Many graves in the cemeteries and burial sites of Newton County are marked only with native stone. Oral traditions are all that name the individuals buried in these graves. As is the case of Braxton Edgmon who is named in Walnut Grove Cemetery information. There are several versions of the tale of how and by whom he was killed. His wife and family buried him under a tree. The dates of birth and death that I included were found in a family Bible.
Some of the tales carried on through oral traditions are more tame than others. The grave of Huston York is marked with a native stone...one fall he happened by the apple orchard of Tommy Watson, struck up a conversation with Tommy about the good tasting apples and later went up to the house and visited with Tommy's family. A short time later he became ill, Tommy and family took him in. He died soon after, was buried in Mossville Cemetery with his razor strap, razor, and fiddle, all tucked inside a nap sack that he carried over his shoulder.
In Steel Creek Cemetery, near Limestone, there are three graves, no markers. I named them, because through local legend or oral tradition, it has been said that Little Berry Stone was a neighbor and friend to several who joined Union forces during the Civil War. When Confederate Troops were in the area, it is told that Berry Stone tried to hide several of his Union friends. All were found and captured. Some were able to escape during the night. Come daylight, on May 29, 1863, the Confederates hung Berry Stone and two of his Union friends. As time goes by, some stories become more colorful and in others, details get dropped.
Downstream from the burial site at Limestone are the graves of one adult and two children. Their names have not survived through time...but the story tells of a mother who had been bit by a rattlesnake, knowing that her two young children could not survive without her, she shot each of them before she died. If you know of similar tales I would like to hear from you, please email and share your story.
My intent is to put several Newton County, Arkansas Cemeteries online. Effort will be made to accurately display info...I welcome corrections and additional information, as well as pictures of grave markers and obituaries of persons buried in Newton County. If you have inventoried a cemetery and would like it to appear online, just let me know.
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