Evergreen Cemetery
Fayetteville, Arkansas
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This page contains a list of academic resources concerning Evergreen Cemetery and some of the people buried there.
If you know of other resources that should be included, please let me know: ggvogel@gmail.com.

Much of the information on this page was compiled by Jacob Brickman during an independent study course at the University of Arkansas.

University of Arkansas Special Collections contains primary historical documentation from the cemetery board.

Flashback: Journal of the Washington County Historical Society contains several articles concerning Evergreen.

The History of Washington County published by the Washington County Historical Society contains numerous references to Evergreen Cemetery in the biographies of historical Washington County figures.

The Arkansas Historical Quarterly contains articles about Evergreen.

Plot Map of Evergreen is a map of plot owners throughout the cemetery. Note that this map is not up-to-date, but can be a useful resource for finding family plots.

University of Arkansas Special Collections

University of Arkansas Special Collections, Manuscript Collection 926.
Fayetteville Evergreen Cemetery Association Records Minutes, correspondence, property records, maps, and other papers, 1885-1988.
90 Items + 5 volumes.

Description: Mr. Alcuin Eason, Jr., President of the Fayetteville Evergreen Cemetery Association, and the board of the association, donated these records to Special Collections on March 17, 1989.

In the 1840's, the area now occupied by Evergreen Cemetery was part of the John Thomas family farm. It was used as a private burial ground by the Thomas family until 1870, when Washington Lodge Number 1 of the Free and Accepted Masons and Lodge Number 15 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows bought the property for a place of interment for lodge members and for the Fayetteville community in general. The Masons and Odd Fellows owned and managed Evergreen Cemetery until 1915 when they deeded the cemetery to the Evergreen Cemetery Association. Organized in the Spring of 1915 by Mrs. H. L. Pearson, Mrs. J. P. Benson, Mrs. Robert Wilson, and other concerned citizens, the Evergreen Cemetery Association became incorporated as the Fayetteville Evergreen Cemetery Association in 1925. Since 1915, the association has been responsible for the perpetual care of one of the oldest and most cherished cemeteries in Fayetteville. The records of the Fayetteville Evergreen Cemetery Association include five ledgers containing financial information, names of lot owners, and minutes of meetings. The records also include correspondence and other papers efficiently kept by board member Vera Hall, deeds to cemetery property, lot owner deeds, and maps.

Volume 1. Odd Fellows and Masons Cemetery Book, Jun, 1885- Apr, 1909.
Volume 2. J. F. Moore's [undertaker's] notebook, Jan, 1904-Nov, 1947.
Volume 3. Minutes of Evergreen Cemetery Association, 1915-1954, and Sale of Plots Record, 1915-1954.
Volume 4. List of lot owners and descriptions of cemetery additions, Dec, 1940; map of Evergreen Cemetery, Apr 27, 1928, is attached to this volume.
Volume 5. Secretary's notebook used in conjunction with volumes 3-4, 1926-1941.

Box 1.
1. Correspondence (1951-1988), clippings (1925-1985), and By-laws of the Fayetteville Evergreen Cemetery Association (1974) collected by Mrs. Vera Hall.
2. Deeds of cemetery property, 1870-1970.
3. Deeds of burial plots, 1915-1918.
4. Deeds of burial plots, 1927-1928.
5. Deeds of burial plots, 1931-1939.
6. Deeds of burial plots, 1940-1949.
7. Deeds of burial plots, 1950-1964.
8. Financial records, 1955-1970.
9. Maps, 1885-1984.
10. Key to 1984 map.

In addition, the University of Arkansas Special Collections has a vertical file on Evergreen Cemetery with lots of newspaper clippings, a 1996 inventory of trees at the cemetery with a map, and other material.

Flashback: Journal of the Washington County Historical Society

Several articles concerning Evergreen Cemetery:

Year Month Pages Author Title Description
1951 Lemke, W. J. The Beginnings of Evergreen Nice overall history of Evergreen Cemetery.
1951 Lemke, W. J. WCHS Pays Tribute to Soldier Dead in Evergreen Cemetery Short note describing the Washington County Historical Society (WCHS) field trip to Evergreen Cemetery. Contains a rough map and listing of war veterans buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
1952 Logan, Robert A Tribute to Major W. S. Dunlop CSA Short biography of Major W. S. Dunlop, who is buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
1968 18-19 Lemke, W. J. Memorial Day Tribute Short note describing the Washington County Historical Society (WCHS) field trip to Evergreen Cemetery to visit the graves of veterans.
1973 February 37 Van Hoose, J. H. Many Years Ago (Originally published in September 9, 1890 issue of The Arkansas Sentinel, copied to Flashback by A. D. Donat.) Compares Fayetteville from 40 years ago (1850) to today (1890). Evergreen Cemetery is mentioned as being located on a hill near the house of W. M. McIlroy. States that McIlroy and his family are buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
1976 November 19-31 Ingails, Mary An American Sampler of Women Becoming Play script about Sophia Sawyer (buried in Evergreen Cemetery), her impact on education in Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas, and leadereship in education west of the Mississippi.
1979 August 1-2 Deane, Ernie W. J. Lemke Anniversary Tribute article to W. J. Lemke (buried in Evergreen Cemetery), founder of University of Arkansas department of Journalism in 1928, founder of the Washington County Historical Society and long-time editor for its journal Flashback.
1980 August 1-6 Lewis, Stephen The Naming of Fayetteville's Streets Article about how streets in Fayetteville were named. Evergreen Cemetery is mentioned as the final resting place of Archibald Yell, after whom Archibald Yell Avenue is named.
1980 August 36-40 McConnell, Lloyd Washington County Military Graves Continuation of McConnell's May 1980 article, seven more soldiers are listed as being buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
1980 May 12-15 McConnell, Lloyd Washington County Military Graves Listing of soldiers who stayed or returned to Washington County after the Civil War. Nine are buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
1980 November 28 Lewis, Stephen The Naming of Fayetteville's Streets Continuation of Lewis's August 1980 article about the naming of streets in Fayetteville. Lafayette and Gregg Avenues are named after Lafayette Gregg, and Gunter Street is named after Thomas M. Gunter, both buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
1980 November 33-36 McConnell, Lloyd Washington County Military Graves Continuation of McConnell's May 1980 and August 1980 articles. Four more soldiers are listed as being buried in Evergreen.
1981 May 28 Lewis, Stephen The Naming of Fayetteville's Streets Continuation of Lewis's August 1980 and November 1980 articles about the naming of Fayetteville Streets. Pollard Avenue is named after Dr. Thomas J. Pollard, who is buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
1982 May 32 Gallaway, Rowena McCord Two Stirman Brothers Brief biography of the brothers James Harvey Stirman and Dr. John Irving Stirman. Relates that James Harvey Stirman was a good friend of Archibald yell and present when Yell was interred at Evergreen Cemetery in 1872.
1983 August 22-33 Wilson, Dorothy Ware Mr. Ware's Tree Biography of Ware family. Nellie Mae Stearns, Lee Vernon Porter, Harry Leroy Stearns, and Arthur Alden Stearns are listed as being buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
1983 February 34-41 McConnell, Lloyd The Allens of Washington County Biography of the Allen family in Washington County. Mary Kate Allen is buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
1983 November 1-6 Hughes, William W. Evergreen Cemetery Brief history of Evergreen Cemetery and description of the poor conditions of the grounds at that time.
1985 February 6-22 Plumlee, Robert D. Two Family Histories, Part I: The Greggs History of Robert Gregg and his descendents in Washington County, Arkansas. Several members of the Gregg family are buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
1986 May 10-16 Lemke, Walter J. A 1944 Eulogy Tribute article to Miss A. M. Caughey, who is buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
1987 August 21-27 Conduff, Louis True Story of a Little Orphan Boy Article on the life of Ole Hansen, containing exceprts from his diary. Hansen's second wife, Rose Stella Hansen, and their infant daughter, Rose Emma Hansen, are buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
1987 November 6-7 Sugg, Ann Wiggans Adeline Blakeley, Remembered Article on the life of Adeline Blakely, who is buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
1988 August 6-12 Wapple, Anthony J. College Cemetery: A Second Look, Flashback History of College Cemetery, former cemetery of the University of Arkansas. Six University of Arkansas students originally buried in Evergreen Cemetery were moved to College Cemetery in 1880 (later relocated when College Cemetery was moved).
1989 November 17-35 Poorman, Forrest D. Tandy Kidd 1810-1861: An Enterprising Arkansas Settler History of the Kidd family. States that Amanda Stone, Belle Kidd, and Alice Emma Kidd are buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
1991 November 24-30 Giles, Jule Benbrook Hanblem Down Memory Lane Article concerning Charley Gaston Vance, reportedly the last Confederate States Army soldier to die in Fayetteville. States that Vance and his first wife, Ellen Stoops Vance, are buried in Evergreen.
2001 16-17 Lemke, W. J. Society's Third Meeting is a Pilgrimage to Evergreen Cemetery Short note describing the Washington County Historical Society (WCHS) field trip to Evergreen Cemetery. Contains a list and hand-drawn map showing some of the more famous interments at Evergreen Cemetery.

 

The History of Washington County
Published by the Washington County Historical Society, 1989

This volume contains a great number of biographies of Washington County residents. The following entries mention Evergreen Cemetery:

Author Title and page(s) Description
Basden, Jo Treece James Sherman Treece, pp. 1425-1426. This biography briefly describes James Treece's life and chronicles his family. It mentions his death on 13 December 1959. He was buried at Evergreen Cemetery.
Bradford, Mary K. Nelson Hewlett, p. 1098. This short biography mentions that the daughter of Nancy Hewett (Nelson Hewett's daughter), along with her husband Harve M. Rainwater, are buried at Evergreen Cemetery.
Coleman, Dorothea Meek George William Hastings, pp. 1078-1079. This short article states that Thomas Clark Hastings is buried at Evergreen Cemetery, along with his children Mary Lou, George, Roxie, and her husband John M. Campbell.
Clark, Mary B. and Morrison, Doyle E. Benjamin Franklin Little, pp. 1186-1187. This article briefly describes how Benjamin Little and his family came to Arkansas. It states that his daughter Emily and her husband, William Ryder Sweetser, are buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
Cowan, Marguerite Anthony Hogan Cowan, pp. 938-940. This article states that Andrew J. Cowen (son of Anthony Cowan), and his wife, are buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
Dallet, Anne Benjamin F. Johnson, Jr., p. 1140. This article states that Benjamin F. Johnson, Jr., his wife Rachel, and their two daughters Eva and Lenora are all buried in Evergreen Cemetery in the Johnson plot.
Doan, Patricia Rogers George Spencer Rogers, pp. 1318-1319. Briefly describes his family history and states that his second child (Louis James Roger) is buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
Doan, Patricia Rogers Mary Alice Rader, pp. 1295-1296. Briefly describes her family history and states that she and two sisters (Lula and Helen) are buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
Giles, Juel Benbrook Hamblen Juel Benbrook Hamblen Giles, pp.565-569. Short article about the Van Hoose family. James Fan Hoose, along with his wives Melinda McIlroy and Martha Skelton are buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
Hanks, Bonnie Nathan Virgil Hanks, pp. 570-571. This short family history states that Lester I. Elliot is buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
Hicks, Marilyn Peter Marsalis Van Winkle, p. 1440. Short biography of Peter Van Winkle. Discusses his life, death, and Masonic burial in Evergreen Cemetery.
Holt, Barbara Rogers Alfred Pumphrey-Davis Holt, p. 1105-1106. Short biography of the Holt family history. Alfred's son Wiley and his wife Edna are buried in Evergreen, alongside Edna's father and her grandmother Phillips Rude.
Holt, Lillian Perkins Francis Elliot Perkins, p. 1277. Short biography of the Perkins family. Francis Perkins' daughter, Margaret Taylor, is buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
Liles, Margaret Eason James H. Phipps, p. 1285. Briefly describes the Phipps family history and states that James H. Phipps and his wife Cora Jane Kelly Phipps are buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
Liles, Margaret Eason John Thomas Eason, pp. 982-983. Briefly describes the life of John Thomas Eason, mayor of Fayetteville from 1901-1908. Eason and his wife are buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
McBride, Martha Sam E. Morrow, p. 1245. Briefly describes Morrow's family history and states that Morrow and his second wife, Martha Cleo Dominy, are buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
Mullins, Paul Thomas Mullins, p. 1248-1250. Briefly describes the Mullins family history. States that Clinton Mullins, son of William (Thomas's son) and Sophia Ruth Mullins removed the grave markers and remains of his parents from the Mullins Family Cemetery to Evergreen Cemetery. Also states that Thomas, his wife Matilda, and daughter Emma are also buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
Norwood, Maureen George C. Norwood, p. 1255. Briefly describes the Norwood family history. States that Elmer and Pearl Norwood (Georgge Norwood's 2nd niece and nephew) are buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
Putman, William B. Jr. William B. Putman, p. 628. Reding Putman, Jr. (Thomas Putman's great-great-grandson), along with his wife, are buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
Sharp, Virginia Harding Charles T. Harding, p. 1069. States that Chester Harding (son of Charles Harding), and his wife Ruth are buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
Simmons, Lorita Lashley Sylvester David Lashley, pp. 1173-1174. Briefly describes Sylvester Lashley's family history. Lashley and his wife Mary Helen Hansard are both buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
Sugg, Ann Harvey M. Hudgins, p. 1114. Brief history of the Hudgins family. Notes that a slave of the family, Adeline Blakeley, became a paid employee after the Civil War and was buried in the family plot in 1945.
Sugg, Ann Adeline Blakeley, p. 855. Short article on Adeline Blakeley, slave of the Hudgins family (paid employee after the Civil War), who is buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
Sugg, Ann John L. Blakeley, p. 855. Brief biography, states that John L. Blakeley, his wife Elizabeth Jane Parks, and her daughter May are buried alongside each other in Evergreen Cemetery.
Williams, Maribelle Blew Agnes Thomas Blew, p. 857. Describes how Agnes Thomas Blew's family came to Northwest Arkansas. Agnes Thomas Blew was related to John Thomas, who started Evergreen Cemetery.

 

The Arkansas Historical Quarterly

Several articles concerning Evergreen Cemetery:

Year Author Title Volume and Page #s Page(s) Description
1952 Rose, F. P. Hugh Anderson Dinsmore 11 68-78 Article about Hugh Anderson Dinsmore, U.S. Representative from Arkansas, 1893-1905. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in a grave that is "practically unmarked".
1969 Deane, Ernie Walter J. Lemke 28 92-95 Walter J. Lemke, professor emeritus of journalism at the University of Arkansas, died suddenly on December 4, 1968. Mr. Lemke played a key role in developing the Washington County Historical Society. He started the Society's magazine Flashback and was the editor for 18 years. He was also responsible for authoring a list of people buried in Evergreen Cemetery in 1955.
1973 Rothrock, Thomas Peter Manelis Van Winkle 32 61-70 Biography of Peter Van Winkle. Describes how a special train was dispatched from St. Louis to bring his body back to Evergreen Cemetery.

 

Plot Map of Evergreen

Click on image at left to view entire map - note that the file is very large (about 2,700 kb) - to save it to your computer, right-click on the image and select "save as".

Please note that this map is not up-to-date, but can be used as a guide to finding many family plots.

 

 

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