Smallpox
Cemetery (Silent Cemetery)
(original burying ground of the Indians, later used as a city
cemetery)
Located between the railroads in Oglethorpe near the river.
There is only one marker left. Numerous people
were buried in this cemetery. Best guesses on those buried in
the cemetery from the book 'History of Macon County Georgia'
by Louise Frederick Hays
Mrs. Josiah [Mary] Moody, Sr. -grandmother of
Mrs. Mary Bethia Moody English
b. abt. 1798, d. 1858
James 'Jimmy' Williams
b. c. 1832 - d. 1858
-brother of Richmond B. Williams b. 1832- d.1896; and a great
uncle of C. T. Harden
[no other WILLIAMS family members afflicted]
Elizabeth, consort of Wm. Robinson
d. 11 Jun 1851 (Smallpox epidemic estimated as 1858, this
burial is earlier)
Change note: The Reverend
P. L. J. May family was incorrectly reported to have
succumbed to smallpox during the epidemic in the Macon County
history book as cited below. Correspondence with W. L. May
on 31 Dec 2004 is as follows:
"The History of Macon County Georgia is in error as to
the deaths of Rev. P. L. J. May and his family in 1858 due
to smallpox. He and his family are in Fulton Co Ga 1860; Floyd
Co Ga in 1870 and 1880. His first wife, Mary, died in Oglethorpe
Ga Feb 10, 1853." [For incorrect book passage, see below
HMCG page 181]
reference:
HMCG - History of Macon County Georgia: page 181
"...the town was ravaged by an epidemic of smallpox which
caused the death of a large number of its citizens. The first
to take this dreaded disease was Rev.
May, the local Methodist minister. Consternation was
spread when it became known that somewhere in this preacher's
itinerary he had contacted smallpox, a virulant type. He died,
but not before others had taken it. He was carried out into
the stillness of the night and buried in the silent cemetery
(this cemetery was the original burying ground of the Indians),
since known as the Smallpox Cemetery. This place which in the
palmy days was used as a city cemetery, was abandoned now only
for people who died with this disease. Rev.
May's entire family suffered a similar fate. Mrs. Moody,
grandmother of Mrs. Bethia English, one of Oglethorpe's grand
old citizens, was also buried in the Smallpox Cemetery. James
Williams, a great uncle of C. T. Harden, who was kindhearted
and fearless, helped to bury many, but finally succumbed himself
and is buried there."
HMCG: page 660-661
R. B. William 1832-1896
By Mary Belle Powers
R. B. Williams was born in Virginia, August 9, 1832. He and
his brother, James, left Virginia and came to Oglethorpe at
an early date. These brothers proved to be a blessing to this
community during the smallpox epidemic. Being kindhearted
and helpful they found ample work to do. Every night they
busied themselves in burying those who had died with smallpox
during the day, but one day, Jimmie, as the younger brother
was called, fell ill with the dreaded disease, weakened by
work and exposure, he was not able to overcome, and in a few
nights he was carried out in its stillness, and placed beside
the ones he had helped to bury. Richmond, as a the older brother
was called, escaped the disease and continued to help as he
strongly believed; "Duties are ours, events are God's"
A short time after coming to Oglethorpe, he married Miss Jane
McKenzie, daughter of Hardy McKenzie and Charlotte Greer McKenzie.
To this union were born nine children: Jimmie, Charlotte,
Mamie, Bartow, Ada, Calvin, Will, Alice, and Austin. The first
three named were born before the Civil War. The husband and
father left them as well provided for as he could, and served
through the war. They lived during this period between Oglethorpe
and Andersonville, on the place now known as Sidney Lee place.
A negro slave girl whom Mrs. Williams' mother had given her
was the only help and protection she had. One day a prisoner
escaped from Andersonville prison, and stopped at Mrs. Williams'
and begged for something to eat. She fed him, and on leaving
she gave him the last ham in her smokehouse. Another time
a Yankee appeared at her door and asked her for a night's
lodging. It was a very cold night, and the sleet was falling
fast, so she told him he might sleep in the crib. She locked
him up for safe keeping until the next A.M. She gave him breakfast
and urged him to return to the prison at Andersonville.
When her husband returned from the war, he found her still
carrying on-a true woman of the south. He joined her and very
soon they were hard to work. It is said of this couple that
they never failed to help the needy, and to relieve sorrow
and suffering as far as possible. They lived to see their
children all grown. (story continues with children's names
and spouses, etc. Page 661, HMCG by Hays)
HMCG: page 476
Smallpox Cemetery
Mrs. Moody, grandmother of Mrs. Mary Bethia Moody English, one
of the oldest residents of the county, now 89.
Jimmie Williams
Elizabeth, consort of Wm. Robinson, died 11 Jun 1851
Other:
p181
Smallpox Cem
James Williams, a great uncle of C. T. Harden, who was kindhearted
and fearless, helped to bury many, but finally succumbed himself
and is buried there.
pg. 325 HMCG by Hays
"Mrs. Charlotte Greer McKenzie was Mrs. Allen Perry's
grandmother, and a great-grandmother of C.T. Harden of Oglethorpe
and Mrs. J. W. McKenzie of Montezuma, and an aunt of Judge
R. L. Greer, Dr. C. A. Greer, and Mrs. Susie Greer Sutton
of Oglethorpe.
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