Shropshire Cemetery
Also known as Blakely Cemetery
Copyright © 2004 Debra Blackard

    Located in Section 12 Township 9 North Range 23 West, within the city of Lamar, this cemetery is very old and has many unidentified burials marked with fieldstones.  Hutson J. Shropshire received title on this parcel of property from the U.S. Government, 20 Sep 1839. Shropshire entered six other parcels of land in Township 9 Range 23 between 1839 and 1841 for a total of 400 acres.   Sterling May patented 240 acres, mostly adjoining the Shropshire property. May later married Shropshire's widow, Sarah. Most of the marked burials in this graveyard are of Shropshire family members. This inventory does not include unidentified graves marked with fieldstone markers. The cemetery has been cleared periodically by the Lamar High School Chapter of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America since Oct 1999, but the ground surface is rough and covered with honeysuckle and poison ivy vines.  The number of unidentified graves is unclear at this time. Dates are given in genealogical format.
    In January 2004, the Lamar City Council voted to include this small historic cemetery into the city cemetery maintenance program. For more information contact: Debra Blackard

No.

Inscription

 Notes
1.

Chaplain W. J. Foust
Co A, 31 Tenn Inf., CSA
25 Aug 1841 - 2 Oct 1917, Cross

Military marker, white marble tablet-style, damaged by chemical (bleach?), deterioration evident, concrete repair dated, "4/11/38."
2.

Edna Earle
Daughter of J. P. and L. A. Bradley
Born 4 Feb'y 1876, Died 20 Sep 1879
A bud plucked by God to bloom in heaven. Dove, [Footstone] EEB

 Light gray marble tablet, unset, found under surface of soil by Jaime Williams and Norma Jean Edgmon, 12 Feb 2000. Recovered by soil for protection. Footstone discovered by Amber Parham, 5 Feb 2000.
3. Corp. Henry Shropshire
Co D Ark. Cav., CSA, Cross		 Military marker, white marble tablet-style, concrete repair dated "4/11/38".
4. Hutson J. Shropshire
Born 4 Apr 1802, Died 28 Aug 1860
Aged 48 yrs. 4 ms. 24 days
5. Sarah F. Shropshire
Born 28 Feb 1800, Died 8 Sep 1860
Aged 60 yrs. [  ] ms. 10 d.
6. Calvin B. Shropshire
Born 24 Sep 1834, Died 4 Oct 1838
4 yrs. 10 d.
7. Joel W. Shropshire
Born 1 Oct 1826, Died Aug 1847
20 Yr. 10 ms. 7 d.
8. Andrew Houston
Our Father
Born 25 Feb 1813, Died 17 Nov 1883
Aged 70 years 8 mo. 22 D		 White marble tablet-style, badly pitted, broken into three pieces, base shattered.
9. Myra Houston
wife of Andrew Houston
born 11 Feb 1817, died 14 Apr 1877
aged 60 ys, 2 ms, clasped hands.		 White marble tablet-style, broken into two pieces, unset.
10. Levi
Born 2 Feb 1839, Died 5 Aug 1848
9 years 6 months 8 days

Lillie
born and died 5 Aug 1857
Children of Andrew and Myra Houston
[Footstone]		 Marble tablet-style, broken and repaired with concrete, found leaning against large oak tree in center of cemetery. Footstone found at grave beside that of Myra Houston, 13 May 2000.
11. Thomas F. Fleming
Born & Died in Johnson Co., AR
21 Jul - 3 Sep 1852

Henry J. Fleming
Born Johnso Co., AR 5 Sep 1845
Died & Buried at Tupelo, MS, 22 Jul 1862

Martha M. Fleming
Born Dixon Co., TN, 13 Mar 1823
Died Johnson Co., AR, 29 May 1898
[Footstone]

James M. Fleming
Born in Franklin Co., TN, 11 Dec 1817
Died in Johnson Co., AR, 20 Oct 1855

James A. Fleming
Born in Johnsn Co., AR, 26 Nov 1853
Died in Johnson Co., AR, 2 Mar 1880

Robert H. Fleming
Born and Died in Johnson Co., AR
21 Mar - 30 Oct 1844

Suffer little Children to come unto me and forbid
them not for of such is the kingdom of heaven, Open Bible atop monument.

 Family marker, gray marble obelisk, toppled from base, otherwise undamaged. Reset by Ocker Monument crew, Amy and Jaime Williams, 12 Apr 2001. By Oct 2001 the monument had been unseated again.

 

 

nee Shropshire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
12. James A. Fleming
Died 20 Mar 1880
Aged 26 years 3 ms 21 Ds		 Marble tablet-style marker, unset, broken into several pieces. Found under groundcover, lying near the large Fleming family marker. Appears to have been the original marker for James A. Fleming and to have been left in place when the family marker was installed.
13. [Adult-sized cairn] Walls are build of a double layer of flat stones. The sides are collapsed and body stone is missing. Another cairn with the stones scattered is visible at the foot of this grave.
14. Eliza Simpson
Died 7 July 1851		 "Head and Bust" (discord) shaped headstone, footstone sharply gabled, handshaped and carved from natural stone. Double line incised below date.
15. W. H. Fleming
Born 30 Mar 1848 - Died 25 Jul 1881
Age 38 y's 3 M's and 25 D's
Clasped hands, GONE HOME,
A precious one from us is gone
A voice we loved is still
A place is vacant in our home
Which can never be filled

J. H. Fleming, Son of W. H. & S. A. Fleming
Born 6 Mar 1876 - Died 22 Jul 1896
Age 20 yr. 4 mn. and 16 D.
Budded on earth to bloom in heaven.
Sleep on brother, God knowest best
When to call thee home to rest.

Willie, Son of W. H. & S. A. Fleming
Born 12 Oc5 1878 - Died 17 Apr 1881
Age 2 Ys 6 Mo's & 5 D's
Lamb,
FArewell Willie.
Farewell, brother.
We must say our last farewell.
Till we meet beyond the river.
Happy there with thee to dwell.

S. A., wife of W. H. Fleming
Born 17 Dec 1838 - Died 8 Mar 1882
Age 43 Y's 2 Mo's & 21 D's.
Holy Bible
Weep not children for mother is only sleeping. Her spirit angel vigils keep. And in the near future her home will be thine where together we can meet around the heavenly shrine.

 Gray marble obelisk, family marker, toppled from base, otherwise undamaged. Reset by Ocker Monument crew, Amy and Jaime Williams, 12 Apr 2001. By Oct 2001 the monument had been unseated again.
16. M. Thompson
Died 28 June 1853		 "Head and Bust" (discord) shaped headstone, footstone sharply gabled, handshaped and carved from natural stone. Double line incised below date.
17. Frankie Paine
Born 3 Apr 1875 - Died 9 Jul 1876
Aged 1 yr 3 m's 6 d's
O, Cease dear parents. Cease your weeping above the spot where I am sleeping. My time ws short. And blessed be thee that called me to eternity.

Lula Paine
Born 14 Aug 1873 - Died 22 Aug 1874
Aged 1 yr, 8 d's
Crown, cross and ivy
In heaven there is one angel more, On earth there is one darling less_Pass gently to the thither shore Sweet little Lula murmerless.

Willie O Paine
Born 14  Nov 1871 - Died 28 Jul 1882
Aged 11 Y's, 8 M's 25 D's.
A litle shower of love that blossomed out to die.
Thy years were few, but thy virtues many.
They are recorded not on this perishing stone but on the book of life and the hearts of thy afflicted friends.

 Gray marble obelisk, family marker, toppled from base, otherwise undamaged. Reset by Ocker Monument crew, Amy and Jaime Williams, 12 Apr 2001. By Oct 2001 the monument had been unseated again. Graves surrounded by an outline of daffodils. A rose bush and forsythia  was found nearby.
18. Z. J. Epperson
Born
1 June 1865
Died
17 Jan 1883
Finger pointing upward.		 Inscription in uppercase, "S" carved backwards. Appears that the last numeral, an "8" in 1883, was changed to a "3." This stone is hand carved and incised of bluestone. It was found during excavation for a utility line on the property of Seth and Vivian Arnold on Cabin Creek Avenue. It is unknown where the gravesite for Z. J. Epperson is located.
gem.gif (110 bytes) Johnson County Cemetery Index gem.gif (110 bytes) Minnow Creek Historical Reseach