Bell-Fountain Cemetery

Surveyed by Leila B. LaGrone, July 1969

Transcribed & Submitted by Marylee Knight

 

Directions:  From Carthage, go eastbound on U.S. Highway 79 N for 14 miles to the point where there is a yellow blinking light at the intersection with FM 31.  Turn left on to FM 31 and go northbound only 0.2 miles to the point where FM 1794 intersects on the left.  Turn left on to FM 1794  and proceed westbound for 3.5 miles to the point where Panola County Road 3081 intersects on the left.  Turn on to CR 3081, passing by Wayside Church on the left and go a total of 557 feet to the point where CR 3082 intersects on the left.  Turn on to CR 3082 and continue the 803 feet to where the road ends at the cemetery.

In her survey notes made in 1969, Mrs. LaGrone stated that rows of graves had disappeared from this cemetery because the tombstones were stolen and the wooden markers had decayed.  She noted that Bell-Fountain Cemetery is a five-acre plot enclosed with a fence and that " Bell-Fountain Baptist Church used to stand where a tabernacle has been built in recent years.  Rev. Jerry R. Alexander was the last preacher to preach in that church.  It was at this church that he was licensed to preach on Saturday before the 4th Sunday in June 1877, with E.B. Eakin and Richard Ingram as Presbyters."

Mrs. LaGrone also stated "A Negro slave cemetery was beside this one.  Wayside Negro Church is about 500 yards west; it is the Negro equivalent to Bell-Fountain.  Four and one-half acres were given to that congregation."

She noted that the area had once been a thriving community and were served by the Kemlock Post Office. Credit was also given to the late John Dry who had assisted in making identification of many who were buried here.  There are, reportedly some of the Wooten family buried here, but no marked graves were found.   

*Per Edna, Amanda Briggs was born in 1837 not 1877

 

Surname

Given Name

Date of Birth

Date of Death

Alexander

Alice A.

Apr 3, 1886

Oct 10, 1906

 

Wife of B.B. Alexander

 

 

Alexander

Cora Simmons

Apr 22, 1849

Nov 23, 1873

 

Wife of J.R. Alexander

 

 

 

Daughter of Dr. ? Simmons

 

Alexander

Unknown daughter of

No date

No date

 

J.R. and Fannie Alexander (J.R.'s third wife)

Alfred

John

May 3, 1854

Mar 24, 1887

Breedlove

Charles R.

1844

1902

Breedlove

Mary E.

1850

1911

Briggs

Amanda

1837*

1902

Cobb

Ambers

No date

No date

Cobb

Joe

No date

No date

Cobb

Lemmon

No date

No date

Elliott

Annie

No date

1974 ?

Elliott

Arizona

1882

1892

Elliott

C.H.

Jul 14, 1846

Oct 20, 1900

 

Husband of Ida & Georgia

 

 

Elliott

Carel

1888

1888

Elliott

Charley B.

1876

1880

Elliott

Charlie H.

Feb 25, 1905

Apr 16, 1905

Elliott

E.W.

1865

1923

 

"Mason"

 

 

Elliott

Edgar Franklin

1881

1902

 

Son of C.H. & Ida Elliott

 

 

Elliott

Georgia

1868

1895

 

Wife of C.H. Elliott

 

 

Elliott

Ida

1853

1887

 

Wife of C.H. Elliott

 

 

Elliott

J.M.

1852

1906

Elliott

J.T.

1861

1911

Elliott

J.T.,  Jr.

1888

1909

Elliott

Levinia A.

1826

1879

Elliott

Lissie

1870

1880

Elliott

Little Bid

1889

1891

Elliott

Mary J.

1862

1938

Elliott

Nobel Clare

1893

1895

 

Daughter of J.T. & M.L. Elliott

 

Elliott

William C.

1873

1881

Elliott

Zachary Darnell

1897

1901

 

Son of W.B. & F.M. Elliott

 

 

Greer

W.H.

Sep 18, 1848

Mar 25, 1904

Higgins

Wallace

1881

1882

 

Son of D.S. & C.L. Higgins

 

 

Hill

C.N.

No date

Apr 29, 1894

 

"Our Mother" - "Age 65"

 

 

Hill

Fannie E.

Jun 10, 1855

Nov 3, 1898

 

Wife of W.A. Hill

 

 

Hill

Frances

Dec 20, 1812

Jan 31, 1895

 

Wife of Wylie Hill

 

 

Hill

Grover A.

May 6, 1885

Feb 15, 1906

 

Son of W.A. & F.E. Hill

 

 

Hill

Henry H.

Jan 14, 1844

Aug 14, 1865

Hill

John P.

Apr 13, 1845

Aug 7, 1865

Hill

Murrah P.

1860

1882

 

Son of A.W. & C.N. Hill

 

 

Hill

Obedience

Sep 1783

Aug 21, 1873

 

"Age 90 years"

 

 

Hill

Wiley

Apr 7, 1809

Dec 9, 1889

 

"Mason"

 

 

Hill

Wiley A.

May 27, 1846

Jun 20, 1912

Hill

Woods

1885

1885

 

Son of N.T. & M.J. Hill

 

 

Hough

Beulah

1839

1850

 

Daughter of S.B. & V.A. Hough

 

Ingram

Jim

No date

No date

Ingram

Unknown 

No date

No date

Ingram

Unknown

No date

No date

Ivy

Jeremiah

1794

1887

 

Died at age 93

 

 

Ivy

Mrs. Jeremiah

No date

No date

 

nee Martha (Hudson) Johns Ivy

 

Jeter

Adah

1887

1888

 

Daughter of G.S. & C.N. Jeter

 

Johns

Charlie 

No date

No date

Johns

Theron May

1898

1899

 

Sister of Mrs. Verna Marr

 

 

Johns

Thomas Pascal

1854

1887

 

Brother of Mrs. Verna Marr

 

Johns

Unknown

No date

No date

 

First husband of Martha (Hudson) Johns Ivy

Johns

Willis Moody

1888

1890

Killion

David C.

Mar 22, 1845

Oct 25, 1868

Lyon

J.D.

Mar 20, 1804

May 4, 1876

 

"Mason"

 

 

Lyon

Sarah Hill

Nov 4, 1807

Nov 17, 1899

 

Wife of J.D. Lyon - "Age 92 yrs, 13 days"

 

Lyon

W.C.

Feb 6, 1825

Feb 3, 1874

 

"Mason"

 

 

Merriman

Unknown

No date

No date

 

Wife of Dr. ? Simmons, founder of Simmons Medicine Co

 

Name of second husband unknown

 

 

Wife of ? Merriman

 

 

 

Mother of Cora (Simmons) Alexander

 

Mondon

Laura

1863

1868

Reese

Allie W.

1880

1901

Turk

Lucy V.

1850

1900

 

Wife of Dr. T.L. Turk

 

 

Turk

T.L.  (Dr.)

Jan 27, 1846

Dec 22, 1902