Saturday, July 1, 2023

The Gibson Family and their Graveyards in Corydon, KY

I feel there is absolutely no better time (or topic) to dive into my absolute favorite family cemetery of all time -- Gibson Cemetery in Corydon, Henderson County, Kentucky. I will also be talking about what I call "Gibson Cemetery #2" out in Corydon as well. 


The above photograph is Gibson Cemetery #1 (the main family cemetery) which sits high on a hill off of Hughes-Sights Rd in Corydon. This photograph was taken by a Gibson cousin, Karen Fleming. 



This photograph is from Google Street View (2012) and is zoomed all the way in. It's the best photograph currently available to show you what Gibson Cemetery #2 looks like when the crops aren't tall enough to hide it. When it's crop season, it's usually behind corn and you cannot see it unless you know precisely where it's at or you use an aerial satellite map to find it. 

It's an educated guess that Gibson Cemetery #1 might have been started with the death of Joel Gibson's wife, Eleanor Davis, when she died in Henderson County in 1818. Other family historians document that she died "on the way to Kentucky," but Joel and family were already here in 1813, so that is inaccurate to say, if she truly died in 1818. 

However, going with documented burials in Gibson Cemetery -- Joel Gibson, patriarch of the Gibson family here in Henderson County, Kentucky, has the earliest death date on a tombstone of December 23rd, 1830. Some Gibson family historians believe that he merely has two cenotaphs in Gibson Cemetery and that he's actually buried in North Carolina. I don't know where that rumor started or when.. but it's 100% codswallop. 

Joel has two tombstones out in Gibson Cemetery -- one is an original military provided tombstone and I do believe it's been there since 1830 or shortly thereafter -- I say this because it fits the look and style of almost all Revolutionary War military provided headstones that I've ever seen. The second military provided tombstone lays flat to the ground and is much newer. The tombstone application for the second one was filled out in 1970 by Joel's great-great-grandson, Jesse Chandler. 

Gibson Cemetery #2, it appears to have been started at the death of John William Gibson, a great-grandson of Joel's, who died October 8th, 1856. That's the earliest death date on a tombstone that's been documented in that cemetery at the current time.

I'm unsure if this line of the Gibson family had had a falling out with the family and felt they couldn't be buried in the "main" cemetery which is, as the crow flies, about a half of a mile from this new cemetery.. or if they simply felt compelled to have their own little family cemetery separate from the main one. John's father, James William Gibson who would have been Joel's grandson, is buried too in this Gibson Cemetery #2. Whereas James' father, Berryman Gibson, is buried in the main Gibson Cemetery with his father and the patriarch, Joel Gibson. 

It's no secret that most of Corydon at one time or another was Gibson land or that of a family that ties into the Gibson family -- Tapp, Pritchett, Dixon, Crooks, Hughes, Sights, Eblen, Denton, Culver to just name a few of the surrounding related families. 



I know this photograph is small - you might be able to right click and open the image in a new window to make it larger.. but it's an aerial map of the area out in Corydon (it's Corydon's southeast side.. between Corydon and Cairo to be more accurate) that the cemeteries are located. 

The small red circle on the left of the photograph is Gibson Cemetery #2 and the larger red circle more on the right is the original Gibson Cemetery. I've been told before that all of the land (roughly) from Hughes-Sights Rd to the north, possible Highway 60 to the west, possible the curve to the south on 145, and Rock Springs Dixie Rd to the east was all Gibson land way back when. Like 1820's-1840's at least. We know between Rock Springs Dixie & US Alt 41 is Eblen Rd and the Eblen's have a family cemetery out there as well so they definitely were neighbors of the Gibson's. 

To the south is a road called Pritchett-Crooks and there are a few different family cemeteries out there. The Pritchett's and Crooks' were definitely neighbors of the Gibson's. To the south is also a community called "Dixie" which isn't an official 'town' anymore like Corydon or Cairo but still a community. There is a church with a cemetery there called Union Hill where a lot of Gibson relatives and neighbors are buried. It's located off of Whitelick Rd which takes you from Henderson County down into Webster County (it's honestly really close to the county line as Whitelick Creek is the dividing line between Henderson & Webster out that way.)

There's a Duncan Cemetery, Morehead Cemetery, Minton Cemetery, Royster Cemetery, Liles Cemetery, Brown-Konsler Cemetery, Alderson Cemetery, and I could go on... that are in relatively "close-ish" proximity to the Gibson Cemetery's. They're all out in the Corydon/Cairo/Dixie area as I would call it. A lot of these families have been in Henderson County by at least the 1820 census and they've never left. 

A little bit of back story here about why I love the Gibson Cemetery so much... it's the first little family cemetery I ever went to as a kid right after I discovered my love of genealogy. I was 7 years old (2000) and went with my Mom and Grandma. I've been back numerous times since then and it's just an overwhelming sense of connection when I go out there. To stand at my 6x Grandfather's grave and know that my 5x Grandfather and 4x Grandfather stood there at his funeral in 1830. Every time I go out there, I feel so close to my ancestors.. it's really indescribable even for me. 

For those of us who are Gibson descendants (or married to a Gibson descendant): my Grandmother told me growing up that it would cost nothing (no plot cost) to be buried out in the Gibson Cemetery. In my opinion, there is still plenty of open room to be buried there... but the downfall to a small private cemetery - there's no "exact plot records." Honestly, to be buried out there, it would be a guessing game on where to plant yourself, so to speak.. There might be unmarked graves out there, or graves that once had a tombstone that no longer do.. so if you decided to be buried out there, it's very possible when they go to dig your grave... they might be disturbing someone else's from 100+ years ago. 

With this blog, I thought I would thoroughly document each person buried in both of the Gibson cemeteries for easy research access not just for myself in the future but for other Gibson relatives. This is going to make for a lengthy blog but I know it'll be well worth it. As much as I would love to add photographs of tombstones for each person to accompany this blog, I know that is way too time consuming and plus, it would make this blog take eons and eons to load for some people who have a worse internet connection than others. 

The following are those who are buried in Gibson Cemetery #1 (the main family cemetery) in alphabetical order (to the best of my ability). I will be listing their name, their birth and death date, who they are a child of, who they married, and their cause of death if available. I will also be mentioning their exact relationship to me as I am related to every single person buried in this cemetery. As a quick note to you guys - my 3x Grandparents, 4x Grandparents, 5x Grandparents, and 6x Grandfather are buried here. (Possibly 6x Grandmother as well, if my theory is correct that the cemetery might have started with her burial in 1818.)

1) John DeForest Culver. Born June 20th, 1868, died March 19th, 1919. Son of William Hollis Culver Jr and Neosha Jane Gibson. Husband of Mary Frances Gibson. My 1st cousin 4x removed. Cause of death: Mitral insufficiency and labor pneumonia, due to Influenza. 

2) Mary Frances (Gibson) Culver. Born June 30th, 1872, died February 4th, 1931. Daughter of Robert Benjamin Gibson and Sibbie Denton. Wife of John DeForest Culver. My 1st cousin 4x removed. Cause of death: Nephritis and hypertension.

3) James Lee Denton. Born November 9th, 1912, died October 27th, 1913. Son of James Benjamin Denton and Sibbie Lee Culver. My 3rd cousin 2x removed. Cause of death: Ileocolitis.

4) Florence Duncan. Born April 14th, 1875, died January 31st, 1899. Daughter of John Melvin Duncan and Mary Susan Tapp. My 2nd cousin 4x removed. 

5) Infant Duncan. Born February 6th, 1890, died September 8th, 1891. Son of John Melvin Duncan and Mary Susan Tapp. My 2nd cousin 4x removed. 

6) John Melvin Duncan. Born November 13th, 1848, died October 17th, 1933. Son of John Duncan Sr and Nancy Smith. Husband of Mary Susan Tapp. My 1st cousin 6x removed. Cause of death: Paralysis and old age.

7) John Strother Duncan. Born January 31st, 1885, died June 18th, 1916. Son of John Melvin Duncan and Mary Susan Tapp. Husband of Vera Whitledge. My 2nd cousin 4x removed. Cause of death: Heart dropsy. 

8) Laura Bell Duncan. Born November 4th, 1870, died April 13th, 1945. Daughter of John Melvin Duncan and Mary Susan Tapp. My 2nd cousin 4x removed. Cause of death: Broncho pneumonia. 

9) Marion Duncan. Born October 18th, 1889, died September 6th, 1945. Son of William French Duncan and Sarah Catherine Tapp. My 2nd cousin 4x removed. 

10) Mary Pearl Duncan. Born May 28th, 1885, died November 9th, 1900. Daughter of William French Duncan and Sarah Catherine Tapp. My 2nd cousin 4x removed. 

11) Mary Susan Tapp. Born April 2nd, 1851, died May 20th, 1935. Daughter of William Tapp and Mary Susan Gibson. Wife of John Melvin Duncan. My 1st cousin 5x removed. Cause of death: Chronic myocarditis and nephritis. 

12) Robert Fulton Duncan. Born September 18th, 1887, died July 14th, 1936. Son of William French Duncan and Sarah Catherine Tapp. My 2nd cousin 4x removed. Cause of death: Cerebral hemorrhage. 

13) Sarah Catherine Tapp. Born April 1852, died April 8th, 1899. Daughter of William Tapp and Mary Susan Gibson. Wife of William French Duncan. My 1st cousin 5x removed.

14) Sarah Frances Duncan. Born March 14th, 1891, died July 26th, 1891. Daughter of William French Duncan and Sarah Catherine Tapp. My 2nd cousin 4x removed. 

15) Vincan Duncan. Born January 17th, 1877, died November 20th, 1890. Son of John Melvin Duncan and Mary Susan Tapp. My 2nd cousin 4x removed. 

16) Welzy Duncan. Born April 9th, 1878, died July 17th, 1880. Son of John Melvin Duncan and Mary Susan Tapp. My 2nd cousin 4x removed. 

17) William French Duncan. Born April 16th, 1854, died July 18th, 1937. Son of Nathan Benjamin Duncan and Mary Jane Holeman. Husband of Sarah Catherine Tapp. My 2nd cousin 5x removed. Cause of death: Very hard to read but it mentions an accidental burn.

18) Dixie Lou Frasier. Born and died October 30th, 1930. Daughter of Ambrose Haywood Frasier and Frances Jenell Laswell. My 3rd cousin 2x removed. 

19) Gayle Frasier. Born February 8th, 1885, and died May 24th, 1950. Son of John C. Frasier and Lee Forrest Pressley. Husband of Lucile S. Gibson. "Husband of 1st cousin 4x removed." Cause of death: Cerebral hemorrhage. 

20) Lucile S. Gibson. Born January 6th, 1890, died March 26th, 1975. Daughter of George Harrell Gibson and Cora Francis Young. Wife of Gayle Frasier. My 1st cousin 4x removed. 

21) Bailey Gibson. Born December 8th, 1818, died February 5th, 1859. Son of Berryman Gibson and Susan A. Duncan. Husband of Sirena Weldon. 4x Great-Granduncle. (Not entirely sure if he's buried in Gibson 1 or Gibson 2. No tombstone for him has been located yet he's constantly listed as being buried here in Gibson #1.)

22) Berryman Gibson. Born June 13th, 1785, died September 1869. Son of Joel Gibson and Eleanor Davis. Husband of Susan A. Duncan. My 5x Grandfather. Cause of death: consumption (tuberculosis.) (His original tombstone has been replaced. The death date has erroneously been given as September 1, 1870.. this is incorrect. He's listed in the 1870 census as "dying prior to June 1st, 1870." So he died September 1869.)

23) Carrie E. Gibson. Born April 7th, 1873 (on tombstone, birth year appears to be closer to 1877 in census), died October 20th, 1898. Daughter of Robert Benjamin Gibson and Susan A. Pritchett. My 1st cousin 4x removed. 

24) Cora Francis Young. Born April 20th, 1863, died March 18th, 1950. Daughter of James Brice Young and Lucretia Ann Winfield. Wife of (?) Pritchett and George Harrell Gibson. Wife of 3rd Great-Granduncle. Cause of death: Shock from a fractured hip, chronic myocarditis, and diabetes.

25) Derwood Gibson. Born December 8th, 1914, died August 22nd, 1917. Son of James Odie Gibson and Della Caroline Gibson. Cause of death: Dysentery. My 2nd cousin 3x removed. 

26) Eliza Jane Webster. Born February 12th, 1838, died June 19th, 1896. Daughter of Joseph Webster and Elizabeth Cooley. Wife of Nathan Alander Gibson Sr. Wife of 4th Great-Granduncle. 

27) Ellen Sarah Skeel. Born December 26th, 1894, died June 26th, 1950. Daughter of Elbridge Milford Skeel and Mary Josephine Utt. Wife of Louis Steven Emhuff and James Odie Gibson. Wife of 1st cousin 4x removed. Cause of death: congestive failure, arteriosclerotic heart disease, arteriosclerosis, and diabetes mellitus. 

28) Elmos C. Gibson. Born December 21st, 1875, died January 11th, 1876. Son of Robert Benjamin Gibson and Susan A. Pritchett. 1st cousin 4x removed. (He's also getting confused with his sister, Carrie, I believe.. and there's also a rumor he lived to be 101 years old. I've found no proof of this. He's not alive in the 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, or 1940 censuses.)

29) Elymus R. Gibson. Born December 16th, 1899, died January 3rd, 1918. Son of William K. Gibson and Margaret Ellen Pritchett. 1st cousin 4x removed. Cause of death: Acute miliary tuberculosis. 

30) Erastus Kohl Gibson. Born September 19th, 1886, died June 30th, 1919. Son of George Harrell Gibson and Cora Francis Young. Husband of Mary Evelyn Hughes. 1st cousin 4x removed. Cause of death: Carbolic acid poisoning, suicide. 

31) Ethel Gibson. Born July 17th, 1900, died March 29th, 1916. Daughter of James Odie Gibson and Della Caroline Gibson. 2nd cousin 3x removed. Cause of death: Pneumonia. 

32) George Harold Gibson. Born May 9th, 1875, died September 2nd, 1945. Son of John Beverly Gibson and Sarah Jane Koonce. Husband of Stella Robertson. 1st cousin 4x removed. Cause of death: paralysis (or that's the best I can read on the death certificate.)

33) George Harrell Gibson. Born December 20th, 1862, died September 9th, 1940. Son of John Gregory Gibson and Mahala Caroline Busby. Husband of Cora Francis Young. 3rd Great-Granduncle. Cause of death: Organic heart disease. 

34) Bertha Georgia Fryar. Born March 31st, 1881, died June 2nd, 1921. Daughter of George Washington Fryar and Matilda Jane Moss. Wife of Roscoe Gibson Sr. 4th cousin 3x removed. Cause of death: Septicemia and placenta previa. 

35) Infant Gibson. Born and died March 27th, 1861. Daughter of John Gregory Gibson and Mahala Caroline Busby. 3rd Great-Grandaunt. 

36) James Fagan Gibson. Born November 14th, 1848, died May 11th, 1911. Son of John Gregory Gibson and Mahala Caroline Busby. Husband of Nancy Jane Gibson. 3rd Great-Granduncle. Cause of death: myocarditis. 

37) James Morris Gibson. Born April 12th, 1902, died April 16th, 1970. Son of Robert Benjamin Gibson and Susan A. Pritchett. Husband of Louella Alice Morris. 1st cousin 4x removed. COD: Pneumonia and C.O.P.D. 

38) James Odie Gibson. Born May 26th, 1878, died July 24th, 1952. Son of John Beverly Gibson and Sarah Jane Koonce. Husband of Della Caroline Gibson and Ellen Sarah Skeel. 1st cousin 4x removed. 

39) Joel Gibson. Patriarch of the Gibson's in Henderson County, KY and the surrounding areas. Born in 1750, died December 23rd, 1830. Served in the Revolutionary War. Potential son of John Gibson and Mary Duncan of Caswell County, NC. Husband of Eleanor Davis. His wife might be buried in the cemetery as well. If she truly died in 1818 - that was AFTER they came to Henderson and settled in Corydon. Joel is my 6x Great-Grandfather. His children have been proved as definitively being the following: Vicey *possibly nickname for Levicy?* Gibson (m. Josiah Stone), Burgess Gibson (m. Sarah ?), Elizabeth Gibson (m. ?), Bailey Gibson (m. Catherine Sights), Greenberry Gibson (m. Charlotte Davis), Berryman Gibson (m. Susan A. Duncan), Robert Gibson (m. ?), Tillman Gibson (m. Sarah Crowley), Margaret "Peggy" Gibson (m. Abraham Shelton), Nancy Gibson (m. ? Shelton). 

40) John Beverly Gibson. Born February 13th, 1855, died June 29th, 1936. Son of John Gregory Gibson and Mahala Caroline Busby. Husband of Sarah Jane Koonce. 3rd Great-Granduncle. COD: Arteriosclerosis. 

41) John D. Gibson. Born March 10th, 1885, died September 17th, 1903. Son of George Harrell Gibson and Cora Francis Young. 1st cousin 4x removed.

42) John Gregory Gibson. Born December 18th, 1816, died November 6th, 1890. Son of Berryman Gibson and Susan A. Duncan. Husband of Mahala Caroline Busby and Elizabeth (?) Young. My 4x Great-Grandfather. COD: Unsure, but he ran the county sanitarium/poor farm for nine years before he died. He died at the sanitarium. 

43) Katsie Lucille Son. Born July 24th, 1895, died January 24th, 1970. Daughter of James C. Son and Hallie Dossett. Wife of Joseph Leslie Crews and Roscoe Gibson Sr. Wife of 1st cousin 4x removed. 

44) Lizzie Gibson. Born February 22nd, 1892, died October 28th, 1895. Daughter of Robert Benjamin Gibson and Susan A. Pritchett. 1st cousin 4x removed. 

45) Lucilla E. Gibson. Born October 10th, 1853, died September 27th, 1878. Daughter of John Gregory Gibson and Mahala Caroline Gibson. 3rd Great-Grandaunt. 

46) Mahala Caroline Busby. Born January 1820, died November 18th, 1868. Daughter of William L. Busby and Elizabeth Denton. Wife of John Gregory Gibson. My 4th Great-Grandmother. 

47) Martha Caroline Busby. Born May 1st, 1849, died December 6th, 1855. Daughter of John Gregory Gibson and Mahala Caroline Busby. 3rd Great-Grandaunt. 

48) Mary J. Gibson. Born December 27th, 1859, died April 27th, 1860. Daughter of John Gregory Gibson and Mahala Caroline Busby. 3rd Great-Grandaunt. 

49) Martha Walker. Born April 28th, 1876, died July 15th, 1972. Daughter of George William Walker and Mary E. Utley. Wife of John Beverly Gibson. Wife of 3rd Great-Granduncle. 

50) Maud V. Gibson. Born September 30th, 1877, died November 28th, 1893. Daughter of William K. Gibson and Margaret Ellen Pritchett. 1st cousin 4x removed. 

51) Nancy Jane Gibson. Born January 20th, 1855, died December 2nd, 1927. Daughter of John William Gibson and Susan Covey. Wife of James Fagan Gibson. 2nd cousin 4x removed. COD: Bright's disease, and dysentery. 

52) Nathan Alander Gibson, Sr. Born January 5th, 1828, died July 23rd, 1899. Son of Berryman Gibson and Susan A. Duncan. Husband of Marietta Webster, Eliza Jane Webster, and Susan B. Hancock. 4x Great Granduncle. 

53) Robert Benjamin Gibson, Jr. Born April 11th, 1884, died May 31st, 1885. Son of Robert Benjamin Gibson Sr and Susan A. Pritchett. 1st cousin 4x removed.

54) Robert Benjamin Gibson. Born January 14th, 1844, died January 15th, 1913. Son of John Gregory Gibson and Mahala Caroline Busby. Husband of Sibbie Denton and Susan A. Pritchett. 3rd Great-Granduncle. COD: Croupous pneumonia.

55) Roscoe Gibson Sr. Born January 6th, 1883, died March 4th, 1957. Son of John Beverly Gibson and Sarah Jane Koonce. Husband of Bertha Georgia Fryar and Katsie Lucille Son. 1st cousin 4x removed. COD: Cerebral embolus, arteriosclerotic heart disease. 

56) Sarah Jane Koonce. Born September 1855, died 1906. Daughter of Owen Lawrence Koonce and Arrena Sims. Wife of John Beverly Gibson. Wife of 3rd Great-Granduncle. 

57) Silas Gibson. Born September 23rd, 1886, died December 21st, 1887. Son of John Beverly Gibson and Sarah Jane Koonce. 1st cousin 4x removed. 

58) Stella Robertson. Born April 24th, 1877, died August 22nd, 1958. Daughter of Ira Bascom Robertson and Martha Frances Gibson. Wife of George Harold Gibson. 2nd cousin 4x removed. COD: Bowel obstruction, hernia. 

59) Susan A. Duncan. Born January 18th, 1791, died February 2nd, 1865. Daughter of Nathaniel Benjamin Duncan and Jane Rainey. Wife of Berryman Gibson. My 5x Great-Grandmother. 

60) Susan A. Pritchett. Born June 14th, 1857, died January 11th, 1937. Daughter of Ephraim Pritchett and Elizabeth Handley. Wife of Robert Benjamin Gibson. Wife of 3rd Great-Granduncle. COD: carcinoma of the stomach. 

61) Virgie M. Gibson. Born and died 1896. Daughter of William K. Gibson and Margaret Ellen Pritchett. 1st cousin 4x removed.

62) William O. Gibson. Born December 16th, 1876, and probably died shortly after. Son of John Beverly Gibson and Sarah Jane Koonce. 1st cousin 4x removed.

63) William C. Gibson. Born October 16th, 1825, died January 2nd, 1898. Son of Berryman Gibson and Susan A. Duncan. Husband of Mary Frances Floyd (who is also very likely buried beside him, unmarked.) 4th Great-Granduncle. COD: Bright's disease.

64) Mary Frances Floyd. Born about 1836, died between 1880-1898. Daughter of John Crosby Floyd and Mary Randolph. Wife of William C. Gibson. Very likely to be buried here next to her husband. Wife of 4th Great-Granduncle. 

65) William James Gibson. Born November 21st, 1842, died April 22nd, 1843. Son of John Gregory Gibson and Mahala Caroline Busby. 3rd Great-Granduncle. 

66) William K. Gibson. Born 1858, died 1904. Son of John Gregory Gibson and Mahala Caroline Busby. Husband of Margaret Ellen Pritchett. 3rd Great-Granduncle. 

67) Katharine Anna Koonce. Born August 19th, 1853, died March 3rd, 1899. Daughter of Owen Lawrence Koonce and Arrena Sims. Wife of Peter Benjamin Grisham Sr. Sister-in-law of 3rd Great-Granduncle. 

68) Elliott Hoy. Born May 1909, died October 14th, 1921. Son of James Samuel Hoy and Minnie Lee Gibson. 2nd cousin 3x removed. COD: Pertussis and nephritis (that's the best I can make of the death certificate. I'm not sure if the P word really is pertussis but it's the closest I can come. It sure isn't pneumonia.) 

69) George Fagan Hoy. Born December 28th, 1896, died March 19th, 1965. Son of James Samuel Hoy and Minnie Lee Gibson. 2nd cousin 3x removed. 

70) Infant Hoy. Born and died November 24th, 1899. Son of James Samuel Hoy and Minnie Lee Gibson. 2nd cousin 3x removed.

71) James Morris Hoy. Born September 28th, 1917, died July 24th, 1929. Son of James Samuel Hoy and Minnie Lee Gibson. 2nd cousin 3x removed. COD: Meningococcal meningitis epidemic of Detroit 1928-1929. 

72) James Samuel Hoy. Born July 27th, 1873, died July 31st, 1967. Son of Leander Jones Hoy and Eliza Jane Hancock. Husband of Minnie Lee Gibson. Husband of 1st cousin 4x removed. 

73) Minnie Lee Gibson. Born October 4th, 1877, died January 7th, 1974. Daughter of an unknown father and Lucilla E. Gibson. Raised by her Uncle and Aunt, James Fagan Gibson & Nancy Jane Gibson. Wife of James Samuel Hoy. 1st cousin 4x removed.

74) David Hoy Key. Born July 16th, 1927, died October 11th, 1927 (tombstone incorrectly gives October 27th). Son of Reeves C. Key and Cora Agnes Hoy. 3rd cousin 2x removed. COD: Broncho pneumonia.

75) Elinora "Ellen Nora" D. Tapp. Born November 9th, 1858, died April 6th, 1875. Daughter of William Tapp and Mary Susan Gibson. Wife of Burrell Jerome King. 1st cousin 5x removed. 

76) Elizabeth J. Tapp. Born June 10th, 1856, died November 6th, 1894. Daughter of William Tapp and Mary Susan Gibson. Wife of Burrell Jerome King. 1st cousin 5x removed. 

77) Andrew Jackson Koonce. Born October 15th, 1917, died August 30th, 1919. Son of George William Koonce and Lou Inez Mills. 3rd cousin 3x removed. COD: Accidentally burned to death by scalding hot water. 

78) Arrena Sims. Born September 5th, 1818, died April 30th, 1889. Possible daughter of Elisha Sims and Ann Clopton. Wife of Owen Lawrence Koonce. Mother-in-law of 3x Great-Granduncle. 

79) George William Koonce. Born October 29th, 1872, died February 10th, 1919. Son of Owen Thomas Koonce and Martha Ann Gibson. Husband of Lou Inez Mills. 2nd cousin 4x removed. COD: Dropped dead working in the field, most likely of a heart attack. He suffered from organic heart disease.

80) Owen Lawrence Koonce. Born December 29th, 1819, died November 11th, 1907. Son of Wendell M. Koonce and Nancy Woods. Husband of Arrena Sims. Father-in-law of 3x Great-Granduncle. 

81) Eula May Duncan. Born May 17th, 1891, died February 19th, 1920. Daughter of Elijah Thomas Duncan and Amelia Pritchett. Wife of Henry Oliver Nally. 4th cousin 2x removed / Wife of 2x Great-Granduncle. COD: Pneumonia/Influenza

82) Henry Oliver Nally. Born November 3rd, 1856, died December 14th, 1925. Son of Thomas Sidney Nally and Martha Jane Oliver. Husband of Vandalia Delia Gibson. My 3x Great-Grandfather. COD: Vascular heart disease. 

83) Mamie Eva Phillips. Born April 4th, 1890, died September 30th, 1986. Daughter of Conrad Herman Phillips and Mary Belle Royster. Wife of Sidney Thomas Nally, John Eblen Denton, and Henry Oliver Nally. 7th cousin 2x removed / Wife of 2x Great-Granduncle. 

84) May Nally. Born and died on March 30th, 1916. Daughter of Sidney Thomas Nally and Mamie Eva Phillips. 1st cousin 3x removed. COD: Premature birth.

85) Morrison Phillip Nally. Born October 31st, 1922, died November 23rd, 1922. Son of Sidney Thomas Nally and Mamie Eva Phillips. 1st cousin 3x removed. COD: Enterocolitis. 

86) Ray Nally. Born and died on March 30th, 1916. Son of Sidney Thomas Nally and Mamie Eva Phillips. 1st cousin 3x removed. COD: Premature birth. 

87) Sidney Thomas Nally. Born April 5th, 1885, died November 15th, 1926. Son of Henry Oliver Nally and Vandalia Delia Gibson. Husband of Mamie Eva Phillips. 2x Great-Granduncle. COD: Erysipelas. 

88) Vandalia Delia Gibson. Born December 21st, 1856, died July 5th, 1949. Daughter of John Gregory Gibson and Mahala Caroline Busby. Wife of Henry Oliver Nally. My 3x Great-Grandmother. COD: arteriosclerotic heart disease. 

89) Isadora Duncan. Born July 2nd, 1874, died June 13th, 1908. Daughter of John Melvin Duncan and Mary Susan Tapp. Wife of William Jasper "Jack" Nesler and William Martin "Willie" Drury. 2nd cousin 4x removed. COD: Suicide by carbolic acid poisoning. 

90) Virlie Norton. Born August 8th, 1894, died June 23rd, 1896. Daughter of Harry J. Norton and Eliza Jane Sutton. Step-great-granddaughter of my 4x Great-Granduncle (Nathan Alander Gibson Sr.) 

91) George Washington Overfield. Born November 12th, 1872, died March 2nd, 1955. Son of Manuel James Overfield and Macy Catherine Watson. Husband of Mary Jane Duncan. Husband of 2nd cousin 4x removed. COD: Diabetes mellitus and chronic osteomyelitis. 

92) Mary Jane Duncan. Born February 5th, 1880, died March 5th, 1971. Daughter of John Melvin Duncan and Mary Susan Tapp. Wife of George Washington Overfield. 2nd cousin 4x removed. 

93) Christine Thompson. Born April 2nd, 1919, died February 20th, 1995. Daughter of Sam Thomas Thompson and Camilla Nally. Wife of Dale Edward Palm. 1st cousin 3x removed. Cremated.

94) Dale Edward Palm. Born January 30th, 1920, died May 11th, 1995. Son of John Nevin Palm Sr and Edith Hoffman. Husband of Christine Thompson. Husband of 1st cousin 3x removed. Cremated.

95) Dennis Wayne Palm. Born September 3rd, 1945, died January 18th, 1994. Son of Dale Edward Palm and Christine Thompson. 2nd cousin 2x removed. Cremated.

96) Vandelia D. Gibson. Born September 28th, 1888, died May 17th, 1976. Daughter of Robert Benjamin Gibson and Susan A. Pritchett. Wife of Aubrey Kohl Gibson and Robert Charles Schultz. 1st cousin 4x removed. COD: Myocardial infarction, arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. 

97) Infant Stanley. Born and died November 17th, 1922. Child of Lyman Stanley and Sarah Cornelia Brown. Distant relationship (honestly unsure why the Stanley children are buried in Gibson Cemetery unless they're just friends of the family.)

98) Tommie Stanley. Born July 14th, 1903, died November 18th, 1915. Son of Lyman Stanley and Lena Miller. Distant relationship. COD: (this took a while to decipher) Follicular tonsillitis and vascular lesions of the heart.

99) Lelia Hattie Duncan. Born January 4th, 1881, died October 9th, 1904. Daughter of George Henry Duncan and Mahalia Caroline Gibson. Wife of George Washington Stone. 2nd cousin 4x removed. 

100) Archibald Tapp. Born February 14th, 1854, died August 10th, 1931. Son of William Tapp and Mary Susan Gibson. Husband of Elnora Wood. 1st cousin 5x removed. COD: Carcinoma of face (had to be a type of skin cancer.)

101) Arulius Benjamin Tapp. Born February 10th, 1846, died February 14th, 1860. Son of William Tapp and Mary Susan Gibson. 1st cousin 5x removed. 

102) Elnora "Ella Nora" Wood. Born January 24th, 1869, died September 30th, 1956. Daughter of Joseph Wood and Minerva Handley. Wife of Archibald Tapp. Wife of 1st cousin 5x removed. COD: Cerebral thrombosis, generalized arteriosclerosis. 

103) Martha F Tapp. Born May 29th, 1848, died December 14th, 1850. Daughter of William Tapp and Mary Susan Gibson. 1st cousin 5x removed. 

104) Mary Susan Gibson. Born February 10th, 1823, died January 12th, 1864. Daughter of Berryman Gibson and Susan A. Duncan. Wife of William Tapp. 4x Great-Grandaunt. 

105) Nathan Tapp. Born August 13th, 1849, died September 5th, 1852. Son of William Tapp and Mary Susan Gibson. 1st cousin 5x removed. COD: Flux. 

106) William Tapp. Born December 15th, 1817, died March 8th, 1886. Son of Vincent Tapp and Rosanna Hopson. Husband of Mary Susan Gibson. Husband of 4x Great-Grandaunt. 

107) Willie Tapp. Born 1906, died 1918. (No death certificate or obituary found.) Son of Roland Gooch Tapp and Bertie Ann Duncan. 3rd cousin 3x removed.

108) Camilla Nally. Born October 20th, 1882, died November 3rd, 1962. Daughter of Henry Oliver Nally and Vandalia Delia Gibson. Wife of Sam Thomas Thompson. 2x Great-Grandaunt (Twin of my Great-Great-Grandmother, Mary Janella (Nally) Thompson). COD: Pneumonia, diabetes mellitus, 2nd degree burns on neck and back (from a gas heater), and pyemia. 

109) Mary Katherine West. Born April 18th, 1917, died October 8th, 2009. Daughter of Cohen West and Anna Elizabeth McGroarty. Wife of Otis Benton Thompson. 3rd cousin 3x removed / Wife of 1st cousin 3x removed. COD: Urinary tract infection, Alzheimer's disease.

110) Otis Benton Thompson. Born November 18th, 1914, died August 20th, 1981. Son of Sam Thomas Thompson and Camilla Nally. Husband of Mary Katherine West. 1st cousin 3x removed. 

111) Sam Thomas Thompson. Born April 3rd, 1880, died October 10th, 1950. Son of Martin Henry Thompson and Elizabeth Levina Nally. Husband of Camilla Nally. 2x Great-Granduncle.  COD: Cerebral thrombosis, arteriosclerosis, and senility. 

112) Thornton David Thompson. Born March 5th, 1912, died January 11th, 1933. Son of Sam Thomas Thompson and Camilla Nally. 1st cousin 3x removed. COD: Diabetes mellitus and cachexia (wasting syndrome.) 

113) Vannie Louise Thompson. Born November 24th, 1911, died November 19th, 1915. Daughter of John Rowan Thompson and Mary Janella Nally. Great-Grandaunt. COD: Membranous croup.

114) Lida Watson. Born April 3rd, 1897, died February 4th, 1898. Daughter of Charles William Watson and Ella Culver. 2nd cousin 3x removed.

115) Marvin Watson. Born December 18th, 1921, died September 28th, 1924. Son of William Hollis Watson Sr and Mary Anna Duncan. 3rd cousin 2x removed. COD: Dysentery of eight days duration. 

116) Infant Welden. Born and died January 10th, 1863. Son of William Lafayette Welden and Susan Ann Gibson. 1st cousin 5x removed.

117) Martha Welden. Born February 24th, 1868, and died possibly in 1875. Daughter of William Lafayette Welden and Susan Ann Gibson. 1st cousin 5x removed.

118) Susan Ann Gibson. Born May 24th, 1833, died March 18th, 1887. Daughter of Berryman Gibson and Susan A. Duncan. Wife of William Lafayette Welden. 4x Great-Grandaunt.

119) Martha Vandelia Nally. Born November 19th, 1891, died November 9th, 1913. Daughter of Henry Oliver Nally and Vandalia Delia Gibson. Wife of Richard James Williams. 2x Great-Grandaunt. COD: Vascular disease of the heart, dropsy of the heart.

The following are those who are buried in Gibson Cemetery #2 (the second family cemetery) in alphabetical order (to the best of my ability). I will be listing their name, their birth and death date, who they are a child of, who they married, and their cause of death if available. I will also be mentioning their exact relationship to me as I am related to every single person buried in this cemetery.

1) Malinda Belle Gibson. Born July 4th, 1871, died November 3rd, 1955. Daughter of George Lafayette Gibson and Lockie Ann Christopher. Wife of Robert Jackson Sellars and George Hickman Cates. 2nd cousin 4x removed. COD: Bronchial pneumonia, hypertensive cardiovascular disease, generalized arteriosclerosis, and senile dementia. 

2) Louisa Jane Gibson. Born August 18th, 1834, died October 30th, 1863. Daughter of James William Gibson and Mary Watson. Wife of Andrew Joseph Crawford Jr. 1st cousin 5x removed. 

3) Benjamin Franklin Gibson Sr. Born July 15th, 1836, died October 5th, 1909. Son of James William Gibson and Mary Watson. Husband of Talitha Ann Floyd and Sarah Crosby Floyd. 1st cousin 5x removed. (Family suspicion that he's buried here. It's possible he could be buried in New Mexico or Texas.)

4) Ellis Earle Gibson. Born June 13th, 1880, died December 31st, 1920. Son of George Lafayette Gibson and Lockie Ann Christopher. Husband of Bertha Culver. 2nd cousin 4x removed. COD: Status epilepticus, epilepsy. Status epilepticus is usually a seizure lasting more than five minutes in result from a high fever or infection.

5) George Lafayette Gibson. Born December 25th, 1846, died May 11th, 1905. Son of James William Gibson and Mary Watson. Husband of Lockie Ann Christopher. 1st cousin 5x removed. 

6) George Louis Gibson. Born July 9th, 1880, died July 28th, 1880. Son of William L. Gibson and Sarah Elizabeth Walker. 3rd cousin 3x removed. 

7) George Other Gibson. Born August 1st, 1873, died December 18th, 1884. Possible son of James Franklin Gibson and Sarah Easley Mills, but would have been born prior to their marriage, so he's possibly an adopted son. He doesn't appear with them in the 1880 census. His tombstone does read "Son of J.F. and S.E. Gibson." If this is true - he's my 3rd cousin 3x removed. 

8) Infant Gibson. Born and died June 16th, 1879. Daughter of George Lafayette Gibson and Lockie Ann Christopher. 2nd cousin 4x removed.

9) James Andrew Gibson. Born July 9th, 1880, died July 28th, 1880. Son of William L. Gibson and Sarah Elizabeth Walker. 3rd cousin 3x removed.

10) James W Gibson. Born and died November 17th, 1882. Son of John Wiley Gibson and Nancy Caroline Morehead. 3rd cousin 3x removed.

11) James William Gibson. Born February 18th, 1810, died May 27th, 1885. Son of Berryman Gibson and Susan A. Duncan. Husband of Mary Watson and Mary E. Royster. 4x Great-Granduncle. 

12) Elizabeth A. Pritchett. Born 1844, died between 1880-1900. Daughter of William W. Pritchett and Permelia Powell. Wife of James William Gibson Jr. Wife of 1st cousin 5x removed. 

13) James William Gibson Jr. Born March 26th, 1841, died November 26th, 1879. Son of James William Gibson Sr and Mary Watson. Husband of Elizabeth A. Pritchett. 1st cousin 5x removed.

14) John William Gibson. Born November 25th, 1831, died October 8th, 1856. Son of James William Gibson and Mary Watson. Husband of Susannah Covey. 1st cousin 5x removed.

15) Lillie Gibson. Born February 25th, 1879, died October 23rd, 1879. Daughter of Robert A. Gibson and Kimmillar S. Christopher. 2nd cousin 4x removed.

16) Lizzie Gibson. Born August 7th, 1882, died October 15th, 1882. Daughter of George Lafayette Gibson and Lockie Ann Christopher. 2nd cousin 4x removed.

17) Lockie Ann Christopher. Born February 25th, 1846, died May 4th, 1920. Daughter of John J. Christopher and Elizabeth White. Wife of George Lafayette Gibson. Wife of 1st cousin 5x removed. COD: Sudden death, neuralgia of the heart. 

18) Louis Jefferson Gibson. Born April 13th, 1861, died April 27th, 1882. Son of Robert W. Gibson and Lucy Ann Floyd. 1st cousin 5x removed.

19) Mary Watson. Born October 11th, 1811, died April 2nd, 1865. Daughter of John Tarlton Watson and Sarah Elizabeth English. Wife of James William Gibson. Wife of 4x Great-Granduncle. 

20) Matildia Gibson. Born May 12th, 1886, died October 14th, 1886. Daughter of William L. Gibson and Sarah Elizabeth Walker. 3rd cousin 3x removed. (This grave originally was for a 'Mattie Cinella' with 1879 dates but.. I believe that was taken from an incorrect source and distributed over the years. The tombstone proves it's Matildia with 1886 dates.)

21) Robert Fulton Gibson. Born January 23rd, 1887, died July 29th, 1962. Son of George Lafayette Gibson and Lockie Ann Christopher. Never married. 2nd cousin 4x removed. COD: Coronary occlusion and myocardial infarction of the anterior descending branch, previous anterior infarction, long standing arteriosclerosis coronary. 

22) Sarah Crosby Floyd. Born April 8th, 1843, died between 1900-1910. (Suspected of being buried here with her husband, although they could be buried in New Mexico or Texas). Daughter of Henry Crosby Floyd and Elizabeth Atkinson. Wife of Benjamin Franklin Gibson Sr. Wife of 1st cousin 5x removed. 

23) Susannah Covey. Born August 12th, 1830, died July 13th, 1865. Daughter of Joshua David Covey and Lydia Adamson. Wife of John William Gibson. Wife of 1st cousin 5x removed.

24) Talitha Ann Floyd. Born October 11th, 1837, died September 28th, 1865. Daughter of Henry Crosby Floyd and Elizabeth Atkinson. Wife of Benjamin Franklin Gibson Sr. (Based on gut instinct, I believe she's 100% buried in this cemetery.) Wife of 1st cousin 5x removed.

25) Eula Jennette Gibson. Born August 19th, 1894, died February 8th, 1919. Daughter of James Franklin Gibson and Sarah Easley Mills. Wife of Edward Arthur Moffett. 3rd cousin 3x removed. COD: Labor pneumonia. 

26) Nathan Alander Gibson Jr. Born January 13th, 1857, died March 10th, 1898. Son of Nathan Alander Gibson Sr and Eliza Jane Webster. Husband of Mary Ellen Gibson. 1st cousin 5x removed.

27) Infant Norman. Born December 31st, 1870, died January 21st, 1871. Child of William A. Norman and Martha Frances Gibson. 2nd cousin 4x removed.

28) William A. Norman. Born September 26th, 1844, died January 28th, 1873. Son of Joseph Clifton Norman Sr and Virginia Rebecca Brooks. Husband of Martha Frances Gibson. Husband of 1C5R. 

29) Mary Ellen Pritchett. Born January 24th, 1857, died October 4th, 1857. Not exactly sure who's child she is at the moment. The Pritchett's and Gibson's intermarried a lot as they were always family friends and neighbors. If a tombstone is ever found for her (there had to have been one when Mr. Blue documented the cemetery in the 80's and 90's), then perhaps parents initials are on it. She's most likely a descendant of John Pritchett and Sarah Powell.

30) Martha Frances Gibson. Born October 3rd, 1843, died January 29th, 1885. Daughter of James William Gibson and Mary Watson. Wife of William A. Norman and Ira Bascom Robertson. 1st cousin 5x removed. 

31) Pearl Sellars. Born 1890, died 1894. Daughter of Robert Jackson Sellars and Malinda Belle Gibson. 3rd cousin 3x removed.

32) Robert Jackson Sellars. Born June 9th, 1866, died July 31st, 1897. Son of Isham Sellars and Lucy Ann Hughes. Husband of Malinda Belle Gibson. Husband of 2nd cousin 4x removed. COD: Typhoid fever. 

33) Juliett Duncan Gibson. Born February 22nd, 1877, died March 15th, 1932. Daughter of George Lafayette Gibson and Lockie Ann Christopher. Wife of James S. Tapp. 2nd cousin 4x removed. COD: Ruptured gallbladder, and chronic heart disease.

34) Eliza Thompson. Born October 20th, 1868, died January 4th, 1885. Daughter of Willis R. Thompson and Emily Adeline Pritchett, adoptive daughter of James William Gibson and Mary E. Royster. 1st cousin 4x removed.


This project has taken me almost a full month to complete. Over the course of the month, typing up this blog and adding plenty of material to my genealogy page on Facebook (Genealogy by Brecca) -- I have fixed a LOT of stuff in Gibson Cemetery #1 and #2. I have solved a lot of family mysteries.. I have found a lot of sad stories and over the next little while I will absolutely share those to this blog as well. 

For now, I will end this blog by saying thank you so much for having an interest in the Gibson cemeteries.. and if you're a relative, please say hello! I hope this blog helps future Gibson genealogists for years to come!!

Thursday, January 5, 2023

August Scavenger Hunt: "Find a Great-Grandparents grave."



 For the August scavenger hunt prompt: "Find a Great-Grandparents grave."

I'm finally sharing this on my blog in January -- and how appropriately on January 5th, 2023 - my Great-Grandpa's 110th birthday!

I don't have to go far for this set of my Great-Grandparents. Matter of fact, I can see their tombstone from my bedroom window. They're buried in Fernwood Cemetery here in Henderson.

Henry Lloyd Sandefur and Anna Elizabeth (Thompson) Sandefur.

Henry, or Poppy, was born on January 5th, 1913, in Henderson to Eugene Henry Sandefur and Ollie Lee Moss. He was the fifth of six children.

Poppy and his siblings grew up at 1421 Clay St (the Sandefur's lived in that house from about 1906 through the 1950's) - their front door was quite literally out the front door of Audubon School, which Poppy attended until about sixth grade or so. He used to hide his books out in the shed and hop trains - he'd go to Nashville for a day or two and return home.

Anna Elizabeth, called Liz by some, Lizzie by others, and occasionally Lizbet by her youngest brother (although usually just called Anna) was born August 18th, 1916, to John Rowan Thompson and Mary Janella Nally. She was the seventh of eight children.

Nana, as I call her, grew up in the Smith Mills area and attended Smith Mills School. I am not sure if she finished out school and graduated or not. If she did, I would have imagined she'd have graduated from Smith Mills, if so, it would have likely been 1933.

Nana and Poppy wed on August 25th, 1933, in Shawneetown. Nana was 17 years old and Poppy was 20... it was a shotgun wedding. Hence the elopement to Shawneetown.

They welcomed their first child, their daughter Carolyn, into the world on April 8th, 1934. By the 1940 census, they had a daughter and two sons (Donald & William 'Buddy'), and were living at 122 Burdette St. here in Henderson.

By the 1950 census, they had three daughters and two sons, living out at 1714 KY-416 (in Niagara). Back then, it was known as "Rural Route 2." They would have one more daughter about five years later.

After my Mom was born ('63) and my late Uncle Jay ('65), my Grandparents (Jady & Glynda) built a house next door to Nana & Poppy, at 1670 KY-416.

Poppy was a diabetic and also suffered severe heart problems. He passed away young on March 11th, 1970, at just 57 years of age. At the time of his death, my Nana didn't know where to bury him (as the spots near his parents in Fernwood were full.) Poppy's cousin, funeral director Paul B. Moss provided my Nana with the two plots - one for Poppy and one for herself. She tried to pay him back for the plots, and he wouldn't accept the money.

In the mid 1970's, Nana moved to town, and then my Grandparents moved to town as well. Nana lived for twenty some-odd years in Fair Acres until her Alzheimer's progressed far enough that we had to place her into a rest home (about early 1999.)

Nana passed away on October 2nd, 2001. I was in the third grade. I'll never forget coming home from school and getting the phone call about 40 minutes after I'd gotten home. That day and the following few days were without a doubt some of the worst in my life. I'll never forget her funeral - that was the hardest rain I've ever, to this day, experienced in my life. It certainly fit the mood. I felt like my heart had shattered into a million pieces and it was never going to be whole again.

My Nana was my very best friend. She had been my babysitter early-on in my life. After she went into the nursing home, my Grandma and I went every day, and I quite literally mean EVERY DAY to the nursing home to visit with her. Sometimes we'd go two or three times in one single day.

Nana is the entire reason I started doing genealogy. None of my friends knew any of their Great-Grandparents back then, so at just seven years old, I realized it was a rarity/oddity to know your Great-Grandparents.. (even if it's just one of them.) So I pondered if Nana ever knew any of her Great-Grandparents - unfortunately due to Alzheimer's, she couldn't answer that question (not accurately, anyway). My Grandma and I took to working on our family tree to figure out the answer. I've been hooked by the genealogy bug ever since. 2022 marks 22 years I've been doing genealogy. I owe everything to this beautiful, intelligent, wonderful, compassionate woman.

Some of you might remember my Nana, actually, because she was a bus driver for many years. I believe she drove a bus in the 60s, 70s, and into the early 80s. I know she drove the route out in Niagara but she might have substituted for other routes as well. She and Grandma Glynda would bowl with other bus drivers. I unfortunately didn't inherit Nana's bowling ball, but I did inherit Grandma Glynda's. It's certainly one of my prized possessions now.

I come from a family full of bus drivers, actually, lol. Poppy drove a bus as well. Their late daughter, Carolyn, drove a bus, and my Grandma - Glynda (Sandefur) Blanford also drove a bus. I believe one of the sons might have driven a city bus back in the day, too.

Thank you all for reading about my Nana & Poppy. It means a lot. ❤️



Saturday, August 13, 2022

52 Ancestors 2021: Week 25: Groups

Introducing the world to my literal 'babies' - our cemetery groups on Facebook. 

Henderson KY Cemetery Research Group

WKM (Western Kentucky Metro) Cemetery Research

Anyone and everyone is allowed and more than welcome to join. We love new members and embrace anyone who is interested in cemeteries - new or old. 

For a while, I was stumped on what to write about for 'groups' and then it finally hit me tonight: my cemetery groups on Facebook!

First and foremost, I have to mention my baby - Henderson KY Cemetery Research Group. It wasn't my brain child and I never, ever, no matter her feelings towards me or anything else want to take credit for it. Originally, the group was made in December of 2015 to house Sarah's cemetery photography, to talk about the cemeteries here in Henderson County, and for us to potentially get out and research some. 

Sarah and her then husband, Dustin Vittur, went out to some cemeteries in the Bluff City, Hebbardsville, Niagara areas and started having some success finding tombstones buried beneath the dirt (sometimes as little as three or four inches, and sometimes as much as a foot deep) that had been lost for decades. They were prodding the ground with fiberglass rods (about five feet in length. You can buy them at Rural King. They're actually called 'driveway stakes' I believe.) 

Well, the three of us had struck up a fast friendship in September of 2015 and knowing that I shared her love of cemeteries and the enthusiasm as well, they started inviting me along to the cemeteries and gave me a rod to look for tombstones. The first real cemetery adventure I went with the on was New Years Day 2016 so 1/1/2016. We ended up discovering a cemetery out in the outskirts of Hebbardsville (on the Green River) that even Mr. Blue didn't know about. 

Mr. Blue was a local man who in the 1980's and 1990's mapped out all (or close to all) of Henderson's cemeteries and made an accompanying book of the burials. The first tombstone I actually managed to find was in Ridgewood Cemetery in February of 2016. After finding my first tombstone, I was absolutely hooked. 

By September of 2016, Sarah had lined us up with an interview with the Gleaner and in October of 2016, we made the front page of the Sunday edition of the Gleaner newspaper. We were interviewed out at Bethel Cemetery and the tombstone we found that was featured was that of Eulalie Cosby. The tombstone had been missing for at least fifty years, if not longer. 






That day was absolutely one of the happiest days of my life. No matter our falling out - I will thank Sarah for the rest of my life, and thank God, too, for bringing her into my life and giving me the amazing opportunities that she did. 

We had our most successful day finding tombstones out at Bethel Baptist in October of 2016. We heaved so many tombstones up from a ditch... and for a long time we believed they had fell down over the edge with time. I've since talked to someone whose family owned land out there and they let me know: those tombstones were intentionally shoved down into that ditch, which just knowing that, it disgusts me. 


None of the above tombstones were documented in Mr. Blue's book so they had absolutely been uncounted for since before at least 1980. Bethel Baptist is definitely a treasure trove of lost tombstones buried beneath the Earth or off the side of the ditch. Cash Creek also proved to be a decent place to find lost tombstones. One day when we were out there, we found the lost tombstone of the son of Dr. McCarty. 


After making the front page of the Gleaner, we were asked to come document Brown-Konsler Cemetery in Cairo. The cemetery is actually set up to kind of be two different cemeteries - but right beside each other. Historians and genealogists over the years have just kind of decided to merge them because they really are in the same spot, separated by a few trees.


Then we were asked to come to Webster County and document a cemetery in the middle of the woods -- Asher Cemetery, and checked out Rock Stile Cemetery (which was a stones throw away) as well. 


Then we were asked to come check out Boswell Cemetery out in Bluff City which was 100% on our bucket list. The owners of the Craven Boswell house were SO incredibly nice. 




In November 2016, just a few days before my best friend was killed in a horrendous car accident, we were asked to document Dorsey Cemetery out in Corydon. We even found Noah Dorsey's lost tombstone! Noah and his wife are credited with naming Corydon and pretty much founding it (officially yet unofficially at the same time.) Noah's tombstone is a double - the bottom half is a young daughter of theirs that had passed away. 


After that, a lot of the cemetery stuff died down, especially for me, because I lost Nick so tragically in that car accident. I was broken and devastated. We did a few cemetery things in 2017 but a lot of it, Sarah and Dustin did by themselves, which I was more than okay with. They got a few more cemeteries documented out in the Zion and Hebbardsville areas which I'm incredibly thankful for.

By 2018, I knew something was going on between the two of them. I had lined up going out and documenting the Sights Cemetery but, that never happened. It was like, I had been shut out. At the start of 2019, I felt like I had been ex-communicated from the group because of S & D's divorce, so I started up my second baby -- WKM (Western Kentucky Metro) Cemetery Research. By mid 2019, I was told that I could have Henderson KY Cemetery Research Group, because both S & D had moved about an hour to an hour and a half away in different directions. I was relieved. 

WKM Cemetery Research hasn't done *as much* as our Henderson group but that's because my collaborators and myself haven't had the chance to get out and do as much. Taylor and I managed to find Jordan Cemetery in March of 2019, which was quite a feat for Henderson KY Cemetery Research Group. Jordan Cemetery is so grown up, you can't even tell it's there. It took us thirty minutes to finally find it. We wouldn't have ever finally found the right area to look if it wasn't for Taylor's Dad saying he and his late wife had been walking one evening and stumbled across it back before Taylor was even born, I believe. That finally gave us a pinpoint of where to look.




Jessica and Taylor have both done some things in Indiana for WKM, but as with all good things, things come to an end. A literal demonic seed that I called my best friend since I was 11 years old came in and destroyed the friendship I had with Taylor and of course, she felt slighted when I kicked her from the WKM group and blocked her, she tried to say she was the owner and operator of WKM (bull). We're on better terms now that we know who the demon spawn is and what she did to us.. but now WKM is just Jessica and myself. Supposedly, Taylor has started her own new group in Warrick Co and well, good luck to her, of course. The more cemetery research groups the better in my opinion. 

The last big thing I did for Henderson Ky Cemetery Research Group was getting Cheatham Cemetery in Zion documented and even finding a lost tombstone there. Well, the other half of a lost tombstone. It was in November of 2019 and a very exciting and rewarding day!





Now here it is late 2021 and I've been asked to come out and document a couple different locations but, it's November 7th, and I'm sick as a dog. Changing of the seasons (when it gets super cold for the first time of the year) always gets me sick. 

I'm hoping to order the large D/2 kit from Atlas Preservation and get to cleaning tombstones in the spring. Here's to 2022 being a big and exciting year for me and Henderson Ky Cemetery Research Group! I sure do miss finding lost tombstones. I miss being out in cemeteries and doing what I love. 

Monday, August 1, 2022

June Scavenger Hunt: Find someone who died in June.

 I posted about my 1st cousin 4x removed, Erastus Kohl Gibson, for the first time last August but, I felt today, he needed to be talked about again.



Erastus was born on September 19th, 1886. He was the son of George Harrell Gibson and Cora Francis Young.

On November 27th, 1912, in White County, IL, he married Mary Evelyn Hughes. They had one son, James, on December 15th, 1913.

On June 5th, 1917, Erastus filed his draft card at the age of 30. On June 19th, 1918, he was ordered for military service at Camp Zachary Taylor. Later that year, he headed to France to fight in WW1.

He arrived home from France April 2nd, 1919 after nine months. He was involved in four major battles -- and against what the article reads, he was actually injured slightly one time.

Before leaving for war -- Erastus and his wife, Mary, had gotten a divorce. The judge had ordered their son, James, to be with one parent for six months, and the other for six months.

Erastus hadn't had his son but for almost three months when she came to get the boy and take him. I'm guessing it was more an arrangement of, "you get our son January-June, and I get him July-December." That type of six months.

Unfortunately, in a stage of despondency over losing his son after only having him for just shy of three months - he drank carbolic acid and took his own life. He unfortunately was gone before physicians could reach him and potentially save his life.



Erastus died 103 years ago -- June 30th, 1919.



After his fathers suicide - James went on to live with his maternal Grandparents here in Henderson for several years, and then moved to California with his remarried mother. He married in 1938, had children, and finished out his life in California, passing away in 1975.

From what I can gather on Ancestry - James' descendants, children and grandchildren, had no idea of the reason for Erastus's suicide. Only after finding the same article I'm sharing with you all, did they finally know the *why*.

Erastus is laid to rest with most of his Gibson kinfolk in the Gibson Cemetery in Corydon. He is surrounded still by those who loved him.

103 years later - you aren't forgotten, cousin. 🙏🙏

June Scavenger Hunt: Find someone born in June.

  I present to y'all - my 5x Grandfather, Berryman Gibson.



Buried in the Gibson Cemetery in Corydon, he has an extensive list of descendants all over the United States today. From yours truly, the hometown genealogist, to an Emmy-winning journalist, to a Professor of Biophysics, to a renowned children's author, and a local barbecue restauranteur. That's barely scratching the surface at his descendants.

Berryman was born on June 13th, 1785, in Caswell County, North Carolina, to Gibson family patriarch Joel Gibson and his wife, Eleanor (her name is also given as Ellender at times.) Berryman *might* be a twin of his brother, Greenberry Gibson. They both go by the nickname "Berry" Gibson so... they've been confused with one another from time to time in a genealogy standpoint.

In roughly 1808, he married Susan A. Duncan in either Caswell Co, NC, or perhaps Pittsylvania Co, VA. It is known that around 1808, the family had left Caswell Co, NC and headed to Pittsylvania Co, VA. From there, by about 1814 or so (after the War of 1812), Berryman headed to the Henderson Co, KY area.

Berryman or his brother Greenberry fought in the War of 1812, in the 7th Regiment Virginia Militia. The registration name is just "Berry Gibson," so honestly it could have been Berryman OR Greenberry.. I'd love to know which one.

The family made their roots just outside of Corydon - in the area of current day "J. Gibson Rd" (named after Joel? Maybe John? Maybe James? Lots of J. Gibson's in the family!) which is beside both of the Gibson cemeteries in Corydon. It is said that the Gibson's had wondrous sized plantations. My Grandma Glynda talked about overhearing the older generation in her youth talking about the old "Gibson homestead," there near the cemetery. I believe it was gone/torn down by the time my Grandma was born in 1941, though.

Berryman and his wife Susan had at least eleven children that I'm aware of, possibly more that died in infancy/youth.

Susan preceded Berryman in death in 1865 - and the Good Lord called Berryman home in September of 1869. His tombstone erroneously gives his death date as September 1st, 1870. However - the 1870 federal mortality schedule which lists deaths PRIOR to June 1st, 1870 - says he died in September of 1869. His cause of death was consumption, which is the old term for tuberculosis.

I believe sometime in possibly the 1930's or 1940's (and possibly it was even later than that, as I wasn't born myself until 1993) - Berryman and Susan's tombstones were replaced. No original headstones for them have been found by myself or other Gibson descendants at the cemetery as of 2022. Whoever replaced the originals either destroyed them or kept them for themselves.

Their children:

1. James William Gibson, February 18 1810 / May 27 1885, married Mary Watson, then Mary E. Royster. Buried in the 2nd Gibson Cemetery in Corydon.

2. Elizabeth "Betsey" Gibson, born in about 1811. I believe she died prior to 1850. She was the wife of her first cousin, Solomon Stone (son of Josiah Stone & Vicey Gibson.)

3. Joel E. Gibson, 1813 / 1853. Married Margaret J. Martin. He could be buried in either cemetery.

4. Martha Gibson, born about 1815. As of the 1850 census, she was unwed and living with her parents. She disappears after that. She's likely buried in the main Gibson Cemetery.

5. John Gregory Gibson, December 18 1816 / November 6 1890. Married Mahala Caroline Busby, then Elizabeth (?). John & Mahala are my 4x Grandparents. They're buried in the main Gibson Cemetery.

6. Bailey Gibson, December 8 1818 / February 5 1859. Married Sirena Weldon. He's said to be buried in the main family cemetery. His death year has also been given in error as 1866. His will was written in 1857, and I believe he died 1859.

7. Mary Susan "Polly" Gibson, February 10 1823 / January 12 1864. Married William Tapp. They're buried in the main Gibson Cemetery.

8. Robert W. Gibson, November 16 1824 / January 6 1884. Married Catherine Pritchett, then Lucy Ann Floyd. He and his second wife, Lucy, are buried in the Tapp Cemetery southwest of Poole in Webster County.

9. William C. Gibson, October 16 1825 / January 2 1898. Married Mary Frances Floyd. He's buried in the main Gibson Cemetery.

10. Nathan Alander Gibson Sr, January 5 1828 / July 23 1899. Married Marietta "Mary" Webster, then Eliza Jane Webster, and lastly Susan B. Hancock. He's buried in the main Gibson Cemetery.

11. Susan Ann Gibson, May 24 1833 / March 18 1887. Married William Lafayette Welden. She's buried in the main Gibson Cemetery.

If you're a Berryman Gibson descendant - please let me know! I love meeting new Gibson cousins. If you've got a Gibson line and you aren't sure if you're a Berryman descendant, or a Joel Gibson descendant, feel free to message me!

June Scavenger Hunt: Find the letter "X" in a name.

 ** Photograph from Karen Waddell in 2012. I know where this cemetery is, but I haven't been as I didn't know who owned the land. I've since learned that the land has been designated as a cemetery and anyone can go visit at any time. **


For June's Scavenger Hunt prompt: "Find the letter "X" in a name." Well, in this area... what better last name could their be than Dixon?

This is the grave of George Washington Dixon Sr. and his wife, Eliza A. Sutton. They are buried in Rawley Cemetery, also called "Tunnell Hill Cemetery" on a few death certificates as it's out towards the Tunnell Hill area of the county.

Rawley Cemetery is located, if you're heading south on Highway 41-A towards Poole - it is located between Cairo and Poole. On the right side of the road. In a thicket of woods between the Dixon Rd (before the cemetery) and Petersburg Rd (after the cemetery.)

George Washington Dixon, born on August 13th, 1828, was the son of William Quinton Dixon (born circa 1769 in Maryland) and more than likely his second wife given their age difference, Maria Cecilia "Myra" Conaway (born circa 1793 in Maryland.) By the time of William & Maria's son, John's, birth in 1824 - they were living in Henderson Co, KY.

William's probate was in 1851 here in Henderson County. William and his wife, Maria, are either buried in the Old Dixon (also called Old Marks, Dixon-Pritchett, Pritchett-Crooks, etc.) Cemetery or perhaps in this cemetery.

The oldest tombstone found in Rawley thus far is for William Higginson, dated 1851. The oldest documented burial (with proof) in the old Dixon (or whatever name you wish to call it) is Thomas Newell in 1843.

Eliza A. (Sutton) Dixon, born on August 6th, 1840, was the daughter of William Sutton and Permelia Poole. They are buried here in Rawley Cemetery. They were prominent figures of the Cairo area. Permelia was of course a daughter of John Poole and Jane Huston, who the town Poole derives its name.

George and Eliza wed on July 27th, 1857, here in Henderson County, KY. I believe they had 14 children - that's all I've been able to find. Of course, as my usual nature, you know I've got to tell you a bit about their kids.

1. Paulina E. Dixon - Born August 16th, 1858, died May 20th, 1860. Buried in Rawley Cemetery.

2. Katherine Lenora "Kate" Dixon. Born May 12th, 1860, died March 12th, 1936. Wife of Isham Elijah Cottingham. They're buried in Fernwood.

3. Ashley B. Dixon. Born May 14th, 1862, died June 9th, 1939. Never married. He moved up to Anderson, IN, with his sister Effie and her husband. His death certificate says he was brought back to Henderson Ky for burial - I believe he's buried in Rawley Cemetery.

4. Sarah Frances "Fanny" Dixon. Born November 17th, 1864, died November 19th, 1893. She married Cyrus A. Cannon and they had one son - John Hinkle Cannon. Buried in Rawley Cemetery.

5. George M. Dixon. Born May 9th, 1867, died June 25th, 1931. Never married. He was a farmer in the Corydon community. Buried in Rawley Cemetery.

6. Permelia Effie Dixon. Born May 23rd, 1869, died August 28th, 1961. She married George Alexander Whitledge. They never had children. They moved up to Anderson, IN. After her husbands death, she lived with her sister Chestine and her brother David. She's buried in Maplewood Cemetery.

7. Jessie Mariah Dixon. Born in 1871. Married John C. Wise, and I believe she must have passed away, likely from childbirth, within the first year or two of their marriage. She's probably buried in Rawley Cemetery. They wed in 1894, and she's definitely deceased by 1900.

8. William Wallace Dixon. Born April 19th, 1873, died March 29th, 1958. He married Lulu Bell Melton. He died in West Virginia, but he was buried in Corydon Cemetery.

9. David Dexter Dixon. Born February 9th, 1875, died April 25th, 1965. He was a Dentist. He never married. He lived with his sisters Effie and Chestine before his death. He's buried in Maplewood Cemetery in Anderson, Indiana.

10. Chestine Dixon. Born February 21st, 1877, died January 6th, 1967. She never married. She lived up in Anderson, IN, with Effie and David. She's buried in Maplewood Cemetery.

11. Payne Dixon. Born April 28th, 1878, died June 6th, 1878. Buried in Rawley Cemetery.

12. Wynnfield Dixon. Born May 27th, 1879, died March 8th, 1903. He never married. He died at 23 years old in a horrible accident involving a coal train. He's buried in Rawley Cemetery.

13. Quinton Vanningham Dixon. Born March 17th, 1881, died September 1st, 1966. He was married to Allie Young Branson but they divorced after 1920. I can't find him in the 1930, 40, or 50 censuses. He's buried in Corydon Cemetery.

14. Dixie G. Dixon. Born May 28th, 1883, died July 10th, 1884. Buried in Rawley Cemetery.

If you get some free time, go check out Rawley Cemetery. You might just stumble across an ancestor or two of yours out there. The Dixon's aren't the only family buried out there, other last names include: Arnett, Conrad, Cottingham (one of the most populous of the cemetery, no doubt), Crook, Dunekake, Ehlers, Harrington, Heck, Hurt, Kohl, McClure, McMullin, Minton, Overfield, Pritchett, of course the Rawley's (the namesake, obviously!), Pritchett, Quinn, Sellars, Sigler, Sugg, Sutton (the second most populous last name out there), Tapp, Whitledge, Willett, and Zeman.

June Scavenger Hunt: Find a grave with an angel statue.

Charles Zeddie Isiah Dossett -- I photographed his grave in April of 2017. He's buried in Union Hill Cemetery in the Little Dixie area of Henderson County.


Charles was born on June 2nd, 1916, to Zeddie Isiah Dossett and Mae Overfield. He only had one elder brother, Elmo, who was two years older. He was likely born in the Little Dixie area.

Unfortunately, little Charles' life was cut short when he passed away on November 8th, 1921, at 5 years old, of meningitis following diphtheria. I believe it says he'd had diphtheria for two weeks.

His grave is a little worn, but by far, the most beautiful out at Union Hill Cemetery. I'm sure it's a beautiful grave for what was a beautiful little boy.

Through his father, he was a Great-Great-Grandson of Charles Crook and Deborah Marks. Through his mother, he was a Great-Great-Grandson of Martin and Mary Ann Overfield. Those couples are likely the ancestors of many members of our group here.

Charles lies beside his father, who died in 1965 of a cerebral thrombosis (and hypertensive arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.) His mother and brother, sadly, perished in a house fire together in 1977. They, too, join little Charles in Union Hill.

Next time you're out at this cemetery - take a moment and remember this little family and the tragedies they endured.

I just now realized that the right arm is broken off of Charles' angel statue. How sad. 🙁 Perhaps the church could raise funds to fix it. That would be a wonderful blessing.

June Scavenger Hunt: Find a notable member of the community.

 For the prompt of "Find a notable member of the community," for June's Scavenger Hunt - I could think of no one more fitting than my cousin, Owen Hamner Beck.


*Tombstone photograph from Karen Waddell when she photographed the cemetery about ten years ago.*


To this day, in the Geneva and Smith Mills areas - you likely can't find a person who didn't know Hamner. From his barbecuing to his volunteer efforts around the community - I don't think there's a way Hamner didn't help out the area and its people.

Hamner was my Great-Grandma's (Lorene LaRue Blanford) first cousin. He was the son of Thomas Jesse Beck and his first wife, Laura Pearl LaRue, who was my Great-Great-Grandaunt.

He was an exceptionally close friend to my Great-Grandpa, Dick Blanford, and helped him do many things - including making apple cider. That's the photograph I've decided to share with y'all. Hamner (left in the picture) is helping Dick (center of the photo) with the apple cider process.

Hambone, as many called him, married Drusie Mae Gaines on November 7th, 1931, and they reared seven children together - two being stillborn. Of their surviving children - all were sons. I can only imagine how full Drusie's hands were as they were growing up.

In the 1940 census, the married couple and their children are living on the "Mt. Vernon Rd." and are neighbors of the Bishop's and Rhodes'. In the 1950 census, they're living on Highway 136 and are neighbors of the Dance's and Staser's. Back in those days, everyone knew everyone in that small community... and they were all related too, 😂

Hamner's wife, Drusie, preceded him in death on December 20th, 1990, and then he received his own set of Angel wings on January 25th, 2000. I was almost 7 when he passed - I don't remember Hamner from my childhood (I know I met him but, the memories are just too far back and too fuzzy), but I do remember Grandpa Jady talking about him often after Hamner passed. He always had a story to tell about his Dad and Hamner.



Hamner, like most of the other Beck's, lays resting in the Smith Mills Cemetery.

If y'all have any memories with Hamner, please feel free to share! I imagine several of y'all that are from Geneva and Smith Mills remember him and probably know his sons.