Sam Bradford / Sam Edwards Cemeteries

Bradford Rd., Little Creek, Yancey Co., North Carolina

Surveyed and documented by Beth Bradford-Pytel

updated on 01/06/13

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PHOTOS: LEFT - In July 2012, I made a sign for the cemetery

RIGHT: Brothers Douglas (my dad) and Terry Bradford, late grandsons of Sam L. Bradford and Ruhama Hensley with their wives taken May 2003

Both cemeteries are within a short walk from each other nestled deep in the woods on the hillside in Little Creek.  Heading on Rt. 19W from Unicoi Co. towards Burnsville, NC, make a right at the Bee Log Junction onto Little Creek Road which crosses over the Cane River -see map below.  You will pass Guy's General Store/gas station on the left as well as Bald Mountain Road.  Continue straight on Little Creek Road bends sharply to the left.  Proceed for about a mile and make a left onto Bradford Road [there is an Old Barn on the corner].  Proceed up the hill for about 6/10 mile passing several houses on both sides.  Continue up the hill and on the left, you will see a metal gate entrance to a logging road in between a couple of houses that sit very close to the road.  There is no sign for the cemetery and easy to miss.  The logging road is not fortified and not recommended to drive on.  I parked my car at the base of the entrance and hiked up the logging trail which affords spectacular views of Little Bald Mountain.   First you will come across Samuel Edwards cemetery (see Part II below).  Proceed further up the hill to reach Sam Bradford cemetery.  This is the burial ground of my great grandparents.  Also suspected are my great-great grandparents William "Billy Bradford and Elizabeth Wilson - unmarked graves.  All gates must be securely fasten to protect livestock.

PHOTOS:  During my last visit on May 30, 2009, with my brother Doug Bradford, the cemetery and fence were in dire need of repair; cemetery was overgrown.  In May 2012, the cemetery was a complete mess with 3 year old saplings and extensive overgrowth of vegetation which overshadowed the tombstones and hid the boxwoods.   On May 18, 2012, Julian Fender cleared off the cemetery and I am immensely grateful for his efforts.  Unless otherwise noted, all photos taken by bbpytel.

      BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS OF THE CLEAR OFF       by Julian Fender.

PART I:  SAMUEL BRADFORD CEMETERY:

SURNAMES:  BRADFORD, COOPER, LEWIS, HENSLEY, WILSON

1.  BRADFORD, Samuel L.

b. April 6, 1858 - d. February 20, 1932

"Rest in Peace"

[s/o William "Billy" Bradford & Elizabeth "Betsy Wilson #8/9]

NOTE: Ruhamia ran the farm and Sam was the owner of a general store which sat on the corner of Little Creek and Bradford Rds.  Sam died from complications of a stomach wound from a stray bullet due to a shooting altercation between Carmen Cooper and Lee Martin in his store.  Carmen Cooper was killed during that altercation.  Lee Martin was acquitted at his trial in Yancey. NOTE:  Tombstone taken 2003l; photo of Ruhamia and Sam standing in front of their barn, which still stands today, circa 1931.        Will of Samuel L. Bradford 

2.  BRADFORD, Ruhamia [HENSLEY]

b. March 5, 1872 - d. March 17, 1940

[d/o Barnett L. Hensley and Lucinda Van Hensley buried Hensley Cem. #3; w/o Sam - married December 27, 1889; children:

1)  Oscar md. Ida Mae Randolph buried Oscar Bradford Cem.

2)  Princia Lee md. Andrew J. McCourry buried Phillips-Hampton

3)  Sue Emma #4

5)  Rexter md. Martha Hensley buried McCourry-Hensley-Tipton

6)  Arthur md. Milam Hensley buried Evergreen, Erwin

7)  Lyde B. md. Gladys Amy Brinkley buried Evergreen, Erwin

8)  Andy Roscoe md. Pearl Lee Hensley buried Bradford-Spivey

9)  Lucinda md. 1st Fred Parker / 2nd Mack Hensley buried Cane River

10) Woodroe (never married) buried Bradford-Spivey

3.  LEWIS, Goldman [Robert]

b. [January 8] 1891 - [October 31] 1974

"Resting in Peace"

[s/o Robert Hiram Lewis buried Martins Creek Cem. #629. and 1st wife Sarah Jane Holloway]

NOTE: Occupation - Teamster and Logger  Tombstone photo taken 2003

 

4.  LEWIS, Sue Emma [BRADFORD]

b. March 1896 - d. 1948

[w/o Goldman - married April 9, 1914; d/o Sam L. Bradford and Ruhamia Hensley]

PHOTO:  Sue Emma Bradford and Goldman R. Lewis abt. 1946 - Little Creek, Yancey Co., NC.

5.  BRADFORD, Jack - "Little Jack"

b. September 1929 - d. April 1936

[s/o Lyde Bradford and Gladys Brinkley, buried Evergreen Cem. Erwin, TN]

NOTE:  Jack's father, Lyde of Little Creek, NC ran a gas station at their home on 19W on Spivey Mountain just beyond the NC state line. On April 18, 1936, a fire broke out destroying the entire home and filling station and tragically claimed little Jack’s life. The cause of the fire, which exploded the gas tanks, was never determined. The family rebuilt their house and business in the same location.  The April 1936 headline of the Erwin Record stated:

"Futile Effort to Save Son Brings Mother Grave Burns”

A mother is recovering from severe burns and bruises in a local hospital following an unsuccessful attempt to rescue her seven year old son early today when their Spivey mountain home was totally destroyed by fire. The boy, Jack Bradford, lost his life when a blaze of undetermined origin, wiped out the combination filling station-home situated on the Asheville highway about 12 miles from here (Erwin).  Lyde Bradford, his father, and two other children narrowly escaped being trapped.  The family of five awoke shortly after midnight to discover their roadside home in flames. The parents, clutching their two younger children, fought their way out of the burning structure, only to learn that Jack had succumbed to the dense smoke. Screaming, his mother rushed back into the house, but was forces back without her son only after she sustained burns about the face, hands, and back, and bruises from falling timbers. The boy’s charred body, hours later, was dragged from the embers. The father and two other children received treatment here (in Erwin) for burns and minor injuries. Hospital attaches said later today the woman would recover.  Bradford operated a filling station on the highway a few miles beyond the North Carolina line. He and his family lived in three rooms of a wooden building that connected with the business establishment.  The loss from the fire has not been estimated."    Tombstone photo taken 2003

There are about 6 more unmarked graves within the fenced area.  The following are suspected based on my analysis to date which is subject to change as information becomes available:

6.  BRADFORD, Isom B.  [unmarked - suspected grave]

b. May 1870 - d. abt. 1935

[wife - Margaret Wilson; s/o William "Billy" Bradford and Elizabeth "Betsy" Wilson]

NOTE: In 2003,  grave marked with a rock and faded funeral home marker; since that time the marker is now gone.

7.  HENSLEY, Hannah COOPER / BRADFORD* 

b. 1837 - d. May 16, 1872

[d/o William "Billy" Bradford #8 and Mary "Polly" Cooper

married 1st John Wilson (s/o Thomas Wilson and Martha Ann Hensley) he was killed in Atlanta, GA during the Civil War.

married 2nd to William Issam Hensley buried Hensley Cem Little Creek;

children: Edith, Belandrona "Ban" (buried Martins Creek  #630); William]

NOTE: *Hannah was named after her grandmother Hannah (Choate?).  She never assumed the Bradford surname as evidenced in the 1850 and 1860 censuses.  She was noted as Hannah "Cooper" using her mother's surname since William "Billy" Bradford never married Mary "Polly" Cooper.   It is unclear how Hannah died but assumed due to giving birth to William as both died in 1872.    Affidavit of Samuel L. Bradford    attests to Hannah's burial and the name of husband and father for her husband, William Issam's, war pension.  Also, according to the Affidavit, William Issam Hensley states that she was buried at the "Bradford Cemetery" and the following people present at her funeral were:  Thomas Honeycutt, Samuel Bradford, Andrew Bradford, Marcus Cooper, John Phillips all of whom lived a couple of miles away.    Tombstone photo taken 5/30/2009 --bbpytel

8.  BRADFORD, William E. "Billy"  [unmarked --suspected grave]

b.  abt. 1815 - d. 1892

[s/o John Bradford b. abt 1777 and Hannah (Choate?) who settled in Little Creek; suspected to be buried up the road at Honeycutt Cem.

1st companion Mary "Polly" Cooper born in TN; children: Hannah #7, John, Beladrona Ruth

2nd and wife - Elizabeth "Betsy" Wilson #9]

NOTE:  Billy never married Mary "Polly" Cooper and sired three children with her. In 1866, the State of NC brought charges again them for unlawfully "bed, co-habit, commit fornication together without being married."  During the 1860 Yancey Co. Census noted William age 45, Polly (Mary) age 40, John age 16, Belinda R. age 14, Andrew age 9 mos. and John Wilson in the household.  John Wilson (brother to Billy's 2nd wife, Betsy Wilson) married Billy's daughter Hannah, but was killed in the Civil War.   Tombstone photo taken 5/30/2009 --bbpytel

   STATE OF NC vs. WILLIAM BRADFORD and MARY COOPER 

9.  BRADFORD, Elizabeth "Betsy" [WILSON]  [unmarked --suspected grave]

b.  abt. 1833 - d. bef. 1900

[d/o Thomas Wilson and Mary Ann Hensley

1st  married Austin "Aught" Nathan Honeycutt (buried at Honeycutt Cem.) who died from "dropsy" at his home while on furlough from the Civil War serving the CSA.

children:

1) Mary Jane md. Mr. Peek, died of "dropsy" and buried in Gaston, NC (per NC death record)

2) Thomas John md. 1st Melissa "Liss" Hensley; 2nd Analize Randolph buried Edwards Cem #3

3) Emily Cora md. Rev. Rexter Samuel Wilson

 

2nd married William "Billy" Bradford #8; children: 

1) Andrew md. 1st Harriett Riddle, 2nd Nellie Jean Peek

2) Samuel L. #1,

3) Ishom B. #6,  

4) Cordelia md. Hiram Lewis

5) Wakeman md. Hannah Simmons

NOTE:  1st of 3 fieldstones in a row; large boxwood behind the fieldstone.   Tombstone photo taken 5/30/2009 --bbpytel

PART II:  SAMUEL EDWARDS CEMETERY:

This cemetery is down the hill from the Samuel Bradford Cemetery.

 

SURNAMES:  ADKINS, BATTY, EDWARDS

NOTE:  In 2009, cemetery and fence are in excellent condition and well taken care of.   Photo is a macro view of Sam Edwards Cemetery taken 5/30/2009 --bbpytel

1.  EDWARDS, Samuel

b. October 8, 1904 - d. September 2, 1981

"Our Father Which Art in Heaven"

 

2.  EDWARDS, Gerta

b. February 1,3 1902 - d. June 26, 1999

[w/o Samuel Edwards]

NOTE:  Tombstone photo taken 5/30/2009 --bbpytel

3.  ADKINS, Larkin

b. May 1, 1928 - d. August 25, 1990

NOTE:  Tombstone photo taken 5/30/2009 --bbpytel

4.  BATTY, Kenneth

b. July 2, 1927 - d. January 20, 1998

 

5.  BATTY, Cleo [ADKINS]

b. May 16, 1926 - d. November 30, 1994

NOTE:  Tombstone photo taken 5/30/2009 --bbpytel

6.  TREADWAY, Robert Ernest

b.  1934 - d. June 1, 2012

[s/o Arthur Treadway and Mary Lee Bailey]

NOTE:  A native from Unicoi Co., TN, he was a skilled carpenter and a Veteran of the Korean conflict.  Rev. Bill Mitchell officiated the service at the Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.

Yancey Co. Map - location of cemetery -click to enlarge

View of the old Sam Bradford property taken from the cemetery,

Little Creek, Yancey Co., NC   photo taken in 2003 -bbpytel

More Info on Yancey Co. Genealogy

a contribution to the NCGenWeb Project

Other Yancey Co. Cemeteries - Tombstone Transcription Project

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Updated 01/06/2013