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ETOWAH COMMUNITY

Etowah receives grant for cemetery project

The Town of Etowah was awarded a Department of Arkansas Heritage grant of $10,569 for a proposed project at the Garden Point Cemetery.
Etowah Mayor Charles Bo McCollum said the project consists of mapping and identifying the gravesites at the Garden Point Cemetery using a computer program used on a laptop computer called Spatial Generations.
This mapping will allow the Cemetery Committee and Town of Etowah to be able to account for all grave sites more affectively and identify historical figures buried at Garden Point.
The project will allow the Cemetery Committee and Town of Etowah to better serve the local, state, federal and international communities by being able to share information about deceased family members to citizens wanting to know about their ancestors and history. This information will not only be available locally but also via the internet.
“Our resident cemetery historian, Shirley Heard Brackett Mathey, has graciously volunteered her time and talents to enter all the data and work with the software company to make sure our data is correct and available to all,” Mayor McCollum said.
The website will show the cemetery’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places and will list the historical descendants buried within the cemetery. In addition, obituaries of the people buried at the cemetery will be available for viewing.
The Department of Arkansas Heritage received 202 applications for a total of $4.2 million, but funding of $600,000 limited the committee to selection of only 33 projects.
“Congratulations to the members of your organization for their contributions in providing an outstanding project that preserves Arkansas’s heritage,” Randy Denis, program manager said.

For more information on Garden Point Cemetery log on to: home.centurytel.net/gardenpointcemetery. To contact Mathey with any information e-mail her at Shirley Mathey@centurytel.net.

updated May 8, 2008

ETOWAH ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Since 1995-2000
From 2nd Etowah Cookbook, and 3rd Etowah Cookbook.

1) 1995 - Received an energy grant for the city.
2) 1995 - Started trash service for all residents of the town. Received a grant Rural Advocacy to construct the Town Triangle Area, which included the flag poles, monument and benches.
3) 1996 - The Garden Point Cemetery was incorporated into the city business, which allowed the town to apply for grants, put some restrictions on the cemetery that were not done previously, and allowed the town to receive the town to receive additional burial property through a donation, which would not have been given other wise.
4) 1996 - A COPS Grant in the amount of $64,800.00 was received so that a full-time police officer could be hired.
5) 1996 - The Etowah Police Department was established.
6) 1996 - A town shop building was constructed.
7) 1996 - A Justice Department Grant Fire Department was established. Keiser donated a truck and some surplus equipment. The department began with 3 members and now has 19 trained fire fighters. The truck began with 13 members, and how has 19 trained fire fighters. The truck is currently housed in the shop building. Etowah is grateful to the Keiser Fire Department for its help.
10) 1996 - A grant was received from the Health Department for its help. A grant was received from the Health Department in the amount of $1300.00 to equip Etowah First Responders.
11) 1996 - Streets were named after Etowah’s pioneer settlers, and signs were erected.
12) 1996 - Etowah citizens inaugurated their first Christmas Parade, and their first City Picnic.
13) 1997 - The City Hall moved from the Etowah Baptist Church to the Old Etowah Pool Hall, which had been purchased and remodeled by Robert and Shirley Johnson.
14) 1998 - Gravel and culverts were added throughout the town to help with drainage.
15) 1998 - A grant from FEMA was received in the amount of $10,000.000 to purchase Etowah’s first Tornado Siren.
16) 1998 - A grant was received from the Justice Department to purchase a computer for the Police Department.
17) 1999 - American State Bank in Osceola donated to Etowah their old building. Volunteers moved the building, and volunteers finished it into the fine new City Hall that it is today.
18) 1999 -An effort was begun to collect old photographs and documents about Etowah for historical values.
19) 1999 -A second pumper truck was purchased for the Fire Department.
20) 1999 - A grant in the amount of $500.00 was received from the U.S. Forestry Department to help purchase equipment for the Fire Department.
21) 1999 - A $75,000.00 grant was received from the U.S. Justice Department for hiring a part-time police officer.
22) 1999 - Garden Point Cemetery issued its 1st Etowah cookbook with proceeds earmarked or cemetery upkeep.
23) 1999 -A grant in the amount of $18,000.00 was received to received to purchase a chipper for the Etowah Street Department.
24) 1999 - The city received an award from Wal-Mart in the amount of $5,000.00 to help match a new fire department grant. To win this award, an essay was written about Robert “Bit” Johnson, who has volunteered so any hours of his time and lot of effort for Etowah, Bit was surprised and pleased to received this Wal-Mart Volunteer Award. Only one other town in Arkansas received this type of award.
25) 1999 - A Tree Board and Committee was established in order to qualify for Tree City USA Status, which helps the town receive grants for trees and equipment through the U. S Department of Forestry. 23) 26) 2000 - There is now a grant pending for trees for the cemetery and the new park.
27) 2000 - Lee Wilson Company donated to the city of Etowah 13 acres of prime land for the establishment of a city park.
28) 2000 - A grant in the amount of $20,000.00 has been received from Arkansas Parks and Tourism for the construction of a ball field, playground equipment, picnic tables, benches and other improvements for the city park.
29) 2000 - The town went through an ISO rating to establish Etowah’s fir rating for insurance premiums.
Several fire hydrants were installed throughout the town at a cost of $1500.00 each.
30) 2000 - RC&D’s Fire Plan was executed, which qualifies the town for a $1500.00 grant immediately; and with future prospects of grants, which can be as much as $15,000.00.
31) 2000 - A $60,810.00 Rural Block Grant was received to build a new fire station, a four-stall metal building, which will include an inside train area.
32) 2000 - Property, valued in the amount of $7,000.00 had been donated to the city by Merle and Malcom Weathers. This land will be used to build a new fire station.
33) 2000 - A Veterans Memorial was erected by the city at Garden Point Cemetery. A Veterans Day Ceremony has been established also as a yearly event to assemble together at Garden Point to honor veterans.
34) 2000 -A $5,500.00 grant was received from the Justice Department for the purchase of equipment for the police department.
35) 2000 - An ISO rating was received, which reduced the town fire rating from 9/10 to 7/9. This new rating will save Etowah citizens about half on their premiums.
36) 2000 - Streetlights have been installed through out the town and the cemetery.
37) 2000 - Another $500.00 grant was again received from the U. S. Forestry Department to purchased equipment for the Etowah Fire Department.
38) 2000 - The city received an award from Wal-Mart in the amount of $1,000.00 for economic development. To win this award, an essay was written about Teresa Weathers Tippy, who has volunteered her time working toward a city park and working with the youth of our community.
39) 2000 - A grant was received from Enterprises Community for $3,500 for the building of the handicap area at Etowah City Hall.
40) 2000 - A grant was received from the Department of Energy for energy saving doors and windows at City Hall, including door openers, for $3,500 for the Fire Department.
41) 2000 - An award was given by the Municipal League to Etowah for being one of 12 cities in Arkansas to receive the above grant.
42) 2001 - A $15,000 grant was received from Rural Services and $15,000 was given by the Goldsby Trust Fund to build a pavilion for the city park.
43) 2001 - The U.S. Forestry gave the City of Etowah a grant of $14,000 to purchase a mover and trees for the park and cemetery, as well as educational materials of tree preservation.
44) 2001 - Etowah received a grant of $23,000 from the USDA for the purchase of a Police Durango Ca and additional monies were received from Enterprise Community for police equipment for the car.
45) 2002 - A new fire truck was purchased with a $65,000 grant given by Rural Services/CBGD Grants.
46) 2002 - A grant was received from RCD for $7,500 for the purchase of water tanker for the fire department.
47) 2003 - A grant from the Forestry Department of $1,000 was received for fire-fighting equipment.
48) 2004 - The following year a grant from the Forestry Department of $1,000 was again received for fire-fighting equipment.
49) 2004 - A grant in the amount of $750 was received from Sam’s Club of Jonesboro, Arkansas, for the purchase of a 2-way radio link City Hall with the Manila School District for emergency purchases such as tornado and earthquake communication needs. The children of Etowah attend school in the Manila School District, and Etowah is located some distance from the school.
50) 2004 - The Etowah Fire Department received a $2,750 grant from RCD to purchase mobile radios/fire equipment.
51) 2004 - A grant was received from the Justice Department for the Etowah Police Department to purchase police equipment.
52) 2004 - A grant was received in the amount of $1.4 million from CBG and USDA with a city loan of $186,000 to extend over a 40 year period for the new sewer system, which will be complete in August 2005.
53) 2004 - A grant from Soil and Water Conservation in the amount of $10,000 was received to replace fire hydrants on Brackett Road and to remove and replace the water line sizes from 4 inches to 6 inches.
54) 2004 - Received $8,000 from the U.S. Forestry to plant trees and plants in the city, park, cemetery and triangle.
55) 2004 - Received a grant from Rural Services for $7,500 for a basketball court for the park.
56) 2004 - Received a grant of $47,500 from FEMA to purchase fire department equipment.
57) 2004 - Received a grant of $34,000 to put down asphalt for a walking track in the park.
58) 2004 - Placed six concrete benches in the cemetery for people to sit and rest.
59) 2005 - Etowah was one of 13 cities in Arkansas to receive a 5-year award for being Tree City USA from US Department of Forestry, Arkansas Forestry Commission and Arbor Day Foundation.
60) 2005 - The Arkansas Forest Commission award Etowah with $3,025 to be used for equipment and maintenance of trees.
61) 2005 - Mayor Bo McCollum was given the Chairman’s Award at his place of work, American Greetings. As a part of the award, he was given $1,000 to give to the charity of his choice. Bo chose to split the money between the Etowah First Department and the Etowah Police Department so that each received $500.
62) 2005 - Mr and Mrs R.H. Jr (Bob and Gene) donated approximately five acres of land that adjoins the Garden Point Cemetery. This increases the size of the cemetery’s upkeep and maintenance for time to come, as burial plots will be sold.
63) 2006 - Garden Point Cemetery nominated by the Arkansas Historical Committee for National Historical Recognition.

ETOWAH
Elected Officials

2005 Elected Officials

Charles McCollum Mayor
Martha Weathers Recorder-Treasurer
Faye Smith Councilwoman
Robert Johnson Councilman
Judy Sorrell Councilwoman
Tommy Sharp Councilman
Teressa Tippy Councilwoman

2004 Elected Officials

Charles McCollum Mayor
Martha Weathers Recorder-Treasurer
Faye Smith Councilwoman
Robert Johnson Councilman
Judy Sorrell Councilwoman
Tommy Sharp Councilman
Teressa Tippy Councilwoman

2003 Elected Officials

Charles McCollum Mayor
Martha Weathers Recorder-Treasurer
Faye Smith Councilwoman
Teressa Tippy Councilwoman
Judy Sorrell Councilwoman
Tommy Sharp Councilman
Daniel Cates Councilman

2002 Elected Officials

Charles McCollum Mayor
Martha Weathers Recorder-Treasurer
Faye Smith Councilwoman
Teressa Tippy Councilwoman
Judy Sorrell Councilwoman
Tommy Sharp Councilman
Daniel Cates Councilman

2001 Elected Officials

Charles McCollum Mayor
Martha Weathers Recorder-Treasurer
Robert Johnson Councilman
Kevin Fergerson Councilman
Teressa Tippy Councilwoman
Sharon Brooks Councilwoman
Lee Coatney Councilman

2000 Elected Officials

Charles McCollum Mayor
Martha Weathers Recorder-Treasurer
Robert Johnson Councilman
Kevin Fergerson Councilman
Teressa Tippy Councilwoman
Sharon Brooks Councilwoman
Lee Coatney Councilman

1999 Elected Officials

Charles McCollum Mayor
Tommye Smith Recorder-Treasurer
Kevin Fergerson Councilman
Lee Coatney Councilman
Robert Johnson Councilman
Teressa Tippy Councilwoman
Sharon Tittle Brooks Councilwoman

1997/1998 Elected Officials

Charles McCollum Mayor
Faye Smith Recorder-Treasurer
Chris Ferrell Councilman
Keith Tittle Councilman
Robert Johnson Councilman
Elwanda Sharp Councilwoman
Laura Girdley Councilwoman

1996 Elected Officials

Charles McCollum Mayor
Pam Weathers Recorder-Treasurer
Chris Ferrell Councilman
Linda Sharp Councilwoman
Robert Johnson Councilman
Elwanda Sharp Councilwoman
Laura Girdley Councilwoman

ETOWAH: A Historical Perspective

The Etowah area was in time past known as Jackson’s Island, named of course, after an early settler whom no one seems to be able to rightly identify. The word island, was a choice word to aptly used to describe land almost entirely encircled in a loop fashion by Little River. In 1902, a man by the name of Frances Jackson opened the first Post Office, and the name Etowah was chosen. Etowah is an Indian name, and it most appropriate as there was at one time a large population of Indians who lived through the area. Etowah’s first public graveyard is still referred to as The Indian Mound. The discovery of Indian artifacts has been common for many farmers thought out the years. The first actual settlers were loggers, rafters, and crewmen. Many were young men who were “seeking their fortunes.” The were hired by a large logging company, and when the land was cleared, the company either rented the land for farming or sold it. Some still recall the name of Chapman Dewey Logging Company. Some old timers described the area as wild country with rough living, but with great opportunity. The land itself was particularly fertile and rich with a deep topsoil perfect for farming, made even more so after the system of levees was built. Before the levees were built, much of the area, alive with mosquitoes was swampland, and Little River supported a bustling trade with steamboats. Now, Little River is totally dry in places, according to some, the now illegal DDT helped to save the quality of life and eliminate many incidences of malaria and yellow fever.
People who now live elsewhere, but who identify with Etowah in some fashion, are constantly trekking back to visit, to drive through or to look up an old friend. One wonders what is the hold that Etowah has. It assuredly is the people. Etowah did not just consist of individual families, but people intermingled as one colossal extended family which was the community. That was and is its beauty.
History still moves forward for Etowah. Sure the gin the old gym, the school house with its wonderful bell, many stores, the pool halls, liquor story, old show house, blacksmith shop, barber-ships, service state, plus café are mostly gone; yet exciting things are still happening, and it’s great! Didn’t several generals of youngster and sometimes oldsters often repeat the following saying in a sing-song manner:
Etowah-ditty,
It ain’t no town,
And it ain’t no city,
Just a little place,
Called Etowah-ditty.

That little sing-song saying is passe` or in for a landmark revision because Etowah is now an incorporated, bonafide city.
The beginnings were an idea, conversations, and a call to the Municipal League in Little Rock. Then in late August of 1995, a meeting was held at the old Missco School with several county and state officials in attendance. It was at that point an idea became a goal, and in September an incorporation committee was formed. The next several months produced one meeting after another, with state and local officials as well as lawyers involved with paper work. By late November a petition to incorporate was passed in the community. At least 75 registered voters had to sign the petition. When the petition drive was finished, 80% of the voters signed for incorporation.
The first hearing was for December 29, 1995, but there were boundary line problems. So a professional engineer was hired to plot the Town map and to make sure all boundaries were clearly marked.
The second petition was passed in late January and early February of 1996 with the same margin of support. So the second hearing date was set for April 9, 1996, by the Mississippi County Judge. At that meeting, residents were allowed to voice objections, but as no one did, and with about 75 residents present, the judge allowed the order of incorporation. An election was soon held to select a governing body for the new town. On August 20, 1996, the Town elected its first Mayor, Treasurer, and Town Council.
Etowah has gone through several changes. It has a town square, a new city hall, police department, fire department and certain city services have also been established for the citizens. Many improvements are evidence, and there is an ever-growing sense of pride in Etowah.
For many years, the Garden Point Cemetery had been cared for by a group of concerned citizens and volunteers who worked who worked hard and who did a terrific job. With the incorporation of Etowah, a natural evolvement was that the city as a legal entity assume that responsibility. The cemetery committee, how determines the management and direction of Garden Point, and the city council enforces those rules, regulations, etc., set up by the committee through city ordinances.
Much has been accomplished in a short time, which stand as a reflection of the philosophy of the mayor who has said, “Time is so precious, and every moment wasted is a moment that cannot be recover.” May the years ahead continue to be productive, and may everyone be proud to say, “ ETOWAH.”

GARDEN POINT CEMETERY COMMITTEE MEMBERS 1996

Camilla Kock
Shirley Johnson
Gladys Duncan
Barbara Kirk
Sophia McCollum
Robert Wilmoth
Ernie Girdley
Jason Lunsford
Nancy Hall
Shirley Bracket
Polly Girdley
Freddie Simpson

ETOWAH COOKBOOK COMMITTEE 1999
Sally McCollum, Gene Wilmoth, Sally McMechen, Bo McCollum

ETOWAH COOKBOOK COMMITTEE 2000
Sally McCollum, Gene Wilmoth, Sally McMechen, Bo McCollum

ETOWAH COOKBOOK COMMITTEE 2005
Sally McCollum, Sally McMechen, Bo McCollum

HIGHER GROUND
By Shirley Mathey; published in Delta Review 1999
    In the early days before the roads, bridges and levees as we know them were built,  water stood for long periods of time.  There was a dob of high ground at the intersection of Arkansas Hwy 140 and 136 in southwest Mississippi County where early settlers buried their dead.  This higher ground was named Garden Point, but surrounding community was known in the census records as Little River Township.  The town name applied for a post office at the turn of the century was Jackson’s Island however this pioneer family name was rejected.   Etowah, a Cherokee name meaning “Muddy Waters,” was chosen arbitrally by the government.  The Indians were here many years before other settlers.
    We don’t know the name of the first person who is buried at Garden Point, but the first marker is Aug 27, 1903 for R. H. Jackson,  Redd was Benny Jackson’s father.   Many burials do not have markers;  from the Osceola Times circa 1907,
Ruby Jennings “a tender flower of the community” was buried here, but there is no marker or age given in the commentary of Etowah news.  
    In December, 1926 Garden Point trustees received a land deed from Chapman and Dewey Land Company.   Trustees named  were Augustus Marion Smith,  Gordon Wimpey, S.W. Morgan, G.B. Blalock, J.M. Simpson, and  H.J. Meadows.
    This simple country cemetery is unpretentious compared to other towns and cities more elaborate markers.   The shady tree lined cemetery mirrors a peaceful, majestic rural setting with the horizon as far as you can see.  The people who are lain to rest here are basically good people.  Names like Avery, Casiday, Chambers, Collins, Crews, Davis, Girdley, Hall, Harris, Horton, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, Kemp, King, Langston, Lunsford, Martin, May, McCalister, McCollum, Morgan, Pruitt, Rogers, Roland, Sharp, Shelton, Smith, Stokes, Truelove, Walker, Wildy, Williams, Wilmoth, and Woodruff dot the landscape.  It’s a place where many babies were buried before health care was readily available.  It’s spilled with the blood of soldiers who died serving their country.  Some tombstones have poetry,  some have angels and two have garden seats.  Originally this was a free cemetery to be used for the people who lived and worked and died in the area.
       In 1933 the Shelton family lost their youngest daughter, Myrvis, from blood poisoning.  The funeral was held in the West Ridge school house on a cold rainy March day and as the funeral procession traveled to the cemetery the bridge collapsed. This tragedy rallied the community to build a church.   My dad Carl Heard, donated his sawmill crew to erect the wood frame building at the southwest entrance to the cemetery.    Gordan Wimpey had started an earlier church but it floundered.   Mrs. Cleora Chrismond, a Shelton family member,  Molly Meadows and other community people solicited funds for the church which eventually became a Methodist church rather than an non-dominational as first suggested.  The church nobly served in that capacity until 1993 when it was disbanded and the building was sold to Mr. Norman Clay, a grandson of Cleora Chrismond’s.
    Problems arise when you have something for “free.”   As the years went on it became evident there was no provision to care for the rather large burial grounds, with trees falling and weeds growing, and people burying their dead and then not marking their graves.  Someone has to get angry to attack a problem of this size.  Frances Horton went to bury her mother in 1973 and had to hack the weeds to the gravesite.   She left the graveyard with a new commitment to find a way to keep the cemetery clean.  She and Gertrude Girdley and others began the task of raising funds with barbecues, auctions, and asking for donations and hiring the cleanup on an annual basis.
    Cleaning the graveyard was always a haphazard affair, with the manual labor of farmers in the nearby area coming to tend the graves; Dan Stokes, Freddie Simpson, Robert Wilmoth, Buck and Sophia McCullum, Wileen Garner and Lloyd Shelton and numerous others in bygone years.  The Home Demonstration united for a time and worked on the cemetery. From the late seventies, the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ with Pastor Alvin Wilbanks at Carroll’s Corner became the caretakers of the gravesites. More recently, Jason Lunsford and his wife accepted the task of mowing the cemetery and keeping it looking neat and clean.
    Around 1995 the people of Etowah started procedures to incorporate the community into a township.  Elected mayor Charles “Bo” McCullum, son and grandson of a pioneer family, wrote grants to start the wheels turning from a place called “Etowah ditty, Ain’t no town, Ain’t no city, just a little place called ditty wah ditty”  to the township of Etowah on April 9, 1996 where people now have street lights, garbage pickup, flowers in the summer and decorations at holiday time.  More importantly, they have a meeting place.   Jesse Pruitt’s former beer hall now serves as the town hall but will eventually serve as senior citizen center/and or library with additional monies.  In 1998, a newer building was donated  by the American State Bank when they built a larger edifice in Osceola.  It’s in the process of  being renovated.
    Change is hard.  It’s hard whether it’s for a person or a town.  Behavior stays stuck.  But Mayor Bo’s energy and sense of pride in what could be was not to be deterred.  Some years ago the television show “Hee Haw”  announced that Etowah had a population of 103.   Most of the present population of 352 people in Etowah live in trailer houses at a turn of the road of Hwy 136 two miles north of  Garden Point cemetery.  A plea from residents that it was not safe to be out at night because drugs, public drunkenness, fighting and crime were increasing, prompted community action.  They wanted quietness, order, decency and respect.  People in and out of the churches began  praying for change. 
    To incorporate a township is a legal football but Bo, the elected mayor, was ready for the task and after the basic underpinnings of garbage pickup, street lights and other public needs were in place, the problem of the incorporating  Garden Point cemetery was ready to  be tackled.  Discussions were held in the town hall for the better part of a year to air the legal responsibilities and record keeping on a continuous basis.  Garden Point cemetery had no known mapping of the burial plots other than pioneer families had staked their claims for certain spots.   The conversations focused on three problems:  1) the cemetery was full with so many unmarked graves that it was normal to dig into the remains of a long forgotten grave,  2) people  searching for information when there was none, and  3) people from distant communities using the “free” resources to bury their dead.
    In the fall of 1997, I had been in Kentucky  working on family genealogy and found a book listing the names on markers in the county cemeteries.  This printed evidence helped me find ancestors I had been searching for three decades.  Eureka, I found them!  My gratefulness knew no boundaries for expression.  I decided to make a database of the Garden Point cemetery so future generations could appreciate their sense of history as I did in finding mine.  Using a video camera, I filmed and then typed the name, birth and death dates of each marker.  I’ve since learned from many sources there are possibly twice as many unmarked graves. 
    With my printed database of 1165 marked tombstones  and 116 unreadable field stones I showed up in Etowah on a pivotal night in October in 1997 where  Attorney Lee Fergus explained how to bring the deed up to date.  It was determined that the township needed to nominate a successor team of trustees to accept the deed and then legally sign the deed over to the township of Etowah.  How proud I, Shirley Heard Brackett, was to serve as one of the five successor Garden Point Cemetery Trustees to accepting the deed along with Robert Wilmoth, Camilla Koch, Shirley Johnson, and Nancy Hall.  At a later date we signed the deed to the care of the township of Etowah, which ended our roles as trustees.
    Although community functions, donations and trusts have paid for the mowing of the cemetery in the past, the ultimate goal of the role of the newly appointed 10 member Garden Point Cemetery Association is formulating policy and to solicited funds to become financially solvent for cemetery upkeep in the future.    The association members elected were Shirley Heard Brackett, Polly Girdley, Ernie Girdley, Laura Girdley, Nancy Hall, Shirley Johnson,  Camilla Koch, Sophia Mc Collum,  Freddie Simpson, and Robert Wilmoth.    After the church disbanded and the building was moved, the land was eventually deeded to the township which joins the cemetery.  The sale of these plots will give 144 more burial sites for the people around the Etowah community and will help but not solve the financial situation.
    In March of 1998,  after a legal survey of the former church property, the  Garden Point Cemetery Association made their first legal decisions concerning the requirement of a concrete liner, the price of individual plots,  the opening and closing of the graves,  basic record keeping with the township, and the requirement of markers for future burials.  These decisions were based on  comparisons, as well as other considerations, with other communities.  We can not be a free cemetery, nor can we be the cheapest or the most expensive in the area.  We still need additional monies for the mowing and maintenance of the cemetery to supplement the community efforts of barbecues and auctions.  Donations can be sent to Etowah Township, Garden Point Cemetery Association, and PO Box 313, Etowah, AR  72428.
    For the most part, the old Garden Point Cemetery is closed to new burials except members of the community are welcome to bury their families in spots  reserved from the past.   Burials in the former church plot are available to purchase from the township of Etowah.  If you have evidence of family members buried in the older section, it is recommended by the Garden Point Cemetery Association that you provide  markers for your loved ones.   We would like a record of every citizen buried in Garden Point.   Even though there is no marker, please call or come by the town hall to record the name, birth and death dates of your family members.  We are also collecting written obituaries for Garden Point historical records of the cemetery to make a  booklet in the future.  If you have copies of older citizens obituaries please send them to the Etowah township. 
    Etowah has office hours from 9 to 5 Monday through Friday.  The town hall meetings are held 3rd Tues of the month.  Call the office at 870 531-2340 for further information.

NEW CITY OF ETOWAH ELECTS LEADERS
By Kenneth Heard Arkansas-Gazette April 1996
Residents of this recently incorporated farming community in Northeast Arkansas held their first election Tuesday along with an election night bash attended by people from as far away as Michigan and Colorado.
Etowah became a city April 1996 when Mississippi County Judge Steve McGuire signed incorporation papers. Voters elected a mayor, recorder-treasurer and five aldermen Tuesday------.
Residents said they wanted to receive their share of the county’s sales tax revenues to develop better roads, build a senior citizen center and provide more police protection.
By incorporating, Etowah, which lies about 15 miles west of Osceola, can receive county, state and federal money. The revenues are disbursed among towns on the basis of populations.
McGuire estimated Etowah, a town of about 200, could receive about $24,000 annually in county money.
Charles McCollum, one of the people involved in getting Etowah incorporated, was elected mayor Tuesday night defeating Alvin Collins 106 to 37 votes.

Position 1
Christ Ferrell 76
Merl Stokes 65

Position 2
Laura Girdley 90
Ricky Spain 51

Position 3
Elwanda Sharp unopposed

Position 4
Linda Sharp 74
Vandull Stokes 65

Position 5
Robert Johnson 66
Jerome Smith 47
Clinton Sorrell 25

Johnson won the Position 5 race with a runoff, a county clerk’s official said because of the special election status.
Linda Sharp, owner of the Etowah Bar and Grill, said former residents traveled from Colorado, Michigan and Indiana to attend the election and a party at her restaurant. “We made history here,” she said. “It was something special.”

Osceola Times March 7 1996
Bob and Caroline Wilmoth were pioneer settlers in the Etowah area. Mr Wilmoth came to the area in 1898. He had logging interests and with his crew, he cleared a great deal of land out that way. Later he opened a commissary. Wilmoth’s store became a landmark in the area.
The Wilmoth’s had nine children, all girls except the boys, Robert Jr, and Andy. The family lived in a large rambling house on the left side of the curve going into Etowah. It had a large porch and they enjoyed passing the time of day with people. Mrs Wilmoth had help with her brood in Charlotte Porter, who ran the house, cooked, gardened, or whatever was necessary. It was a happy household, full of fun and laughter.
The school and church was a short distance away, making the community self contained. The streets were dusty and unpaved and in the summertime, the kids wore no shoes.
Etowah had a small post office, run in the 40’s, 50’ s and 60’s by Jennie Sharp who was from one of the pioneer families. There was a pool hall, a barber shop, and of course, a beer hall. Dr. Lunsford and Mr Sharp were deputies and sworn to uphold the law.
E.H. Stephens worked for Mr Wilmoth as a bookkeeper for several years. His pay was $100 a month and he drove back and forth to Osceola. Remember this was middle of the depression and you were lucky to get a job.
On Saturday nights, Mrs Emma, who owned the picture show in Osceola would send a film out by my father and it was be shown at the store or the gin. A white sheet was used as the background. It was a wild and wonderful time, everyone clapping and hollering for their favorite, who was Hoot Gibson.
After the show was over the benches were pushed back against the wall ad a dance was held. It was a fun time for everyone.
Etowah people were loyal and almost fierce in their bid for independence. A family in need was looked after. Welfare didn’t exist, so the citizens of this community took care of one another.
The Wilmoth’s were loving parents and they wee concerned about education for their children and saw to it that they all graduated from school, which by the time they grew up, was relocated to West Ridge. The closing of the school at Etowah signaled the demise of the closeness of old Etowah.
When the school closed so did the pie suppers, the basketball games and the children’s plays, called operetta’s at that time. No longer could the mother walk over to the school and see about her child. The good ole days were gone. Yes, they have a rather new post office a few houses and trailers. People at Etowah can now enjoy the new hard-surfaced road into Lepanto or Osceola. Some afternoon , take a drive out to Etowah and Reminisce a bit.

HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI COUNTY
By Mabel Edrington copyright 1960
Once in a swap area in west Mississippi County was situated this small hamlet, but the Pioneer spirit of courageous men who, to begin the redemption of this productive land knew the hard work of driving log teams of four and six oxen to heavy wagons with boxed wheels to slide through the deep mud road in the 1890’s when the acres were covered with a fortune in virgin timber which hardy souls slowly but surely marketed and began cleaning up the cutover acres getting into shape to become some the finest agricultural land in the State of Arkansas.
These families who now operate some of these farms are the E.S. Wildys and sons, Earl, Charles, Wilbur and (Leroy deceased). They came from the fine farming section of Belleville, Ill, and I must put this little story in was told me by Vance Cartwright of the Cartwright Hardware Co. years ago. Vance had gotten some base burner coal stoves in, and Mr E. S. Wildy came in and Vance said “Mr Wildy let me sell you one of our new Base burner stoves.” Mr Wildy was hesitant but Vance kept up his sales talk and finally Mr Wildy said “Well I just can’t use it, because we have furnace heat in our home.” An example of German thrift and family comfort in those early days.
Another family of note at Etowah is Robert H Wilmoth who came here in 1897 and state driving an ox team in the logging business. Here at Etowah he acquired 488 acres where he has lived for half a century.
In 1912 he opened a Commissary where he served Loggers and today that small beginning has turned into a modern brick building with modern merchandise to supply the surrounding farmer., he also operates a Gin here.
He married Miss Myrtle Harrison and they have nine children to carry on in the same manner of useful patriotism as their parents.

ETOWAH NEWS ITEMS
TRI-CITY TRIBUNE
Auction to Benefit the Garden Point Cemetery Fund
Laden’s Auction Barn in Lepanto will hold a benefit auction at 7 pm on Saturday Sept 28, 2002 for the C. Anyone who has family or friends buried at Garden Point Cemetery is asked to donate one item to the auction. For more info……..

TRI-CITY TRIBUNE
The Garden Point Cemetery Committee will hold a benefit dinner on Friday April 19 1996 from 3- 8:30 pm at Etowah Baptist Church in the fellowship hall.
The dinner will consist of Barbecue, coleslaw, baked beans, potato chips dessert and drink. The plate will cost $5.00. Proceeds will go toward an entrance sign for the cemetery.

BBQ Dinner
The Garden Point Cemetery is having its 8th annual benefit BBQ Dinner Friday April 25, 2003 from 11 am until 7:30 pm at the Etowah First Station located at 4626 West State Hwy 136 Etowah, AR Eat in or Carry-out. The Sandwich plates will ………

Etowah holds BBQ Fundraiser
The Garden Point Cemetery Committee is hosting its annual barbeque dinner from 11 am until 7 pm on Friday June 11, 2002at the Etowah Police Station. The dinners will be $5.00 and will include a jumbo BBQ sandwich, slaw, beans, chips and dessert. Deliveries…

Etowah Memorial Day Service
The Garden Point Cemetery in Etowah will host a Memorial Day Service at Garden Point Cemetery on Monday, May 27. 2002 Services will include will include an Honor Guard conducting a 21 gun salute ad Taps , wreath laying on the veterans monument by……..

Wildy Barn Listed on Historic Register
Osceola Times February 5, 2004
The Edward Samuel Wildy Barn at Etowah in Mississippi County has been listed on the National Register of historically significant properties, Arkansas.
Historic Preservation Program director Ken Grunewald announced.
The Edward Samuel Wildy Barn at 1198 S Arkansas Highway 136 is a two-story, three bay, gambrel roof structure built in 1915 and surrounded by a windmill, silo, two water troughs and several associated concrete pads.
“The Wildy Barn is built from cypress wood that was abundant in Mississippi County at the time of it’s construction, the National Register nomination says. It is one of the few barns still standing in northeastern Arkansas in its original condition. The barn sits on the original home site (selected for its higher elevation) of the Wildy farm.”

Etowah Mayor Wins AG Community Service Award
Osceola Times November 25, 2004
Charles “Bo” McCollum, AG Community Service Grand Winner, wears many hats to serve Etowah.
It is not unusual to serve as a volunteer firefighter or EMT in a small community or to take an active role in the city’s government. However, Charles “Bo” McCollum, the 2004 Chairman’s Award winner for Community Services, does all three and also holds down a full-time job in the packaging department at American Greetings Osceola facility.
McCollum has donated more than 11000 hours in service to the community of Etowah. In addition to his work as a volunteer firefighter and EMT, he also serves as the town’s elected mayor. According to Glovie Guy, packaging manager, an McCollum’s nominator, it’s his wonderful spirit of community, as well as his rive truly make a difference, that is so inspiring.
“Bo had won several award and certificated for his efforts. While I know this is one of his proudest moments, his greatest satisfaction should come from knowing that he is almost single-handedly responsible for improving the quality of life in Etowah,” Glovie Says.
This improvement is clearly apparent at the Etowah volunteer fire department, where McCollum is not only a proud member, but was also instrumental in its founding. Since helping create the department, he has taken the initiative to obtain greater training for his group and has gained funding to build a fire station, install fire hydrants and purchase vital fire fighting equipment. His leadership may be best exemplified, however by his work as the town’s volunteer mayor. As mayor, McCollum has single-handedly secured major grants to develop community parks, improve the local cemetery and upgrade the town’s water and sewer systems. His tireless efforts to improve water and sewer system were rewarded with a $1.6 million grant, and as a result work on the improved systems will be completed by the beginning of 2005.
In all that he does it seems that McCollum simply can’t help but go that extra mile., Never satisfied with what he has accomplished, he is always working to make everything around him better. This tireless devotion is not lost on his co-workers at Osceola. “Bo is just not-stop,” Glovie says. “His enthusiasm and energy are contagious and the community of Etowah and American Greetings are very lucky to have someone like him.

SUMMARY OF APPLICATION FOR
NATIONAL HISTORIAL CEMETERY RECOGNITION
Nomination: April 5, 2005 in Little Rock, AR.
1. Garden Point Cemetery

2. 4682 W. State Highway 140 Etowah, Arkansas, 72428
12 Miles West of the Osceola, Arkansas. Interstate 55 Exit on Arkansas Highway 140.

3. Town of Etowah, 4670 W. St. Hwy 136, P.O. Box 113 Etowah, Arkansas. 72428

4. Charles McCollum, Mayor. Town of Etowah P.O. Box 113 Etowah, AR. 72428 (870) 531-2340 or (870) 740-3323

5. Does nominator have Owner’s permission, Yes

6. Total Number Burials 1659 146 Unmarked before 1955

7. Number of Historical Burials 890 fifty years and older. 769 burials that are later than 1955. Although we have several burials in the early years of the cemetery that did not get marked and are not included in this count.

8. Numbers of Burials in 10 year increments
1903-1910 12
1911-1920 41
1921-1930 85
1931-1940 275
1941-1950 305
1951-1955 172
1956-1960 90
1961-1970 195
1971-1980 144
1981-1990 131
1991-2000 138
2001-2005 71
Total 1,659

9. Setting and Distinctive Design Features.
The setting for the Garden Point Cemetery is a rural agricultural area. The Cemetery’s most evident feature is that it sets on a natural ridge, which is out of place in the flat lands of the delta. A small community 2 miles to the west of the cemetery is called West Ridge, it is said that this community got it’s name from the community lying west of the Garden Point Cemetery Ridge. The cemetery is covered in old oak, pecan, cypress and walnut trees. The outer edge of the cemetery on the north is lined with Leland Cypress trees and on the south by a line of crept myrtles. The entrance to the cemetery is somewhat shaped like a circle drive that allows visitors to start on the west end and drive through the middle of the cemetery to the east. The cemetery is filled with unique and old headstones. There are several stone of interest in this cemetery. One of the stone reads Constructed by the National Youth Administration 1941. We believe that this group under the Roosevelt Administration constructed the road that runs east to west in the middle of the cemetery. Another of the interesting stone in the cemetery is the Andrew Stonewall Jackson monument. It is white marble with large lettering at the bottom. There is also a couple Woodsmen’s of the World monuments in the Garden Point Cemetery. The entrance marker states the date the cemetery was deeded to the community. The bell marker was set in the place where the Garden Point Methodist Church set until 1993. On this monument the history of the church is detailed. It was not until 1997 the Town of Etowah took ownership of the cemetery and started to keep records and historical data.

10. Historic Context:
At one time this vast delta was full of trees ripe for the logging operation. That is how Garden Point Cemetery got its beginning. The cemetery was donated to the community by Chapman Dewey one of the logging companies stationed here in the delta area of Arkansas around the turn of the 20th century. The cemetery was used to bury the loggers and hired hands that past away during the logging and farming operation. After the logging operation diminished and farming became the standard operation in the area. The logging company donated the cemetery to the community as a public cemetery.

The earliest burials in the Garden Point Cemetery were earlier settlers, loggers and trappers. The area around the cemetery was swamp land and the high ridge that the cemetery sits on was used for garden spots in the early years of settlement of the Etowah area. This is the origin of the name Garden Point name. Although we have recorded burials of roughly 55% before 1955 and 45% after 1955, there are considerably more early burials than we have recorded. The earliest burials were un-marked and no records at funeral homes or newspapers exist for verification of these burials. During the 1917 – 1918 flu epidemics people were frightened about contagion possibility and families buried privately. According to J.E. Murphy Funeral Home and his family members supplied (3) three railroad box cars to surrounding communities to supply the need for caskets. People picked up a number and unload their own family’s casket. Newspapers at the time would not recorded extreme numbers of deaths where several people past away in family from this epidemic.

We have recorded 130 veterans buried at the cemetery. We know of one Civil War veteran and one Spanish American Veteran. There is also several World War I & II soldiers buried at Garden Point also. Each Memorial Day we have a special service honoring all our veteran’s buried at the cemetery. Through the use of obituaries we acquiring more information and validating their service records.

There are also several Early Settler families buried at the Cemetery. The Jackson family who was one of the earliest recorded families to live in the Etowah area is buried at the cemetery. Originally Etowah, was called Jackson’s Island named after the Jackson family, but when the Post Office official open in 1902 the name was changed to Etowah because of a conflict with the Jackson name already existing in Arkansas on another town. This fact is brought out in American Names and Places. After the logging years the cemetery was left to the community, several times the cemetery was left unkempt and grown up with vegetation. The cemetery went through many years when a few farmers would gather together and clean it up once a year. Finally in the late 1970’s the Garden Point Cemetery Committee was formed and several people including the Girdley Family, Wilmoth Family, Stokes Family, Horton Family and the Hall Family got together and started raising money for upkeep. Then in 1997 the Town of Etowah took ownership of the cemetery and started keeping records. Shirley Heard Brackett Mathey, started going to the newspaper, funeral homes and college libraries to gather information on the people buried at the cemetery. Shirley Mathey along with Sally McCollum cataloged the cemetery and made a map to show the actual burial sites of the settlers, residents and veterans in the cemetery. Shirley Mathey also wrote a history of the cemetery that is published in the Mississippi County Historical Book call Higher Ground. This publication is included with this
package.

11. Garden Point Old Section and New Section

We define the old section of the Garden Point Cemetery as that part of the original deed title dated 1926 which contain approximately 6.5 acres. Burials from the beginning were free in this part of the cemetery. Presently only family plots are permitted burial here if they existed prior to township incorporation.

The new section of the Garden Point Cemetery was acquired after Garden Point Methodist Church closed in 1993. The church buildings were removed and the property was deed to the Town of Etowah by the Church. Then Caster Engineering Company plotted the new lots for this section. The section provides space for 233 burial spots. These can be purchased by people of the community at the present time who wish to be buried at Garden Point Cemetery but have no family in the old section.

Future expansion has been provided by a deed of 7.5 acres from a pioneer Wilmoth family which adjoins the original cemetery on south side. This acreage will not be plotted until needed for future generations..

12. Bibliography:
Fairley, Eldon. “Mississippi County Historical & Genealogical Society
209 W. Hale, Osceola. Arkansas. 72370 (Delta Review) 2000
Article (Higher Ground) by Shirley Heard Brackett

Deane, Ernie. Arkansas Place Names Branson Mo. The Ozarks Mountaineer 1956

13. Legal Property Description:
The cemetery covers about 6.5 arces and is on the Osceola, Arkansas USGS map. The official recorded deeds are attached.

6.5 acres lying in the SW ¼ of the SE ¼ of the SE ¼ Section 33, Township 13
North, Range 8 East.
There is several early Etowah community settlers buried at the Garden Point Cemetery. These settlers made their own unique contribution to the growth of Etowah in early 20th century. These early settlers interest varied between logging, hunting, fishing and farming. In the early days Etowah was known for being no man’s land. In the winter months the community was isolated because of the water and mud. Several epidemics plagued the community in the early days and the Garden Point Cemetery was used as a burial site because it was high ground. During the 1917 – 1918 flu epidemics people were frightened about contagion possibility and families buried privately. According to J.E. Murphy Funeral Home and his family members supplied (3) three railroad box cars to surrounding communities to supply the need for caskets. People picked up a number and unload their own family’s casket. Newspapers at the time would not record extreme numbers of deaths where several people past away in family from this epidemic.
In the Historic Section of the Garden Point Cemetery, there are 2119 total burials.
Of these, there are 890 historic burials, excluding those with unknown death dates or unknown graves, making 54% of these burials historic as follows:
1903 – 1910 12 Marked
1911 - 1920 41 Marked
1921 - 1930 85 Marked
1931 - 1940 275 Marked
1941 - 1950 305 Marked
1951 - 1955 172 Marked
There are a total of 367 unmarked graves between 1903 and 1955 which make the total burials 1257 or 59% prior to 1955.
Non-Historical burials in the Historic Section of the Garden Point Cemetery from 1956 to present = 862 as follows:
1956 – 1960 90 Marked
1961 – 1970 195 Marked
1971 - 1980 144 Marked
1981 - 1990 131 Marked
1991 - 2000 138 Marked
2001 - 2005 71 Marked
There are a total of 93 unmarked graves between 1956 and 2005 which make the non-historic burials to present 862 or 41% after 1955.
The Historic Section is now largely inactive and no new burials will take place in this section unless there is already existing family plots.
Landscape Design
At the entrance to cemetery is a 7 foot monument that names the cemetery and the date the cemetery was donated to the community as a public burial place. The cemetery is covered with large trees such as walnut, pecan, cypress, ash, oak and crepe myrtle. The (2) oldest trees which are oak, are at the entrance to the cemetery. People in the community have commented over the years that these trees are at least 100 years old. The Town of Etowah is responsible for the upkeep of the cemetery year around. The cemetery also has placed a veteran’s memorial monument at the entrance to the cemetery. On the veterans marker is the emblems of the four branches of the military, spanning all the wars.
We have recorded 130 veterans buried at the cemetery. We know of one Civil War veteran and one Spanish American Veteran. There is also several World War I & II soldiers buried at Garden Point also. Each Memorial Day we have a special service honoring all our veteran’s buried at the cemetery. Through the use of obituaries we acquiring more information and validating their service records.

EARLY ETOWAH CITIZENS
Jackson’s Island (Etowah) was named for the early pioneer, Frank Jackson.
Charlotte Porter, b. 1-25-1892, d. 9-19-1978 is buried at Garden Point Cemetery, is step-granddaughter to Frank Jackson.
William Henry Davidson, born 11-3-1861, d. 6-1-1949
William Henry Davidson, was an early pioneer to this area and arrived from Hohenwald, TN, to settle in Etowah in 1885. Known familiarly as Captain Davidson as well as “Uncle Will”, he was proprietor of a saw and grist mill, landowner, farmer, cotton buyer, and merchant. He and many of his descendants and relatives are buried in Garden Point Cemetery. Land for the first school was given to the people of Etowah by Captain Will Davidson. The business enterprises of Capt. Will offered opportunity and drew many young men seeking a future to the sparsely populated and wilderness area.
Dr. Jason Hardy Lunsford, b. 5-3-1878, d. 6-28-1969
Dr. Lunsford moved to Jackson’s Island (Etowah) March 21, 1907. He was a faithful medical doctor who lived the rest of his life in the community. He was a leader who not only was doctor, but did some farming.
He also helped the rural community with legal matters, and at times served in some capacities as judge.

United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places

A. M. Smith, b. 2-20-1846, d. 4-12-1930
In West Tennessee where A. M. Smith originally lived a troop of Confederate Calvary passed through the area, and he followed them. He was very young. His family sought him for years, told everyone everywhere they went about their search, and described A. M. as having a certain visible scar. One day a person who had heard the story saw a man with a scar. After forty years the family was re-united. The account of this story and reunion is recorded in dated, A. M. Smith was an early settler, farmer, and active participant in the life of the growing community. His descendants and family members continue to contribute to its betterment. Many relatives are also buried in the Garden Point Cemetery along with A. M. Smith. (This needs some work, and the account should be listed in the Bibliography)
Harding J. Medows (aka Meadows) b. 8-24-1878, c. 10-26-1956
H. J. Medows, a leading citizen in the town of Etowah and a lifelong resident, arrived in the early 1900s, shortly after the turn of the century, because of his brother-in-law, Major Willie Ray. Major Ray, a midget, was a nationally known personality made famous through his work with the Sells Brothers Circus Managerie and Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. He was married to Jennie, H. J.’s sister, who was also a midget. After his circus career, Major Ray became even more well-known as Buster Brown, and with his dog, Tige, worked for the Brown Shoe Company as a living trademark. Major Ray wished to invest his money, and built a large store in the town of Etowah, and H. J. agreed to move to Etowah and to manage it for him. H. J. remained in Etowah for the rest of his life, and was a moving force in the town. In 1919, he was a Commissioner of Etowah Road District #3 and this was a time of building roads and bridges in this rural area. He became an important and knowledgeable farmer. His descendants still own the farm.
Robert Henry Wilmoth, b. 3-27-1878, d. 7-26-1966
Bob Wilmoth arrived in the Etowah community in 1897. He worked in timber for the Chapman Dewey Lumber Company which at the time was clearing large tracts of land in the area. He became a farmer, merchant, cotton buyer, and had his own logging operation as well. He built several commercial buildings to rent so that new businesses would be encouraged to locate in Etowah. In 1935 electricity came to the town, and he built the theater and dance hall to encourage business activity and entertainment, greatly welcomed as a respite from the harsh work of the time. Mr. Wilmoth served as assistant to the first postmaster, Marion Jackson, when the Etowah Post Office was established. A community leader, he served as director on the Etowah School Board, and was President of the Etowah Gin Company for many years.
Perry Henry Morris, b. 9-27-1889, d. 7-1-1952
Laura Leona Morris (Mrs. Perry Henry), b. 1-23-1890, d. 9-29-1984
Leroy Edwin “Chick” Ragland, b. 10-4-1896, d. 2-20-1951
Hazel Morris Ragland, (Mrs. “Chick” Ragland) b. 1-6-1916, d. 8-10-1943
In 1935 when electricity came to Etowah, with it came the Morris and Ragland families. Perry and Laura Morris with their daughter, Hazel, and son-in-law, “Chick” Ragland had traveled the vaudeville circuit for over twenty years. They had traveled by train, and later had their own traveling tent shows. Ready to settle down, they arrived with their brand of entertainment for the newly built theater in Etowah. This colorful and talented musical family added greatly to life in this rural community. They entertained the population with silent movies, talkies, live shows, and dances. Laura Morris, popular and beloved, would in later years delight the community when she would occasionally in full make-up and dress revive her comedy routine from her vaudeville days as Sis Hopkins.
Mot Brannon (aka as Branum) moved into the area in 1890 from Missouri. Many of his offspring and descendants are buried at Garden Point. His daughter, Janie, buried at Garden Point, married Dr. J. H. Lunsford, who played an important role in the welfare of the community in the early 1900s.
Mamie E. Girdley, b. 9-15-1889, d. 7-4-1971
Noah W. Girdley, b. 9-3-1904, d. 8-26-1972
Lillie Girdley (Mrs. Noah W.) b. 10-16-1911, d. 1997
Ottie Way Girdley married Mamie Ellen England in 1903. They were homesteaders, but are best remembered for the steamboats that Ottie Girdley ran on Little River delivering goods to be sold to and from Etowah. In that day and time the steamboats were a lifeline to the area as the roads were nonexistent or extremely bad. His best remembered boat is the “Ruth Walker”. The Girdley’s through the years have continued to contribute to the community in many ways. Both the elder Girdley and Noah, his son, operated stores. Noah and his wife, Lilly, were instrumental in the building of the Etowah Baptist Church. Noah was a talented builder, and the beautiful wood that he finished out for the church sanctuary stands as lovely as ever today. ( An interesting fact about Mamie Girdley is that her father migrated from England with his father and mother. The father and mother died, and as the son was too young to know his name, the people there named him England knowing his family had migrated. He was called Lum England.) Many of the relatives of this family are buried in Garden Point Cemetery and many are still active in the community.
Charles W. McCollum, b. 1893, d. 1972
Georgia Ann McCollum, b. 1902, d. 1972
James Leslie (husband of Sophia McCollum, and son of Charles and Georgia Ann), b. 10-22-1924, d. 4-25-1989
Charles McCollum is another pioneer who answered the call of opportunity offered in the area. He was a logger, and his wife, Georgia, was a cook in the logging camps. They stayed on to raise their family in Etowah, and were a part of its growth. This town is fortunate that they did stay as their grandson, Charles “Bo” McCollum, is the current mayor of Etowah. Bo is largely responsible for the incorporation of Etowah, and since then he has been the moving force in acquiring a city hall, city police, fire station, park, sewage system, and many, many other city improvements too numerous to cite in this narration. His energy and enthusiasm for improvement for the town he loves is boundless. Sophia McCollum, James Leslie McCollum’s wife and Bo’s mother, (from England) has played an enormous role in all these endeavors, loyally working in every project. So the greatest contribution of this pioneer family to this town was the gift of their grandson. Other McCollum family members are buried at Garden Point Cemetery as well.
John Thomas Sharp, b. 6-20-1862, d. 1-14-1937
John Britt Sharp, b. 10-9-1894, d. 1-1-1974
Jennie Bessie Sharp (wife of Cliff Sharp, Sr.) b. 9-14-1905, d. 3-9-1988
Listed above are a few members of the Sharp family who are buried in Garden Point Cemetery, and who have contributed to the history of this town. J. T. Sharp was an early settler in the community, and his son, Britt, was for many years the sheriff of Etowah. Britt was known for his ability in his work, and was highly regarded by the community as he was the major figure that controlled lawlessness in those rough days. Jennie Sharp was postmistress in Etowah for 36 years, from 1936 to 1972. She worked for the betterment of the community serving as pianist in the Etowah Baptist Church as well as Sunday School Teacher most of her life. She followed in the footsteps of her mother, Molly Medows, who started the first Sunday School in Etowah before there was a church building. She followed in her great-grandfather’s steps as well as Jennie’s great-grandfather, Marion Jackson, a Spanish-American War Veteran, was the first postmaster of Etowah.
Carl Heard, b. 10-20-1903, d. 12-8-1989
Georgia Smith Heard, (Mrs. Carl) b. 2-22-1910, d. 3-17-1998
The Heard’s came to the Etowah area in the early twenties, and erected a lumber mill. Carl was skilled in lumber and with machinery. He contributed his skill as head carpenter, and donated his sawmill crew to frame the Garden Point Methodist Church which was previously located at Garden Point Cemetery. In 1939 Mr. Heard became a farmer. When mechanization in farming began to emerge, Carl built his own mechanized machinery to fit his particular operations. Some of these included a heavy-duty disk carrying frame, an earth-moving machine, a land leveler, a portable gasoline driven grain elevator, and all types of small machinery such as a sub-soiler ditching plow, all made in his machine shop. Always interested in better farming methods, Mr. Heard was an asset to the community’s farmers with his tremendous skills and vast knowledge.
Alvinia Schnieder Wildy (Mrs. Edward Samuel), b. 4-19-1892, d. 7-12-1981
Edward Samuel Wildy, b. 4-26-1892, d. 9-6-1985
Charles Luther Wildy, b. 6-29-1928, d. 10-8-2001
Leroy J. Wildy, b. 10-22-1919, d. 10-6-1948
Mr. and Mrs. Ed Wildy arrived by wagon from Illinois in 1914 to take possession of owner absentee farmland previously purchased by Ed’s father. Ed bought the land from his father, and remained to raise his family. He was active in the affairs of the community as he was a Director in the Etowah School and a Commissioner in the Etowah Road Improvement District. Both he and Mrs. Wildy were active in the local School Improvement Association, a forerunner of the PTA. Mrs. Wildy taught Sunday School in Etowah as well. Later, they were instrumental in establishing the Lutheran Church in Blytheville, Arkansas.
The earliest marked graves in the Garden Point Cemetery include:
R. H. Jackson, b. 7-15-1872, d. 8-27-1903
John William Carter, b. 8-8-1888, d. 5-28-1904
Susie F. Carter, b. 7-1-1895, d. 8-29-1904
W. A. Smith, b. 1847, d. 4-26-1909
B. F. Comstock, b. 1849, d. 1910
Murvial Griffin, b. 1865, d. 1910
Ellen V. Smith, b. 1891, d. 1910
Mary Talitha Stewart, b. 7-8-1885, d. 4-2-1910
Garden Point Cemetery has many unknown graves. It is probable that there were burials before 1903 as the Cemetery is located on a “ridge” of elevated land, and standing water and flooding was common to the area as the system of levees had as yet not been built.
Below are listed additional early settlers and pioneers to the community who are buried in Garden Point Cemetery. Many relatives of these pioneers are also buried in the cemetery, and descendants still populate the area in almost every instance.
Amos Chambers, b. 1869, d. 1938
Janie R. Chambers (Mrs. Amos) b. 1874, c. 1939
Emma Victoria Chambers, b. 1-23-1875, d. 10-8-1952
Lillie Chambers, b. 1-1-1875, d. 4-9-1913
Cleora Mae Shelton Chrismond, d. 10-28-1961 (birth date unknown)
Sally Ann Finch (sister to Captain Will Davidson), b. 7-9-1876, d. 1-21-1968
Andy Kemp, b. 5-18-1885, d. 1-9-1968
Arminite Kemp, (Mrs. Andy) b. 9-30-1891, d. 5-16-1981
James Patterson, b. 1-20-1873, d. 7-17-1919
Sally Ann Presley, (grandmother to the Stokes clan), b. 1-28-1877, d. 6-19-1953
Bertha Lou Branum Pruitt (Mrs. David R.) d/o Mott C. and Margaret Branum, b. 12-24-1883, d. 7-10-1971
David Richard Pruitt, b. 3-22-1876, d. 3-4-1966
Jess Pruitt, b. 1909, d. 10-15-2003
Wess Stokes, b. 11-30-1905, c. 9-9-1960
Charlie Mae Stokes, b. 12-23-1907, d. 3-1-1983
Byron Walker, b. 7-14-1881, d. 9-9-1967
Mildred Walker (Mrs. Byron), b. 4-12-1891, d. 5-11-1950
James Nelson Woodruff (Herbert), b. 11-31-1872, d. 4-8-1956
Lister Cornelia Woodruff, b. 3-21-1885, d. 7-25-1975

EARLY ETOWAH POSTMASTERS
The United States Official Register, published in odd-number years and listing all postal employees by name through 1911, indicate that, in 1903, the postmaster of Etowah received compensation of $38.95, in 1905 the compensation was $71.48; in 1907 $71.00; in 1901, $74.00; and 1911, it was $120. From Megaera Ausman, Historian, Untied States Postal Service) More info available from National Archives.

Francis M Jackson 02/20/1902 Postmaster
George Girdley 05/24/1904 Postmaster
James A Scudamore 09/24/1906 Postmaster
Francis M Jackson 10/09/1907 Postmaster
Samuel W Luster 04/15/1906 Postmaster
Minnie E Faulkner 08/21/1917 Postmaster
Myrtle N Williams 05/13/1919 Postmaster
Samuel W Luster 09/16/1922 Acting Postmaster
Samuel W Luster 10/17/1922 Postmaster
Mrs Jennie Sharp 06/27/1936 Acting Postmaster
Mrs Jennie Sharp 10/30/1936 Postmaster
Henry R Paul Jr 07/28/1961 Acting Postmaster
Mrs Velma Cagle 06/23/1972 Officer-in-Charge
Mrs Velma Cagle 02/02/1974 Postmaster
Linda Kirk 05/04/1985 Officer-in-Charge
DeAnna Phillips 12/21/1985 Postmaster
Linda Kirk 05/04/1990 Officer-in-Charge
Pamela D Poag 09/08/1990 Postmaster

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