Please Submit Your Names!
Miller-Fish
Family Cemetery
east of Crab Orchard
on US 150
Submitted By: David Gambrel
Dir: Start at the Rockcastle/Lincoln Co. line on Rte. # 150, go west .8 miles to a dirt road on the right. The cemetery is about .2 miles up this road, on a rise behind an abandoned farm house. There is a cattle gate blocking the
entrance and cattle grazing on the farm.
Back in 2001, a survey was done of Fish Cemetery
(referred to in "The Real Wild West" by Michael Wallis). My
parents went to the home of Mrs. Martha Scott near Crab Orchard, and she took
them to the cemetery. Here is what was discovered during the visit (from
my mother's notes). I hope it helps someone! Mrs. Scott had been
there several times. One time she took some people representing Mr.
Wallis. They were doing some research for "The Real Wild West." The
cemetery was in very bad repair with broken fences (by the cattle in the
pasture) and very tall grass and weeds. Someone had been there recently
because some of the grass and weeds had been trampled down. We found
several gravestones. The ones that were legible are listed here.
There were several that were not legible.
"Maggie Champion"
Much thanks to Gary Doan for helping us get to this cemetery! Ronnie Bates
The "starred" names were obtained from the family record compiled by Jennifer Kidwell Fish. (Shirley Olson)
This is the final resting place of George Washington Miller
who was born and reared in Lincoln County.
After serving in the Confederate Cavalry during the Civil War, he went west
where he established the famous 101 Ranch in Oklahoma.
This 101 Ranch also operated one of the most
successful Wild West shows in the nation. After his death Mr. Miller was returned to Lincoln
County for burial.. (David Gambrel)
The cemetery is located on the grounds of the former Fish Plantation. The current owner has pastured cattle on the land and the cemetery is in the process of being destroyed because the wrought iron fence is in disrepair. The gate to the cemetery is open which allows the animals to roam among and break the existing headstones. Ovegrown with weeds, it is in serious trouble. Efforts have been made to restore and maintain this historically important cemetery, but to no avail, since it is surrounded by private property which is stocked with cattle, fenced and locked. This land was the ancestral home of Col. George Washington Miller. After the Civil War the plantation was no longer viable and the Miller family sold their interest and headed west, eventually finding a new life in Bliss, Oklahoma, and founding the 101 Ranch, whose fabulous story is told in Michael Wallis' book, "The Real Wild West".
(Shirley Olson)
Home
Cemetery
Listing
Copyright ©
2004
Copyright
Notice: All files on this site are copyrighted by their creator. No part of
this
web sight may
be reproduced in any form without specific permission from the submitter
owner and Barbara
Rice Although public information is not in and of itself
copyrightable the format in which they are presented, the notes and comments
etc. are.