Southern Graves

The original acreage of Indian Springs State Park was "acquired" from the Creek Native American tribe in 1825, and has operated as a park ever since. My one and only visit to a cemetery located within the boundaries of Indian Springs State Park at Butts County, Georgia was back in September 2007. More than a decade ago, there was a ton of overgrowth, broken tombstones, stones knocked off their bases, crumbling surrounding structures, and general disrepair. Rumor has it, the condition of the cemetery only worsened. An article in the Jackson Progress-Argus (Georgia) dated 25 March 2014 stated two organizations -- the Friends of Indian Springs State Park and the Butts County Genealogical Society -- were working together to begin restoration of the cemetery. Following are two images captured for Google street view two years later in 2016: These images, as well as another article from another year later (2017), suggest progress is slow. I know it's thankless work to...

Elizabeth, James, & Thomas Patterson at Shadowlawn Cemetery in Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia The image above is of a PATTERSON plot containing tombstones for James M. Patterson (1827-1911), his wife Elizabeth W. (1824-1908), and their son Thomas A. (1866-1915). The patriarch of a large family, Mr. James Patterson was upon his death one of the oldest residents of Gwinnett County. An obituary: Atlanta Consitution (Georgia) - Sunday, 5 March 1911: James M. Patterson, Lawrenceville. Lawrenceville, Ga., March 4 -- (Special.) -- James M. Patterson, one of the oldest residents of Gwinnett county, died at his home in Lawrenceville this morning at 6 o'clock. Mr. Patterson was an ex-sheriff of this county, having held that office for twelve years. He was a prominent Mason and was the eldest Master Mason in this section. He was 84 years of age, a member of the Methodist church, a man of considerable property, and leaves several children, his wife having died a fe...