McGuirk Cemetery

May 4, 2003

It has taken numerous trips to find this overgrown cemetery, but Charlie Clark did not give up until it was located. Following oral directions that placed the site on a ridge, west of the old Yancy Homeplace, almost in a direct line north with the Woodrow Howell homeplace, near Kenneth Cain's' north pasture fence line, Mr. Clark said that he has walked within a few feet of the cemetery several times trying to locate the cemetery. Finally, he noticed a reflection shining through some overgrowth and located a tombstone base. On May 4th, Mr. Clark, his wife Mary, friends Edmond and Larry Hellums and Charles and Rose Diamond congregated at the cemetery. Weeds and small saplings were cut and a probe was used to try to locate at least five markers which Mr. Clark seemed to remember from a visit made to the site when he was a young boy. The Hellums brothers had also been walking the area several times over the year, trying to locate the site for the Calhoun County Historical Society records. All the markers found were lying flat and most were broken. The site was marked with surveyor's tape for future location purposes. The stones were washed and the larger stone was set upright on its base. Mr. Clark plans to try to repair the pieces and get the remaining markers upright. Directions are provided by Mr. Clark.

From Bruce go north 6.5 miles on Highway 9, toward Pontotoc. Turn north on State Highway 331 until you reach the Water Tower located on the west side of the highway. Turn west on the Weyerhaeuser Road and go 1.1 miles. Turn south on another Weyerhaeuser Road and go .8 miles to a clearing. Roughly in a south-southwesterly direction (about 8 o'clock position) go about 135 yards down a skidder road to the cemetery. Latitude and Longitude: North 34 degrees 08.129. by West 089 degrees 21.224

Tombstones located and transcribed: Emma May daughter of Ketter and Susan Caroline McGuirk born Aug. 20, 1881 died Aug. 12, 1899
Alace Valaria daughter of Ketter and Susan Caroline McGuirk born Apr 14, 1879 died Feb. 10, 1898
Kate McGuirk born Dec. 26, 1851 died March 28, 1894
Lee J. son of Cato and Caroline McGouirk died Oct. 4, 1875 Aged 1 year [spelled with an O]
W. A. Brantly born Nov. {broken} 1877 died ---ch 20, 1878

1860 Calhoun County MS Federal Census Transcription: Page 89 Date: 8/15/1860 Sarepta Post Office Household 604-623
Pascall McGuits age 45 male farmer $1600/$9000 born in Georgia [Transcription note: Paschal H. McGuirk]
Sarah age 38 female born in South Carolina
William age 16 male born in Mississippi
James age 13 male born in Mississippi
Alice age 9 female born in Mississippi
Ara age 4 female born in Mississippi
Susan age 4/12 months born in Mississippi

1870 Calhoun Co., MS Federal Census, household 158-160
Maquoirk, Paschal 56 m w farmer GA
               Sarah 48 f w keeping house MS
               James H. 23 m w farm laborer MS
               Alice 19 f w attending school MS
               Wilson 12 m w farm laborer MS
               Lula H. f w attending school MS
               William 26 m w farm laborer MS
               Martha 19 f w at home SC [wife of Wm.]
               Sarah A. 2/12 (b. March) f w MS
               Kedder 20 m b farm laborer MS
               George 16 m mu farm laborer MS
               Lucinda 8 f b at home MS

1880 Calhoun Co., MS Federal Census, household 58-58
McGouirk, William w m 36 farmer MS GA SC
                Martha w f 31 wife keeping house MS MS AL
                Sarah A. w f 10 dau MS MS MS
                Mattie M. w f 7 dau MS MS MS
                Harry A. w m 4 son TX MS MS
                Sarah E. w f 58 mother widowed SC SC SC
McIntosh, P.H. w m 7 nephew TX MS MS

household 59-59
McGouirk, Cato mu m 31 farmer MS MS MS
                Colline mu f 27 wife keeping house MS MS MS
                Edgar mu m 4 son MS MS MS     [bu. Dallas Cemetery, Lafayette Co., MS]
                Alice mu f 2 dau MS MS MS
                plus some more relatives living with them

1990 Calhoun Co., MS Federal Census household 93-93
McGuirk, Colline b f 3/1856 44 widow 10 children/7 living MS MS MS farmer
               Ketter E. son 10/1875 24 single MS MS MS
               Thomas D. son 10/1883 16 MS MS MS
               Adda K. dau 2/1888 12 MS MS MS
               Harriet G. dau 1/1890 10 MS MS MS
               Albert son 11/1891 8 MS MS MS
               Wilson H. son 6/1894 5 MS MS MS
Brazeal, Willie b m 11/1882 17 single MS MS MS

Photos at the McGuirk Cemetery

If you look very closely, you can see the faint outline of the tombstone base. This photo was made by Charlie Clark when he first located the site. I left the image fairly large so that it would be easier to see the stone. This is the site that Charlie Clark found when he first located the cemetery.

This is the site that Charlie Clark found when he first located the cemetery.

After Charlie Clark clears away a few vines, more stones are located.

After Charlie Clark clears away a few vines at the McGuirk Cemetery, Calhoun County, MS.

After clearing away the underbrush, markers located at the McGuirk Cemetery north of Sarepta, Calhoun County, MS The clearing after "the crew" has cleaned out the underbrush.

Double sides stone for Emma May and Alace Valaria, both daughters of Ketter and Susan Caroline McGuirk. One side of double sided marker for the daughters of Ketter McGuirk after washing and dirt removal.

Cleaning one of the tombstones at McGuirk Cemetery Details appear on McGuirk Cemetery tombstone During cleaning of tombstone.

McGuirk Cemetery, Calhoun County, MS The oldest stone found has McGouirk spelled with an additional "o" in name.

Edmond and Larry Hellums, Charles Diamond, Charlie and Mary Clark

Left to right: Edmond and Larry Hellums, Charles Diamond, Charlie and Mary Clark.

May 4, 2003

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