William Elmore Burial Site
...Built His Own Coffin

Submitted by Richard Kilgore Thanks Richard!

William Rowan Lackey and wife, Maude Comfort Gibson Reynolds Lackey, standing in front of the William Elmore house. This house was out on the mountain above Low Gap near where Silby Kilgore later lived. William Elmore was Maude Comfort's grandfather. Maude's mother was Alice, born April 12, 1875, died June 26, 1910. Alice married Silas Lightly Gibson December 13, 1891. At age 18, their daughter Maude Comfort Gibson married W. W. Reynolds who was age 22 of Logan, Paris County, Arkansas. They married on September 19, 1909.

William Elmore was born in Kentucky in 1821 and died in 1909, at Low Gap, Arkansas. He is buried at his old home place, three miles South of Low Gap on the Shiloh Road. Family history has it that he wanted to be buried by the road so he could hear the wagons go by. He was a cabinet maker and built his own coffin out of Walnut. It is said that he would get in it to see if it still fit. The last time he tried it he was getting old and got stuck in it, his grand daughters had to help him out of it. He kept his coffin in the apple house. I have also heard that William loved his coffee, and his coffee pot was buried with him.

The apple house is well over 100 years old

This is William's old apple house, where he kept his coffin. Note the height of the door. The directions to the apple house are as follows: Take the Shiloh Road South of Low Gap, Arkansas, the black top runs for 1.1 miles, then the road turns into a gravel road, go 2.6 miles and the old apple house is on your right.

To reach William's grave site, go 0.3 miles past the old apple house, there is a drive way with a steel gate on your left, after going through the gate the road curves to the left, after the road straightens out start looking for the grave on your right, approx. 200 yards after you go through the gate. It will be in the edge of the woods.

Great Great Grandson Richard Kilgore, standing where the old road was when William Elmore was buried.

Richard Kilgore is Great Grandson of Allen, named on stone.

I would like to give Jolly Jones a great big thank you for finding William's grave and for purchasing his headstone. I met Jolly for the first time after I had visited William's grave, I really enjoyed talking with him. If anyone would like to contact Jolly or the present land owner where William is buried please email. Richard Kilgore

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