COL. JOHN ROBERTS AND WM. MAGNESS CEMETERY [Handwritten notation: "C. C. Roberts reserved one acre covering this Cemetery. When she sold the____ (illegible) Mr. Goode or Mr. Ear? About year of 1880 and Deeds recorded.] This cemetery is located in No. 6 Township, Cleveland County, N.C. on a knoll facing the west, having shrubbery, locusts, and large cedar trees thereon. It is about 4 ½ miles east of Shelby, N.C. Family tradition is that William Magness owned a large farm here, settled on knoll 100 yards eat of graveyard; that Col. John Roberts came from Alabama and settled here, following the death of Magness; that the home of Roberts situated on said knoll was surrounded by many slave cabins. Further, tradition that Roberts sold large amount of cotton and other goods at Columbia, S.C., and returning home with large amount of money and that he buried it in an iron pot. He died a few days later, and the money was never found after many searches have been made, even until this day. Worker, A.G. Melton. Owner of Cemetery: Old Columbus Roberts Farm Approximate number of marked graves: 10 Before 1914: 10 After 1914: None Unmarked graves: 11 Earliest marked grave: William Magness, d. May 6, 1816 General condition of cemetery: Grown up in shrubbery and trees. Date of survey: Jan. 6, 1939 Worker: Anson G. Melton Inscriptions: Roberts, Col. John D. June 30, 1847 Aged: 79 years [Handwritten note that he was the father of John M. Roberts.] Roberts, Sarah D. Oct. 16, 1828 Aged: 56 years and 8 months Magness, William D. May 6, 1816 Aged: 69 years Beam, Inn E. (Given name obscure) D. May 1838 Aged: 23 years-"and left a young infant behind, J.N.R.N." Roberts, Infant daughter of Morris and Susannah B. Nov. 18, 1838 Roberts, Perry G. D. Nov. 21, 1837 Aged: 36 years, 1 mo., and 2 ds. Roberts, Rufus A. D. Aug. 16, 1841 Aged: 18 years, 9 mos., and 16 days Roberts, Thomas D. Aug. 16, 1841 Aged: 42 years and 14 days Roberts, Eliza D. Aug. 16, 1843 Aged about 40 years Roberts, John M. D. July 31, 1848 Aged: 37 years [Handwritten note that he was the father of C. C. Roberts.) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This cemetery is among the many Cleveland cemeteries included on the Cleveland Count WPA Cemeteries CD, copyrighted 2008, by Ann K. Propst and Derick S. Hartshorn. All listings and cemeteries listings were made prior to 1940 and represents the conditions of that time. All information has been donated to the NCGenWeb Project but authors retain copyright protection under law. It may be referenced and briefly exerpted under the universal fair use doctrine. For a copy of the complete Cleveland County WPA Cemetery Survey CD, see http://www.hartshorn.us/CWPA.htm