Unicoi County TN Archives Cemeteries.....Bell Cemetery, Unicoi TN - Complete Survey ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tn/tnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Sandra Bell Bellmother@aol.com June 1, 2007, 9:15 am Abstracted By: Sandra Bell Latitude: 36.177NZ Longitude: -82.27W The cemetery was previously recorded in 1973 by Bill Norris. Located on highway 107 in Limestone Cove. From Erwin, Tennessee, travel East on RR 107 towards Limestone Cove. The gravesite is on the right hand side. Transcribed May 2007 by Sandra Bell. Many thanks to Kent Garland who has taken the responsibility of caring for the cemetery. Some tombstones available on Genweb. Bell Cemetery Records, Limestone Cove Tragedy: Historical Marker produced by the Tennessee Historical Commission “Limestone Cove Tragedy” Here are buried the eight civilians killed at the home of Dr. David Bell in Nov 1863. Enroute to Kentucky to join Federal Forces, they were found by a detachment of Col. W. A. Witcher’s Confederate Cavalry, while waiting for breakfast. They were: B. Blackburn, Calvin Cantrel, Elijah Gentry, Jacob Lyons, Wiley Royal, John Sparks and two unknown. Buried nearby is Dr. Bell's brother, James killed at the same time. Preston Pruett is one of the unknown recruits as reported by Union Scout, Dan Ellis. Buried nearby is Dr. Bell’s brother, James, who was later dragged from the house, shot and beaten. The rebels then went and burned the house down. (See The Thrilling Adventures of Dan Ellis for a complete account. The Bell house was across the street from the Bell Cemetery. The newer house built on the old foundation. The spring house still stands in 2007. Within a day and a night, Col. Witcher who led over 400 men entered Carter County from the State of Virginia and boasted of killing 21 Lincolnites along the 15 mile route to Watauga River toward Elizabethton, guided by townspeople who told them the people of East Tennessee were strongly Union sympathizers. They started with the Bell home, intending to burn it down, but after finding the recruits there, it filled them with such anger that after the massacre they swore to show no mercy and clear the county of all Yankees and Lincolnites. Others killed that night included Commodore Slone, 56 years old and William Bird who was staying at the home of William McKinney. The 8 men who were killed that night were buried in a mass grave. James Bell was buried separately. Last Name First Name Middle Name Birth Death Comment ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Allen Goldie Dec 22, 1914 Jan 15 1936 Gone but not forgotten Allen Sidney Hugh Jan 15, 1934 Oct 29 1975 Amyx Josephine P. Nov 24 1923 May 5 2005 (wife of Chester Amyx) Amyx Chester A April 6, 1922 Sept 23, 1977 'The hours part us but they bring us together again' Baker John William Jan 19, 1876 Jan 19, 1972 (husband of Minnie Bell) Baker Minnie Bell Oct 30, 1877 Sept 23, 1962 (Daughter of Henry E. Bell & Nancy H. Miller) Baker Charlie H. April 12, 1838 April 22, 1928 (husband of Jane Garland Baker) Baker Jane Garland April 12, 1840 June 17, 1917 (wife of Charlie H. Baker) Baker David P. (no other information) Ballard Sarah Frances April 18 1973 age 91 Ballard Sarah E. 1879 1973 'Mother' Belcher Maynard P. March 4, 1904 June 14 1996 (Husband of Robert H. Belcher) Belcher Roberta H. June 7 1911 Nov 21, 2002 (wife of Maynard P. Belcher) Bell Henry Edward May 23 1845 Nov 22, 1893 (son of David Beel & Sarah McKeldin, husband of Nancy H. Miller) Bell Nancy Harriett Miller Dec 31, 1859 Nov 14 1929 (Daughter of Jacob Miller & Julia Ann Leonard, w of Henry Edward Bell) Bell Jack E 1925 1925 (son of Jacob Beeler Bell & Florence Charles Bell James W. 1879 1964 (son of Henry E. Bell & Nancy H. Miller. husband of Celia Lea Garland) Bell Celia G. 1889 1975 (Daughter of Wiliam W. Garland & Minerva Gouge, w. of James W. Bell) Additional Comments: (Mother of Charlotte Grindstaff) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tn/unicoi/cemeteries/bellceme22gcm.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/ File size: 5.1 Kb