Muhlenberg County Kentucky
Cemetery Records
Nelson Creek Cemetery
Nelson Creek Baptist Church Has One of Oldest Cemeteries in State
By D. O'C. Dougherty
Central City, Ky., Aug. 27. - Muhlenberg county may boast of one of the oldest cemeteries in Kentucky, if not the oldest, not including, of course, the ancient city of the dead at Harrodsburg. At Nelson Creek Baptist church there is an old cemetery, in which are buried men and women as old as the Republic. In fact the birth date of one of these, evidenced on the large head stone, antedates the Declaration of Independence by eight years.
Henry Y. Davis, who is buried in this ancient burying ground, was born eight years and nearly four months before the United States of America. His tombstone recites his birth as March 28, 1768, whereas July 4, 1776 became the birthday of the American notion. Davis's tomb centers this remarkable cemetery. He was a prominent man in the affairs of this section of the state, which was then all Muhlenberg county, out of which was carved at some later date what is now Daviess county.
Otto A. Rothert, who wrote an excellent history of Muhlenberg county, provides records to show that Henry Davis was a member of the first grand jury impaneled in the county on July 23, 1799. Then when in 1803 the first circuit court was organized, Mr. Davis was a member of the first petit jury to be impaneled for the court at the March term. His tombstone shows he died and was buried July 15, 18521, at the age of 84.
Most of those buried in this ancient cemetery were of the Yonts family, Mrs. Catharine Yonts, who was born September 14, 1786, just ten years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, lived until June 21, 1859, and was buried in this place. Others of the pioneers of this section, shown by the gravestones were Mary Ann Yonts, born December 21, 1792, and died December 10, 1853. Phillip Yonts also was born April 9, 1786, and lived till January 23, 1858.
Elizabeth, wife of L. Yonts, was born September 14, 1793 and died and was buried in this cemetery July 29, 1845. John L. Yonts was born August 15, 1810 and died February 28, 1868. Sally Ann Shull was born June 13, 1808 and died July 6, 1858. There were some 15 or 20 graves in this old cemetery. Tombstones had toppled and were not discernible as to dates and some may have been older, but the prominence given the burying place of Davis would indicate his was the first one in the burying ground.
Most of the graves in his cemetery had what may now even be considered handsome headstones, of white marble, well lettered and are securely anchored yet, although not set in concrete. Above each of these graves was built a stone box, somewhat similar to our modern vaults, out of sandstone, well made and built up, but with no mortar or cement. The object seemed to be to protect the graves from marauding animals. The top was usually one or two large stones, and throughout the century they have stood in good shape.
Throughout the years the old cemetery had been allowed to grow up in undergrush and quite a number of big trees had grown up. Around the graves had been planted a good number of cedars and these had reached huge proportions.
Recently interested persons cleared away all of the growth between the church and the cemetery, some 300 years, cutting down the trees, except the cedars, and clearing away all other growth. It is intended to put the old burying ground into such shape as its age warrants. The large cedars, set in an attractive fashion by those putting them out, have been trimmed to a considerable height and offer a view resembling a cathedral appearance.
Source: Dougherty, D. O'C. “Nelson Creek Baptist Church has one of oldest cemeteries in state.” Owensboro Messenger [Owensboro, KY], 28 Aug 1932, Section 1, pp. 1-2.
Updated April 26, 2020