Ridgewood Cemetery
The Ridgewood Cemetery is located in Carthage four blocks east of Courthouse on
Third Ave. E. It is large active perpetual care cemetery. Located adjoining and
east of this cemetery is Smith County Memorial Garden.
Irene Petty And Donald Richard Watt
Irene Petty Watt wrote the book "Pettys In America"
Carrie Craig Chapman
Carrie Craig Chapman was the owner of the Chapman Hotel. Her tombstone is
a stone step from the old hotel with her name and dates engraved on it.
The Chapman Hotel can be seen in the old postcards page near end of page:
Little Jimmie Anderson
A very well known grave at Ridgewood Cemetery is the grave of Little
Jimmy Anderson. Little Jimmy died at the fair in 1935. While the other
childred were having a good time at the fair Jimmy lay dying.
My grandparents are buried at Ridgewood. Robert A. and Linnie Gwaltney
Waggoner and Wallace Edwin and Gertrude Chaffin Key, and one set of my
great grandparents Jacob Henderson Waggoner and Nancy Green Bradford
Waggoner. My greatgrandparents were moved to Ridgewood from the Waggoner
Family Cemetery on Hogan's Creek several years ago. Also my wife's
grandparents John Bransford and Alma Petty Matthews are buried at Ridgewood.
Ridgewood Cemetery Monument
The property where the Hensley Cemetery was located was purchased by Smith County in January 2007.
The cemetery dating from early 1800's to ca. 1920, was relocated by Bass Funeral Home and Sanderson
Funeral Home to Ridgewood Cemetery in Carthage. No marked tombstones were found or any graves
identified but research indicates the following may have been buried here.
Hensley,Emma 18 Nov 1898-27 Jan 1919
w/o John Hensley d/o Nathan Burdine Massey & Minnie Gertrude Allen
Lynch, David 1841- 26 Oct 1871
A Confederate Soldier who was wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg.
Lynch, Ulysses A. age 12 years died Feb 21, 1914.
Gillispie, Mrs. Oshia died 23 Jan 1914. w/o Will Gillispie
Graves of five soldiers were found as indicated by military uniform eagle buttons and a pouch of
percussion caps used to fire muskets. These may be Thomas Reeves, David Piatt, and Elam Dye
of the 92nd Ohio Infantry, who died in early 1863.
This cemetery may have been called the T.B. Wills or the J.R. Wills Cemetery in earlier times.
A monument was erected at Ridgewood Cemetery with wording provided
by the Smith County Historical & Genealogical Society as follows:
"This monument is erected as a tribute to those unknown persons removed from a tranquil, remote
cemetery located on a ridge where the Smith County Justice Center is constructed. The site was
once part of the William Walton grant, later acquired by Joseph Myer and known as Myer Bottom.
The base of the memorial is constructed from the roughly hewn unmarked field stones that
identified the 73 graves on the original site. The year of first burial, names, dates
of birth and death, race and sex remains lost to the passage of time and memory of any
living person. Whatever their circumstances and station in life, these anonymous persons
would have made a contribution to the culture and heritage of Carthage and Smith County.
It is with respect that their remains are removed to this permanent resting
place and honored with this monument. November 2007"
A plaque from a coffin found at the cemetery reading "AT REST" was affixed to the monument.
Carthage By-Pass