Category Archives: Tennessee

Cemeteries, Tennessee

The Gravesite of Nanyehi-Benton, Tennessee

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Overlooking the Ocoee River in Benton, Tennessee are the graves of Nanyehi (known more by her colonized name of Nancy Ward), her son Five Killer, and her brother Longfellow. Nanyehi was known as a Beloved Woman of the Cherokee because of her bravery in a battle and for how she kept her tribe safe during the American Revolutionary War.

By the age of 17, Nanyehi was married to Tsu-la and had two children. She fought alongside her husband against the Creek Nation. When he died during the war, she took his gun and helped in the battle.

In the late 1750s, she married a man named Bryan Ward from South Carolina. Ward was married to another woman in South Carolina. Ward and Nanyehi had one daughter. Ward eventually moved back to South Carolina to be with his other wife and children.

Nanyehi stayed in the area and ran an inn until her death.

Houses, National Register of Historic Places, Tennessee

Levi Vernon Woodlee House-Altamont, Tennessee

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L. V. Woodlee was a lawyer and leader in the Grundy County area. His home was built in 1900 and sits on the Altamont town square. The Colonial Revival home is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Cemeteries, Tennessee, Vernacular Headstones

Mount Gilead Cemetery-Sparta, Tennessee

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Mount Gilead Cemetery outside of Sparta, Tennessee, is one of several cemeteries found in mostly Southern states and the Appalachian Mountains containing tent graves. This cemetery has some of the oldest graves featuring this style.

The graves of Mary Brogdon (1837-1868), Owing Gentry (1806-1875), and William Davis (1864-1873)

Also known as comb graves, it was initially assumed that they were built to protect graves, but it is now believed that these were likely aesthetic choices. I support this idea. Vernacular headstones often appear in clusters in several cemeteries. For instance, there are a series of cemeteries along the coast that feature what I’ve called “Black Madonnas” since they are only in Black cemeteries. Additionally, many cemeteries along the coast feature a single-star motif on headstones. An example can be seen on the Mary Lemon grave at Behavior Cemetery.

The grave of Susannah Keathley (1788-1854)
The grave of Jinsey Aust (1813-1875)
Churches, National Register of Historic Places, Tennessee

Northcutts Cove Chapel-Grundy County, Tennessee

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The are only a a handful of rural churches left that were built and used by the Latter Day Saints. Northcutts Cove Chapel was built in 1909. It was built on land donated by church member, John Tipton.

It is often stated it is the oldest LDS church still standing in the rural southeast. However, the Cumorah Church in Douglas, Georgia was built in 1907. Northcutts Cove is in significantly better condition, though. Neither building is under the auspices of the Latter Day Saints anymore.

It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.