Old Live Oak Cemetery

Selma, Alabama
THERE IS GLORY IN GRAVES, reads the inscription on the Confederate Monument that stands in the center of Selmas National Historic Register Cemetery. Visitors who stroll beneath its ancient oaks and magnolias draped in Spanish moss, will find glory, humor and pathos in the lives whose stories are told here. One of Live Oaks unique aspects is its bisection by King Street, a busy city thoroughfare. On the east side of King Street is the oldest section of the Cemetery. It was purchased by the Township of Selma in 1829 and named the West Selma Graveyard. It was declared a public nuisance in 1856 and a site in East Selma became the city cemetery for a time. It was in Elmwood, now a predominantly black cemetery, that most of the soldiers who died during the Civil War were buried. When it became apparent that areas of Elmwood were prone to flooding, the City purchased the land between King Street and Valley Creek, from Sallie Ann Jones in 1877, and combined it with the older section to create Live Oak Cemetery. The cemetery received its name in 1879 when Col. N.H.R. Dawson arranged for 80 Live Oaks and 80 Magnolias be purchased from Mobile to be planted throughout both portions of the cemetery. Dawson himself is buried in the newer portion of the cemetery, along with his wife Elodie Todd Dawson. Mrs. Dawsons half-sister was Mary Todd Lincoln, and the two maintained close ties throughout the Civil War. The newer portion owes its beautiful lay out to the Ladies Memorial Association, later known as the United Daughters of the Confederacy, led by Mrs. Dawson. The ladies also deserve credit for the monument in the memorial circle which honors soldiers who died during the War. It was erected at a cost of $5,500 and was paid for by the families of the soldiers listed on the sides. One hundred and fifty-five soldiers were moved from other cemeteries to this circular section of the cemetery. Atop the monument stands a Confederate soldier. A man named Charlie Little donned his fathers uniform and was the model for the statue. The UDC ladies also raised the money to build the cemeterys wall. The structure near the monument, now used as a storage area is known as the Spring House. This
#1 William Rufus King: One of Dallas County's illustrious inhabitants was William Rufus King. In his lifetime, King served as U.S. Senator, Ambassador to France, and as Vice-President of the United States. King and associates organized a business called the Selma Land Company, which held its first auction in May of 1819. The name Selma,

name came from the old practice of having band concerts and Memorial Day programs there each Spring. It is also known as the Pigeon House, because of the many birds roosting in its gables. Among the many prominent Selmians buried in the older section of the cemetery are: the Rev. Arthur Small, a Presbyterian minister who was killed during the Battle of Selma; confederate Generals William J. Hardee and Edmund W. Pettus; and Benjamin Sterling Turner, a former slave who was elected as the United States first black Congressman in 1870. Other famous residents buried in the newer portion include Vice President William Rufus King, who founded Selma; Senator John Tyler Morgan, the father of the Panama Canal; Captain Catesby ap Roger Jones, who commanded the Confederate ironclad, VIRGINIA (the Merrimac), in its famous battle with the MONITOR; the famous artist Clara Weaver Parrish; and Harriett Hooker Wilkins, who in 1922 became the first woman elected to the Alabama Legislature. Live Oak has a Reform Jewish section, where three of Selmas mayors are buried and an Orthodox Jewish section, where the inscriptions are mainly in foreign languages. Also resting here are an Episcopal bishop, a Jewish rabbi, five Sisters of Mercy and a host of believers of various faiths. New Live Oak Cemetery is now the primary City cemetery and has a growing number of notable Selmians buried there as well. The City of Selmas Cemetery Department has

maps and information available for those interested in researching family histories. That office may be reached by calling (334) 874-2160.
meaning high seat or throne, was chosen for the town envisioned by Mr. King. #2 Sen. John Tyler Morgan: Morgan was first, foremost and always a Southerner, often braving storms of protests from fellow Democrats to support measures that he felt to be

in the best interest of Alabama and the rest of the South. Morgan is known as "the father of the Panama Canal", a measure he strongly supported. By 1860, Morgan was a leading political figure who represented Dallas County at the state secession convention following the presidential election of Abraham Lincoln. Morgan voted in favor of secession and was soon commissioned to the Alabama Infantry as a major. He later recruited the 800-man 51st Alabama Calvary where he became general. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1876 and served for 30 years. #3 Grave of the Rev. Arthur W. Small: minister of First Presbyterian Church, site of the famous "Lady Banks" rose which shed its petals as his body was brought from the Battle of Selma, of which he was a casualty. #4 John M. Parkman: The legendary "ruined banker" who still resides at Sturdivant Hall. Legend has it that while serving time in the federal prison at Cahawba for poor investment of bank funds, Parkman attempted a daring escape with the aid of his friends. Legend has it that Mr. Parkman was either shot to death or drowned after diving into the Alabama river. #5 Conf. General Edmund W. Pettus: In 1858 Judge Pettus moved to Dallas County where he became a member of the law firm Pettus, Pegues, and Dawson. In 1861, he joined the Confederate Army at Cahawba. He was elected to the Senate in 1896. The bridge named in his honor opened in 1940 and was the sight of the Voting Rights March in the 1960's. #6 Benjamin Sterling Turner: Turner was a slave to Dr. James Gee, owner of the St. James Hotel. While Dr. James Gee was off at war, Turner ran the hotel. He set up a stable and wood yards of his own. In 1862, Turner bought $200 worth of Confederate bonds and is said to have had more money than his former master by the time he was freed in 1865. In 1870, Turner became the first black congressman from Alabama. #7 Commander Catesby ap Roger Jones: A native of Virginia, he commanded the naval ordinance works here and the Ironclad vessel "Merrimac" in the battle vs the Monitor. Jones also helped perfect the design of the famous Brooke Cannon, the largest and the best made. He came to Selma in 1863 and married a local girl, Gertrude Tartt. The Jones family still reside in his home on Tremont Street and remain prominent in the community. A fictionalized Commander Jones was featured in a Civil War series on television recently. Notice the "ap" preceding the middle name. This is a Welsh tradition that the family

still follows today. It means son of, for example Catesby, son of, Roger Jones. #8 Grave of Col. NHR Dawson & Elodie Todd Dawson (half-sister to Mary Todd Lincoln): This statue was carved in Italy. When it arrived in Selma Mr. Dawson wasn't satisfied with the hair, as it was not as beautiful as his wife's, so he returned it to Italy to be re-done. NHR Dawson was one of Selma's leading citizens during the mid-1800s. He later became the first Alabamian ever to serve as a U.S. Commissioner of Education. Dawson was active in reorganizing the Democratic Conservative Party to oppose the Republicans during Reconstruction. In 1880, he was chosen Speaker of the Alabama House. He helped raise money for both Dallas Academy and the City's Charity Hospital. He served as senior warden at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Selma, where his funeral services were held. #9 Confederate Circle Monument: Notice the graves of soldiers are to the south of the monument and the cannons point toward the north, forever protecting the brave men who died for their cause. Selma - Dallas County Tourism & Convention Bureau 912 Selma Avenue, Selma, AL 36701
(334) 875-7241 / 1-800-45-SELMA / www.SelmaAlabama.com