Memorial Day, May 28th, 2012

Memorial Day, not the first day of summertime, but a day to remember and give honor to our Veterans.  I always want to try and attend the Memorial Day services that we have in the county.  It always makes me feel proud to be an American, although I didn't do anything to help with the cause.  But I like to feel like I am paying tribute to those that gave all for our country.

Marion's Mapleview Cemetery War Memorial is great.  The white crosses are our county's hero's that gave the ultimate sacrifice to their county.  Each has an American Flag placed by it for this special day in remembrance. 

Today's program was wonderful, the guest speaker was Justice, Bill Cunningham, a very special gentleman, with a touching talk to share with the audience.  A good  crowd was in attendance for the program. 

Here Judge Cunningham is greeting one of Marion's favorite older generation, and a WW II Veteran, Ronald "Tink" Hicklin.  

Rita Travis, president of the American Legion Auxiliary watches on.

There isn't anything much more inspiring to see than the American Flag.  Old Glory was blowing in the breeze at Mapleview this morning.

Fallen Heroes

Memorial Day, a special time for remembering our Fallen Heroes.  In the Dycusburg Cemetery in the southern most part of our county are three family stones that honor their sons for their service to our country.   Young men that gave their lives, were first buried in foreign soil, but years later by the request of their families were brought home and buried in their community cemetery. 

July 16, 1948 - Memorial services were held at Seven Springs Baptist Church for PFC Degarth Hall.  Degarth was the son of Mrs. Jennie Hall of Dycusburg, Ky.  He was captured in France July 4, 1944 and died in prison camp, July 6, 1944.  His body was brought to his home, July 7, 1948, and was buried in the Dycusbug Cemetery beside his father, Mr. Ed Hall.

Alben Vane Davenport, son of Carrie Bennett of Dycusburg, Killed in France.

William L. Peek, was only in Germany a short time before he was killed in battle.   First buried in a US Military Cemetery in Germany, but his remains were shipped home later and his remain were laid in the Dycusburg Cemetery.  Son of Edward and Birdie Travis Peek.

We thank you young brave soldiers of long ago, for the Freedom we have today. 

Civil War Veteran, W. C. Guess

Here is another Civil War picture and article from The Crittenden Press, March 23, 1928.

W. C. Guess, 77 years old, was born January 22, 1851 and is now living in Dycusburg, Ky.  He is a veteran of the Civil War, having served seven months in the Union Army.  Mr. Guess' own story of the Civil War follows:  "I served in the army for about seven months as a volunteer.  I was living on my father's farm near Walnut Grove when I enlisted in a regiment being organized at Pleasant Hill.  All were ready to fight and the enemy failed to make the charge.  We were expecting the Rebels at Princeton but they deceived us and captured Eddyville.  

I took the measles while at Smithland, was about to recover when I was taken to a barn to sleep and took a back set.  I was taken from Smithland to Owensboro but while there was so weak they decided to send me home.  So I came to Fords Ferry, thence to Marion, which was only a small place; just a few houses, one store and the Court house and hotel.  The city of Marion was all in woods then.  Before I was able to go back peace was declare and I was never mustered out, so I never got anything for my service, not even the honor of being a soldier.

Mr. Guess's children: the oldest son, Jesse Guess, of near Frances, was about 50 years old, Mrs. J. M. Duvall, of near Dycusburg, Mrs. W. W. Green, of near Fredonia, Mrs. Warner Bell, of near Dycusburg, Mrs. Eearl Bell, of near Dycusbug, J. A. Guess, of Dycusburg, Mrs. J. C. Duncan, of near Dycusburg, H. C. Guess, of near Frances, Ms. Archie Turley, of near Dycusburg, Arlin Guess and Miss Lucy Guess, who make their home with their parents.  Three children died in infancy and one when he was six years old.

Mr. Guess died January 4, 1929 and is buried at the Caldwell Springs Cemetery near Frances, Ky.

Joseph Crayne, Civil War Veteran

During the year 1928, The Crittenden Press featured a series of articles and pictures on Civil War Veterans and Senior Citizens that were still alive.  This one featured on Feb. 24, 1928 is of Joseph A. Crayne.  

These little articles are really a treasure for the genealogist, for it tells a lot about the person that you might not be able to find elsewhere.

Joseph A. Crayne, a veteran of the Civil War, recently celebrated his 90th birthday.  Mr. Crayne is a native of Crittenden County and has lived here all of his life.  He was born February 9, 1838.

Mr. Crayne lives with his daughter, Mrs. Abe Hunt, near Piney Fork.  Eight of his thirteen children are living.  They are Mrs. Abe Hunt, Sherman Crayne, Mrs. Ellen Jaob, Mrs. Nannie Hunt, Mrs. Sol B. Hunt, Mrs. Nonie Gass, Willis G. Crayne and Mrs. C. L. Hughes.

Mrs. Crayne, who was Miss Janie Deboe, a sister of the late Senator W. J. Deboe, died 38 years ago.

During the War Between the States Mr. Crayne served for three years under Grant and  Sherman.  He was in the battle of Shiloh and the battle on Lookout Mountain and marched with Sherma to the sea.

Mr. Crayne said that during the war he carried a $10 bill in his shoe to keep Morgan's men from finding it and that he finally were the bill out.

Joseph A. Crayne died June 26, 1929 and is buried at the Piney Fork Cemetery.

Bunton Cemetery, Gone Forever

Located in a very rural spot in southern Crittenden County was the last resting place for several members of the Bunton and Owen family.  Located off of the Paddy's Bluff Road and deep into the woods. 

Once owners of this land, they laid their loved ones to rest on the top of a ridge over looking the Cumberland River.  The old graveyard was known as the Bunton Family Cemetery.  The picture above was made in April 2007 as a descendant, Rita Owen Travis, and myself visited the cemetery in search of some of Rita's ancestors, the Owen family.  The Bunton and Owen family had married ties.

There were only two lonely monuments to mark the grave sites of Rev. J. W. Bunton, born Oct. 3, 1845, died Jan. 4, 1892, a minister of the Methodist Church, South, and Jesse M. Bunton, May 17, 1862  - May 19, 1901.  Although only two purchased monuments were there, we were sure there were several, as many as 20+ buried there, many members of the Owen family. The grave sites were sunken in and they were in rows, some had sandstone rocks as markers and others had nothing to mark their site but the sunken places. Rita had prepared a list of family members that she thinks were buried there, as no other burial location had been found for them.

Never thinking that this cemetery would one day be disturbed, we left that day happy and excited that we had located this family cemetery and the family members buried there would be remembered and noted for future history and family genealogy.

But things you would never expect to happen can appear out of the blue.  One week in March of 2012 there appeared in The Crittenden Press an ad stating (legally) that the graves in the Bunton Cemetery would be moved  to the Dycusburg Cemetery in order that the new owner of the property could develop a quarry and rock loading facility on the Cumberland River and it would be at the location of the old graveyard. 

The disinterment and removal of the bodies was hard fought by Rita and her husband, but in the end they lost the battle and the bodies were moved.  Only 5 burials sites were "reportedly" found, although it is known there were more there, as a person that once lived in that area remembered seeing at least 20 stones there at one time, plus the rocks and sunken in graves.

The new resting place of the remains from the cemetery are now located in the Dycusburg Cemetery.

At least the actions of this removal and those that were buried there has been documented for future reference, as many other little family cemeteries have been totally destroyed through the years without the information and are now lost forever.

Picture of new grave sites was made April 29, 2012.

Preserving Some Of Marion's Past History Through Murals

A new history attraction to Marion East Bellville Street are nine (9) new beautifully painted murals that depict a scene from Marion's past.  Buildings in the paintings no longer exist.  They truly tell of a different time period in Marion's history.

 Building's in these panels left to right:  The old Marion Depot, (was located by the railroad track on East Depot St.) The Marion Hotel (used to be located on Main Street close to the Farmers Bank builidng), Marion's Tobacco Factory  (was located at the end of East Elm Street near the rail road tracks), The Marion Bank, ( Marion's first bank and was located where the People's Bank is today, and Wallingfords Livery Stable, (located on the parking lot where the murals are located.)

Left to Right:  Marion's Whiskey Distrillery, (located at the parking lot of Conrad's Grocery Store), The Opry House / Town Hall, (was located on West Bellville Street, next to the new fire station), Marion's 1st Graded School (located where the Marion Jr. High School building is) and the Fluorspar loading station (was located by the railroad track, also near the end of East Gum St.

The Murals were created and painted by Sherri Mayo, a former Marion resident.  A formal dedication will be held soon.   Funding for the murals were provided by Marion Main Street and Marion Tourism Department.

If your in the area be sure and stop and see them, they are really beautifully done, and tell the story of days gone by, and a prosperous time in Marion's past history.