

GOFF GRAVES, on north side of 8th St., south of Lot 303
[Lot 327 in Tombstone Inscriptions]

one shaft tombstone:
JOHN C. GOFF
Died Oct. 11, 1876
Age 56 (east side of monument)
MOLLIE A. SMITH, dau. of J. C. &M.
GOFF
Died Mar. 20, 1876 (north side)

The issue of the newspaper which would have carried notice of J. C. Goff's death is missing.

THE JACKSON SUN, March 24, 1876:
Died. In this city on Monday evening, Mrs. Mary A. Smith, daughter of Mr. J. C. Goff, aged 28 years.

The 1872 Jackson City Directory gives J. C. Goff's vocation as a butcher.

Sexton's report, April 4, 1876 in JACKSON CITY COUNCIL MINUTE BOOK, 1874-1877, page 398, mentions burial in Riverside of Molly E. Smith, age 28, who died of consumption. IBID., November 7, 1876, page 494, burial of J. C. Goff, age 56, who died of hemorrhage of the bowels.

 

(Page 31)

LOT 117-E, STEELMAN, HARDAGE

south to north:

Double tombstone:
STEELMAN
CHARLES W. /died/ 1931
MAGGIE E. /died/ 1909

MYRTLE BESSIE STEELMAN
Died Aug. 8, 1892
/infant's cradle tombstone/

CHARLIE BYRD STEELMAN
Died Feb. 13, 1895
/infant's cradle tombstone/

Griffin Funeral Home Record:
Charles Wesley Steelman, born June 16, 1860; died July 6, 1931. Son of Joe Steelman, born in Indiana; Sarah Rawls, born in New Jersey.

 

LOT 121, ROWLAND, HUGHES

Several tombstones, one in the shape of a tree trunk, on the south edge of the lot:

EDWARD D., son of Rev. D. W.
& J. ROWLAND
Died July 31, 1874
Aged 29 Years

 

LOT 270-c-i. CLAYTON [this lot number from Tombstone Inscriptions]

THE JACKSON SUN, October 26, 1936:
MURRAY SANDS, aged 54 years, died October 25, 1936. A florist; born in Baltimore, Maryland. Buried Riverside Cemetery.

Buried on portion of [this lot] with double tombstone: MURRAY SANDS, 1882-1936. JULIA O., wife of Murray SANDS, 1870-1947.

 

LOT 89, TEMPLE

THE JACKSON SUN, February 22, 1937:
Mrs. T. H. TEMPLE, born May 12, 1852, daughter of Kirt and Jane Hudson; died Feb. 20, 1937. Her husband died in 1917. Buried in Riverside Cemetery.

Mrs. Lillie Temple is buried on the north side of the Temple-Hamilton Lot 89, with dates on her tombstone: 1852-1937.

 

BURIED ON SOUTHWEST CORNER OF RIVERSIDE CEMETERY, SEVERAL RELATIVELY RECENT BURIALS IN THIS SECTION OF THE CEMETERY WITH TOMBSTONES:

FRANCES PEARL BAILEY CAVES, Nov. 21, 1928-Apr. 4, 1980. In Loving Memory

CLEO HORTON, 1936-1973

GORDON DAVID HALL, 11-9-49-1-11-1990. Lawrence-Sorenson Fun. Home Marker

In Memory, HOMER I. HOBBS, Jan. 17, 1912-July 5, 1974

Mrs. JEAN WELLE, 1942-1992. Lawrence-Sorenson Funeral Home Marker

JAMES DAVID SLOAN, Mar. 29, 1908-Mar. 17, 1990. Daddy

ROBERT FORSHA, 1914-1984

 

LOT 47, HOLDEN

We Loved Her
MARY E., dau. of C. & M. J. McNatt
& wife of M. HOLDEN
Born Sept. 13, 1849
Died Oct. 29, 1883

 

LOT 167-E, McBRYDE
[Lot 167 in Tombstone Inscriptions]

ROBERT A. McBRYDE
Entered Eternal Rest Jan. 31, 1905

HENRY H. McBRYDE
Died March 16, 1881, Aged 11 years
Dying is but going home

 

(Page 32)

LOT 76, RUSHING-GOODE
[Lot 76-B, north in Tombstone Inscriptions]

On north end of this lot is a single grave marked with a tombstone shaped like lower cut trunk of a tree, to the memory of:

A. M. RUSHING
Died July 4, 1879
At Rest

Then, north to south:

R. E. GOODE
Born 1873
Died 1899

Double tombstone:
HENRY CLAY GOODE
Born July 10, 1847
Died Sept. 8, 1885
Aged 38 Yrs. 1 Mo. 28 ds.
MILDRED A. ROBERTS, wife of
H. C. GOODE
Born June 21, 1847
Died Apr. 7, 1886
Aged 38 Yrs. 10 Ms. 6 Ds

Entrance into this lot is on a footstone inscribed "R. E. Goode."

TRIBUNE-SUN, Jackson, July 10, 1879:

In this city on the 4th inst., Mr. A. M. Rushing, aged 31 years. Deceased had resided several years in this community and by his uniform courtesy . . .  had endeared himself to all who knew him. He was born on the 4th of July 1848 and died on his 31st birthday. His remains were escorted to the grave by the Knights Templar and Odd Fellows of which orders he was an honored member. . . .

 

WEST TENN. WHIG, Sept. 9, 1885:

Death of H. C. Goode.         Mr. H. C. Goode, after a long illness, died at his home on Chester street yesterday morning at 3:00 o'clock. He was conscious to the last and a few moments before the end remarked that he was dying. His death was peaceful and painless. Mr. Goode was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1847, and was consequently in his thirty-eighth year at the time of his death. He came from Water Valley to Jackson and remained in the M. & O. railroad shops during the winter of 1875 and then went to Whistler, Ala., where he was a foreman in the shops. In March 1884, he moved to Jackson and was made Master Mechanic of the M. & O. shops, which position he held until his death. More than a year ago he had a severe attack of pneumonia from which he never fully recovered, lung trouble being the cause of his death. He leaves a wife and two children, a little boy and girl, who have the sympathy of many friends. Mr. Goode was a kind and gentlemanly man, well respected by all who knew him.         The funeral will take place from St. Luke's church this evening at four o'clock, at which Rev. G. W. Hinkle will officiate. The deceased was a Mason and will be interred at Riverside with masonic ceremonies.

 

LOT 291½, WADLEY

D. B. WADLEY (west side)
Born July 18, 1854
Died Oct. 1, 1886
East side of tombstone has a multi-line inscription, now illegible

This Wadley tombstone had fallen but it was re-erected on its base in 1994.

WEST TENNESSEE WHIG, Jackson, October 6, 1886:

Mr. D. B. Wadley, of this city, died at his home on Chester street, at an early hour Saturday morning of abscess succeeding fever, aged about 28 years. Deceased was born in Henderson county but had been a citizen of Jackson the past few years. He leaves a bereaved wife who has our sympathy in her sorrow . . . and the remains will be interred at Riverside Cemetery.

Daniel B. Wadley (1854-1886) was the youngest child of Rev. David O. N. Wadley (1812-1854), a Cumberland Presbyterian minister and his wife, Sarah Arnold. His wife was Fannie Teague. (WADLEY FAMILY, vol. 1. from collection of Richard Cratis Wadley, prepared by Laura Waddle, page 2) D. B. W.'s cousin, Felix Washington Wadley (1832-1923) and some of his family are also buried in Riverside Cemetery, Lot 122-West.

This Wadley family had lived many years in Henderson County, Tennessee.

 

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