WALLS BAPTIST CHURCH CEMETERY

This church cemetery is located in Rutherford County, N.C. about six
miles west of New House adjoining Township No. 8 in Cleveland County,
N.C. and about five miles northwest of Ellenboro, N.C.

Owner of Cemetery: Walls Baptist Church

Approximate number of marked graves: 214
 Unmarked graves: 250

Earliest marked grave: Octavia L. Wall, d. April 30, 1877

General condition of cemetery: In fair condition showing annual
attention. With few exceptions, the markers are in good shape-only one
being broken down.

Walls Church was "constituted by a presbytery of Elders M. Pannell, L.
McCurrie, James Webb, and James Crowder on the 21st day of September
1844." This is an excerpt from Logan's History. The present building,
large and old-fashioned, was dedicated May 23,1897. Data by Anson G.
Melton

Date of survey: Oct. 10, 1939
Workers: Forest Williams and Anson G. Melton

Inscriptions:

Green, Narcissa E. (Wife of
 S. D. Green and grandmother of
 Anson G. Melton)
B. Dec. 24, 1836
D. Nov. 6, 1915

Melton, Seth T. (father of
 Anson G. Melton)
B. Mar. 15, 1869
D. Feb. 19, 1893

Melton, Mary J. Green, wife of
 Seth T. Melton (and mother of
 Anson G. Melton)

McSwain, D. D.
B. Feb. 16, 1826
D. June 27, 1899
Aged: 73 yrs., 4 mos., 11 ds.
(On the 15th day of March 1895,
 D. D. McSwain willed Anson G.
 Melton a half interest in a sixty-
 three acre farm. Worker, Anson
 G. Melton.)

McSwain, Elizabeth, wife of
 D. C. McSwain, is buried here by
 his side; but her grave is unmarked
 and there are no dates available at
 present. However, if my memory
 serves me correctly, she was born
 in 1825 and died in 1911. She was
 a great and good woman and was a
 MOTHER to me. She was Elizabeth
 Walker before marriage. Data by
 Anson G. Melton.)

Hunt, Joseph B., son of
 J. D. & T. A. Hunt
B. Dec. 27, 1893
D. Jan. 8, 1894

Hunt, Maggie B., daughter of
 J. D. & T. A. Hunt
B. Oct. 29, 1897
D. July 14, 1898
(T. A. Hunt was the second wife of
 J. D. [Dobb] Hunt, and was before
 marriage Texanna Melton, sister of
 Seth T. Melton, father of Anson G.
 Melton.)

Glover, Elizabeth Harrill Melton
B. April 17, 1851
D. July 3, 1900
(Elizabeth Harrill was first married to
 Columbus Mills Melton. She was
 married a second time to Rhodes
 Glover. By her first marriage she
 became the grandmother of Anson
 G. Melton.)

Melton, Valentine P.
B. June 9, 1860
D. May 27, 1894
(Valentine P. Melton was brother to my
 grandfather Columbus Mills Melton.
 Data by Anson G. Melton.)

Melton, B. J.
B. Nov. 25, 1818
D. Dec. 19, 1887
(B. J. [Burton] Melton was my great-
 grandfather. Worker, A. G. Melton.)

Melton, Lucinda (Walker), wife of
 B. J. Melton
B. Sept. 11, 1819
D. Nov. 28, 1877
(This Lucinda Walker Melton was my
 great-grandmother. Worker A. G.
 Melton.)

(The above markers are in the first
row just in front of the church. A.G.M.)

Melton, Albert B. (brother to my grandfather,
 Columbus Mills Melton)
B. June 22, 1855
D. Sept. 9, 1931

Bridges, Loran, son of
 J. D. & A. Davis Bridges
B. Dec. 13, 1886
D. April 9, 1908
(Loran Bridges made possible the work I am
 now doing by rescuing me from a torrential
 stream after a freshet. A. G. Melton)

Melton, G. M., son of
 B. B. & M. S. Melton
B. Aug. 6, 1870
D. May 8, 1901

Melton, B. B.
B. Nov. 10, 1845
D. Nov. 9, 1918
(B. B. Melton [or Berry Bostic as he
 was popularly called] was a leading
 citizen and large landowner in his
 day and possessed all the characteristics
 of the Melton family. Data by Anson G.
 Melton.)

Melton, Ruth, daughter of
 Rev. & Mrs. R. L. Melton
B. Mar. 11, 1902
D. May 9, 1908

Melton, Polly Ann, wife of
 Rev. J. G. Melton
D. June 17, 1901
Aged: 72 years

Melton, Jasie L., daughter of
 Fanny Melton
D. June 9, 1913
Aged: 21 yrs.

Owens, Amos W.
Co. I. 56 N.C. Inf. C.S.A.
(Famous for his "cherry bounce" and his
 record in the State Penitentiary for
 disregarding the State's whiskey laws.
 He owned what is known as Cherry
 Mountain and lived upon the top of it,
 surrounded by a large cherry orchard.
 His mountain home was a sort of mecca
 for those who liked wine; and annual
 crowds gather there at cherry time. He
 was also distinguished by the odd clothing
 He wore. On one occasion I saw him going
 to town driving an old poor horse to a
 ramshackle wagon, or rather walking by
 the side of the wagon (for it was cold
 weather, and he had on a long tailed coat
 and a very high hat, showing long wear,
 etc. Notwithstanding his eccentricities he
 has perhaps a more lasting fame than any
 other man of his day in his community. A
 government marker marks his grave without
 a date. Data by Anson G. Melton.)

Green, Noah
Co. B. 1 N.C.J.P. Res. C.S.A.
(Govt. Marker)
[No dates]

Harp, G. W.
B. Aug. 27, 1853
D. Mar. 5, 1914

Black, Housen
B. Aug. 30, 1880
D. Feb. 9, 1907

Lovelace, W. W.
B. June 26, 1844
D. Nov. 6, 1910

Melton, L. Mae Bailey, wife of
 R. E. Melton
B. Feb. 1, 1910
D. Aug. 31, 1929

Dycus, J. Robert
B. Jan. 16, 1856
D. July 4, 1930
(J. Robert Dycus was for many years a
 deacon in the Walls Baptist Church and
 was loved by everybody. He was indeed
 a good man and has left behind him an
 influence that will never die. Data by
 Anson G. Melton.)

Dycus Eliza J. (usually called "Lize"), wife of
 J. R. Dycus
B. Oct. 1, 1857
D. Jan. 28, 1936

Hollifield, Abram P.
B. Nov. 29, 1822
D. July 10, 1907
(on this marker is the following statement:
 "An honest man's the noblest work of God."
 [There are four lines of text lined out by
 hand.] Data by Anson G. Melton.)

Hollified, Eliza T., wife of
 A. P. Hollified
B. Jan. 27, 1836
D. May 14, 1920

Melton, Thomas A., son of
 B. E. & Selma Melton
B. May 19, 1933
D. June 10, 1934

Beam, Martin Luther
B. 1847
D. 1918

Beam, Sarah C. Martin, wife of
 M. L. Beam
B. 1845
D. 1903

Beam, David (an early settler, A.G.M.)
B. Oct. 1, 1818
D. June 18, 1903

Beam, Sarah E.
B. July 18, 1818
D. Dec. 12, 1899

Melton, Bunner Hester, daughter of
B. J. & M. G. Melton
B. Feb. 14, 1905
D. June 7, 1914

Melton, Lucinda, daughter of
 B. J. & M. G. Melton
B. April 18, 1891
D. June 20, 1892

Davis, J. G.
B. Sept. 17, 1858
D. Oct. 3, 1894

Bridges, Margaret Ellen, daughter of
 S. J. & Octavia Bridges
B. June 14, 1885
D. Jan. 1, 1900

Bridges, Octavia
B. Nov. 29, 1860
D. May 22, 1897

Walker, Chesley B.
B. May 22, 1821
D. Mar. 6, 1902

Walker, Nancy L.
B. Dec. 4, 1831
D. July 31, 1912

Bridges, Sidney B.
B. July 18, 1882
D. May 6, 1902

Bridges, Ora May
B. Mar. 16, 1888
D. June 17, 1889

Lovelace, Elizabeth
D. July 17, 1893
Aged: 63 years

Bridges, Samuel
B. July 9, 1844
D. July 21, 1891

Bridges, Polly Ann, wife of
 Samuel Bridges
B. Aug. 10, 1845
D. July 13, 1935

Tesener, Margaret S.
B. Sept. 5, 1849
D. May 9, 1936

Tesener, Ransom C.
B. Jan. 11, 1860
D. June 19, 1936

Melton, Mary Cordelia, wife of
 B. J. Melton
B. Sept. 16, 1869
D. Aug. 1. 1930

Tesnir, C. B.
B. Jan. 11, 1890
D. June 16, 1907

Burns, Whitt
B. Feb. 15, 1854
D. Mar. 17, 1926

Burns, Sarah Jane, wife of
 Whitt Burns
B. Feb. 5, 1852
D. May 15, 1918

Smart, William R.
B. Nov. 29, 1822
D. Jan. 18, 1901
Aged: 79 yrs., 1 mos., 19 ds.

Tessneer, Leah
D. Jan. 7, 1929
Aged: 79 years

Allen, J. M.
B. July 6, 1836
D. Jan. 10, 1908

Allen, C. Jane, wife of
 J. M. Allen
B. July 10, 1841
D. Mar. 16, 1907

Bridges, Flossie M., daughter of
 G. R. & A. S. Bridges
B. Nov. 13, 1879
D. May 9, 1905

Bridges, George R.
B. June 10, 1850
D. Nov. 1, 1937

Bridges, Amanda S.
B. June 23, 1855
D. Aug. 14, 1916

Bright, J. V.
B. May 24, 1862
D. Sept. 8, 1933

Roberson, Nancy E.
(No dates)

Smart, Sarah R. Melton, wife of
 D. M. Smart
B. Sept. 6, 1869
D. Sept. 2, 1936
(Daughter of B. B. Melton. Worker
 A.G.M.)

Lovelace, Sallie, wife of
 James Lovelace
Aged about 80 years
[No dates]

Smart, William R.
B. Nov. 29, 1822
D. Jan. 18, 1901

Philbeck, Ralph, little son of
 T. D. L. & Nora Philbeck
B. Oct. 24, 1909
D. June 19, 1911

Gettys, James M.
B. July 16, 1848
D. May 2, 1917

Gettys, Bettie
D. Mar. 14, 1926
Aged: 58 yrs.

Gettys, Leona C., wife of
 J. M. Gettys
B. Mr. 23, 1855
D. Oct. 11, 1905

Webb, D. D.
B. June 11, 1867
D. Dec. 2, 1929

Melton, Margaret Selma McCurry, wife of
 B. E. Melton
B. Oct. 6, 1911
D. Mar. 21, 1936

Bridges, Attie Davis, wife of
 J. D. Bridges
B. Sept. 7, 1868
D. Jan. 7, 1905

Bridges, Mary P., wife of
 James Bridges
B. Jan. 15, 1840
D. Mar. 29, 1910

Ledford, J. P.
B. Nov. 11, 1859
D. Oct. 29, 1934

Ledford, Louisa J., wife of
 J. P. Ledford
B. Mar. 6, 1862
D. Feb. 21, 1897

Lovelace, Margaret I., daughter of
 A. C. & Martha Lovelace
B. May 9, 1894
D. June 20, 1894

Wall, Octavia L., wife of
 Z. T. Wall
B. June 10, 1859
D. April 30, 1877

Hunt, Margaret A. Bridges, wife of
 J. D. Hunt
(First wife. A.G.M.)
B. May 3, 1856
D. Sept. 14, 1889

Hunt, Attie Z., daughter of
 J. D. & M. A. Hunt
B. Aug. 20, 1884
D. Nov. 1, 1896

Lovelace, Elizabeth
D. July 17, 1893
Aged: 63 years

Lovelace, James
B. Jan. 11, 1818
D. Aug. 6, 1893

Wall, Francis Hamrick, wife of
 C. A. Wall
B. Nov. 11, 1861
D. Sept. 29, 1898

Wall, Carl G., son of
 C. A. & H. F. Wall
B. June 11, 1884
D. Jan. 12, 1906

Bailey, Lucy, wife of
 Benjamin Bailey
D. Feb. 14, 1905
Aged about 83 years

Humphries, N. C., son of
 O. W. & S. V. Humphries
B. April 13, 1878
D. Sept. 1, 1881

Humphries, John, son of
 O. W. & S. V. Humphries
B. July 6, 1897
D. May 23, 1898

Earley, Alfred
B. June 5, 1845
D. Dec. 30, 1890

Bridges, George W.
B. June 15, 1850
D. May 24, 1904
Aged: 53 yrs., 11 mos., 9 ds.

Curtis, Wonney, infant son of
 F. J. & O. E. Curtis
B. Nov. 6, 1912
D. April 23, 1914

Bowen, Judith, wife of
 D. H. Bowen
B. Jan. 3, 1880
D. Dec. 1, 1907

Hawkins, J. W.
B. June 15, 1870
D. Jan. 13, 1908

Hamrick, Emily J.
B. Mr. 24, 1824
D. Jan. 24, 1918

Hamrick, R. B.
D. Mar. 31, 1905
Aged about 78 years

Biggerstaff, Sarah Isabella, daughter of
 J. H. & S. D. Biggerstaff
B. April 17, 1862
D. April 4 1901

Goforth, Drilla, wife of
 J. H. Goforth
B. Feb. 10, 1838
D. July 23, 1893

Goforth, John H.
B. May 5, 1845
D. Feb. 24, 1911

Smart, D. P.
B. Jan. 1, 1841
D. Jan. 20, 1914

Green, Dora, wife of
 F. M. Green
B. May 1, 1866
D. July 18, 1892

Smart, William
B. Nov. 29, 1822
D. Jan. 18, 1901

Allen, Floyd A.
B. Oct. 25, 1906
D. Sept. 27, 1907

Dycus, A. G. (father of J. Robert Dycus.
 A. G. Dycus was known as Green Dycus.
 He lived near a small mountain and near
 the woodland. It is said that a fire on
 the mountain was raging in the middle of
 a clear-summer day and it looked as if
 his house and out-buildings would be
 burned. He went out and prayed for it
 to rain! It is said that a small cloud
 immediately gathered in the clear sky and
 rained out the fire. Anson G. Melton.)

Stockton, William W.
B. Sept. 25, 1866
D. June 18, 1914

Bridges, Clara, daughter of
 C. M. & F. E. Bridges
B. Aug. 14, 1905
D. Feb. 10, 1909

Freeman, Reid
B. May 11, 1845
D. Aug. 19, 1910

Tessnir, [No given name shown.]
B. Jan. 11, 1890
D. June 16, 1907

Green, Samuel
Co. I. 56 N.C. Inf. C.S.A.
[No dates]

Bridges, Four children of
 Mr. & Mrs. G. S. Bridges
(No dates)

Tessenear, Cindrilla
D. Feb. 29, 1902
Aged: 75 years

Tessenear, Priscilla, wife of
 J. J. Tessenear
B. Dec. 12, 1858
D. June 1, 1908

Lovelace, Robert C., son of
 M. R. & E. J. Lovelace
B. June 22, 1888
D. Nov. 19 1901

Lovelace, Coach Mc., son of
 M. R. & E. J. Lovelace
B. Mar. 14, 1882
D. Aug. 5, 1884

Smart, J. A., son of
 D. P. Smart
B. June 10, 1868
D. June 7, 1893

Smart, Alice, daughter of
 J. A. Smart
B. Dec. 12, 1890
D. Jan. 18, 1893

Smart, Garney, son of
 D. M. & S. R. Smart
B. July 2, 1910
D. Sept. 30, 1913

Davis, Elbert
Co. I. 58 N.C. Inf. C.S.A.
(Govt. Marker)
[No dates]

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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 represent 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