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Mars Hill Cemetery
near Marion, Perry County, Alabama
as reported by drjudy@westal.net
and photographed by
Barbara Ward and John M. Gwin


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Following is a list of 48 people reported at http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/9365/marshill.html to be buried at the Mars Hill Cemetery near Marion, Perry County, Alabama.  I copied that list to this page for the purpose of modifying it to reflect my own relatives.  All those highlighted in red may be found on my page for the parents--Isom Gwin and Mary Burdine Wilson Gwin Steadman (the latter is also buried here at Mars Hill)--of Martha Rosanna Gwin Holley Lester, my first cousin thrice removed.  My heartfelt thanks go to the person at drjudy@westal.net who walked through that cemetery and laboriously recorded all this data then transcribed it here for us to use. You have provided me with information I did not have previously on several people. Thank you!


In July 2006 I was privileged to walk through this cemetery myself--once at night and again the next morning--and photograph some of the headstones. As a special treat, I also got to meet, visit, and pray with its primary caretaker, Mr. Thomas Hill, who is most likely a cousin.
--John M. Gwin


Finding this cemetery was no easy task at first. No one seemed to know where it was! I finally asked directions to the police station where I visited with the Chief of Police, who also didn't know but sent me to the Mayor, who didn't know but called a County Commissioner, who did know and gave me instructions over the phone--and all of this around nine-thirty in the evening! But I followed the directions and found it fairly easily, even in the dark. After taking over a roll of pictures, I spent the night in a local motel and returned to the cemetery the next morning before heading for home. What a wonderful bunch of people live in Marion, Alabama!

How to get there: Starting on the highway going through Marion, turn east at the flashing caution light. Drive until the hard road stops, then continue on the dirt, counting dirt roads to the left. Take the third of these (after you do, you'll see this sign on the corner to your left) up the hill until you come to the chain-link-fenced cemetery, also on the left and at the top of the ridge, overlooking the valley below.

If you do happen to miss this third dirt road to the left and drive on past it, you'll eventually realize you went too far and will turn around. On the way back, then, the sign in this photo will be easy to see (now on your right, of course), and you'll head right up the hill to the cemetery.

I don't recommend searching for this cemetery after dark as I did! Go in the daylight, and it should be quite easy to find
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01.  Joseph W. Pitts, April 28, 1868, Sept. 15, 1904
02.  Infant daughter of Giles and Phoebe Pitts, 1860
03.  Edwin Giles Pitts, 1802-1871
04.  Margaret Miller Pitts, 1814-1882
05.  Estelle Blackburn, wife of W. D. Blackburn, Dec. 9, 1878, Oct. 13, 1904
06.  Sarah Ford McCauley, Sept. 10, 1848, March 17, 1888
07.  F. M. McCauley, Co. K, 62nd Ala Inf. C.S.A.
08.  Johnston H. McCauley, Sept. 21, 1874, Jan. 1, 1920
09.  Edwin Alexander McCauley, June 1, 1906, Oct. 25, 1907
10.  Etta Lucile, Infant Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O.A. McCauley, Sept. 5, 1916, Sept. 23, 1916
 

11.  John O. Pitts, Dec. 3, 1836, Dec. 26, 1901
12.  01.  Emma Pitts, wife of John Pitts, Dec. 30, 1852, June 22, 1904
13.  Etta L. McCauley, April 20, 1886, Oct. 17, 1916
14.  Oliver Alexander McCauley, Sept. 4, 1879, August 10, 1957
15.  Josephine McCauley Nichols, March 16, 1909, June 6, 1974
16.  Offie Lee McCauley, Dec. 11, 1932, June 29, 1980, He died as he lived, helping others (I included this line because my mother, Maurine Cooke, knew him, and he was incredibly generous with his time, helping anyone who needed electrical work or anything else
17.  Eugene McCauley, Sr., Oct. 30, 1930, March 11, 1994
18.  Otey Lawrence Holly, August 28, 1908, Sept. 17, 1960

19.  Mary Addie Kynard, wife of Clarence Wilson Holly, June 11, 1878, Jan. 17, 1948 [daughter-in-law and son, respectively, of Martha Rosanna Gwin Holley Lester and Matt Holley]

20.  Clarence Wilson Holley, March 2, 1870, March 15, 1941 [son of Martha Rosanna Gwin Holley Lester and Matt Holley, and John Gwin's double-second cousin twice removed]


21.  Mattie Ruth Holley, Dec. 19, 1899, May 31, 1917
22.  Infant son of Hoy and Ina Pitts
23.  Clarence W. Hamm, May 22, 1928, May 24, 1928

24.  Alma Lester Crawford, Dec. 1, 1881, Jan. 23, 1970 [daughter of Martha Rosanna Gwin Holley Lester and Bryant Brown Lester, and John Gwin's double-second cousin twice removed]
25.  Walter Veston Tubb, Sept. 27, 1879, July 19, 1906 [son-in-law of Martha Rosanna Gwin Holley Lester and Bryant Brown Lester]


26.  Clara Mildred Lester, Oct. 12, 1911, Dec. 3, 1912 [infant granddaughter of Martha Rosanna Gwin Holley Lester and Bryant Brown Lester, and John Gwin's double-third cousin once removed]
27.  Mattie Smith Lester, May 15, 1906, Dec. 29, 1912 [granddaughter of Martha Rosanna Gwin Holley Lester and Bryant Brown Lester, and John Gwin's double-third cousin once removed]
28.  Infant son of Lester, March 11, 1903, March 13, 1903 [infant grandson of Martha Rosanna Gwin Holley Lester and Bryant Brown Lester, and John Gwin's double-third cousin once removed]



29.  Carlos S. Holly, August 12, 1868, March 8, 1930 [son of Martha Rosanna Gwin Holley Lester and Matt Holley, and John Gwin's double-second cousin twice removed]
30.  Emma L, wife of C. S. Holly, May 22, 1878, August 27, 1908 [daughter-in-law of Martha Rosanna Gwin Holley Lester and Matt Holley]
31.  Mary B. Steadman, Jan. 12, 1877, 60 years, 2 months, 3 days [this is Mary Burdine Wilson Gwin Steadman--daughter of Nathaniel Burdine Wilson and his wife, Jane Jones; wife and widow of Isom Gwin; mother of Martha Rosanna Gwin Holley Lester, and John Gwin's (double?) gg-grandaunt (both by blood and by marriage)]



32.  Madison "Matt" Holley, Lewis Independent Cavalry, from 1860 to 1865, CSA, 1833-1873 [first husband of Martha Rosanna Gwin Holley Lester]
33.  Martha Guinn, wife of Bryant B. Lester, April 5, 1844, Sept. 14, 1923  [Martha Rosanna Gwin Holley Lester, John Gwin's double-first cousin thrice removed]
34.  Bryant Brown Lester, March 8, 1852, Jan. 28, 1941 [second husband of Martha Rosanna Gwin Holley Lester]

35.  Benjamen F. Matthews, Co. I, 51 Ala. Cavalry, CSA
36.  Andrew J. Mathews, Nov. 5, 1846, Feb. 24, 1860
37.  James Benjamen Harrison, March 12, 1871, April 7, 1932
38.  Lola Harrison, May 15, 1880, Oct. 17, 1921
39.  Infant Child of Lola Lester and James Benjamen Harrison
40.  Infant Child of Lola Lester and James Benjamen Harrison
 

41.  William Eldridge, son of J. B. and L. L. Harrison, April 14, 1907, May 18, 1908
42.  Maggie Lou Henley, July 29, 1898, May 13, 1927
43.  Eugene Henley, Jan. 14, 1894, Nov. 4, 1975
44.  Maggie Lester Henley, August 26, 1866, March 31, 1952 [sister of Bryant Brown Lester]
45.  Edd Henley, July 9, 1864, April 16,1941
46.  Edd Henley, Jr., March 13, 1892, Nov. 10, 1968
47.  Eursel Henley, Nov. 27, 1895, Dec. 14, 1970
48.  Jennie V. Henly, US Nurse Corps, WWI, July 5, 1890, Dec. 29, 1983

E-mail me: drjudy@westal.net