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MOUNT
MORIAH CEMETERY...
...is not the only historic cemetery where
KIDDs are buried, but it is the one cemetery where all of us Kidds who
descend from Lewis & Sarah trace back to. As of October 2023, Mount
Moriah Cemetery is now recognized by the Tennessee
Historical Commission. (Click
to see certificate)
Mt. Moriah Cemetery, on Singleton Station Road in the unincorporated
community of Louisville, is the resting place for many direct descendants
of 18th-century settlers to the wilderness of Eastern Tennessee.
It
was originally the cemetery started by and adjacent to Mount Moriah
Methodist Church just somewhat north of Maryville, Tennessee in the
Louisville community. The church was active from 1845 to 1967 and the
cemetery is estimated to contain around 350 graves, at least 25 of whom
are our KIDD kinfolk who descend from Lewis & Sarah Kidd. The church
eventually moved to another location and over time, abandoned without
care, the cemetery became overgrown with stones and memorials eroded,
broken, buried, or hidden.
(credit: FindaGrave.com)
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ITS
EASY TO FORGET...
...that even cemeteries need care to continue to be the revered, honored
memorials we intend them to be for our loved ones and kinfolk who have
gone on before us. As of this writing, its been 55-plus years since
Mount Moriah Cemetery has had active, continuous care and maintenance. |
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FOR
AT LEAST A HALF CENTURY...
...there have been many efforts by the descendants of loved ones buried
there and by other volunteers to maintain and preserve Mount Moriah.
But when descendants and volunteers who cared for it passed away or
became unable to serve, once again the cemetery would become neglected,
forgotten, overgrown.
When in 2001 we Kidds discovered our relatives' graves there, the wilderness
was threatening to overtake the cemetery again.
The last serious restoration effort began in 2005
when an article was presented in local Blount County publications about
the deplorable condition of the cemetery challenging volunteers to restore
it. And, with the leadership of Mr. Ken Cornett and the Blount County
Historical Society they did, volunteering over 500 man-hours and recruiting
assistance from local government agencies, businesses, and historical
groups.
In 2018 Blount County Historian Ken Cornett and volunteers finally finished
cleaning the stones and grooming the grounds. That summer we led a memorial
service and set stones for three of our great-great Kidd uncles lost
in the Civil War.
Their story can be found here: KIDD
Civil War Soldiers
AS
GRAVESITES AND STONES WERE UNCOVERED...
...names were recorded and documented. Volunteers researched local records
to put names on graves whose stones had been lost and added 38 unmarked
graves to the list.
Of
the estimated 350 graves Mount Moriah is said to contain, only 182 memorials
and names could be identified and recovered in the work that began in
2005. Thanks to Ken Cornett, the Blount County Historical Society,
and all those who volunteered their time and labor, the descendants
of these KIDDs buried at Mount Moriah owe a debt of gratitude.
As Mt. Moriah has reconnected us with living Kidd cousins all over the
country, we realize that, for our children's and history's sake, we
MUST see to the ongoing care of Mount Moriah.
Sadly, Mr. Cornett became ill and unable to care
for the cemetery as he so faithfully had in the past. He has since passed
away as of October, 2022.
(See
Ken Cornett's Obituary)
Now Mount Moriah needs our continued care.
HELP SAVE MOUNT MORIAH
CEMETERY... |
