136-year-old ledger found in files, hints at cemetery unknowns’ IDs
In research of ancestral and local history over the past three decades, I’ve often hit deadends, when the thread of discovery played out, leaving no clue where next to turn in my hunt for documented information. What I’ve found is when given time, as if by providence, a missing piece of the puzzle will suddenly appear from the least expected quarter, leading to further pursuit of the query.
Then there are those episodes when you’re not even thinking about a historical riddle and something unexpectedly comes along that prompts one’s curiosity, again as if by providence, launching a new research project never before considered.
In addition, miraculous things often come from dark moments in life. During the June 2020 “I can’t breathe” protests after the killing of George Floyd, certain threats were leveled toward the Fordyce Police Department and City Hall where the department is housed. This potential danger to the building inspired important documents to be hastily stored within the facility’s fire-resistant vault. In the process of relocating municipal records, a heavy, 136-year-old, leather-bound ledger book titled, “Oakland Cemetery” was found among the stacks of files and boxes.
On the first several pages is a list of 52 initial burials. Individual’s names, ages, dates of death, causes of demise and native state of origin are noted. The first burial is dated May 5, 1886. This commitment to the earth followed soon after the incorporation of Fordyce as a city on April 8, 1884. The other 51 entries proceed in chronological order through September 1, 1906. After that, no further accounting of such burials appear within the lined, yellowed pages of the antiquated text.
Scrutiny of the fatalities list in comparison to existing headstones in historic Oakland Cemetery show only three of the 52 names appear on any
marker. It would seem that those listed were indigent people, many of whom are shown to be in transit through the newborn town grown up beside the freshly laid railroad tracks.
During this period in Fordyce’s early years, the community grew from the tiny farming berg of Shady Grove to a bustling concern of 1,500 people. The rapid growth was driven by a pair of major railroads crossing in its midst, along with numerous newly established logging and lumber interests. The care of deceased transients and the remains of new-comers without family members fell to the fledgling township.
In the far, northeast corner on the backside of Oakland Cemetery is the pauper section, a block where numerous unmarked indentations in the broad, flat ground hint at forgotten burials. They represent people long since laid in the dark soil whose history and fates have been lost to ever-marching time.
As current proctor of the necropolis, I’m all too familiar with that broad expanse of lawn, where I’ve often wondered who lies at eternal rest beneath my feet in the unmarked graves as I go about my duties of caring for the grounds. Discovery of the nearly century-and-a-halfold ledger has happily, if unexpectedly, given some clue as to the life and times of those about whom I have wondered.
The first recorded indigent burial was “May 5/86 W.H. Hendrix, 25 yrs. old, killed by train, Block 1 Lot 1. His native state was Canida.”
Other entries include, “June 27/86 Samuel Dunn, age 70, cancer of face, Block 1 Lot 2. His native state was Penn.”
“Jan 1/87 Reaves, Consumption, Block 1 Lot 3. His native state unknown.”
“Talmage, 18 months, congestion, Block 1 Lot 4. His native state was Michigan.”
“D McCrary, Infant, Block 1 Lot 5. His native state was Tenn.” “King, Block 1 Lot 6.” “Jeff Laws, age 28, Pistol shot, Block 1 Lot 7. His native state was Anlausa.”
“Mrs. Doyle, age 28, Pneumonia, Block 1 Lot 8. Her native state was Michigan.”
Further along are entries stating, “Mrs. G.W King, Typhoid Fever, Block 1 Lot 16. Her native state was Fordyce Ark,” and “Feb 6/92 Chas Bolin, 22, Killed by falling log, Block 1 Lot 17. Taken up by Father Geo Bowlin of Wisconsin Feb 22/92.” This account indicates how the deceased’s father disinterred his son’s remains to be carried home to Wisconsin for final burial with the family.
“Oct 22/92 Robt Britton, Fell from hand Car. Block 1 Lot 19.”
A March 5 1901, line item reads, “M.D. Harper, his Grand Daughter, 2 days old, Block 1 Lot 28. Traveling from Dublin Miss to Texas.”
Continuing on, “10/8/98 John Defmedge, 43, Prostrated Malaria, Block 1 Lot 31. Died on Fordyce Lbr Co Log Train,” and “3/12/98 Mr. Penix, child, Flux, Block 1 Lot 32.”
“1893 Gresham, about 50, Hemorage of Lungs, Block 1 Lot 43,” along with “4/17/96 Matilda-Dghtr of Lenord Jeffrey, 3 weeks, Block 1 Lot 38. Traveling horse Trader.”
A pair of tragedies posted on the same day read: “Jan 2/94 J.T. Sherman, about 25, suicide, Block 1 Lot 40,” and “Geo Slemons, Burned in furnace, Block 1 Lot 41.”
By contrast, deeper within the folds of the Oakland Cemetery register are several pages chronicling the purchase of family lots to accommodate eight to 10 individual burial plots. This section is headed, “Blocks Sold to Private Families.” The locally well-known clan names so elegantly, hand-inscribed on 28 pages, may be found prominently represented across the rolling 30-acre landscape by imposing stone monuments of every size, shape and variety. Each weathered marker is engraved with Given and Christian name’s, dates of births and deaths, and often accompanied by scripture or poetic verse. The 170+ entries of private purchase range in date from 1886 to 1902. The first recorded private family plot purchase shows it was made by “Dan McNeal.”
There are further individual “Private Family Block” deeds on separate, unattached sheaths of paper tucked between the ledger pages for other plots purchased between 1916 and 1928. Paid property tax receipts dating up to 1938 are there as well.
The Fordyce Cemetery Association is looking to provide a placard containing 52 names to be mounted in what began as Block 1 and is presently designated as Block 4B to commemorate the forgotten souls in unmarked graves who ended their time on earth in Fordyce during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Their personage now-revealed, the journey of their lives remains a mystery.
Anyone with information regarding unidentified entombments in Oakland Cemetery, please call (870) 313-2717.