The Tennessee Comb Grave Tradition

THE TENNESSEE COMB GRAVE TRADITION
--by Richard C. Finch
--with computer map graphics by Chuck Sutherland
Introduction:
A “comb grave” is a burial that features a grave cover made, normally, of two
rectangular slabs of stone leaned together to form a gable roof over the grave (Plate 1).
The term “comb” signifies “the crest or ridge of a roof”. (OED, 1971).1 Combs have also
been likened to pup tents and persons unfamiliar with the correct name commonly call
them “tent graves”. However, comb grave is the proper name for this traditional style of
grave cover, and its essential form is that of a gable roof set directly on the grave, with
no supporting walls. The above-ground space beneath the “roof” is normally empty, not
filled.
Plate 1: Typical comb graves, Mt. Gilead Cem., Cassville quad, White Co.
Comb graves have been further described as “triangular and prismatic” in form
(Cantrell, 1981, Montell, 1993). Indeed, with each end of the typical comb closed off by
a stone slab cut to fit the triangular opening under the side slabs, the basic shape of a
comb is that of a simple triangular prism.
1
OED definition 6e further states that this usage is dialect. Dictionary.com states that this architectural
definition of comb is primarily a Midland and Southern usage. OED cites an 1870 instance of its use by
Mark Twain. Many Tennessee combs predate this cited use, some by as much as 50 years, and in all
likelihood they have always been known as combs.
1
Most comb graves feature a headstone that is separate from the comb structure,
and some feature both head- and footstones. These head- and footstones typically are
of the same local stone as the comb; this is especially true of the older comb graves.
However, it is not rare for the headstone to be of marble or other non-local “storebought” stone. Some combs, especially in the older comb cemeteries, are “headless”
(Plate 2). Many of these headless combs have no inscriptions, making it difficult to
know who is covered by the comb or when the burial occurred. However, some
headless combs have inscriptions on one side slab (Plate 3a) and a few have
inscriptions on one of the gable-end stones (Plate 3b).
Plate 2: Old Jericho Cem., Doyle quad, White Co.
Traditionally, and most commonly, the long side slabs and the end pieces are
made of sandstone. However, where suitable sandstone is not readily available, other
materials may be used: limestone, sheet metal, cement or concrete, and, in a unique
instance, shale. Two marble combs are known, the marble no doubt chosen not so
much out of necessity as of a desire to make the comb more elegant than normal.
In Tennessee, nearly 3200 combs are found in over 400 cemeteries scattered
along a NNE-SSW-trending band paralleling the western front of the Cumberland
Plateau (Figure 1 shows the distribution). Comb graves are most common in older
graveyards lying on the Eastern Highland Rim, below the Plateau. However,
2
Plate 3a: Side-scribed headless comb, Anderson Cem., Doyle quad, White Co.
Plate 3b: Gable-scribed headless comb, Oakley Cem., Okalona quad, Overton Co.
3
4
many are also found on the Hartselle Bench halfway up the Plateau escarpment, and a
lesser number on top of the Plateau along its western side. The southernmost
examples in the main Tennessee comb range are 13 combs in Perkins Cemetery just
northeast of Winchester, in Franklin Co. Roper Cem., in Lincoln Co., well to the west of
the contiguous Tennessee comb range, boasts the south-westernmost combs known in
the state (not shown on Figure 1). The northernmost extant example is a single comb in
Rector Cem. in Pickett Co.1 However, one additional comb grave formerly existed in
Taylor Grove Cem. 8.6 miles north of the Tennessee-Kentucky state line, and this
cemetery should still be considered part of the geographic range of the Tennessee
comb graves.
Although at least 74 comb cemeteries are associated with churches, the majority
are local graveyards or family plots not associated with church buildings.
The tradition of erecting combs over graves appears to have commenced around
1815 -1820. The custom was strong throughout the remainder of 19 th century and
during the first half of the 20th century, but by the 1950s-60s erection of combs was
uncommon. Even so, a comb was erected in 2012 (Finch, 2013).
Comb graves are known to be present in eight other Southern states (Alabama,
Arkansas, Kentucky, West Virginia, Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana and North Carolina)
and also in eastern Oklahoma, culturally part of the Upland South (Jordan-Bychkov,
2003). However, Tennessee appears to have more comb cemeteries and comb graves
than all the other states combined. Additionally, the oldest known combs are found in
Tennessee graveyards. Probably, the comb grave custom is indigenous to Tennessee.
.
A variety of ideas have been suggested to account for the “why” of combs, i.e.,
the purpose served by placing a comb over a grave. Protecting the grave seems to
have been a motive, but there is no definitive single reason for combs. It is likely that
different reasons motivated different people to erect combs, but that ultimately the comb
became a highly popular style, indeed the dominant grave style in numerous small
graveyards within the comb range. And style alone was probably sufficient reason for
many. Of the other various well-known types of grave covers (ledger stones, box
graves, stone table markers, gravehouses, coffin graves, and cairn graves), within the
main comb range, none were used in numbers comparable to the comb graves.
Methodology and comb grave data sources:
The present study is an update and extension of earlier work (Finch, 1982, 2004)
and began as a simple attempt to learn the geographic range of the comb graves, using
USGS and TVA 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle maps (“topos” or “quads”) as guides
to cemetery locations. In the somewhat naïve belief that the topo maps showed all or
nearly all existing graveyards, each was visited to determine the presence or absence
1
Rector Cemetery is transected by the Kentucky-Tennessee border, and whether this comb lies in
Tennessee or Kentucky or is actually bisected by the line has not been determined.
5
of comb graves. The happenstance discovery of numerous graveyards not shown on
the quads and news of additional cemeteries from helpful informants quickly showed
that other cemeteries were out there. Furthermore, many county road maps contain
cemetery location information, and comprehensive cemetery books have been prepared
for a number of counties, e.g., Overton and White counties. The White county cemetery
book even indicates which cemeteries contain comb graves. However, the data
presented in this paper refer only to those cemeteries indicated on the government
topographic maps plus the numerous additional cemeteries I have stumbled across or
been directed to. The rationale for not using the county maps and cemetery books to
find additional comb cemeteries is three-fold: 1) The topos produce a sample large
enough to be considered representative; 2) Use of the cemetery books in some
counties, but not in others would skew the data; 3) Some limits on the data set sources
are needed in order to bring an already decades-old project to a close before the writer
himself is in need of a comb.
In sum, for this survey, all cemeteries --excepting those that have disappeared1-on 129 quads have been visited and any combs noted. Out of a total of over 2850
cemeteries, exactly 406 comb graveyards have been identified in the main comb range,
and 3178 extant combs counted and photodocumented. The 406 comb cemeteries
include 372 graveyards that currently contain combs and 34 ex-comb graveyards known
to have formerly had combs. Ex-comb cemeteries were identified in two ways: 1) they
had combs when first visited, but the combs were gone on a subsequent visit; 2) they
contained clear-cut remnants of comb graves, e.g., a matched pair of triangular gable
stones indicating the former presence of a comb. Graves with only a single triangular
stone, or a single rectangular slab laid flat, or sets of head- and footstones of a style
commonly associated with comb graves were noted as “probable” or “possible” excombs, depending on the evidence, but were not counted as definite ex-combs.
Cemeteries with only possible or probable ex-combs were not included in the total
number of comb cemeteries, even though at least some of them surely once were comb
cemeteries. Appendices A-1 and A-2 are inventories of the comb cemeteries, ex-comb
cemeteries, and combs surveyed.
The locations of the comb cemeteries listed in Appendices A-1 and A-2 are given
in latitude and longitude, recorded in the field with a GPS unit (set to the NAD-27 datum,
the datum of the published maps) or measured from the published quads (using a
TopoTool Coordinate Ruler by Neff Scientific). Where the local name for a cemetery
was not known, a name was given for the purposes of this survey based on the most
prominent surname or surnames in the cemetery.
To ensure that the full contiguous range of comb graveyards was defined, the
survey was extended into quads beyond the core geographic area of the combs until a
border of “comb-free” quads was established around the entire contiguous comb range.
1
Nearly 50 cemeteries could not be located. Around 11 seem to have been moved: possibly as many as
seven for the impoundment of Cordell Hull reservoir, two for I-24, one for mining activities near Elmwood,
and one for the building of a home. Three apparently were bulldozed into oblivion; one or two likely were
plowed under; and 30+ others have simply disappeared through time, weathering, erosion and neglect.
6
Having commenced as a purely geographic endeavor, this study eventually
morphed to incorporate more aspects of the comb grave tradition: its temporal range,
physical materials used, church associations, origin and reasons for the custom. If a
number of comb cemeteries have been missed by this survey, as they most certainly
have been, some of the statistics presented will be changed when and if data from the
county maps and cemetery books are ultimately added. Nonetheless, for the present,
we can be relatively confident that the geographic range has been defined and
documented, and insights gained regarding other aspects of the comb tradition.
Comb grave materials and construction:
Combs are normally constructed of stone, the preferred material being relatively
thin slabs of sandstone taken from the stratigraphic unit known as the Hartselle
Formation (note outcrop trace on Figure 1). In places the Hartselle contains thin, planar
beds of sandstone that lend themselves to the quarrying of broad, flat slabs, ideal for
comb side slabs. Thin-bedded sandstone was undoubtedly prized because of the
weight of the stone: typical sized side slabs, even when just 1 ½ inches thick, require
four men to carry safely. Planar-bedded sandstone was preferred as it required less
dressing, coming out of the ground with a more-or-less finished surface. The same
beds from which the side slabs were quarried could also be cut into smaller pieces and
shaped to fill the triangular gaps at each end of the main comb structure (Plate 4), and
for that matter, head- and footstones. Two quarries from which Hartselle sandstone
gravestones were “pulled” are the Vaughn quarry (Plate 5a) above the community of
Allred (Crawford quad), and the Ogletree quarry (Plate 5b) not far from the Holly
Springs community (Hilham quad), both in Overton Co. But gravestones are also
Plate 4: Triangular gable stone supporting one end of a comb in Bethlehem Cem., Bald Knob
quad, White Co.
7
known to have been quarried at other sites, such as the quarry worked by Dan Elrod in
the upper Calfkiller Valley (Cantrell, 1981) and the quarry on Gum Spring Mtn., White
Co., worked by Thomas Keathley. There likely were numerous local quarries from
which gravestones were extracted. To a certain degree, local sources were necessary,
as the weight of the stones and the poor condition of 19th- and early 20th-century roads
made long distance transport difficult and generally impractical.
Plate 5a: Old Vaughn quarry in Hartselle sandstone, above Allred, Crawford quad, Overton Co.
Plate 5b: Ogletree quarry in Hartselle Formation, with unused gravestones, Hilham
quad, Overton Co. Note headstones leaning against quarry wall.
8
As mentioned above, the triangular opening left at each end of a comb was
normally plugged with a sandstone slab cut to fill the space. These gable stones
improve the visual effect of the comb and, by sealing the comb ends, give the grave
more complete protection. But more importantly, the gable stones provide necessary
structural support for the heavy side slabs. Without these stones (or some alternative
form of support) the side slabs would be very subject to gradual spreading and eventual
collapse. These gable stones were sometimes actually triangular in shape, but such
stones might in time lean in or out or collapse and cease to function as support stones
(Plate 6). Some gable stones only appear to be triangular, having in actuality a buried
extension that improves their stability. These features are rarely visible, but cautious
pulling and pushing on some exposed gable stones indicates that they have subsurface
extensions. Gable stones with extensions have also been seen in collapsed combs.
Plate 6: Fallen gable stones no longer serving to support the side slabs, which have begun to
collapse, Mt. Pisgah Cem., Doyle quad, White Co.
Observation of numerous combs suggests that in most cases one side slab
(commonly the right hand side as viewed from the head of the grave toward the foot)
was laid down first, supported by the two already set gable stones. Next the second
side slab (typically the left hand side) was laid down, resting on the gable stones and
slightly overlapping the first laid stone at the crest of the comb. While there are combs
in which the two side slabs meet at the crest with no overlap, there does seem to have
been a tendency to lap the stones, one over the other. If this lap served any purpose, it
could have been to minimize the entry of rain into the comb and onto the grave itself.
A very few instances are known where sandstone side slabs have been beveled
to meet neatly at the crest of the comb (Plate 7). This nice bit of stone dressing
probably is practical mainly where thicker than normal sandstone slabs are employed.1
1
When sandstone slabs are pried out of the quarry, they tend naturally to break across the bedding at
right angles. To cut a beveled edge would likely be difficult in the thin beds preferred for comb slabs,
though an example can be seen in Beaty Cem., Moodyville quad, Pickett Co.
9
Plate 7: Thicker than normal sandstone side slabs used with beveled edge combs
at Philadelphia Cem., Irving College quad, Grundy Co.
While gable stones are the most common form of support for the comb side
slabs, a noteworthy alternative support system involved the use of a thick iron rod
running the full length of the grave. The rod, actually a long bolt, has a head at one end
and is threaded at the other end. A hole was bored through the headstone and another
carefully positioned hole through the smaller, but stylistically matching, footstone (Plate
8). Typically, the bolt was run through the headstone first and then through the
Plate 8: Bolted combs in Falling Springs Cem., Crawford quad, Overton Co. Note that when
one slab slips off the bolt, it has no support at either end and the structure begins to collapse.
10
footstone. The heavy nut was then turned onto the threads behind the footstone.
Probably, the sideslabs were laid before the nut was fully tightened, allowing the headand footstone positions to be adjusted slightly if needed to mate with the side slabs. In
any case one side slab (typically the right) was laid on the bolt rod itself, and the second
side slab (typically the left) was laid against the upper end of the first laid slab (again
resulting in lapped comb slabs). When all four stones were in place, the nut could be
tightened to draw the head- and footstones tight against the ends of the side slabs. In
this system, no supporting gable stones are necessary under the side slabs, but the
system requires both head- and footstones, and the holes for the rod had to be
accurately placed.
The bolt support system was very popular in Overton county and is especially
common (almost ubiquitous) in the Allred area, leading to the supposition that it was
invented by the Vaughn family of stonecutters. The Vaughns are known to have cut
many of the distinctive “truncated triangle” head- and footstones (see Plate 8) that are
the most common type of comb graves to use the bolt support system. Graveyards
such as Falling Springs Cem. (Plate 9) at Allred are impressive both for the number of
combs and for the stark geometry of the “truncated triangle” combs.1
Plate 9: Falling Springs Cem., Crawford quad, Overton Co, not far from the Vaughn quarry.
1
White (2002), who studied a variety of types of grave covers, including combs, held that the bolted
combs are not true combs. This led him to conclude further that the comb custom died out earlier than it
did. Unfortunately, White’s study of grave covers was based on visits to only 76 cemeteries, which
included only 311 comb graves. There is simply no justification for excluding the bolted combs from “true”
combs. While they involve taller than usual head- and footstones, the bolted combs have the same basic
shape as all combs; they are made of the Hartselle sandstone as are most combs; and they serve the
same purpose as other combs. The only difference is the iron rod support system in place of gable
stones. The bolted combs are definitively true combs.
11
Where the planar-bedded Hartselle was not available, sandstone still seems to
have been the preferred rock type. The vast majority of combs are made of sandstone
from one source or another.
However, where appropriate sandstone was unavailable, other materials came
into play, notably limestone. Limestone is not commonly planar-bedded, and, for that
matter, is more often thicker bedded than thin. Nonetheless, limestone was used for at
least 53 combs in 19 cemeteries, primarily where sandstone evidently was not locally
available. Some of the limestone combs are made of very finely dressed stone (Plate
10). The thicker limestone slabs sometimes feature beveled edges (Plate 11) or other
innovative shapes (Plate 12) In other cases the limestone combs are relatively crude
(Plate 13). Phillips Cem. (Hillsboro quad, Coffee Co.) features three limestone combs
along with ten combs made of rather rough, thick-bedded sandstone slabs.
Plate 10: Finely dressed limestone combs in Stephenson Cem., Hillsboro quad, Coffee Co.
Figure 2 shows the distribution of these limestone combs; Appendix B is the
inventory. With the exception of the limestone combs at Shellsford Cem. (Cardwell
Mountain quad, Warren Co.), all the limestone combs are found along the margins of
the comb range. The limestone combs on the western edge of the comb range may be
attributed to distance from the Hartselle outcrop band. The limestone combs in the
southernmost part of the comb range probably reflect the fact that the Hartselle
Formation in this region contains less sandstone and more shale. Two limestone
combs near the northern end of the comb range may also reflect a lack of sandstone in
the Hartselle, though this is not certain.
A single instance of a crude comb made of slabs of Chattanooga Shale (Plate
14) exists, along with a normal sandstone comb, in Russell Cem. (Buffalo Valley quad,
Putnam Co.). This shale comb, just 43-44 inches long, covers the grave of an infant.
The presence of a sandstone comb in the same small graveyard raises the question as
to why the shale was used when sandstone could apparently be had.
12
Plate 11: Beveled edged limestone combs in Perkins Cem., Winchester quad, Franklin Co.
These are the southernmost known combs in the main Tennessee comb range.
Plate 12: Limestone comb featuring notched side slabs supported at the head end by a flared
base on the headstone, Cash Cem., Alto quad, Coffee Co.
13
14
Plate 13: Relatively crude limestone comb in Warren Cem., Burrow Cove quad, Grundy Co.
Plate 14: Crude, perhaps “homemade” comb made of pieces of Chattanooga Shale, covering
the grave of an infant. Russell Cem., Buffalo Valley quad, Putnam Co.
15
The Chattanooga Shale is a very distinctive rock unit, easily split into thin, planar,
black slabs that are attractive when fresh. This feature, plus the fact that it was locally
available, probably free for the taking, may explain its use on this grave. Unfortunately,
the Chattanooga is so friable that extracting a slab big enough to run even the length of
an infant’s grave would have been difficult and this crude comb appears to have been
composed of several pieces. Additionally, the black shale contains fine grains of pyrite
(iron sulfide) which weather easily and promote the relatively rapid disintegration of the
shale. Therefore the Chattanooga Shale is not a good choice for grave markers, in
spite of its fissility.
Two marble combs are known, one at Eureka Church Cem. (Welchland quad,
Warren Co.) (Plate 15), dated 1899. The other is a pink marble child’s comb at Perkins
Cem. (Winchester quad, Franklin Co.), dated 1890. It is reasonable to assume that this
use of expensive imported stone was done for elegance rather than necessity. (Figure 3
shows the distribution of the marble and shale combs; Appendix C is the inventory.)
Plate 15: Fancy striped marble comb at Eureka Cem., Welchland quad, Warren Co.
16
17
Regardless of the rock type chosen, stone combs were invariably erected without
recourse to cement for structural integrity. A very few combs have been found (in seven
different cemeteries) to have cement along the cracks between stones (Plate 16), but
this appears to have been a means of sealing the comb against the entry of rainwater,
rather than for any structural support.
Plate 16: Comb with crest line cemented, rather than lapped, presumably to keep out rainwater,
Little Cem., Livingston quad, Overton Co.
On the other hand, 10 combs made entirely of poured cement or concrete (Plate
17) are known from five cemeteries. Of these cemeteries, two (Lancaster Cem. and
Rock Springs Cem., Buffalo Valley quad, Smith Co.) are located on the western margin
of the comb range and one (Curlee Cem., Readyville quad, Cannon Co.) lies further
west, outside the main comb range. The other two cemeteries containing
cement/concrete combs (Okalona and Liberty cemeteries, Okalona quad, Overton Co.)
are also populated with numerous sandstone combs. In these latter cases the use of
cement/concrete must reflect a preference. Indeed, judging from the style of these
combs, the same man constructed all three of the cement/concrete combs in these two
cemeteries. (Figure 4 shows the distribution of the cement/concrete combs; Appendix
D is the inventory.)
One of the striking characteristics of all these cement/concrete combs is that they
are molded to mimic the basic form of two slabs resting on triangular gable supports,
just like ordinary sandstone combs.
18
Plate 17: Matching husband and wife combs of concrete, Liberty Cem., Okalona quad, Overton
Co.
Finally, a number of combs have been constructed of sheet metal over wooden
frames. The combs are made of corrugated “tin” (Plate18), flat sheet metal (Plate 19),
and five-Vee roofing (Plate 20). During this survey, 26 metal combs were found in 13
graveyards, widely scattered throughout the comb range, some on the fringes, some in
the heart (Figure 5 and Appendix E). The distribution of these metal combs is not easily
tied to geology. It may be that some examples along the western margin of the comb
range relate to the lack of sandstone. But this cannot be said of metal combs in the
Plate 18: Combs of corrugated roofing metal over wooden frames; Pierce Cem., Obey City
quad, Overton Co.
19
20
Plate 19: Combs of flat sheet metal, riveted and sealed, Cunningham Cem., Dry Valley quad,
White Co.
Plate 20: Combs of five-Vee roofing over wooden frames with plywood end caps, erected 1983
and 2001, Bear Creek Cem., Cookeville East quad, Putnam Co.
central part of the comb range. It may be that cost was a factor in some cases. It may
be that more men were capable of the carpentry necessary to create a sheet metal
comb than were qualified to quarry stone. Two of the three most recent combs known
(1983 and 2001) are metal combs (Plate 20) erected by the same man for members of
his family (Finch, 2013).
21
22
Ball (1977, Fig. 4) described a grave cover in Lambert Cem. (Hillsboro quad,
Coffee Co.) that was a metal comb grave, albeit somewhat unusual in having a low (two
inches above ground level) poured concrete base. Although this structure was a
complete ruin by the time of the present study, Lambert Cem. is counted as the
thirteenth metal comb location.
Being supported by wooden frameworks, metal combs are obviously not as
durable as stone combs. Of the 26 metal combs known, around a half dozen seen
during the early stages of this survey have since collapsed or otherwise been
destroyed.
Geologic influence on the geographic range of the comb graves:
The general distribution of the Tennessee comb graves has been described in
the introduction as forming a band paralleling the western escarpment of the
Cumberland Plateau. The preferential use of thin slabs of Hartselle sandstone for comb
construction has been noted. From these two facts it may be argued that there was a
geologic control on the distribution of the comb graves.
The Hartselle Formation is a stratigraphic unit deposited during the Mississippian
Period (350-299 million years before present). Its type section is near Hartselle,
Alabama. In Tennessee the Hartselle crops out along the eroded western slopes of the
Cumberland Plateau, where it forms a continuous north-south outcrop band across the
state, typically at elevations around 1100 –1400 ft. (The Hartselle outcrop trace is
shown in the figures.) It is also found in many erosional outliers of the formerly more
extensive Plateau, such as Gum Spring Mountain, just west of Sparta.
The Hartselle Formation consists mainly of sandstone and shale, with the relative
proportions of the two rock types varying significantly over the length of its outcrop belt.
Where well-indurated, quartz-cemented sandstone is prominent, the Hartselle forms a
resistant unit which erodes more slowly than the overlying Bangor Limestone. As the
Bangor is eroded back, a nearly flat topographic surface, known as the Hartselle Bench,
is formed on top of the Hartselle. Where well developed, the Hartselle Bench forms a
distinct stair-step in the western escarpment of the Cumberland Plateau. The Hartselle
Bench also forms the flat upper surface of various of the erosional outliers lying to the
west of the main Plateau. It is in these areas, where the Hartselle Formation contains
significant amounts of sandstone, that the comb graves are found in abundance.
South of Warren county, the Hartselle Formation becomes more shaly, with a
lower sandstone content.1 It is in this region that most limestone combs are found. Not
much further to the south, the Tennessee combs die out.
1
The stratigraphic generalizations stated in this paper are based on data from 7 ½ minute geologic
quadrangle maps published by the Division of Geology, Tennessee Dept. of Environment and
Conservation.
23
The Hartselle Formation is not found on the east side of the Cumberland Plateau;
nor are any combs found here.
The range of the Tennessee combs also dies out a little north of the TennesseeKentucky line, for reasons that are at present obscure. Nonetheless, it is fair to say that
in Tennessee, the comb grave tradition was strongly influenced by the presence or
absence of appropriate sandstone in the Hartselle Formation, and that the primary
control on the geographic range of the combs was the lithology of the Hartselle.
In sum, combs are found in graveyards on the Hartselle Bench, in cemeteries
along the western portion of the Plateau relatively close to the Hartselle outcrop band,
and on the Eastern Highland Rim below the Plateau. Combs become rarer (or made of
substitute materials such as limestone, concrete and sheet metal) in areas distant east
or west of the Hartselle outcrop band, the distance likely related to the difficulty of
moving the heavy stones via 19th- and early 20th-century transportation facilities.
Local concentrations within the comb range:
Cantrell (1981) visited 168 cemeteries, finding 1104 comb graves and noting two
distinct areas of comb concentration, which he designated the Caney Fork Valley group
(White and northern Van Buren counties) and the Overton County group. These same
areas of comb concentration were documented during the present survey.
Doyle quad (White and Van Buren counties) contains 27 comb cemeteries (the
2nd highest number of comb cemeteries in a single quad), with a total of 508 extant
combs, by far the highest comb count for a single quad. The adjacent Cassville and
Bald Knob quads have comb counts of 342 and 341 respectively. Thus, these three
quads alone account for 38% of the 3173 extant combs in the main Tennessee comb
range. Not surprisingly, these three quads also contain the individual cemeteries with
the highest comb counts: Mt. Gilead Cem. (Cassville quad), 138 combs; Mt. Pisgah
Cem. (Doyle quad), 126 combs; Old Union Cem. (Bald Knob quad), 102 combs.
Combs are numerous in Overton Co., with Crawford quad presenting the highest
comb cemetery density of any quad: 19 out of 20 cemeteries, i.e., 95% have combs, for
a total extant comb count of 393, the second highest count of any quad. The Falling
Springs Cem., with a comb count of 102, is located in the community of Allred, as is the
old Vaughn stone quarry, source of so many comb rocks. Okalona quad contains 33
comb cemeteries, the highest number in a single quad, with an extant comb count of
334. Thus these two quads alone account for 23% of all extant combs in the main
Tennessee comb range.
Beyond the pale:
The geographic survey done for this study has defined the main range (Figure 1)
of the Tennessee comb graves by mapping out the comb cemeteries in each 7.5 min
quad and establishing a border of “comb-free” quads around the range. However, as
24
should be expected for a once-popular and deeply entrenched burial custom, the use of
combs spread beyond the boundaries outlined above. There are outliers, combs
“beyond the pale”. In the Readyville quad, well west of the core comb range, a cement
comb exists at Curlee Cem. (Cannon Co.) and a sheet metal comb was photographed
in Science Hill Cem. (Rutherford Co.). To the south and west, two children’s combs,
made of limestone, are known from Shofner Cem. (Normandy quad, Bedford Co.), and
two additional limestone combs are found in Roper Cem. (Dellrose quad, Lincoln Co.).
The Roper combs are the south-westernmost combs known in Tennessee. On the
Cumberland Plateau, somewhat to the southeast of the main comb range, McGlothen
Cem. (Savage Point quad, Sequatchie Co.) featured two combs when first visited,
though only one remained in 2012.
Including these outliers, the total number of Tennessee comb graveyards rises to
411 and the total number of extant combs to 3185. A statewide search would
undoubtedly reveal more comb graves, but these scattered instances of combs--likely
the result of the practice being introduced by families migrating westward from the main
comb region—do not represent a widespread coherent local tradition in these areas.
Temporal range of the comb graves:
Before considering what is the earliest known comb, it needs to be noted that
there is no easy way today to scientifically ascertain the exact date when a comb was
erected. Crissman (1994) emphasizes that gravehouses were erected “almost as soon
as the burial was completed”, and it seems likely that most combs were erected not long
after the burial. Thus, the death date (if any) on the headstone is, for practical
purposes, the date of the comb itself. However, it is known in some cases that combs
were erected over graves years after the actual burial.
Several sheet metal combs in Pierce Cem. (Obey City quad, Overton Co.) are
likely younger than the graves they cover, as suggested by the apparent newness of the
wooden frames supporting the combs. Four cement combs in Lancaster Cem. (Buffalo
Valley quad, Smith Co.) are all structurally connected and appear to have been
constructed concurrently, some time after the most recent date of death, 1921, which is
some three years after the earliest date of death,1918. In Stockton Cem. (Stockton
quad, Fentress Co.) there are five headstones with dates ranging from 1847 to 1862,
that all appear to be the work of a prolific stonecutter who operated in the White Co.
area. A Stockton family tradition holds that these stones were brought on an oxenpulled sled from White Co., an exceptionally long and tedious trip for hauling
gravestones. It is thought by a Stockton family member1 that all five stones were
probably commissioned and brought to the family burying ground at the same time.
This assumption is far more reasonable than assuming that five separate trips were
made over such a distance (66 miles by today’s highway system). If true, then at least
one of the Stockton combs was erected 15 or more years after the date of death.
1
Kathy Stockton Williams, personal communication, January 2014.
25
In spite of the foregoing examples, unless there is evidence to the contrary, the
date of death inscribed on a comb grave is generally considered to be the date of the
comb itself.
The earliest date thus far found on a comb grave is 1817, on the grave of Rosey
Hutson (Plate 21) in Mt. Pisgah Cem. (Doyle quad) in White Co. Based on stylistic
considerations1, it is thought that this particular comb was likely erected some years,
perhaps a decade or more, after the death date. The oldest dated comb for which there
is no reason to believe the comb was erected long after the burial is the 1822 comb for
J. H. Bilbrey (Plate 22) in Roaring River Cem. (Okalona quad) in Overton Co. In any
case, it is highly probable that some of the more primitive, uninscribed combs were
erected before either of these combs. In the Sparkman-Yates Cem. (Bald Knob quad,
Van Buren Co.) an uninscribed comb covers the grave of George T. Sparkman, who
died in 1816 (Plate 23). In Austin-Anderson Cem. (DeRossett quad, White Co.) an
uninscribed comb covers the grave of Rachel Austin who died in 1818. Several combs
bearing mid-1820’s dates are found in Wilson Cem. (Sparta quad, White Co.). It seems
clear that by 1820 the comb grave tradition was aborning, if not indeed well established.
Although the earliest comb and its age will probably never be established, it is
reasonable to conclude that the comb grave tradition was initiated in the 1815-1820
period, possibly in White Co. where most of the oldest known combs are found, and
where the proper sandstone was widely available. Appendix F is a partial listing of
combs with early dates and their locations; their distribution is shown in Figure 6.
Plate 21: Rosey Hutson comb, date of death 1817, but headstone style suggests that this comb
was likely erected at a later date. Mt. Pisgah Cem., Doyle quad, White Co.
1
The Rosey Hutson headstone is of the necked discoid style; both the author of this paper and Michael
McNerney believe this stone was cut at a date later than 1817. McNerney, who has studied this style
extensively, estimates that this headstone was carved sometime within the years 1825-1835.
(McNerney,personal communications, Mar. 2013 and Jan. 2014).
26
Plate 22: 1822 J. H. Bilbrey comb, Roaring River Cem., Okalona quad, Overton Co.
Plate 23: Uninscribed comb for Geo. T. Sparkman, deceased 1816, Sparkman-Yates Cem.,
Bald Knob quad, Van Buren Co.
27
28
The comb grave style appears to have “caught on” and spread rapidly throughout
its full range. A comb dated 1835 is found in Perkins Cem. (Winchester quad, Coffee
Co.) at the southernmost end of the main comb range, and a comb dated 1839 may be
seen in Fitzgerald Cem. (Dale Hollow Dam quad, Clay Co.) near the northern end of the
comb range. By the mid-19th century comb graves were very popular throughout the
comb range, and in some cemeteries became the dominant form of burial.
Cantrell (1981) meticulously logged the death dates inscribed on over 700 combs
in his Caney Fork Valley and Overton County groups. His plot of these data shows that
the use of comb graves peaked in the 1876-86 decade in White and Van Buren
counties, and around 1906 in Overton Co. The plots indicate a rapid decline in the
erection of combs in both areas, with some combs still being erected in the Overton Co.
area into the 1950s, some three decades longer than in the Caney Fork Valley area.
No collection of dates comparable to Cantrell’s work has been compiled for the
present study; however a number of more recent combs were noted. Combs dated
1956 and 1958 were noted in Flat Creek Cem. (Hilham quad, Overton Co.) during the
early stages of this project, but have since been removed. Comb graves dated 1967
and 1969 occur in Stockton Cem. (Stockton quad, Fentress Co.), and a pair of sheet
metal combs cover the graves of a husband (d. 1983) and wife (d. 2001) in Bear Creek
Cem., (Plate 20, Cookeville East quad, Putnam Co.). To date, the most recent comb is
that of Kathleen Rodgers, who was buried at her home in 2012 (Plate 24, Windle quad,
Overton Co.). The two 21st century combs (2001 and 2012) and the separate circumstances leading to their erection have been described in detail by Finch (2013).
In sum, the comb tradition spans nearly two centuries of Tennessee cultural
history, from shortly before 1820 to at least 2012. Perhaps the custom will yet continue.
Plate 24: Comb grave of Kathleen Rodgers, erected in 2012, Windle quad, Overton Co. Made
of Hartselle sandstone slabs from the Walker quarry in Overton Co.
29
The purpose of the combs:
“What was the purpose of combs?” is a commonly asked question, one for which
there is no definitive or “one size fits all” answer.
Hoping to answer this question, Cantrell (1981) interviewed funeral directors, a
monument dealer, other cemetery researchers, a longtime resident of Allred (in the
heart of the Overton County comb group), and even a member of the Vaughn family of
stonecutters who had quarried gravestones in his younger days. The most common
reason cited was to protect the grave from rain. The second most common reason
given was to protect the grave from animals, whether domestic or wild. At least one
informant said that one purpose for the combs was to make the grave more permanent.
Oddly enough, the retired stonecutter said he knew of no reason for combs other than
people wanted them.
During the course of the present survey, informal conversations with a few old
timers also elicited the same reasons: protection from rain or from animals. With
regard to rain, this notion may be supported by the observation of combs sealed with
cement in seven graveyards, and by metal combs sealed with a tar-like substance in
one graveyard. As noted earlier, the normal lapping of one side slab over the other
might be for the same reason. However, protecting the grave from rain does not bear
up well to logic, inasmuch as there is no real purpose in doing so. Cold logic, of course,
cannot be relied upon to explain the reasons for customs surrounding emotional events
such as burials.
With regard to protecting the grave from animals, one person remarked that the
soil was so rocky that the graves were not very deep, and therefore had to be protected
from being dug up by wild animals. This cannot be the general reason, inasmuch as
combs are found in many different soil conditions.
An Overton Co. man explaining why he had a box grave erected over his mother
in 1954 stated that she requested it, fearing that the graveyard –located in a field—
might become neglected and she did not want the cows to walk on her. A second
informant reported that as a boy he visited numerous cemeteries with his father who
told him that combs were erected to prevent unfenced cattle from walking on graves.
“I remember him demonstrating with his foot how a cow's foot would slip off of the
slanted side [of a comb].”1 It is certainly true that cattle can severely damage a
graveyard by rubbing against headstones to scratch themselves. Worse yet, pigs,
rubbing against and rooting underneath gravestones, can and do topple markers and
bury them in the mud.
On the other hand, cattle may have been deliberately allowed into some
graveyards. According to the White county cemetery book (Pollard, 2003), “In the days
before power mowers, the easiest way to keep a cemetery mowed was to allow
livestock to graze it. The cover [comb] protected the grave from…trampling.”
1
Cliff Owens, personal communication, Apr. 2014.
30
While some combs may well have been erected to protect the grave from
animals, personal observations show that many a groundhog has found a happy home
beneath a comb, and the occasional blacksnake has taken refuge there.
An additional reason for the erection of combs is that they were sometimes
specifically requested by the decedent or by a family member. Myrtle Webb asked her
brother to build a comb for her husband, Joe, who died in 1983. Whether or not Joe
himself requested a comb is not known, but he may have, as his parents were buried
beneath combs in the same cemetery where he was interred (Bear Creek Cem.,
Cookeville East quad, Putnam Co.). In addition, Myrtle requested a comb for herself,
matching that of her husband, and her brother built hers, too, when she died in 2001
(Finch, 2013).
Ball (1999), noting the “desire to protect the burial from the elements or animal
disturbance”, concluded that comb graves served the same purpose as gravehouses
and other types of grave covers: “Functionally, [combs] are but one of a class of grave
marker designed to cover the entire grave, which fulfilled an emotional need to provide
a level of protection to the remains of the deceased from rain and other factors.”
While agreeing with Ball, I would add that combs make graves more visible and
more permanent, less susceptible to being lost (when the cemetery is abandoned) or
obliterated (by rain, animals, or vandals). This is an important effect of the comb
structures, and was probably the intent or reason behind the erection of some combs.
Twelve lone combs were noted in this survey, two in pastures and ten “lost” in thickly
wooded areas. Headstones alone might or might not have preserved these grave
locations; any or all of these graves could easily have completely disappeared had they
not been covered with combs.
None of the above effectively explains why combs became so popular in the
comb range. Other forms of grave covers were known and used to some extent. Box
graves were more expensive than combs.1 Gravehouses, commonly constructed with
a wooden frame, did not last as long. Cairn graves and some coffin graves required
more stone cutting and dressing labor. All of these forms of grave covers served the
same purpose as combs; however, none of these alternate forms of grave covers
achieved the enormous popularity of the comb graves.
The very rapid spread of the comb tradition throughout the length of the comb
range, documented earlier in this article, suggests that combs may have first become a
sort of graveyard “fad,” and later an enduring fashion. They were relatively simple to
construct, cheaper than some alternative forms of grave cover, and served a variety of
purposes, both emotional and functional, including marking the grave in a more
permanent manner than a simple headstone. Combs became fashionable, and like all
fashions, this one ran its course. As modern, factory-produced stones of marble and
granite became widely available, they became more popular. Concomitantly, the use of
combs made by local artisans of local stone declined and nearly died out.
1
Cantrell, 1981, reported that in the 1930’s a comb set cost $30, whereas a box set cost $60.
31
Origin of the comb grave custom:
Cantrell (1981) concluded that “the early popularity of these structures [combs]
indicates that the settlers were already familiar with the tradition and brought it with
them to Tennessee.” This would suggest that the use of combs came to Tennessee
from North Carolina. But Cantrell adds that “preliminary inquiries about the existence of
comb graves in North Carolina have yielded negative results”.
More recently, a single comb grave has been located in the old City Cemetery of
Raleigh, N.C. It is made of weakly foliated granitic rock (Plate 25), and it bears the date
1834, making it more than a decade younger than the oldest known combs in
Tennessee. To date, there is no evidence for a North Carolina origin for the comb style.
Plate 25: Comb grave of Mary Beasle, died 1834; in old City Cemetery, Raleigh, NC. The comb
is made of weakly foliated granitic rock. (Image courtesy of Susan K. Wiley.)
In Tennessee, no combs have been reported east of the Cumberland Plateau,
where they would be expected had the style been brought from North Carolina.
That said, one must admit that emigrants from North Carolina westward into
Tennessee undoubtedly carried with them familiarity with the concept of covered
graves, such as ledger graves and box graves. Ball (2005, 2008) makes a strong logical
case for his supposition that the idea, if not the style, behind comb graves (as well as
gravehouses and other forms of grave covers) derives from box and stone table graves
popularized in England and Scotland during the 18th century. Several types of grave
covers can be seen in the Old Burying Grounds at Beaufort, N.C., including a number of
graves covered by comb-shaped structures made of carefully fitted bricks (Plate 26).
By construction technique the graves are cairn graves, but the resulting form is distinctly
comb-like. None are known to pre-date the Tennessee combs (the four grave covers
pictured date from the mid-nineteenth century) and it seems unlikely that these comb32
like grave covers inspired the Tennessee combs or vice-versa. The similarity of form is
most likely a coincidental repetition of a basic shape.
Plate 26: Comb-like mid-19th century grave covers made of carefully fitted bricks, in Old Burying
Grounds, Beaufort, N.C. (Image courtesy Beaufort Historical Assoc.)
While considering a possible source for the Tennessee comb grave custom, one
must ask if there are comb graves in England. And the answer is yes, for in 2015 a
single comb grave was noted in the cemetery at Otley All Saints Church, in West
Yorkshire, England.1 This comb is essentially identical in form and construction to the
Tennessee combs in that it covers a single grave, and is made of two long sandstone
slabs supported at the ends by triangular gable stones. Unfortunately, it is uninscribed
except for the single letter “P”, so at the time of this writing, its age is only hinted at by
the nearest surrounding graves which range from 1794 to 1856. The Otley comb could
be older or younger than the oldest Tennessee combs. If it is older, was it the
progenitor of the Tennessee comb grave tradition? The answer to this question is
“probably not.” As far as is currently known, the Otley comb is an isolated example and
not part of any established tradition. It is unlikely that a single English comb grave
would inspire a widespread custom in central Tennessee without any intermediate
occurrences in North Carolina or eastern Tennessee.
Several stone grave covers or “tomb shrines” of triangular form are also known in
Ireland.2 Three are found in County Kerry (two on the Iveragh Peninsula, one on
Illaunloughan Island) and two are located at St. Cronan’s Temple in County Clare. (See
http://orthodoxcumbria.org.uk/british/ireland-3.html ) One of the tomb shrines at St.
Cronan’s Temple is thought to cover the grave of St. Cronan himself and date to the 7 th
1
Emma Herbert-Davies, University of Leeds, sent a description and images of the Otley comb; personal
communications, Jan. 2016.
2
Dr. Ray Hutchison, Prof. of Urban and Regional Studies, Univ. of Wisconsin, Green Bay, alerted me to
the existence of these grave structures, personal communication, Jan. 2016.
33
century. It has been described as “made of only four pieces of stone, two for the sides,
two for the ends, rather like a tent. One end piece is only a half piece—allowing the
disciple to put his hand inside and touch the earth where his dear one is buried.” (See
http://www.earlychristianireland.net/Specials/Irish%20Hermits/ )
The Irish tomb shrines have a distinctive look, being much more steeply pitched
than the Tennessee combs. Nonetheless, we clearly have a type of Irish comb grave
tradition that predates the Tennessee tradition. Was it the inspiration for the later
tradition? The difference in overall appearance, the great difference in age, and the
apparent paucity of examples in Ireland, along with the lack of any “trail” through North
Carolina and eastern Tennessee mitigate against --but do not disprove—an Irish origin
for the Tennessee comb grave custom.
The similarities between the Tennessee combs and these scattered examples in
the UK are most easily attributed to two facts: 1) many cultures evince a desire to
protect graves by some means, and 2) a comb-type grave cover is a simple geometric
construction that could easily be invented by different peoples at different times.
Based on the evidence currently available, Ball (1999) is correct in stating that
the comb grave “likely originated in the early 19th century in the northeastern Highland
Rim area of middle Tennessee as a regional adaption of a yet earlier prototype grave
covering.” What that earlier prototype was may never be known with certainty.
Regardless of conceptual inspiration, it seems that the comb grave custom as
known in the Upland South was born in Tennessee, perhaps in the White Co. area, in
the 1815-1820 period. The use of combs spread rapidly throughout the main Tennessee
range, achieved a popularity that greatly exceeded that of other types of grave covers,
and, as discussed below, was later carried into other areas.
Religious connections:
Ball’s (1997) assertion that comb graves “seem to have no particular association
with any churches in the region”, is reconfirmed by the present survey. Seventy-four
comb cemeteries were found associated with churches, 68 in the main Tennessee
comb range, three outside the main range, and three in Kentucky. The church
denominations, where known, were recorded. A few church buildings are known to have
changed from one denomination to another; in these cases, the earlier denomination
was recorded. A few church buildings are now in disuse with no indication of their
denomination and in one case the church building has long since been razed.
The denominationally identified churches include 32 Baptist churches, 17
Methodist, 11 Churches of Christ, 5 Presbyterian, 1 Christian Church, 1 Lutheran
church. Seven “other” or unidentified churches complete the list. Appendix G
summarizes these findings.
34
While it is clear the comb grave tradition is not tied to any particular
denomination, the birth of the comb fashion coincides closely with the peak of the
religious movement known as the Second Great Awakening.1 Whether or not the
combs are related in any way to this movement remains unclear, however Ball2 feels
that “At a minimum, the time lag between the Great Awakening and the earliest known
comb graves seems too close for mere coincidence.”
Comb graves in other states:
In addition to Tennessee, combs are known from eight other Southern states:
Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, West Virginia, Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana and North
Carolina. And a few combs are known in eastern Oklahoma, culturally part of the
Upland South (Jordan-Bychkov, 2003).
Alabama has at least 62 cemeteries reported to have comb graves. Twenty-four
of these cemeteries were visited during the course of this study, for comparison to the
Tennessee combs. The known Alabama comb cemeteries are found in the northern
half of the state, in Blount, Cullman, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson,
Marion, Morgan, Tuscaloosa, Walker and Winston counties. Tuscaloosa and Walker
counties seem to be areas of comb concentrations, having 30 and 16 comb cemeteries,
respectively, of the total catalogued. It is highly probable that numerous other comb
cemeteries are present in Alabama, but not yet reported. The 24 cemeteries visited
contained 148 combs (113 extant combs plus at least 35 ex-combs). Based on the
average of this sample, the total number of combs in the 62 known comb cemeteries
should be in the 380-390 range, if not higher. Sixty-three dated combs were seen,
ranging from 1848 to 1917, with dates in the 1870s, ‘80s, and ‘90s accounting for 67%
of all dates. Brown (2004) also found that “most Alabama combs date between the
1840s and World War I.”
The Cargile Cem. (Jackson Co.), containing three limestone combs, may be the
northernmost Alabama comb cemetery. It is the closest known Alabama comb cemetery
to the main Tennessee comb range, lying just 23 miles from the southernmost cemetery
in the main Tennessee range, the Perkins Cem. (Winchester quad, Franklin Co.).
The Roberts family cemetery in Morgan county contains several combs and is of
particular interest as it is reported3 that the Roberts family moved to Alabama from
White Co., Tennessee. It would appear they brought their burial customs with them.
Almost half the reported Alabama comb cemeteries (30) are found in the
northern half of Tuscaloosa Co., where sandstone suitable for comb slabs occurs. In
1
This time relationship was first called to my attention by graveyard enthusiast Dr. Ray Hutchison.
2
Donald B. Ball, personal communication, Mar. 2014.
3
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pis&PIcrid=25835&PIpi=15137701&PIMode=cemetery
35
addition to this geologic influence, it is also interesting to note that local historians say
that this portion of the county was settled by emigrants from Tennessee. 1
As in Tennessee, the preferred stone for comb construction in Alabama was
sandstone. The Hartselle Formation is present in the Alabama comb grave region (the
type section is near the town of Hartselle, whence the name), is predominantly quartz
sandstone, and probably was the source of some comb slabs. Another unit quarried for
sandstone in Alabama is the Pottsville Formation of Pennsylvanian age 2. The Pottsville
contains sandstone of dimension stone quality, despite a tendency to spall upon
weathering. It was quarried for the original state capitol building in Tuscaloosa and for
stone used in locks and dams on the Black Warrior River, and for some of the early
tombstones in Tuscaloosa’s Greenwood Cemetery3. A comparison of comb cemetery
locations with the geologic map of Alabama shows that the majority of the 62 known
comb cemeteries (45) are located on outcrops of the Pottsville Fm. or, if actually sited
on other stratigraphic units, then very close to Pottsville outcrops (12). Only a single
comb cemetery was found to be located on the Hartselle, with one additional cemetery
being located close to Hartselle outcrops. Considering the transportation difficulties
during the era of comb erection, it is only reasonable to assume that local availability
determined which unit supplied the sandstone slabs used in the comb graveyards.
Regarding the geographic range of the Alabama comb cemeteries, all of the
Alabama counties in which combs have been reported lie partially or wholly within the
Cumberland Plateau physiographic province. In Alabama the Cumberland Plateau is
more dissected and discontinuous than in Tennessee, and Pottsville (and to a much
lesser degree, Hartselle) outcrops are found over a broad region. If, as seems certain,
these units supplied most of the comb slabs, this may explain why combs are found not
in a linear belt as in Tennessee, but scattered over an irregular geographic area as
broad from east to west as from north to south. Nonetheless, the Alabama comb range
appears to be controlled by the distribution of suitable sandstone outcrops, just as in
Tennessee.
Taking a multistate viewpoint, it could be argued that the Alabama comb
cemeteries are in fact a continuation of the Tennessee comb range. However, there is
a gap --albeit not a large one-- between the two collections of combs, both
geographically and, it would seem, temporally. The use of comb graves in Alabama
developed later than in Tennessee.
In Arkansas, at least 11 cemeteries are known with comb graves, with a total of
around 52 combs. Most of these comb cemeteries are found in the NW quarter of
Arkansas, mainly in the Ozark Mtns., in Benton, Boone, Crawford, Franklin, Newton and
1
James Ezell, P.E., personal communications, May 2016.
2
Dr. Eugene M. Wilson, Prof. of Geography, Univ. of South Alabama, suggested that sandstone from the
Pottsville Formation of Pennsylvanian age might also be a source of comb slabs. Personal
communications, Oct. 1981, Apr. 2014.
3
James Ezell, P.E., personal communications, May 2016.
36
Searcy counties. Union and Camp cemeteries (Fulton Co.) and Denton Cem. (Sharp
Co.) are exceptions, being found in the north-central area of the state. Seven of these
cemeteries were visited during the field work for this study. Most of the observed
combs did not feature dates, but those that did ranged from 1855 to 1883.
Again, most combs were made of sandstone slabs, but a few were of limestone,
including very finely dressed limestone (coarsely crystalline pink limestone, likely sold
as marble) combs in Holmes Cem. in Boone Co.
The known comb grave cemeteries in Arkansas seem to be scattered over a
wider area than the relatively narrow geographic belt containing the Tennessee
combs. This may indicate that more comb grave cemeteries remain to be discovered in
Arkansas. One might also infer from this distribution that the Arkansas combs result
from the “Tennessee diaspora” described by Jordan-Bychkov (2003). One of the eight
combs in Holmes Cem. covers the grave of a woman originally from Tennessee 1 and
Tennesseans from Overton Co. (including stonemasons from the Allred and Norris
families) are known to have migrated into the Ozark region of northwest Arkansas. 2
In her book on burial customs of the Arkansas Ozarks, Burnett (2014) states that “older
burials were protected by a variety of grave coverings, their styles [her list includes
comb graves] having all been traced back to Tennessee.”
Combs are known from eight Kentucky cemeteries, one of which, Taylor Grove
Cem., is included in the northernmost end of the main Tennessee comb grave range.
Four of the other seven comb cemeteries visited during fieldwork for this study –
Redbird, Steely, and Canada Church cemeteries (Wofford quad, Whitley Co.) and
Ballou-Worley Cem. (Cumberland Falls quad, McCreary Co.)-- all lie 40 to 45 miles
northeast of the easternmost Tennessee comb cemetery. Redbird Cem. was reported
by Richmond (1998) and Ball (1999); it contains six combs, made of sandstone (as
would be expected, considering the geology of the Cumberland Mountains). Three of
the six combs are dated: 1862, 1863, and 1922. Nearby Steely Cem. once had three
combs, now dismantled, and Canada Church cemetery has three combs. BallouWorley Cem. contains a single sandstone comb dated 1860.
The remaining three Kentucky comb cemeteries are found in western Kentucky,
between Hopkinsville and Lake Barkley, well to the west of the main Tennessee comb
range. Lander Cem., in westernmost Christian Co., holds four combs, three made of
calcarenite (limestone of sand-sized grains) composed of fossil bits and ooids, and one
made of white marble. The talented stonecutter who erected these combs did excellent
work in dressing and shaping the side slabs, most of which, if not all, feature beveled
upper edges so that they meet neatly at the crest of the comb. Unfortunately, these
combs are not in good condition, for two reasons: the calcarenite tends to disaggregate
and split apart as it weathers; furthermore, it appears that no gable stones were used to
support the side slabs, leading to a tendency for the side slabs to spread and collapse
1
John Waggoner, Jr., personal communication, Mar. 2014.
2
Michael McNerney, personal communications, May 2013.
37
with time. Three of these combs are dated: 1857, 1860 and 1860. Sinking Fork Cem.,
located a little east of Lander, holds a single comb, of the same type of stone and style
as the Lander combs, and probably by the same stonecutter.
Just a few miles to the west, across the line in Trigg Co., lies Wall Cem., which
has a single comb, made in the same style as the Lander and Sinking Fork combs, of
the same calcarenite, and likely by the same stonecutter. In addition to deterioration of
the comb by weathering, its headstone has recently (since 2012) been broken into
several pieces, possibly by vandals. This comb is especially interesting due to its date,
1847. It has been demonstrated earlier in this paper that the practice of erecting combs
over graves spread very rapidly throughout the main Tennessee comb range; this comb
in Wall Cemetery suggests that the practice did not require many years to be carried
beyond its main range.
In West Virginia, combs constructed with roofing metal have been documented in
two cemeteries in northern Mingo Co., not far from the Kentucky border. Newsome
Ridge Cem., sited on a high and remote ridge, is a graveyard in which traditional grave
customs are still strongly maintained. Five relatively recent combs made of corrugated
roofing “tin” are found here. Four bear dates: 1937, 1947, 1948, and 1952, long postdating the majority of the Tennessee combs. In addition to these five metal combs, nine
gravehouses—including a new one in the process of being erected in Sept. 2014—were
noted. Annually, on the third Sunday in August, local folk hold a cemetery decoration
day that is attended by hundreds. This meeting is called the “Reunion” or “Basket
Meeting” because participants bring baskets of food to be shared in a communal “dinner
on the ground”, laid out on a long buffet table in the cemetery’s pavilion.1
In nearby Rose Town, at the Rose and Brewer Cem., a metal comb lies
somewhat downhill and just outside of the graveyard proper. It is also 90 degrees out of
alignment with the other graves (which run east-west, facing east). The corrugated “tin”
comb is intact, but has been removed from the grave to which it once belonged, and
discarded, possibly to make mowing easier. A local informant stated that there were
formerly at least two combs in this cemetery.
No connection between the West Virginia combs and the Tennessee combs has
been established. However, the use of “Tennessee” as a woman’s given name in
another nearby Newsome family cemetery hints that a connection may exist.
Two Texas cemeteries are known to feature comb graves. Shiloh Cem., in
Denton Co., contains an elegant marble comb (Plate 27), the ends of which are closed
by large, matching head- and footstones much in the same manner as the truncated
triangle combs of Overton Co., Tennessee. The name on this comb is Nancy Yeats and
the date of death is 1910. How this lone comb came to be erected here is not known,
but several possible connections with Tennessee exist. Although Nancy Yeats and her
husband Dr. T. A. Ball came to Denton Co. from Missouri, Nancy was born in
Tennessee; it is not impossible that Yeats might be the same surname spelled Yates in
1
Dr. Alan Jabbour, personal communications, Sept. 2014 and Apr. 2015.
38
several comb cemeteries in Tennessee (e.g., Sparkman-Yates and Gravel Hill
cemeteries in the Bald Knob quad, Van Buren Co.). Furthermore, the county and town
of Denton were named for John B. Denton, a Methodist-Episcopal preacher and Indian
fighter who was born in White Co., Tennessee in 1806. However, Denton was orphaned
at age eight and moved with his adopted family to Arkansas around the same time the
comb grave style was nascent in Tennessee. Hence it seems unlikely that Denton took
any knowledge of comb graves with him when he left his natal state. In Arkansas he
became a preacher, and in this profession would certainly have become familiar with
burial customs, including, perhaps, comb graves. Yet if Denton brought the idea of
comb graves from Arkansas to Texas, there should be other combs in this area, for
Denton died in 1841, long before Nancy Yeats arrived around 1865. Other Dentons
from White county emigrated to Texas around 18701 and the role of Tennesseans in
Texas history is well known. It seems likely that the Nancy Yeats comb has Tennessee
origins, whether through Yeats herself, John B. Denton or someone else.
Plate 27: Nancy Yeats’ 1910 marble comb, Shiloh Cem., Denton Co., Texas. (Image courtesy
of Jim Fritze.)
The Nancy Yeats comb was the only Texas comb known to Jordan, a long-time
researcher of traditional graveyards in Texas and the South.2 Nonetheless, two sheet
metal combs have been discovered in Walling Cem. in Cooke Co., one of which is a
matrimonial comb covering the graves of a couple originally from Tennessee. 3 The
dates of death are 1916 and 1917.
1
Beth Moore Farmer (a Denton descendant), personal communication, Feb. 2014.
2
The late Dr. Terry G. Jordan, personal communication, Aug. 1981.
3
John Waggoner, Jr., personal communication, Nov. 2014.
39
Mississippi has at least one cemetery that features comb graves. Pickle Cem., in
Monroe Co., has four sheet metal combs ranging in age from 1946 to 1991. 1 Thornton2
describes these combs as grave shelters and adds that he remembers others from his
youth. It would not be surprising if other comb cemeteries still exist in Mississippi.
In Louisiana, one comb is found in the Old Bellwood Cem. (Natchitoches parish).
It is a limestone comb for a child who died in 1878.3
The lone North Carolina comb, dated 1834, in the City Cemetery of Raleigh
(Wake Co.) has already been described.
Eastern Oklahoma lies within the cultural region of the Upland South (JordanBychkov, 2003) and comb graves arrived here prior to statehood. At least three comb
graves, extant in 2016, are documented by photographs in Old Cache Cem., near
Keota, in Haskell Co. The combs seen in the images are very typical combs, and could
easily pass for combs in a Tennessee graveyard. The stone slabs have the appearance
of being sandstone, though it is difficult to be certain from photographs. One of the
combs covers a child’s grave and bears a partially legible inscription with a date of
death that appears to be 1891 (or possibly 1881).
According to local lore --fervently held-- the combs in Old Cache Cem. cover
Native American graves. While it has not been possible to demonstrate the truth of this
local belief for this paper, the fact that the original land for the cemetery was donated by
the Choctaw Nation makes this local history more plausible than it might otherwise
seem. The Choctaws were one of the Five Tribes (commonly referred to as the “Five
Civilized Tribes”) that had adopted Anglo names and ways early in the 19th century.
Further research is needed to prove that the combs at Old Cache Cem. are Native
American graves, but the possibility is intriguing.4
In Muskogee Co., about 30 miles west from Old Cache is the 1889 grave of Belle
Starr, notorious as the "Outlaw Queen." Photographs of her gravesite, which may be
seen on the internet, show that her grave is marked by a structure that looks like a box
grave made of cut stones and topped by a stone slab comb. This monument is very like
the transitional comb structures found in Holmes Cem. in Arkansas (and described later
in this paper).
On the basis of the Old Cache combs and the Belle Starr grave, it seems likely
that a search of eastern Oklahoma traditional cemeteries would turn up more comb
graves.
1
John Waggoner, Jr., personal communication, Feb. 2014.
2
Terry Thornton, http://hillcountryhogsblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/grave-shelters.html
3
John Waggoner, Jr., personal communication, Jan. 2014.
4
My thanks to Dagmar Anne Cole of Ft. Worth, TX, for calling the combs in Old Cache Cemetery to my
attention, and to Jerry Smith of Cartersville, OK, for providing images.
40
This survey of combs outside of Tennessee, while admittedly incomplete,
indicates that Tennessee has by far and away a greater number of comb cemeteries
and combs than any other state. The oldest known combs are also found in Tennessee.
With the exceptions of the single North Carolina comb, the ten Kentucky combs lying to
the east of the Tennessee comb range, and the six combs in West Virginia, all the other
non-Tennessee combs are found westward or southward of the main Tennessee comb
range. Westward, of course, was the general direction of historic migration. From this
distribution pattern of numbers of comb cemeteries and combs, dates, and apparent
westward spread, it is reasonable to infer that the comb tradition originated in
Tennessee.
It should be noted here that the dispersion of the comb grave tradition from
Tennessee into other Southern states is but one facet of a larger and more complex
cultural transfer. Jordan-Bychkov (2003) defined the Upland South not only by its
geography, physiography and agricultural style, but by a specific material culture. He
argues persuasively that the Upland South culture first came to full flower in central
Tennessee in the early 19th-century and was carried to the rest of the region by the
“Tennessee diaspora.” The suite of cultural features Jordan-Bychkov found diagnostic
of the Upland South includes graveyards and mortuary customs, and in particular,
gravehouses (which he called “gravesheds”). While he did not mention comb graves
per se, he was definitely aware of combs (as indicated by his reference to Finch, 1982).
Possibly he considered combs a subclass of gravehouse (as did Ball in his 1977 paper).
In the light of this general spread of material culture and customs from Tennessee
westward and southward, the findings presented in the present paper regarding the
origin and spread of the comb grave tradition are not unexpected.
Questionable comb graves in Georgia:
At least two Georgia cemeteries in the towns of Fairburn and Campbellton (west
of Atlanta) feature a variety of cement or concrete grave covers that range in form from
flat slabs, to rounded mounds, to round-crested comb-like structures, to a single
instance of a triangular prism form that has the basic shape of a comb (Plate 28).
The graveyard at the Baptist Church in the old community of Campbellton is of
particular interest as featuring not only the one prismatic grave, but also a rounded
grave cover that has been breached by weathering to the extent that the internal
structure can be seen. This grave cover is constructed of a brick core that was
plastered over with a relatively thin layer of cement. It is not a comb. A pair of comblike (but round-crested) grave covers photographed in this cemetery in 1982,1 but no
longer extant, were raised on brick bases, and may or may not have had brick cores. In
contrast to the cement/concrete combs found in Tennessee, the molding of these
former comb-like grave covers did not include any attempt to mimic the side slabs or
triangular gable stones found in comb graves. Likewise, the single prismatic cement
1
Marion O. Smith, personal communication, Apr. 2014.
41
Plate 28: Comb-like cement grave cover beside flat cement grave covers in Baptist Church
Cem., Campbellton, GA. (Image courtesy of Steven A. Hurd.)
grave covering shows no attempt at mimicking the side slabs or gable stones of a
traditional comb grave. Whether or not this prismatic grave is built over a brick core is
not known, but it seems likely in view of the other brick cored structures and the fact that
the structure would be much easier to build with a solid core under the cement.
The popularity and variety of cement grave covers in the Fairburn and
Campbellton cemeteries, the use of brick sub-structures, and the failure to mimic the
side slabs or gable stones in those structures that were comb-like in form all point
toward the conclusion1 that these grave covers were not built by people aware of the
comb grave style. Those grave covers that were comb-like were at best “coincidental
combs”, resulting from the independent use of a very basic geometric form in the
construction of a cement grave cover.
Former comb graves in the Delmarva Peninsula:
The former existence of a small number of wooden comb graves has been
documented in a handful of graveyards in southernmost Delaware and adjacent
Maryland, a region with strong historical cultural ties to the South. I am much indebted
to Chris Slavens2 of Laurel, Delaware, for calling these now vanished combs to my
attention and for the factual information in the following paragraphs. Any conclusions
drawn from this information I must take responsibility for myself.
1
I am indebted to Steven A. Hurd, Ray Hutchison and John Waggoner, Jr. for insightful comments
regarding these debatable comb graves in the Campbellton Baptist Cemetery.
2
Chris Slavens, personal communications, Sept. 2016.
42
In Sussex County, just north of the state line with Maryland, lies Bethel M. E.
Church where the original church building was erected in 1841. At Bethel the writers of
Delaware: A Guide to the First State (a Federal Writers Project publication issued in
1938) found “several old graves with shingle roofs…. ….examples of the once-popular
local custom of placing a small pitched roof close over a grave to keep off the rain”.
According to Zebley (1947), “in the old graveyard a few roofed-over graves can be
seen, one of the few places in Delaware where any of these graves remain. These
roofs are A shaped with the gables closed in, rest directly on the ground with the entire
frame-work covered with shingles.” Zebley provides a photograph1 showing two combs
in Bethel cemetery; the construction of the comb in the foreground of Zebley’s photo
clearly fits the definition of comb grave, i.e., a grave cover in the form of a gable roof set
directly on the ground over the length of an in-ground burial. As illustrated by the varied
materials used for the construction of the Tennessee combs, it is the form, not the
materials used, by which a comb may be defined. The Delaware combs were naturally
made of wood inasmuch as stone suitable for quarrying is scarce or non-existent in this
region.
Zebley goes on to state that “in the private graveyard on the farm of Ira
West….there are several graves over which roofs have been built…. The most recent
of these were over the graves of John C. West who died in 1858 and Mahala West who
died in 1852.” In addition, he mentions that there “is one roofed-over grave” at King’s
M.E. Church, where the first church building was erected in 1842. A third author,
Pepper (1976), writes that “an old graveyard in back of Millard Johnson’s home near
Bayard had some graves with a roof on top of each one. The A-shaped roofs were
made of cedar shingles pointed on top exactly like a house roof, and each one covered
an entire grave.” A 1947 photograph shows a comb over an 1891 grave near Bayard;
this comb, like the Bethel and West combs has not survived to the present.
Immediately south of Sussex Co. lies Wicomico Co., Maryland, where Jacob
(1971) reported that “it was the custom in the eastern section of Wicomico for many
years to build a roof over a new grave. The roof was built on an ‘A’ frame, the peak
about thirty inches high, with the structure covering the entire grave.” According to
Jacob, only one of these grave roofs remained in 1971.
It is notable that the sources quoted above referred to the grave covers as
“roofs”. The term “comb grave” was not used by these writers, and it seems likely that
the term was not used locally. The overall number and time range of the Delmarva
combs is unknown at present. The only dates currently known for Delaware combs are
1852, 1858 and 1891. An intriguing question is how long could wooden combs have
survived? Pepper (1976) mentions “cedar” shingles, but a shingle-making industry
using both cedar and bald cypress --the latter a very durable, rot-resistant wood-- was
formerly important in Sussex county, and combs constructed of cypress would indeed
have been long-lived for wooden structures. Although a number of combs still existed in
the late 1930s and 1940s, and at least one as late as 1971, so far as is known, no
1
Zebley (1947), p. 349; see also the Zebley Collection Churches of Delaware, Delaware Public Archives
for a better image.
43
Delaware or Maryland combs have survived to the present, presumably due to the
ultimate perishability of the wood of which they were constructed.
What little is known of the dates for the Delmarva combs suggests that they postdate the earliest Tennessee combs, and therefore were not the source for the idea of
combs in Tennessee. Furthermore, while it is unknown how many Delmarva
graveyards once featured combs, it seems clear from the small number reported that
the custom never became very widespread or strongly entrenched here, and therefore
was less likely to have been exported. On the other hand, by reviewing census reports
Slavens has found that dozens of residents from the Delmarva Peninsula emigrated to
Tennessee. For example, Thomas West, born 1760 in the Delmarva region settled in
DeKalb Co., Tennessee in 1804. The main Tennessee comb range extends into DeKalb
Co. The possibility of a cultural exchange involving mortuary customs—either from
Delaware to Tennessee or a cultural backflow from Tennessee to Delaware--- cannot
be ruled out by the information currently in hand. Alternatively, the Delaware combs
may simply have resulted from an independent solution to the problem of covering and
protecting the graves of loved ones, employing one of the simplest –both in geometric
form and in construction-- types of grave covers. It is a pity that neither the combs nor
custom survived in Delmarva to present times.
Comb graves outside the South:
Another venue in which comb graves once existed and may yet exist is in Native
American cemeteries where grave covers --commonly known as “Spirit Houses”-- have
been built by various Native American groups. Spirit Houses have been found in a
number of states, mostly outside the South. A collection of early 20th century picture
postcards belonging to John Waggoner, Jr.1 shows Native American graveyards in
Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Oklahoma, Alaska, British Columbia, Ontario
and the Yukon Territory. In addition, Ball (1977) notes that Native American
gravehouses have been documented in Louisiana and Washington State. The Spirit
Houses pictured in Waggoner’s collection appear to be constructed of wood or wood
with sheet metal. Among the many grave covers are a few that are simple gable roofs
resting directly on the ground. They are in essence combs, though probably not by
intent. No connection is known to exist between these Spirit House combs and the
Tennessee comb grave tradition.
Noteworthy comb variants:
With well over 3350 extant combs known in nine states, produced by different
local artisans, over nearly two centuries, it would be remarkable if there were no
significant and interesting variations in the comb form. The aforementioned “truncated
1
I am grateful to John Waggoner, Jr. for making his collection of postcards picturing Spirit Houses
available to me.
44
triangle” style of comb (Plates 8 and 9) was used in Overton Co. for over a century1,
especially in the Allred area. It also occurs in Putnam Co., in lesser numbers. The
following paragraphs will highlight some other noteworthy comb variants.
Concurrently with the “truncated triangle” combs, the Vaughn family of
quarrymen also produced box graves consisting of four large sandstone slabs, held
upright against each other by long iron cross bolts, and topped by an even larger flatlying sandstone slab. The distinctive feature of these massive boxes was the necked
discoid headstone that was integral with, and an extension to, the upright slab at the
head end of the grave. Judging from two graves in Beaty Cem. (Moodyville quad,
Pickett Co.), a few discerning comb customers wanted the best of both styles: the
“truncated triangle” plus a necked discoid (Plate 29).
Remote Davis Cemetery, deep in the heart of Scotts Gulf (Lonewood quad,
White Co.) hosts a unique mushroom-shaped headstone (Plate 30). This family
graveyard also features several comb graves with inscriptions chiseled in cursive,
something rarely seen and surely much more difficult than block lettering. The scrawled
inscriptions likely mirror in no small degree the handwriting abilities of the family
member who wrote the inscription for the stonecutter, or perhaps the stonecutter
himself-- possibly one and the same person.
Although gravehouses not infrequently are constructed to cover multiple graves,
with comb graves the rule is one comb per grave. Two exceptions are known. In Pine
Hill Cem. (Cookeville West quad, Jackson Co.) a somewhat crudely constructed
matrimonial comb covers the graves of John and Elizabeth Cummins (Plate 31), who
died in 1868 and 1864 respectively. And in Walling Cem. (Cooke Co., Texas), a broad
sheet metal comb covers the graves of a Squire Umsted (1916) and his wife Mary
Adams (1917).
Alabama cemeteries contain a number of unusual combs, with Old Liberty Hill
Cem. (Walker Co.) being a special treasure trove of oddities. Several combs here
feature bas relief geometric designs on the side slabs. One of these (Plate 32) includes
the deceased’s three initials, J D E, in the centers of the three design panels. The side
slabs of this comb rest on a sand or earth mound that apparently fills the interior of the
comb and gives support to the side slabs. Several other combs in this cemetery and in
other Alabama cemeteries were seen to be fill-supported, but triangle gable stones
remain the rule.
A single comb in Old Liberty Hill Cem. with a “jig-saw puzzle” comb support
system was photographed in 1982 (Plate 33). In this comb, the end stones are larger
than normal gable stones, and notched in such a way that the modified lower corners of
the side slabs fit into the notches to form an interlocking, self-supporting structure.
Sadly, this unusual comb was not found when this cemetery was re-visited in 2012.
1
In the Allred area a truncated triangle comb covers an 1847 grave in Shiloh Cem., several dated in the
1850s are known, and a 1963 date occurs on a truncated triangle comb in Cub Cem. (all in Crawford
quad, Overton Co.).
45
Plate 29: Truncated triangle comb with integral necked discoid headstone (1854), Beaty Cem.,
Moodyville quad, Pickett Co.
Plate 30: Unique mushroom shaped headstone (1873) with cursive inscription, Davis Cem.,
Lonewood quad, White Co.
46
Plate 31: Matrimonial comb for John and Elizabeth Cummins, with marble headstones, Pine Hill
Cem., Cookeville West quad, Jackson Co.
Plate 32: Sandstone comb, side slabs supported by fill and decorated with bas relief geometric
designs containing the initials, J D E, of the deceased. Old Liberty Hill Cem., Walker Co., AL.
47
Plate 33: Unusual sandstone comb with notched end stone interlocking with modified side slabs
to make a self-supporting structure. Photo taken 1982. Old Liberty Hill Cem., Walker Co., AL.
Also in Alabama are perhaps the most unusual combs seen during this study:
two rather skeletal-looking combs covering the graves of Moses Barton (1890) and his
wife, Margaret (1898) in Sardis Cem. (Walker Co.). This pair of combs is constructed of
sections of ornate iron railing or fencing (Plate 34), such as might normally be found
encircling a family plot. But here they have been deliberately arranged to form
symbolic, if not practically functional, combs.
Plate 34: Symbolic combs made of ornate iron fencing, Sardis Cem., Walker Co., AL
48
In Arkansas, two of the eight combs in Holmes Cem. (Boone Co.), sit atop stone
boxes (Plate 35). In both cases, the comb and box are of finely dressed limestone and
evidently built as a unit. These structures are, essentially, composites of comb graves
and box graves. One might also call them gravehouses, but the presence in the same
cemetery of six normal --i.e., directly on the ground-- combs, of similar limestone
construction suggests that these two graves should be deemed unusual comb variants.
Plate 35: Combination box – comb grave, Holmes Cem., Boone Co., AR.
Finally, to return to Tennessee, a concrete or cement comb in Curlee Cem.
(Readyville quad, Cannon Co.) seems to begin to blur the lines between comb and
gravehouse. The key difference between a comb grave and a gravehouse is that the
gravehouse has a roof that sits atop walls, or at least corner posts, whereas the comb
has no walls, but rather is a gable roof set directly on the ground or (rarely) on a very
low base. This comb at Curlee Cem. (Plate 36) features low but distinct walls. While
more of a comb than a gravehouse, it is something of a hybrid, which serves to
emphasize that the basic purpose of both types of grave covers is the same.
49
Plate 36: Cement or concrete comb grave with low supporting walls, Curlee Cem. , Readyville
quad, Cannon Co.
Transitional grave covers:
As noted above, the cement comb at Curlee Cem. has very low supporting walls,
a feature more appropriate to a gravehouse than a comb grave. Two concrete combs
at Rock Springs Cem. (Buffalo Valley quad, Putnam Co.) (Plate 37) also deviate from
the normal comb pattern with each being set on a concrete base and having a flattened
apex rather than a sharp ridgeline. Nonetheless, they have been counted as cement
combs in this survey, inasmuch as they are more like combs than unlike. Note that the
molding mimics the side slabs and triangular end stones.
On the other hand, grave covers such as several graves covered with mounded
and sculpted cement in Reed Cem. (Oneida South quad, Scott Co.) (Plate 38) clearly
are not combs, though they serve the same purposes and probably were erected for the
same reasons of protecting the graves. Nor are the stone structures at Clear Creek
Cem. (Lancing quad, Morgan Co.) (Plate 39) combs, although they have sloping side
slabs of sandstone. Observations made during this survey show that there are
transitional forms between combs and gravehouses, combs and box graves, and a
variety of unusual grave covers that may have some attributes in common with comb
graves. Nonetheless, comb graves represent a distinctive style of grave cover, normally
featuring two planar surfaces inclined to meet at a sharp crest like a gable roof over the
grave, and normally set directly on the ground rather than on foundations or walls.
50
Plate 37: Concrete combs showing non-standard features: concrete bases and flattened ridge
crests; Rock Springs Cem., Buffalo Valley quad, Putnam Co.
Plate 38: Grave covers made of mounded and shaped cement in Reed Cem., Oneida South
quad, Scott Co.
51
Plate 39: Grave with mixed box and comb grave characteristics in Clear Creek Cem., Lancing
quad, Morgan Co. Original slab top cover has been broken.
An additional class of comb grave:
Near the woods along the back edge of an Overton Co. comb cemetery lies a
very special comb. It is small –just 33 inches long—and uninscribed except for the
name “Zip” neatly engraved on one gable stone. It is the grave of a much beloved dog
that died in Dec. 2012. Zip’s owner is an admirer of the comb grave tradition and chose
to memorialize Zip in this manner (Plate 40).
Zip’s comb is made of sandstone slabs from a quarry in Rhea Co. The stones
were cut, Zip’s name engraved, and the comb erected by a close friend of Zip’s master.
Inasmuch as Zip’s comb was erected in 2013, the earlier statement regarding the
Kathleen Rodger’s 2012 comb as being the most recent comb must be revised as the
most recent comb for a human being.
A second comb for a pet exists in Sumner Co., well to the west of the main
comb range. This comb was erected in 2012 by an historian with an interest in
Tennessee’s cultural history, in memory of his cat, Stubby. He explained, “I thought
Sumner County needed one, even though the form was historically expressed further
east, on the Highland Rim. I bought two longer than wide slabs of sandstone from
Lowe's or Home Depot. Not Hartselle Formation, I know, but that is not easily available
in Sumner County.”1
1
Dr. Joseph C. Douglas, personal communication, Mar. 2014.
52
Plate 40: A sandstone comb for Zip, a beloved dog, Overton Co.
A third pet comb exists in a backyard in Monterey (Putnam Co.), where it was
constructed several years ago over the grave of a pet dog. The gentleman who erected
it formerly worked in kitchen counter installation and had some spare slabs of stone.
Although he was unfamiliar with the term “comb grave,” he most likely was inspired by
combs seen in local cemeteries.
While combs over pet graves are a rarity, they are nonetheless legitimate
combs. They are erected out of affection for and in tribute to the departed friends, just
as regular combs have been erected.
Loss of combs:
Both Cantrell (1981) and Ball (1998) comment on the destruction and
disappearance of comb graves. For the present survey, some 34 cemeteries were
noted that once had combs, but which no longer do (Appendix H). In many cases the
presence of a former comb is recorded by a pair of triangular gable stones left behind
when the side slabs were removed. In the case of 21 former comb cemeteries, the
combs were present when first visited for this study, but not when revisited in later
years.
The reasons for the loss of combs are numerous. Cantrell (1981) notes that
some cemetery committee members feel combs do not fit in well with “well-ordered
rows” of modern headstones, that they are a “hindrance to the proper upkeep of a
cemetery”, that they are “snake harbors,” and that they “are being removed to make
graveyard cleaning easier.” Ball (1998) comments “even markers made of stone are not
impervious to the long term deteriorating effects of wind, rain, and freezing weather or
destruction by unthinking (or uncaring) individuals bent on vandalism.”
53
During the present study the following reasons for damage to or destruction of
combs were catalogued:
1) Sheet metal combs collapse as their wooden frames rot; once collapsed they tend to
be removed rather than rebuilt. Six of the 21 cemeteries that have lost their combs
since the beginning of this survey fall into this category.
2) Some stone combs are broken by falling trees (e.g., Southard Cem., Burgess Falls
quad, White Co.).
3) Combs are sometimes removed by individuals who fear that they may harbor snakes
(e.g., Richard Bradley Cem., Monterey Lake quad, White Co.).
4) Combs are taken down by groundskeepers for various reasons; broken or
deteriorated combs are more likely to be removed by groundskeepers than combs in
good condition (e.g., Ole Bethel Cem., Dale Hollow Reservoir SE quad, Overton Co.).
5) Cemeteries, including comb graves, are moved for commercial development; when
the remains are moved, the combs may not get re-erected at the new gravesite (e.g.,
the lone comb grave of Ben Allen, formerly located just two blocks west of the
courthouse square in Livingston, was removed for new construction).
6) Combs may be dismantled for whatever reason, and the stones repurposed in the
cemetery (e.g. Hall Cem., Burristown quad, Clay Co. where comb side slabs have been
made into a bench; McBroom Cem., Cookeville West quad where four side slabs from
two combs have been used for a sidewalk; and Walnut Grove Cem., Livingston quad,
Overton Co., Plate 41, where comb slabs have been used in a bench and patio).
Plate 41: Bench and patio beside Walnut Grove Cem. (Livingston quad, Overton Co.) which no
longer has any extant comb graves.
54
7) Combs are sometimes removed by family members and replaced with “nicer” modern
stones (e.g., the 1936 comb of Baley Fredric Allred in Cub Cem., Crawford quad,
Overton Co.), or because family members feel the old-fashioned combs may attract
vandals (e.g.,Phillips Cem., Cookeville East quad, Putnam Co.).
8) Comb stones, according to several informants, are sometimes stolen out of
graveyards by people who use them for walkways and patios.
Natural weathering processes may rapidly destroy combs made of inferior stone,
such as Chattanooga shale, and obliterate inscriptions on limestone grave markers in
little over a century, but combs made of well-indurated quartz sandstone, such as the
Hartselle sandstone, should last for many centuries. The relatively rapid loss of combs
in the latter half of the 20th century is largely due to misguided human activities.
To respect the wishes of both the departed and of their loved ones who
memorialized them with combs, we should preserve the remaining combs. The combs
provide an interesting glimpse of a nearly bygone funerary custom, one that apparently
is original with Tennesseans. In the words of Lynwood Montell, a well known folklorist,
“these traditional prismatic grave structures more than any other single cultural feature
lend uniqueness to the folk cemeteries in the Upper Cumberland” (Montell, 1993). The
comb graves of Tennessee, and other states as well, constitute an interesting and
valuable part of our material cultural heritage and should be cherished.
Summary:
A comb grave is an interment over which a protective cover having the form of a
gable roof, resting directly on the grave (not raised above it on walls or corner posts),
has been erected. Most combs are made of sandstone slabs, with other materials
being used to a much lesser degree: limestone, marble, cement or concrete, sheet
metal, foliated granite, and even shale. In Tennessee, sandstone slabs quarried from
the Hartselle Formation are the traditionally preferred comb-building material.
Tennessee combs are found in a geographic belt that parallels the western
escarpment of the Cumberland Plateau from Winchester northward to just across the
state line into Kentucky. The majority of combs are found in small cemeteries on the
Eastern Highland Rim, but combs are also found on the Hartselle Bench and on the
western portions of the Cumberland Plateau itself. This geographic distribution strongly
correlates with the outcrop of the Hartselle Formation along the western flank of the
Plateau and in erosional outliers of the Plateau. Evidently, the presence of appropriate
sandstone in the Hartselle Formation exerted a major control on the use of combs to
cover graves.
Within the main comb range there are two notable local concentrations of comb
graves in the Caney Fork Valley (White and northern Van Buren counties) and in
Overton Co.
55
Although admittedly incomplete, the data presented in this paper, augmented
with anecdotal information, point toward the conclusion that the style of covered graves
known as comb graves originated in Tennessee, likely in or near White Co. around
1815-1820, or possibly slightly earlier. From Tennessee, the comb style and custom
was carried, mainly westward and southward, into other states, including Alabama,
Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Oklahoma, and also into Kentucky, West
Virginia and North Carolina. The relationship, if any, between the Tennessee comb
tradition and the former wooden combs of the Delmarva Peninsula remains at present
enigmatic.
Historic picture postcards show that at least a few Native American Spirit Houses
were, by form and construction, combs; however, it seems probable that these grave
covers were unrelated to the Tennessee comb grave tradition.
More definitively documented by the data, the comb style spread rapidly
throughout the full length of its main Tennessee range by the mid-1830s. The style
achieved its greatest popularity during the latter half of the 19th century and was still
commonly used, especially in Overton Co., up through the 1930s. By the 1950s the
practice of erecting combs over graves had nearly been abandoned, with a few rare
exceptions. Nonetheless, the custom has survived into the 21 st century, the most recent
two combs for human interments being erected in 2001 and 2012.
Combs serve the same functional purposes as any other form of grave cover,
primarily to offer some protection to the grave from the elements and, to some extent,
from animals. The erection of a comb over the grave of a loved one no doubt also
helped fulfill emotional needs, showing that the deceased was cared for. Combs also
serve to make graves more permanent, less likely to disappear when graveyards cease
to be kept up.
During the course of this study comb graves were documented in 411 Tennessee
cemeteries; however, the actual number of comb cemeteries is undoubtedly higher. As
of 2016 there were 3185 extant comb graves known in Tennessee, far more than any
other state. Unfortunately, combs are being dismantled or destroyed for a variety of
reasons, none of them very good. At least 34 former comb cemeteries are known within
the main Tennessee comb grave range; of these, 21 have lost their combs since this
survey was initiated in the mid-1970s.
In recent years, at least three comb graves have been placed over the graves of
pets.
Comb graves, an original Tennessee folk custom, represent an unusual and
charming part of Tennessee’s material cultural heritage. Comb graves should be
appreciated and conserved, yea even cherished.
56
Concluding musings:
In Overton county, on the back side of Alpine Mtn., lying on the Hartselle Bench
at a spot reached by several miles of very rough 4WD road, is an old house site, the
house now entirely disappeared except for some ornamental plantings and a pile of
stones that may have been a chimney. A keen eye is needed to recognize this as the
location of a former home. In contrast, a hiker passing by the right spot in the woods a
few yards to the north of the house site could not fail to notice a lone comb grave. Made
of Hartselle sandstone, beautifully inscribed, and almost certainly a Vaughn family
product from their nearby quarry, this comb is in nearly perfect condition. The inscription
reads “Daughter of W. T. & Z. D. Gore Born Mar. 17. 1902. Died The Same. At Rest.”
Although the infant may not have lived long enough to receive a name, her parents
nonetheless cared sufficiently to provide her with a lasting memorial.
Nameless, forgotten, her home long abandoned and now almost entirely
obliterated, the short existence of the Gore infant is still memorialized 114 years after
her death. Indeed, the fine-grained, quartz-cemented Hartselle sandstone will easily
endure long after marble has weathered to illegibility; the sandstone will likely outlast
granite. Barring its destruction by a falling tree or vandals, this comb should easily
attest to her memory for several centuries more. Hikers wandering through the woods
will readily see her grave long after the house site is completely unrecognizable. This
solitary comb in the wilderness bears witness to the remarkable permanence of the
Hartselle sandstone comb graves.
--R.I.P.--
References Cited:
Ball, Donald B., 1977, Observations on the Form and Function of Middle Tennessee
Gravehouses: Tennessee Anthropologist, v. II, n. 1, Spring 1977, p. 29-61.
Ball, Donald B., 1997, Types of Early Grave Decoration in Middle Tennessee:
Tennessee Folklore Society Bulletin, v. LVIII, n. 3, p. 117-127.
Ball, Donald B., 1999, Comments on the Distribution and Chronology of Comb Graves
in the Upland South: Ohio Valley Historical Archaeology, v. 14, p. 58-66.
Ball, Donald B., 2005, Further Observations on Gravehouse Origins in the Upland
South: Tennessee Folklore Society Bulletin, v. LXI, n. 2, p. 17-30.
Ball, Donald B., 2008, An Alternate Hypothesis on the Origin of Upland South
Gravehouses: Ohio Valley Historical Archaeology, v. 23, p. 101-118.
57
Brown, Ian W., 2004, Some Grave Houses in West-central Alabama: AGS Quarterly,
Bulletin of the Association for Gravestone Studies, v. 28, n. 2, p. 14-15.
Burnett, Abby. 2014. Gone to the Grave: Burial Customs of the Arkansas Ozarks,
1850-1950: The University Press of Mississippi, 327 p.
Cantrell, Brent, 1981, Traditional Grave Structures on the Eastern Highland Rim:
Tennessee Folklore Society Bulletin, v. XLVII, n. 3, p. 93-103.
Crissman, James K., 1994, Death and Dying in Central Appalachia: Urbana, University
of Illinois Press, 247 p.
Federal Writers’ Project, 1938, Delaware: A Guide to the First State, Compiled and
Written by the Federal Writers’ Project of the Works Progress Administration:
The Viking Press, New York, 549 p.
Finch, Richard C., 1982, Unique Grave Houses in Tennessee: Monterey, TN, The
Standing Stone Press, 4th year, n. 4, Spring 1982, p. 1-3.
Finch, Richard C., 2004, Ashes to Ashes, in Birdwell, Michael E. and Dickinson, W.
Calvin, 2004, Rural Life and Culture in the Upper Cumberland: Lexington, KY,
The University Press of Kentucky, p. 66-72
Finch, Richard C., 2013, Tennessee Comb Grave Tradition Survives into the 21st
Century: Tennessee Folklore Society Bulletin, v. LXIX, n. 1 (Spring 2013),
p.17-24.
Jacob, John E., 1971, Graveyards and Gravestones of Wicomico: Salisbury, MD,
Salisbury Advertiser, 131 p.
Jordan-Bychkov, Terry G., 2003, The Upland South: Santa Fe, NM, Center for
American Places, 121 p.
Montell, William Lynwood, 1993, Upper Cumberland Country: The University Press of
Mississippi, Print-on-Demand Edition,187 p.
Oxford English Dictionary, The Compact Edition, Vol. 1 A-O, 1971: New York,
Oxford University Press, p. 472.
Pepper, Dorothy W., 1976, Folklore of Sussex County, Delaware: Sussex County
Bicentennial Committee, (no publisher given), 116 p.
Pollard, Geraldine Elrod, ed., 2003, The Fred Clark Book of Cemeteries of White
County, Tennessee, v I and II: Published by The White County Genealogical –
Historical Society, 564 p. and 524 p.
58
Richmond, Michael D., 1998, An Archeological Survey of the Proposed Lake
Cumberland Debris Management System Near the Community of Redbird in
Whitley County, Kentucky: Lexington, KY, Contract Publications Series 98-09
prepared by Cultural Resource Analysists, Inc., 28 p.
White, Vernon, 2002, Grave Covers: Our Cultural Heritage: Berea, KY, KANA Imprints,
119 p.
Zebley, Frank R., 1947, The Churches of Delaware: (no publisher given), 363 pages.
Special thanks to Janie C. Finch for accompanying me on many of my cemetery survey
outings and for her superb proofreading and editing abilities which have greatly
improved this manuscript.
Any reader of this paper who knows of the existence of a Tennessee comb cemetery
not listed in Appendix A1 or A2 is urged to send this information to the author at
[email protected]
59
APPENDIX A-1: Comb Cemetery Inventory by Quadrangle Map:
Locations, Numbers of combs, Notes
NB: GPS set for NAD 27 datum (same datum used for topos)
NB: * indicates lat-long measured from the quads, not on-site GPS readings.
First number after quad name = number of comb cemeteries in quad, based on
numbers in ( ), i.e., sum of number of cems with extant combs + number of cems with
only ex-combs. NB: Cems with only “possible” ex-combs listed but not included in comb
cem total for quad (there are 9 such cems listed)..
NB: Among the ex-comb cems included in the comb cem count are three cems
recorded as comb cems when first surveyed, that when resurveyed (2011-2016) were
not only found to no longer contain combs but which were said by informants who
should know to never have contained combs. The rationale for including these three
cems in the ex-comb cem count is this: It is unlikely that the mistake of mis-recording a
non-comb cem as a comb cem occurred three separate times during this survey. More
probably the informants had their own reasons for denying the former existence of
combs in these cems. Ex-comb cems listed in blue.
Number of extant combs, used to calculate total extant combs in Tennessee (20112016) given in brackets [ ]
UID = Unidentified cemetery, no basis on which to name.
COMB CEMETERIES IN THE MAIN TENNESSEE COMB CEMETERY RANGE:
Alpine Q – 19 (17 + 2 ex-comb cems) + 1 pos ex-comb cem; [123 extant] + 7 ex-combs
1 Allison (Winton) Cem
36 24 38.5* 85 12 16
ex-comb cem; recorded in
original survey as a comb cem; no combs at present; caretaker states that it
never had a comb.
2 Cooper-Bowman Cem
36 25 15.5* 85 12 32.5 1 comb
3 Ferrill Cem
36 23 17*
85 09 45
19 combs
4 Garrett Cem
36 29 53.5* 85 07 32
1 comb
5 Green Hill Cem
36 23 38*
85 13 42
1 comb
6 Hancock Cem
36 23 22*
85 11 28.5 2 combs
7 Hayter Cem
36 22 51*
85 11 55
45 combs
- Wm Ledbetter Cem
36 23 25.4
85 14 55.7 possible ex-comb cem
8 Martin Cem
36 26 37*
85 12 52
3 combs
9 Jane R. McDonald Cem
36 24 46.5* 85 13 24
3 combs
10 McManus-Roberts Cem
36 23 11*
85 13 47.5 1 comb
11 Nettlecarrier Creek Cem
36 23 41.9 85 11 58.9 28 combs
1833
12 Norrod Cem
36 26 06*
85 14 04
2 combs
60
13 Robbins Cem
present when first visited
14 Smith Cem
15 Clayton Smith Cem
16 Dugan Smith Cem
17 Story Cem
18 Winningham Cem
19 Winton combs
36 26 14*
85 08 28.5 ex-comb cem; 6 combs
36 24 41.5*
36 24 42*
36 25 01.5*
36 28 18*
36 29 04*
36 23 31.6
85 10 45.5
85 08 55
85 09 18
85 12 08.5
85 07 53
85 13 16.0
2 combs
10 combs
1 comb
1 comb
1 comb
2 combs
35 16 55.5*
35 22 21.7
35 18 45.2
35 19 22.8
85 53 10
85 57 22.5
85 53 05.6
85 54 14.4
6 limestone combs
4 limestone combs
3 limestone combs
2 combs
Alto Q – 4 [15 extant]
20 Caldwell Cem
21 Cash Cem
22 Old Baptist Cem
23 Willis Cem
Bald Knob Q – 24 (21 + 3 ex-comb cems); [341 extant] + 22-29 ex-combs
24 Bethlehem Cem
35 51 34*
85 28 40
30 + at least 5 ex-combs
25 Big Fork Cem
35 48 43.7
85 27 04.4 37 + 2 ex + 4 pos ex-comb
26 Hannah Billingsley comb
35 45 54.6
85 23 31.9 1 lone comb
27 Cummingsville Cem
35 48 15.6
85 27 41.5 5 + 2 ex-combs
28 Cunningham Cem
35 49 32.1
85 25 46.2 9 combs
29 Dodson Rd. Cem
35 52 29*
85 24 17
ex-comb cem
30 Carter Drake Cem
35 46 54.5* 85 24 22.5 1 comb
31 Ford Cem
35 46 54.0
85 27 37.4 2 combs
32 Wm. Fraser comb
35 49 03.6
85 22 54.3 1 lone comb
33 Frazier Chapel Cem
35 49 37*
85 23 55
15 combs
34 Gravel Hill Cem
35 48 10.6
85 25 34.5 28 combs
35 Greenwood Cem
35 50 37*
85 29 56
25 combs
36 Guy comb
35 49 00.1
85 24 01.0 1 lone comb
37 Haston Cem
35 47 58.5
85 26 20.7 ex-comb cem, 2
children’s ex-combs
38 Hodges Cem
35 48 56.8
85 28 36.7 28 + 1 or 2 pos ex-combs
39 Hollingsworth Cem
35 47 55.2
85 29 50.5 11 + 1 or 2 prob ex-combs
40 Lewis (Cane Creek) Cem
35 45 56*
85 23 47
5 + 1 prob ex-comb
41 Moon Cem
35 51 40.9
85 25 44.2 1 or 2 ex-combs: several
sandstone comb slabs, representing at least two combs, visible when first visited;
not as many slabs visible when revisited in 2014; slabs gradually being buried.
42 Old Union Cem
35 49 30.4
85 26 26.9 102 + >4 prob ex-combs
43 Rogers Cem
35 51 47.1
85 25 47.1 11 + 1 prob ex-comb
44 Scurlock Cem
35 49 35
85 29 53
12 combs
45 Sparkman-Yates Cem
35 48 16.7
85 29 42.6 13 combs
Uninscribed
comb covers 1816 grave.
46 White Cem
35 50 03.5
85 25 46.5 1 + 1 ex + 1 pos ex-comb
47 Wilson Cem
35 46 17.3 85 24 02.9 3 combs
61
Baxter Q – 4 (3 + 1 ex-comb cem); [4 extant] + 1 ex-comb
48 Halfacre Cem
1 5-Vee metal comb
49 Hop T. Lee Cem
50 Maxwell Family Cem
51 Smellage Cem
36 14 11*
85 40 04
ex-comb cem, formerly
36 13 22*
36 07 44.3
36 07 41.0
85 43 36.5 1 comb
85 44 52.6 2 combs
85 41 59.5 1 comb
Buffalo Valley Q – 3 [8 extant]
52 Lancaster Cem
36 07 39.3
85 51 21.6 4 concrete combs
53 Rock Springs Cem.
36 09 34.6
85 46 56.8 2 concrete combs
54 Russell Cem
36 08 11.0
85 45 27.2 2 combs, features
1 sandstone comb and 1 infant’s comb made of Chattanooga Shale
Burgess Falls Q – 9 (8 + 1 ex-comb cem); [51 extant] + 2 – 6 ex-combs
55 England Cem
56 Farley Cem
57 Goodwin Cem
58 Lovelady Cem
59 Rice Cem
60 Saylor Cem
ex-comb
61 Southard Cem
62 Tollison Cem
63 West Cem
possibly 4 ex-combs
36 01 36.0
36 02 11.4
36 03 33.4
36 05 24*
36 02 10.3
36 02 12*
85 30 02.8
85 36 16.2
85 30 33.1
85 30 43
85 35 53.5
85 32 00
4 + 1 pos ex-comb
3 combs
3 combs
4 combs
1 comb + 1 pos ex-comb
28 combs + 1 probable
36 00 22.5
36 00 16.5*
36 06 46.5*
85 34 51.6 3 combs
85 34 32
5 + 1 ex-comb
85 31 45
ex-comb cem, 1 to
Burristown Q – 5 (4 + 1 ex-comb cem); [10 extant] + 1 ex-comb
64 Hall Cem
36 29 58*
85 32 13
ex-comb cem; 1 comb
when first visited, now dismantled and used as a bench.
65 Lynn Cem
36 22 58*
85 32 42
2 limestone combs
66 McDonald Cem
36 29 09*
85 30 43
5 combs
67 New Hope Cem
36 22 50*
85 30 37
2 combs
68 Pleasant Hill Cem
36 24 53*
85 34 01
1 comb
Burrow Cove Q – 2 [2 extant]
69 Payne Cove Cem
35 19 32.5* 85 49 45
1 limestone comb
70 Warren Cem
35 18 08*
85 52 29
1 limestone comb
There is what appears to be a Native American burial mound in this cemetery.
62
Byrdstown Q – 3 [6 extant]
71 Eligah Garret Cem
72 Hatcher Hall Cem
73 Love Lady Sims Cem
36 31 20.0
36 30 19*
36 35 53*
85 08 48.2 1 limestone comb
85 13 30
3 combs
85 09 53
2 combs
Campaign Q - 8 (7 + 1 ex-comb cem) [13 extant]
74 Bain Cem
35 52 22*
85 40 29
1 comb
75 Len Cantrell Cem
35 51 02.7
85 38 15.2 ex-comb cem; Jerry
Wright, who grew up here, said there were combs, which were removed by a
later landowner; broken slabs beside cem.
76 Chisam Cem
35 49 17.6
85 37 33.3 1 comb
77 Chisum-Cole
35 49 41.4
85 40 17.4 2 combs
78 Concord Cem
35 46 14*
85 44 54
1 comb
79 Pine Bluff Cem
35 47 00*
85 37 41
4 combs
80 Wiley Sandrs (sic) comb
35 50 40.6
85 39 11.4 1 lone comb
81 Wright Cem
35 50 52.5* 85 38 36
3 combs
Campbell Jcn. Q – 2 (1 + 1 ex-comb cem) [2 extant], at least 3 originally
82 Pugh Cem
83 Rains Cem
comb when first visited.
36 05 02*
36 02 49.7
85 07 46.5 2 combs
85 11 30.8 ex-comb cem, at least 1
84 Partin Cem
Cardwell Mtn. Q – 2 [4 extant]
35 15 17.1
86 00 09.4 3 limestone combs
85 Mt. Vernon Cem
86 Shellsford Cem
35 44 21*
35 40 15*
85 38 17.5 1 comb
85 42 28
3 limestone combs
Capitol Hill Q – 1 [3 extant]
Cassville Q – 21 (20 + 1 ex-comb cem); [342 extant] + 19 or more ex-combs
87 Anderson Cem
88 Baker Cem east
1 pos ex-comb
89 Blankenship-Ball-Baker Cem
90 Cooke Cem
91 Cope and Sullivan Cem
92 Davis Cem
93 Gooch-Jett Cem
94 Hurd Cem
95 Martin Cem
96 McGee Cem
35 54 14*
35 59 29*
85 33 35
85 31 58
16 combs
ex-comb cem, 4 ex +
35 59 52.5
35 54 55*
35 56 47.5
35 56 30*
35 52 52.8
35 53 07*
35 57 27.1
35 59 39.4
85 33 04.3
85 35 52.5
85 36 18.8
85 31 03
85 30 14.9
85 31 37
85 33 14.5
85 34 02.4
2 combs
4 combs
1830
2 combs
15 + 3 ex-combs
3 combs
53 + 2 ex-combs
10 combs (3 in poor cond.)
2 combs
63
97 Mt Gilead Cem
35 53 42*
85 30 12
138 combs 1836
Mt Gilead contains more combs than any other comb cemetery.
98 New Hope Cem
35 56 51.5* 85 36 26
31 + 5 ex-combs
99 Oakwood combs
35 59 54.6
85 31 05.0 2 combs right on the edge
of SR 136 ROW
100 Old Zion Cem
35 58 14*
85 33 49
5 + 1 ex + 1 prob ex, plus
ca. 10 – 12 slabs laid flat that may have once been combs
101 Walker–England Cem
35 58 31.4
85 32 45.5 3 combs + 2 ex-combs
102 Ward-Cashdollar Cem
35 55 26.5* 85 33 21
5 combs
103 Wesley Chapel Cem
35 58 23*
85 36 46.5 13 combs
104 White Cem
35 54 49.8
85 30 40.3 19 combs
105 Winstead Cem
35 53 51.5
85 34 28.9 2 combs
106 Young Cem
35 54 11.3
85 32 55.7 6 combs
107 Young-Hensley Chapel Cem 35 54 27*
85 31 47
11 combs
Clarkrange Q - 1 [2 extant] possibly 5 originally
108 Campground Cem
36 11 21.5*
85 03 17
2 + 3 prob ex-combs
Cookeville East Q – 15 (13 + 2 ex-comb cem) + 1 pos ex-comb cem;
[47 extant] 52+ originally
109 Bear Creek Cem
36 14 27.6
85 25 57.5 3 combs: 1 sandstone +
2 sheet metal, 1989 & 2001; formerly 4 5-Vee sheet metal combs, but 2 removed
110 James Bohannon Cem
36 07 58.8
85 25 57.9 16 combs
111 Buck Cem north
36 09 42.6
85 26 26.2 10 combs
112 Buck Cem south
36 08 59.0
85 26 59.7 1 comb
113 Buck Cem west
36 09 18.9
85 27 14.0 3 combs
114 Campbell-Bohannon Cem
36 07 54.3
85 25 11.4 ex-comb cem, 4 or 5 when
photographed in 1979.
115 Lee Cem
36 09 19.3
85 22 54.1 3 combs
116 Marchbanks Cem
36 12 22.5
85 26 23.7 1 comb + 1 pos ex-comb
117 Norris Cem
36 14 43.0
85 27 11.1 1 + 1 pos ex-comb
118 Officer Chapel Cem
36 13 22.8
85 24 57.5 5 combs
119 Pearson Cem
36 12 22.4
85 29 16.5 1 comb
120 Phillips Cem
36 12 46.9
85 27 24.7 ex-combs cem, combs
present when first visited.
121 Quarles Cem
36 10 35.1
85 26 44.5 1 comb
- Salem Church Cem
36 08 27.8
85 28 56.3 pos. ex-comb cem:
3 possible or probable ex-combs
122 Whitaker Cem
36 09 12.9
85 24 05.1 1 comb
123 Whitson-Denton Cem
36 09 36.9
85 28 37.0 1 comb
Cookeville West Q – 18 (17 + 1 ex-comb cem) [64 extant] + unk. number of ex-combs
124 Alex Byers Cem
36 11 53.9
64
85 35 57.6 12 combs
125 Bloomington Springs Cem 36 11 47.5
85 37 14.1 3 combs + 1 prob ex-comb
126 Brewington Cem
36 09 38.5
85 33 30.9 4 + 1 ex-comb
127 Bullington (Quarles) Cem
36 12 53.9
85 32 28.1 1 comb
128 Cooke Cem
36 08 55.6
85 36 54.0 ex-comb cem; at least
one extant when first visited.
129 Double Springs Cem
36 10 19.4
85 35 26.8 1 comb
130 Green Family Cem
36 07 39.7
85 30 01.3 1 comb
131 Judd Cem
36 09 01.3
85 32 17.0 1 combs + 1 ex-comb
132 McBroom Cem
36 11 22.6
85 36 51.0 1 + 2 probable ex-combs
133 Pine Hill Cem
36 14 58.7
85 33 39.6 1 matrimonial comb
134 Pippin Cem
36 13 17.1
85 33 51.7 12 combs
135 Post Oak Shade Cem
36 11 15.6
85 33 54.9 2 combs + formerly 1
sheet metal comb when first visited
136 Scarlett Cem
36 09 16.6
85 31 53.6 4 combs
Unusual location in middle of intersection of two city streets.
137 Smyrna Cem
36 12 33.5
85 30 37.6 9 + 1 ex-comb
138 Stewart Cem
36 08 14.4
85 34 25.8 1 comb
139 Thompson-Carr Cem
36 07 50.4
85 34 21.4 3 + 3 probable ex-combs
140 Wasson-Essex Cem
36 07 49.5
85 31 25.0 6 combs + 1pos ex-comb
141 Whitson Cem
36 11 46.5
85 35 05.2 2 combs
Crawford Q – 19 [393 extant] + 6 ex-combs, 8 prob. ex-combs, 5-6 pos ex-combs
142 Allred Cem
36 19 31.5
85 12 53.8
143 Allred Family Cem
36 19 35.2
85 11 14.2
144 Bilbrey grave
36 21 05.7
85 10 26.3
145 Boswell Cem
36 19 09.6
85 11 08.1
146 Brown Cem
36 21 39.0
85 14 26.4
147 Brown-Walker Cem
36 18 32.3
85 14 30.7
ex-combs
148 Cub Cem
36 18 18.2
85 10 20.4
ex-combs; 1963 comb
149 Davis Cem
36 15 26.6
85 12 43.5
150 Falling Springs Cem
36 20 27.6
85 10 52.5
most interesting comb cemeteries in Tennessee
151 Gore infant comb
36 20 28.2
85 13 27.4
152 Honey Springs Cem
36 15 50*
85 10 12
153 Ledbetter Cem
36 22 17.8
85 13 53.4
154 Looper Cem
36 15 53.4 85 14 45.4
155 Nicey Looper Cem
36 18 07.8
85 11 45.7
156 Phillips Cem
36 18 44*
85 13 16
157 Shiloh Cem
36 18 42.1
85 11 12.3
158 Speck Cem
36 15 39.3
85 12 11.9
ex-combs
65
22 + 1 ex-comb
6 combs
1 lone comb
19 + 1 probable ex-comb
3 combs
6 + 2 ex + 3 probable
35 + 1 ex + 3-4 possible
44 combs
102 combs; one of the
1 lone comb
16 + 2 ex-combs
4 combs
14 combs
10 combs
27 combs
23 combs
51 + 4 prob + 2 pos
159 UID comb
36 20 33.4 85 10 42.1 1 lone comb, but the
presence of a small upright fieldstone nearby suggests that at least one other
grave was present originally
160 UID cem S side Alpine Mtn. 36 19 52.2 85 12 54.2 8 combs
Crossville Q – 1 (1 + 1 pos ex-comb cem not counted in total); [3 extant]
+ 2 pos ex-combs
- Crossville City Cem
161 Frost Cem
35 57 09*
35 57 31.9
85 00 57
2 possible ex-combs
85 03 19.4 3 combs
Dale Hollow Dam Q – 1 [1 extant]
162 Fitzgerald Cem
36 33 03.5*
85 29 45
1 comb
1839 or 1837
Dale Hollow Res. SE Q – 4 (3 + 1 ex-comb cem) [4 extant] + at least 3 ex-combs
163 Fellowship Cem
164 Mt. Pisgah Cem
165 Ole Bethel Cem
present when first visited.
166 Sells Cem
36 31 05*
36 33 43*
36 31 48*
85 19 22
85 17 51
85 17 18
1 + 2 ex + 2 pos ex-combs
2 combs
ex-comb cem – combs
36 30 40.0
85 17 07.7
1 comb
DeRossett Q – 6 [35 extant] + 3-4 ex-combs
167 Austin (Anderson) Cem
35 53 16.5* 85 22 27.5 20 + 3 – 4 ex-combs;
uninscribed comb covers 1818 grave; dated combs from 1820s
168 Dumplin Knob Cem
35 53 18.2 85 16 56.0 1 comb
169 Lost Creek Cem
35 52 50*
85 22 08
7 combs
170 Mitchell Cem (no. 2)
35 52 34.3 85 21 58.1 5 combs
171 John Shellito comb
35 52 35.7 85 17 43.5 1 lone headless comb
172 John L. Smith comb
35 55 23.5 85 17 53.2 1 lone comb; difficult to
locate: badly overgrown area, no good landmarks; should be sought in winter.
Dibbrell Q – 1 [2 extant]
173 Woods Cem
35 50 49.5*
85 50 06
2 combs
Doyle Q – 28 (27 + 1 ex-comb cem) + 1 pos ex-comb cem; [508 extant] + 3 ex-combs,
5 prob ex-combs + 7 – 11 pos ex-combs
174 Anderson Cem
175 Beech Cove (Dodson) Cem
176 Bright Cem
177 Cummings (Stony Pt) Cem
178 Dillon Cem
35 49 39.5*
35 46 59.1
35 49 31.0
35 48 09.4
35 49 01.2
66
85 30 56
85 31 15.3
85 36 01.3
85 30 57.2
85 35 58.4
53 combs
27 combs
1 comb
2 combs
1 comb
179 Dillon-Sparkman Cem
35 48 57*
85 34 26.5 18 combs
180 Simon Dodson Cem
35 47 01.2 85 31 03.6 1 comb
181 Doyle Cem north
35 51 19.2 85 30 59.2 1 comb
182 Doyle Cem south
35 50 47*
85 30 40
8 combs
183 Hash Cem
35 47 20.2 85 37 13.0 3 combs
1832
184 Hutson Cem No. 3
35 50 21.8 85 36 03.0 24 combs
1833
- Abel Hutson Cem
35 50 15.0 85 35 56.6 1 possible ex-comb
185 Jericho Cem
35 50 05.5* 85 34 14
21 combs
186 McElroy Cem
35 47 33*
85 33 55
39 combs
187 Moore Cem
35 49 48*
85 36 03
7 combs
188 Moore Cem No. 2
35 51 48.2 85 35 21.8 3 + 1 prob ex-comb
189 Moore Cem No. 3
35 52 19.3 85 33 54.0 8 + 1 prob ex-comb +
slabs laid flat that likely represent another 8 combs
190 Mt. Pisgah Cem
35 50 52.5 85 35 32.1 126 + 1 prob + 2 pos excombs; perhaps the best comb cemetery in Tennessee for variety; 1817 dated
comb, believed on basis of headstone style to have been erected later than date
191 Old Jericho Cem
35 50 29.0
85 33 51.5 65 + 1 prob ex-comb
192 Roberts Cem
35 52 12*
85 37 02.5 2 combs
193 Rock Island Cem
35 47 50.7 85 36 56.8 ex-comb cem, 2 ex-combs
194 Simmons Cem
35 48 54*
85 30 06
3 combs
195 Simrell Cem
35 51 36*
85 36 14
24 combs
196 Charlie Sparkman Cem
35 50 49.7 85 37 23.0 5 + 1 ex-comb
197 Sparkmantown (Hopewell) Cem 35 48 27* 85 30 41
22 combs
198 Swindell Cem
35 51 48*
85 36 28.5 3 combs
199 Templeton Cem
35 50 39.5 85 35 19.5 1 comb
200 Underwood Cem
35 50 39.3 85 31 45.0 2 combs
201 Walling-Randals Cem
35 52 15.5* 85 31 44
38 combs
Dry Valley Q – 18 (16 + 2 ex-comb cems); [86 extant]
202 Bartlett Cem
- Board Valley Church Cem
203 Brown’s Mill Cem
204 Cash-Farley Cem
205 Cherry Creek C of C Cem
206 Cunningham Cem
207 Dyer Cem
208 England Cem (north)
209 England Cem (south)
210 Hill Cem
211 Isom Cem
212 Robinson-Stallion Cem
possibly 15 ex-combs
213 Scott Cem
5 originally; 1830
214 Sliger Cem
36 07 25.1
36 03 02*
36 07 05.0
36 04 21.1
36 00 23.6
36 04 18.9
36 04 03.9
36 02 01.3
36 01 01.0
36 02 38.1
36 04 24.7
36 05 26.4
85 26 36.0
85 22 44
85 27 23.6
85 28 50.3
85 25 45.8
85 29 37.8
85 27 52.1
85 28 51.7
85 29 01.5
85 28 22.6
85 28 42.0
85 27 16.7
4 + 2 possible ex-combs
possible ex-combs
4 combs
5 combs
6 combs
4 flat sheet metal combs
11 combs
3 + 1 probable ex-comb
6 combs
12 combs
2 combs
ex-comb cem, 12 to
36 00 59.9
85 29 56.2
4 combs, likely
36 07 09.9
85 29 45.8
1 comb
67
215 Smith Cem
36 00 04.8 85 29 26.0 2 combs
216 Upper Cherry Creek Cem
36 01 14.7 85 26 39.0 5 + 1 possible ex-comb
217 Watson Cem
36 07 09.4 85 26 28.8 4 combs – said to have
been 2-3 more prior to 1974 tornado damage
218 Whiteaker Cem
36 06 44.8 85 27 03.7 ex-comb cem with
2 ex-combs that the owners stated (in 2014) that they intended to restore; they
re-set the headstones but used the broken side slabs in a small patio.
219 Wilhite Cem
36 03 59.3 85 29 07.5 13 combs
Herbert Domain Q – 3 [3 extant]
220 Bolin Cem
221 Newton Cem
222 Thomas Springs Cem
35 51 22.4
35 47 54.1
35 50 31*
85 10 44.9
85 12 38.9
85 13 15
1 child’s comb
1 comb
1 infant’s comb
Hilham Q – 13 (12 + 1 prob ex-comb cem); [29 extant] + 15 or more ex-combs
223 Andrew Cem
36 26 44.2 85 22 38.0 5 combs
224 Campground Cem
36 22 30.5 85 26 05.1 ex-comb cem, based on
the presence of two triangular stones, apparently gable stones; were these two
stones in line it would be obvious that they represented a single former comb;
however, they are side by side and it is uncertain if they are remnants of two
dismantled combs or one that has been redistributed to mark tow graves; the
logical interpretation in either case is that this cemetery once had at least one
comb.
225 Cook Cem
36 25 57.5 85 25 16.3 1 comb
226 Dale Cem
36 26 22.1 85 27 53.5 1 comb
227 Fisk Cem
36 24 25.7 85 26 12.7 2 + probably 5 ex-combs
228 Flat Creek Cem
36 23 39.5* 85 23 19.5 6 + 1 possible ex-comb;
two combs dated 1956 & 1958 when first visited, no longer present
229 Fleming Cem
36 23 35.1 85 23 59.4 3 combs
230 Glasscock Cem
36 27 22.2 85 22 35.3 6 combs
231 Holly Springs Cem
36 25 07.5* 85 23 39.5 1 comb
232 McFerrin Cem
36 29 25.2 85 24 28.1 1 comb
233 Neal Cem
36 24 28*
85 23 10
1 child’s comb
234 Old Union Cem
36 23 11.9 85 25 35.6 1 + 1 ex + 4 probable
combs laid flat + 4 possible ex-combs
235 Elizabeth Savage comb
36 27 56.9 85 26 28.9 1 lone comb
Hillsboro Q – 4 (3 + 1 ex-comb cem); [18 extant] + 1 ex-comb
236 Lambert Cem
35 23 20.2 85 55 57.1
comb photographed by Ball, 1977, now gone.
237 Phillips Cem
35 23 54.7 85 57 16.4
and 4 limestone
238 Price Cem
35 24 24*
85 55 32
68
ex-comb cem; metal
13 combs, 9 sandstone
1 dressed limestone comb
239 Stephenson Cem
35 23 50.5
85 55 36.5 4 dressed limestone combs
35 34 30*
35 31 15*
85 44 10
85 41 08
1 comb
2 combs
36 00 25*
85 04 47
1 comb
Irving College Q – 2 [3 extant]
240 Armstrong Cem
241 Philadelphia Cem
Isoline Q – 1 [1 extant]
242 Creston Cem
Jamestown Q – 1 [2 extant]
243 Franklin Cem
36 27 15.5* 84 59 31.5
that has been repaired with cinderblocks.
2 combs, including one
Jones Knob Q – 2 [6 extant]
244 Cold Spring Cem
245 Westfelt Cem
36 08 21*
36 12 42.5
84 59 55
84 55 33.5
1 comb
5 combs
85 59 50
1 limestone comb
Liberty Q – 1 [1 extant, limestone]
246 New Hope Cem
36 04 50*
Livingston Q – 22 (19 + 3 ex-comb cems) [103 extant]
247 Ben Allen grave
approx.: 36 22 58
85 19 30
ex-comb cem,
formerly 1 lone comb, removed for commercial development of lot.
248 Brown & Neal Cem
36 25 26.6 85 21 20.7 10 combs
249 Cash Cem
36 23 47.5* 85 19 50.5 6 combs
250 Coffee Cem
36 26 21.1 85 15 54.4 1 comb
251 J. S. Copland Cem.
36 24 29.8 85 20 25.8 2 combs (1 necked discoid)
252 Craft Cem
36 27 02.2 85 22 22.8 2 combs
253 Eubank – Garrett Cem
36 25 35.2 85 18 45.5 3 combs
254 Eubank–Jackson–Rains Cem 36 25 31.4 85 17 41.9 1 comb
255 Garrett Cem
36 28 43*
85 22 08
9 combs
256 Good Hope Cem
36 23 20*
85 17 54
23 combs
257 Holman Cem
36 28 49.7 85 19 16.2 8 combs
258 Buckner Ledbetter Cem
36 23 39.5 85 15 12.8 4 + 1 possible ex-comb
259 Little Cem
36 24 38.6 85 17 24.6 7 combs
260 Monroe Cem
36 26 05*
85 15 05.5 6 combs, probably once 7
261 Old Walnut Grove Cem
36 24 16.0 85 21 39.8 1 ex + 1 possible ex-comb
262 Robbins Cem
36 23 37.6 85 15 22.6 5 combs
263 Stover Cem
36 28 25*
85 16 55.5 2 combs
264 Tompkins Cem
36 26 33.4 85 21 38.8 5 combs
69
265 Tower Hill Cem
36 24 23.7 85 20 47.8 5 combs
266 Walnut Grove Cem
36 23 54*
85 21 19
ex-comb cem; at least
one comb when first visited; now dismantled and used as bench & patio.
267 Warthen Cem
36 25 17.3 85 21 31.1 2 combs
268 West Cem
36 22 32.9 85 16 25.1 2 + 1 pos collapsed comb
or box grave
Lonewood Q – 7 (6 + 1 ex-comb cem); [39 extant] + 2-3 ex-combs + 1-2 pos ex-combs
268 Davis Cem
35 49 34*
85 19 56
22 + 2 ex + 1-2 pos
ex-combs
270 Fraser combs, Scotts Gulf
35 48 59*
85 21 20
2 combs
271 Frasier (Fraser) Cem, Dog Cove 35 52 25.0 85 20 39.5 2 combs
272 Green Cem
35 52 24.7 85 21 01.6 3 combs
273 Lonewood Cem
35 45 47*
85 16 42
7 combs
274 Parks Cem
35 52 06*
85 21 46
3 combs
275 Welch Cem
35 50 32.4 85 17 51.9 ex-comb cem, 2 or 3 excombs
Manchester – 1 [2 extant]
276 Hickerson Cem
35 27 11.4
86 00 19.5
2 limestone combs
35 40 36*
85 46 23
2 limestone combs
35 44 58*
35 44 49*
85 02 54
85 00 53
McMinnville – 1 [2 extant]
277 Riverside Cem
Melvine – 2 [8 extant]
278 Stephens Cem
279 Tollett Cem
3 combs
5 combs
Monterey Q – 20 [186 extant] + 7 or more prob ex-combs
280 Bilbrey Cem
281 Bilbrey–Stamps Cem
282 Cooper Cem
283 France-Poteet Cem
284 Robert Goodwin comb
285 Jones-Livesay Cem
286 Kimes Cem
287 Lee Cem
ex-combs
288 Miller Cem
289 Officer Cem
290 Ray Cem
36 14 25*
36 10 44.9
36 11 15.6
36 08 22.1
36 12 16.4
36 11 16.5
36 14 44*
36 13 55.5*
85 22 22.5
85 19 35.7
85 21 48.2
85 17 34.8
85 20 42.6
85 20 22.3
85 15 37
85 17 40.5
8 combs
18 combs
1 comb
1 comb
1 lone comb
4 combs
6 combs
18 + 4 or more probable
36 11 02.7
36 11 35*
36 10 02.7
85 18 42.1
85 16 28.5
85 16 38.4
6 combs (100%)
15 combs
23 combs
70
291 Rushing Springs Cem
292 Shady Grove Cem
293 Stamps Cem
294 Thompson Cem
295 Walker Cem
296 Walker Hollow Cem
297 West Cem
298 Whittaker Cem
flat sheet metal comb
299 Woodcliff Cem
36 14 52.2
36 11 24.5*
36 10 50.6
36 11 51.2
36 12 05*
36 10 14.2
36 11 30.5
36 08 42.8
36 09 27.8
85 15 01.0
85 19 23
85 20 56.6
85 15 53.4
85 16 27
85 18 42.6
85 20 13.4
85 15 36.8
3 combs
20 + 3 probable ex-combs
24 combs
3 combs
4 combs
12 combs
5 combs
10 combs, including 1
85 18 17.1 4 + 1 possible ex-comb
Monterey Lake Q - 5 [63 extant] + 1 ex-comb +1 pos ex-comb
300 Richard Bradley Cem
36 00 43.6 85 21 12.4 9 + 1 ex-comb, including
1 1839 comb and 1 1838 ex-comb (dismantled by woman who feared snakes)
301 Floyd-Cameron Cem
36 00 23.3 85 22 15.4 3 + 1 possible ex-comb
302 France Cem
36 01 31.5* 85 20 17
13 combs
303 Henry Cem
36 06 46*
85 19 01
7 combs
304 Johnson Chapel Cem
36 03 45.2 85 19 31.0 31 combs
Moodyville Q – 5 [7 extant]
305 Beaty Cem
36 32 38.1 85 04 54.4 2 combs
306 Campbell-Canute Cem
36 36 03.6 85 03 36.9 1 limestone comb
307 Huddleston Cem
36 34 29*
85 07 12.5 2 combs
308 Rector Cem
36 37 21*
85 06 12
1 comb in cemetery on top
of Native American burial mound; cem split by TN-KY state line
309 Shadow Cem
36 32 07.5* 85 02 12
1 comb
Morrison Q - 1 [1 extant]
310 Smith Cem
35 32 05*
85 53 53
1 comb
Obey City 6 + 1 pos ex-comb cem not counted in total; [32 extant] + 1 ex-comb +
11 possible ex-combs
311 Chapel Hill (Chapel Flatt) Cem 36 12 56.5* 85 07 51 4 combs
312 France Cem
36 13 52.5* 85 11 46.5 3 combs
313 Hanging Limb Missionary Bapt. Cem 36 14 06.3 85 09 46.6 1 + 1 ex + ca 10
possible ex-combs
314 Pierce Cem
36 13 35.6 85 13 37.1 19 including 11 sandstone
combs + 4 5-Vee sheet metal combs & 4 corrugated roofing combs
- Pine Ridge Cem
36 10 53.4 85 07 39.6 1 possible ex-comb
315 Swallows Cem
36 11 46.5* 85 08 32.5 4 combs
316 Moses Wilson Cem
36 12 53.2 85 13 44.4 1 comb
71
Okalona Q 33 (29 + 4 ex-comb cems) + 1 pos ex-comb cem; [334 extant] +
13-15 ex-combs
317 Almonrode Cem
36 22 11.5* 85 16 04
1 comb
318 Arline Cem
36 15 40.5 85 15 34.2 1 infant comb
319 Ashburn Cem
36 17 08.3 85 18 02.7 3 combs
320 Bethlehem Cem
36 20 01.5* 85 18 34
5 combs
321 Bilbrey Cem
36 17 49*
85 16 45
14 combs
322 Polk Bilbrey Cem
36 16 46.5* 85 19 30
28 combs
323 Carr Cem
36 20 14.5* 85 15 18.5 27 combs
324 Christian Cem
36 19 38.5* 85 18 27.5 ex-comb cemetery;
recorded in original survey as a comb cem; no combs at present; farm manager
of forty years states that it never had a comb.
325 Copeland-Carr Cem
36 22 06*
85 20 07.5 2 + 2 ex-combs
326 Copeland Cem
36 18 50.9
85 17 57.3 13 combs
327 Deck Family Cem
36 19 07.1 85 16 35.7 2 combs
328 Fredonia Cem
36 22 08*
85 16 44.5 13 combs
329 Gardenhire Cem
36 15 35*
85 21 52.5 1 comb
330 Hammock Cem
36 19 28*
85 16 05
5 combs
331 Harris Cem
36 15 44.8 85 18 00.1 14 combs
332 Harris Chapel Cem
36 15 31*
85 18 25
ex-comb cem, at least one
sheet metal comb present when first visited, now gone.
333 Hartsaw Cem
36 18 00.4 85 18 10.8 2 combs
334 Highland Cem
36 17 25
85 15 59.5 13 combs
335 Jones Cem
36 22 05*
85 15 03.5 ex-comb cem, at least
1 comb present when first visited.
336 Liberty Cem
36 19 17.2
85 16 49.5 22 + 2 probable ex-combs;
combs include 2 cement combs
337 Looper-Speck Cem
36 15 01*
85 15 45.5 9 combs + 2 pos combs
almost buried out of sight, just the upper edge of one side slab visible
338 Matthews-Eckels Cem
36 18 06.3 85 21 39.8 1 comb
339 Oakley Cem
36 16 36*
85 16 45
11 + 2 ex-combs
340 Okalona Cem
36 19 18.1 85 20 21.5 32, inc.1 cement comb
341 Old Speck Cem
36 15 20*
85 15 03,5 11 + 1 possible ex-comb
342 Phillips-Martin Cem
36 16 58*
85 15 51.5 ex-comb cem, at least
1 comb present when first visited.
343 Poston Cem
36 17 40.1 85 22 19.2 4 combs
344 Archibald Qualls Cem
36 15 04.8 85 16 17.8 15 combs
345 Roaring River Cem
36 18 15.2 85 20 28.7 38 combs, including
the oldest known dated comb, 1822
346 Robbins Cem
36 22 29*
85 15 14
3 combs
347 Ruth Chapel Cem
36 22 19*
85 21 27
3 + 1 or 2 pos ex-combs
348 Ruben Wilson Cem
1 pos ex-comb
36 20 32.7
72
85 22 11.2
34 + 1 ex +
349 Staggs Hollow Cem
+ 1 pos ex-comb
- Wells Cem
36 16 00.9
85 19 02.6
7 combs + 1 ex-comb
36 19 27.7
85 21 29.5
1 possible ex-comb
Pall Mall Q – 1 (1 ex-comb cem); [0 extant]
350 Jasper Pile Cem
36 32 48.5* 84 56 40 ex-comb cem,
said to have had 3-4 metal combs at one time; at least one sheet metal comb
present when first visited, now gone.
Pleasant Hill Q – 2 [7 extant]
351 Houllette Cem
352 Old Neverfail Cem
35 54 57.0
35 59 19.2
85 14 12.9
85 14 17.9
5 combs
2 combs
Powersburg KY Q – 1 (1 ex-comb cem); [0 extant]
353 Taylor Grove Cem
36 44 21*
84 57 14
ex-comb cem, at least one
sheet metal comb present when first visited, now gone.
Riverton Q - 6 (5 + 1 ex-comb cem); [14 extant] + 1 metal ex-comb
354 Albertson (Gould Hollow) Cem 36 25 19.9 85 01 18.6 4 combs
355 George Beaty Cem
36 27 04*
85 02 28
1 comb
356 Elias Bowden Cem
36 24 55*
85 02 27.5 1 comb
357 Gunter Cem
36 25 53*
85 07 11
3 combs
358 Wood Cem
36 27 02*
85 04 16
5 combs
359 Wright Cem
36 25 22*
85 03 21
ex-comb cem, at least
one sheet metal comb when first visited, now gone.
Silver Point Q – 3 [3 extant]
360 Herron-Thomas Cem
361 Maynard Cem
362 Robinson Hill Cem
36 04 51*
36 02 26*
36 00 30.9
85 39 51.5 1 comb
85 40 50.5 1 comb
85 39 11.6 1 comb
Sligo Bridge Q - 8 [48 extant]
363 Adcock Cem
364 Anderson Cem
365 Baker Cem
366 Cope Cem
367 Indian Mound (Adcock) Cem
368 Martin Cem
missing one side slab
369 Peeled Chestnut Cem
35 53 37.6 85 39 57.5
35 59 49.5* 85 40 00
35 58 55.5* 85 37 44.5
35 55 26.5* 85 37 42.5
35 55 28* 85 40 34
35 59 52.0 85 38 02.3
3 combs
2 combs
8 combs
11 combs
1 comb
2 combs, 1 of which is
35 57 49.5*
6 combs
73
85 39 33
370 Pollard Cem
35 53 54.9
85 38 26.1
15 combs
Smartt Mtn. Q – 1 possible ex-comb cem [0 extant]
- Seitz (Walling) Cem
35 36 26*
85 26 07.5 possible ex-comb cem,
with 6 graves covered by flat slabs, possibly representing 3 to 6 ex-combs
Sparta Q - 9 [63 extant] + approx. 15 ex-combs
371 Crawford Cem
35 54 18.2 85 27 58.9 8 combs
372 Hudgens Cem
35 55 01*
85 25 04.5 11 combs
1833
373 Lance Cem
35 55 56
85 24 16.1 2 combs
- Officer Cem
35 57 16.3 85 23 06.9 1 pos ex-comb; slabs so
disrupted by growth of a tree that it is not possible to tell for certain if this was a
comb or a box grave; no gable stones visible
374 Old Bon Air Cem
35 54 51*
85 23 11
3 + 1 possible ex-comb
375 Old Sparta Cem
35 55 31*
85 28 02
5 + at least 12 ex-combs +
numerous other graves that likely were once covered by combs
376 Pleasant Hill-Davis Cem
35 52 59*
85 28 00
10 + 1 possible ex-comb
377 Plum Creek Cem
35 59 53*
85 23 55
7 combs
378 Wheeler Cem
35 58 27.5* 85 25 19.5 4 + 1 ex-comb
379 Wilson Cem
35 52 49*
85 24 41
13 combs, including
several combs from the 1820s
Spencer Q – 2 (1 + 1 ex-comb cem); [14 extant} + 1 metal ex-comb
380 Denney-Molloy Cem
35 44 27.5* 85 27 56
381 Hale-Sodom Cem
35 44 33*
85 29 28.5
sheet metal comb when first visited, now gone.
14 combs
ex-comb cem, at least one
Stockton Q 1 [11 extant]
382 Stockton Cem
36 24 11.5 84 50 05.5 11 combs
1967 & 1969
Contains several headstones believed to have been brought from White county.
Vandever Q 1 [1 extant]
383 Hales Chapel Cem
35 49 45.1
85 05 32.6
1 comb
35 32 23.4
85 51 26.7
1 comb
35 43 38.6
85 37 18.3
1 striped marble comb
Viola Q – 1 [1 extant]
384 Blue Springs Cem
1828
Welchland Q – 3 [15 extant]
385 Eureka Church Cem
74
386 Long Chapel Cem
387 Old Drake Cem
35 44 02*
35 44 16.2
85 32 31
85 33 19.2
13 combs
1 comb
Wilder Q - 3 [8 extant] + 1 pos ex-comb
388 “Convict” Cem
36 15 19.7 85 04 39.5 now 1 lone comb, though
when first visited several fieldstones said to mark convict graves were visible
389 Sells Cem
36 18 58.1 85 07 19.5 4 combs
390 Wilder Cem
36 15 59.2 85 05 48.8 3 + 1 possible ex-comb
Winchester Q -1 [13 extant - 12 limestone, 1 marble]
391 Perkins Cem
35 14 20.1 86 03 12.3 13 combs, 12 of limestone
and 1 child’s comb of pink marble; the southwestern most combs in the main
Tennessee comb range
1835
Windle Q - 15 (13 + 2 ex-comb cems); [71 extant] estimated at least 85 originally
392 Clark Cem
36 18 52*
85 27 03.5 1 comb
393 Clay Springs Cem
36 17 28.9 85 24 22.8 4 + 5 to 7 ex-combs (2 or 4
laid flat, and 3 others indicated by gable stones)
394 Cobble Cem
36 16 38.5* 85 23 10
5 combs
395 Eckel Cem
36 18 02*
85 22 36
19 combs
396 Goodbar Cem
36 20 35*
85 23 15
2 combs
397 Green Cem
36 16 59.1 85 26 26.1 10 + 1 possible ex-comb
398 Isaac Gore Masters Cem
36 22 04.5* 85 24 00
ex-comb cem; recorded in
original survey as a comb cem; no combs at present; several local informants
say it never had a one, whereas two informants believe they remember a comb.
399 John S. Masters Cem
36 22 21.6 85 24 32.5 2 combs
400 Mt Gilead Cem
36 22 17.5* 85 24 09
16 combs
401 Poplar Springs Cem
36 20 03*
85 29 05.5 ex-comb cem, 7 ex-combs
402 Kathleen Rodgers comb
36 19 18.1 85 29 26.6 1 lone comb, erected in
2012, the newest comb grave known
403 Terry Cem
36 16 11.0 85 28 43.1 2 combs
404 UID cem. with 4 combs
36 18 28.4 85 26 06.1 4 combs
405 Nelson Williams Cem
36 19 00.7 85 25 58.8 2 combs
406 Zion Hill Cem
36 16 44*
85 23 17
3 + 5 ex-combs
Number of comb cems in main Tennessee comb range, inc. ex-comb cems: 406
Number of comb cems with extant combs: 372
Number of ex-comb cems: 34
Number of possible comb cems, not included in above totals: 9
Total number of extant combs: 3178
75
TENNESSEE COMB CEMETERIES OUTSIDE THE MAIN COMB RANGE
Dellrose Q, Lincoln Co.
Roper Cem
35 01 16.1 86 46 17.5
the southwesternmost known combs in Tennessee
2 limestone combs,
Normandy Q, Bedford Co.
Shofner Cem
35 26 47.4
combs, Shofner boys, both d. 1854
86 19 46.6
2 limestone children’s
Readyville Q – 2 [2 extant]
Curlee Cem
35 46 37*
86 09 46.5
low walls, something of a hybrid comb-gravehouse
1 cement comb with very
Science Hill Cem
35 49 28*
86 14 52.5
1 5-Vee sheet metal comb
35 27 55
85 26 44
1 comb, though two when
Savage Point Q – 1 [1 extant]
McGlothen Cem
first visited
Number of comb cems in Tennessee, including cems outside the main range: 411
Number of comb cems with extant combs: 377
Total number of extant combs: 3185
NUMBERS of EXTANT COMB GRAVES in the MAIN COMB RANGE
Quad name
Number of combs
Quad name
Doyle
Crawford
Cassville
Bald Knob
Okalona
Monterey
Alpine
Livingston
Dry Valley
Windle
Cookeville West
Monterey Lake
Sparta
508
393
342
341
334
186
123
103
86
71
64
63
63
Wilder
Buffalo Valley
Pleasant Hill
Moodyville
Byrdstown
Jones Knob
Dale Hollow Res. SE
Cardwell Mtn
Baxter
Herbert Domain
Crossville
Irving College
Capitol Hill
76
Number of combs
8
8
7
7
6
6
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
Burgess Falls
Sligo Bridge
Cookeville East
Lonewood
DeRossett
Obey City
Hilham
Hillsboro
Alto
Welchland
Spencer
Riverton
Winchester
Campaign
Stockton
Burristown
Melvine
51
48
47
39
35
32
29
18
15
15
14
14
13
13
11
10
8
Silver Point
Burrow Cove
Jamestown
Dibbrell
Campbell Junction
Clarkrange
McMinnville
Manchester
Dale Hollow Dam
Isoline
Liberty
Morrison
Vandever
Viola
Pall Mall
Powersburg, KY
Smartt Mtn.
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
_____
TOTAL: 3178
EXTANT COMBS OUTSIDE the MAIN COMB RANGE
Dellrose*
Normandy*
2
2
Readyville
Savage Point
GRAND TOTAL:
2
1
_____
3185
*Not all cemeteries in these two quads were visited.
NUMBERS of COMB CEMETERIES by COUNTY
County
No. of Comb Cems.
Main Tennessee Comb Range
Outside the Main Range
Overton
White
Putnam
Van Buren
Fentress
Cumberland
Warren
DeKalb
Pickett
Bedford
1
Cannon
1
Lincoln
1
Rutherford
1
Sequatchie
1
GRAND TOTAL 411
134
103
63
22
14
11
11
10
10
77
Coffee
Grundy
Jackson
Clay
Bledsoe
Franklin
Smith
Wayne, KY
7
6
5
4
2
2
1
1
TOTAL 406
GRAVESTONE QUARRIES:
Crawford Q -- Vaughn quarry:
36 20 10*
85 12 05
Doyle Q – Keathley quarry:
35 50 44.7
85 34 15.0
Hilham Q – Ogletree quarry:
36 25 46.1
85 22 32.9
Okalona Q-- Billy Walker quarry: 36 17 01.2 85 18 39.0
Billy Walker stoneyard: 36 16 46.0 85 18 22.0
APPENDIX A-2: Comb Cemetery Inventory by County:
Locations, Numbers of combs, Notes
NB: GPS set for NAD 27 datum (same datum used for topos)
NB: * indicates lat-long measured from the quads, not on-site GPS readings.
NB: Cems with only “possible” ex-combs listed and marked with a “-”, but not included in
comb cem total for county (there are 9 such cems listed)..
NB: Among the ex-comb cems included in the comb cem count are three cems
recorded as comb cems when first surveyed, that when resurveyed (2011-2016) were
not only found to no longer contain combs but which were said by informants who
should know to never have contained combs. The rationale for including these three
78
cems in the ex-comb cem count is this: It is unlikely that the mistake of mis-recording a
non-comb cem as a comb cem occurred three separate times during this survey. More
probably the informants had their own reasons for denying the former existence of
combs in these cems. Ex-comb cems listed in blue.
Numbers of extant combs given refers to combs extant as of 2011-2016.
UID = Unidentified cemetery, no basis on which to name.
If you know of any Tennessee comb cemetery not included in this list, please contact
the author at [email protected]
COMB CEMETERIES IN THE MAIN COMB CEM RANGE, LISTED BY COUNTY:
BLEDSOE Co.
Stephens Cem
Tollett Cem
CLAY Co.
2 comb cems
8 combs extant
35 44 58*
35 44 49*
4 comb cems
85 02 54
85 00 53
3 combs
5 combs
8 combs extant
Fitzgerald Cem
36 33 03.5* 85 29 45
1 comb
1839 or 1837
Hall Cem
36 29 58*
85 32 13
ex-comb cem; 1 comb
when first visited, now dismantled and used as a bench.
McDonald Cem
36 29 09*
85 30 43
5 combs
Mt. Pisgah Cem
36 33 43*
85 17 51
2 combs
COFFEE Co.
7 comb cems
25 combs extant
Cash Cem
35 22 21.7
85 57 22.5
Hickerson Cem
35 27 11.4
86 00 19.5
Lambert Cem
35 23 20.2 85 55 57.1
comb photographed by Ball, 1977, now gone.
Phillips Cem
35 23 54.7 85 57 16.4
and 4 limestone
Price Cem
35 24 24*
85 55 32
Smith Cem
35 32 05*
85 53 53
Stephenson Cem
35 23 50.5 85 55 36.5
79
4 limestone combs
2 limestone combs
ex-comb cem; metal
13 combs, 9 sandstone
1 dressed limestone comb
1 comb
4 dressed limestone combs
CUMBERLAND Co.
11 comb cems
Bolin Cem
Cold Spring Cem
Creston Cem
- Crossville City Cem
Frost Cem
Hales Chapel Cem
Houllette Cem
Newton Cem
Old Neverfail Cem
Pugh Cem
Rains Cem
comb when first visited.
Thomas Springs Cem
DEKALB Co.
18 combs extant
35 51 22.4
36 08 21*
36 00 25*
35 57 09*
35 57 31.9
35 49 45.1
35 54 57.0
35 47 54.1
35 59 19.2
36 05 02*
36 02 49.7
85 10 44.9
84 59 55
85 04 47
85 00 57
85 03 19.4
85 05 32.6
85 14 12.9
85 12 38.9
85 14 17.9
85 07 46.5
85 11 30.8
1 child’s comb
1 comb
1 comb
2 possible ex-combs
3 combs
1 comb
5 combs
1 comb
2 combs
2 combs
ex-comb cem, at least 1
35 50 31*
85 13 15
1 infant’s comb
10 comb cems
14 combs extant
Adcock Cem
35 53 37.6 85 39 57.5 3 combs
Anderson Cem
35 59 49.5* 85 40 00
2 combs
Bain Cem
35 52 22*
85 40 29
1 comb
Indian Mound (Adcock) Cem
35 55 28* 85 40 34
1 comb
Len Cantrell Cem
35 51 02.7
85 38 15.2 ex-comb cem; Jerry
Wright, who grew up here, said there were combs, which were removed by a
later landowner; broken slabs beside cem.
Maynard Cem
36 02 26*
85 40 50.5 1 comb
New Hope Cem
36 04 50*
85 59 50
1 limestone comb
Robinson Hill Cem
36 00 30.9
85 39 11.6 1 comb
Wiley Sandrs (sic) comb
35 50 40.6
85 39 11.4 1 lone comb
Wright Cem
35 50 52.5* 85 38 36
3 combs
FENTRESS Co.
14 comb cems
40 combs extant
Albertson (Gould Hollow) Cem 36 25 19.9
85 01 18.6 4 combs
George Beaty Cem
36 27 04*
85 02 28
1 comb
Elias Bowden Cem
36 24 55*
85 02 27.5 1 comb
Campground Cem
36 11 21.5* 85 03 17
2 + 3 prob ex-combs
“Convict” Cem
36 15 19.7 85 04 39.5 now 1 lone comb, though
when first visited several fieldstones said to mark convict graves were visible
Franklin Cem
36 27 15.5* 84 59 31.5 2 combs, including one
that has been repaired with cinderblocks.
Jasper Pile Cem
36 32 48.5* 84 56 40 ex-comb cem, said to have
had 3-4 metal combs at one time; at least one sheet metal comb present when
first visited, now gone.
80
Sells Cem
36 18 58.1 85 07 19.5 4 combs
Cem is partly in Overton Co., but older section with comb graves is in Fentress.
Shadow Cem
36 32 07.5* 85 02 12
1 comb
Stockton Cem
36 24 11.5 84 50 05.5 11 combs
1967 & 1969
Contains several headstones believed to have been brought from White county.
Westfelt Cem
36 12 42.5 84 55 33.5 5 combs
Wilder Cem
36 15 59.2 85 05 48.8 3 + 1 possible ex-comb
Wood Cem
36 27 02*
85 04 16
5 combs
Wright Cem
36 25 22*
85 03 21
ex-comb cem, at least
one sheet metal comb when first visited, now gone.
FRANKLIN Co.
2 comb cems
16 combs extant
Partin Cem
35 15 17.1
86 00 09.4 3 limestone combs
Perkins Cem
35 14 20.1 86 03 12.3 13 combs, 12 of limestone
and 1 child’s comb of pink marble; the southwestern most combs in the main
Tennessee comb range
1835
GRUNDY Co.
6 comb cems
15 combs extant
Caldwell Cem
35 16 55.5* 85 53 10
6 limestone combs
Old Baptist Cem
35 18 45.2
85 53 05.6 3 limestone combs
Payne Cove Cem
35 19 32.5* 85 49 45
1 limestone comb
Philadelphia Cem
35 31 15*
85 41 08
2 combs
Warren Cem
35 18 08*
85 52 29
1 limestone comb
There is what appears to be a Native American burial mound in this cemetery.
Willis Cem
35 19 22.8
85 54 14.4 2 combs
JACKSON Co.
Halfacre Cem
1 5-Vee metal comb
Lynn Cem
New Hope Cem
Pine Hill Cem
Pleasant Hill Cem
OVERTON Co.
5 comb cems
6 combs extant
36 14 11*
85 40 04
ex-comb cem, formerly
36 22 58*
36 22 50*
36 14 58.7
36 24 53*
85 32 42
85 30 37
85 33 39.6
85 34 01
2 limestone combs
2 combs
1 matrimonial comb
1 comb
134 comb cems
1143 combs extant
Ben Allen grave
approx.: 36 22 58
85 19 30
ex-comb cem,
formerly 1 lone comb, removed for commercial development of lot.
81
Allison (Winton) Cem
36 24 38.5* 85 12 16
ex-comb cem; recorded in
original survey as a comb cem; no combs at present; caretaker states that it
never had a comb.
Allred Cem
36 19 31.5
85 12 53.8 22 + 1 ex-comb
Allred Family Cem
36 19 35.2
85 11 14.2 6 combs
Almonrode Cem
36 22 11.5* 85 16 04
1 comb
Andrew Cem
36 26 44.2 85 22 38.0 5 combs
Arline Cem
36 15 40.5 85 15 34.2 1 infant comb
Ashburn Cem
36 17 08.3 85 18 02.7 3 combs
Bethlehem Cem
36 20 01.5* 85 18 34
5 combs
Bilbrey grave
36 21 05.7
85 10 26.3 1 lone comb
Bilbrey Cem
36 17 49*
85 16 45
14 combs
Bilbrey Cem
36 14 25*
85 22 22.5 8 combs
Polk Bilbrey Cem
36 16 46.5* 85 19 30
28 combs
Boswell Cem
36 19 09.6
85 11 08.1 19 + 1 probable ex-comb
Brown Cem
36 21 39.0
85 14 26.4 3 combs
Brown & Neal Cem
36 25 26.6 85 21 20.7 10 combs
Brown-Walker Cem
36 18 32.3
85 14 30.7 6 + 2 ex + 3 probable
ex-combs
Campground Cem
36 22 30.5 85 26 05.1 ex-comb cem, based on
the presence of two triangular stones, apparently comb gable stones; were
these two stones in line it would be obvious that they represented a single former
comb; however, they are side by side and it is uncertain if they are remnants of
two dismantled combs or one that has been redistributed to mark two graves;
the logical interpretation in either case is that this cemetery once had at least one
comb.
Carr Cem
36 20 14.5* 85 15 18.5 27 combs
Cash Cem
36 23 47.5* 85 19 50.5 6 combs
Chapel Hill (Chapel Flatt) Cem 36 12 56.5* 85 07 51
4 combs
Christian Cem
36 19 38.5* 85 18 27.5 ex-comb cemetery;
recorded in original survey as a comb cem; no combs at present; farm manager
of forty years states that it never had a comb.
Clark Cem
36 18 52*
85 27 03.5 1 comb
Clay Springs Cem
36 17 28.9 85 24 22.8 4 + 5 to 7 ex-combs (2 or 4
laid flat, and 3 others indicated by gable stones)
Cobble Cem
36 16 38.5* 85 23 10
5 combs
Coffee Cem
36 26 21.1 85 15 54.4 1 comb
Cook Cem
36 25 57.5 85 25 16.3 1 comb
Cooper-Bowman Cem
36 25 15.5* 85 12 32.5 1 comb
Copeland-Carr Cem
36 22 06*
85 20 07.5 2 + 2 ex-combs
Copeland Cem
36 18 50.9
85 17 57.3 13 combs
J. S. Copland Cem.
36 24 29.8 85 20 25.8 2 combs (1 necked discoid)
Craft Cem
36 27 02.2 85 22 22.8 2 combs
Cub Cem
36 18 18.2
85 10 20.4 35 + 1 ex + 3-4 possible
ex-combs; 1963 comb
Dale Cem
36 26 22.1 85 27 53.5 1 comb
82
Davis Cem
36 15 26.6
85 12 43.5 44 combs
Deck Family Cem
36 19 07.1 85 16 35.7 2 combs
Eckel Cem
36 18 02*
85 22 36
19 combs
Eubank – Garrett Cem
36 25 35.2 85 18 45.5 3 combs
Eubank–Jackson–Rains Cem
36 25 31.4 85 17 41.9 1 comb
Falling Springs Cem
36 20 27.6
85 10 52.5 102 combs; one of the
most interesting comb cemeteries in Tennessee
Fellowship Cem
36 31 05*
85 19 22
1 + 2 ex + 2 pos ex-combs
Ferrill Cem
36 23 17*
85 09 45
19 combs
Fisk Cem
36 24 25.7 85 26 12.7 2 + probably 5 ex-combs
Flat Creek Cem
36 23 39.5* 85 23 19.5 6 + 1 possible ex-comb;
two combs dated 1956 & 1958 when first visited, no longer present
Fleming Cem
36 23 35.1 85 23 59.4 3 combs
France Cem
36 13 52.5* 85 11 46.5 3 combs
Fredonia Cem
36 22 08*
85 16 44.5 13 combs
Gardenhire Cem
36 15 35*
85 21 52.5 1 comb
Garrett Cem
36 28 43*
85 22 08
9 combs
Glasscock Cem
36 27 22.2 85 22 35.3 6 combs
Goodbar Cem
36 20 35*
85 23 15
2 combs
Good Hope Cem
36 23 20*
85 17 54
23 combs
Gore infant comb
36 20 28.2
85 13 27.4 1 lone comb
Green Cem
36 16 59.1 85 26 26.1 10 + 1 possible ex-comb
Green Hill Cem
36 23 38*
85 13 42
1 comb
Hammock Cem
36 19 28*
85 16 05
5 combs
Hancock Cem
36 23 22*
85 11 28.5 2 combs
Hanging Limb Missionary Bapt. Cem 36 14 06.3
85 09 46.6 1 + 1 ex + ca 10
possible ex-combs
Harris Cem
36 15 44.8 85 18 00.1 14 combs
Harris Chapel Cem
36 15 31*
85 18 25
ex-comb cem, at least one
sheet metal comb present when first visited, now gone.
Hartsaw Cem
36 18 00.4 85 18 10.8 2 combs
Hatcher Hall Cem
36 30 19*
85 13 30
3 combs
Hayter Cem
36 22 51*
85 11 55
45 combs
Highland Cem
36 17 25
85 15 59.5 13 combs
Holly Springs Cem
36 25 07.5* 85 23 39.5 1 comb
Holman Cem
36 28 49.7 85 19 16.2 8 combs
Honey Springs Cem
36 15 50*
85 10 12
16 + 2 ex-combs
Jones Cem
36 22 05*
85 15 03.5 ex-comb cem, at least
1 comb present when first visited.
Kimes Cem
36 14 44*
85 15 37
6 combs
Ledbetter Cem
36 22 17.8 85 13 53.4 4 combs
Buckner Ledbetter Cem
36 23 39.5 85 15 12.8 4 + 1 possible ex-comb
- Wm Ledbetter Cem
36 23 25.4
85 14 55.7 possible ex-comb cem
Lee Cem
36 13 55.5* 85 17 40.5 18 + 4 or more probable
ex-combs
83
Liberty Cem
36 19 17.2
85 16 49.5 22 + 2 probable ex-combs;
combs include 2 cement combs
Little Cem
36 24 38.6 85 17 24.6 7 combs
Looper Cem
36 15 53.4 85 14 45.4 14 combs
Nicey Looper Cem
36 18 07.8
85 11 45.7 10 combs
Looper-Speck Cem
36 15 01*
85 15 45.5 9 combs + 2 pos combs
almost buried out of sight, just the upper edge of one side slab visible
Martin Cem
36 26 37*
85 12 52
3 combs
Isaac Gore Masters Cem 36 22 04.5* 85 24 00
ex-comb cem; recorded in
original survey as a comb cem; no combs at present; several local informants
say it never had a one, whereas two informants believe they remember a comb.
John S. Masters Cem
36 22 21.6 85 24 32.5 2 combs
Matthews-Eckels Cem
36 18 06.3 85 21 39.8 1 comb
Jane R. McDonald Cem
36 24 46.5* 85 13 24
3 combs
McFerrin Cem
36 29 25.2 85 24 28.1 1 comb
McManus-Roberts Cem
36 23 11*
85 13 47.5 1 comb
Monroe Cem
36 26 05*
85 15 05.5 6 combs, probably once 7
Mt Gilead Cem
36 22 17.5* 85 24 09
16 combs
Neal Cem
36 24 28*
85 23 10
1 child’s comb
Nettlecarrier Creek Cem
36 23 41.9 85 11 58.9 28 combs
1833
Norrod Cem
36 26 06*
85 14 04
2 combs
Oakley Cem
36 16 36*
85 16 45
11 + 2 ex-combs
Officer Cem
36 11 35*
85 16 28.5 15 combs
Okalona Cem
36 19 18.1 85 20 21.5 32, inc.1 cement comb
Old Speck Cem
36 15 20*
85 15 03,5 11 + 1 possible ex-comb
Old Union Cem
36 23 11.9 85 25 35.6 1 + 1 ex + 4 probable
combs laid flat + 4 possible ex-combs
Old Walnut Grove Cem
36 24 16.0 85 21 39.8 1 ex + 1 possible ex-comb
Ole Bethel Cem
36 31 48*
85 17 18
ex-comb cem – combs
present when first visited.
Phillips Cem
36 18 44*
85 13 16
27 combs
Phillips-Martin Cem
36 16 58*
85 15 51.5 ex-comb cem, at least
1 comb present when first visited.
Pierce Cem
36 13 35.6 85 13 37.1 19 including 11 sandstone
combs + 4 5-Vee sheet metal combs & 4 corrugated roofing combs
- Pine Ridge Cem
36 10 53.4 85 07 39.6 1 possible ex-comb
Poplar Springs Cem
36 20 03*
85 29 05.5 ex-comb cem, 7 ex-combs
Poston Cem
36 17 40.1 85 22 19.2 4 combs
Archibald Qualls Cem
36 15 04.8 85 16 17.8 15 combs
Roaring River Cem
36 18 15.2 85 20 28.7 38 combs, including
the oldest known dated comb, 1822
Robbins Cem
36 23 37.6 85 15 22.6 5 combs
Robbins Cem
36 22 29*
85 15 14
3 combs
Kathleen Rodgers comb
36 19 18.1 85 29 26.6 1 lone comb, erected in
2012, the newest comb grave known
Rushing Springs Cem
36 14 52.2 85 15 01.0 3 combs
84
Ruth Chapel Cem
36 22 19*
85 21 27
3 + 1 or 2 pos ex-combs
Elizabeth Savage comb
36 27 56.9 85 26 28.9 1 lone comb
Sells Cem
36 30 40.0 85 17 07.7 1 comb
Shiloh Cem
36 18 42.1
85 11 12.3 23 combs
Smith Cem
36 24 41.5* 85 10 45.5 2 combs
Clayton Smith Cem
36 24 42*
85 08 55
10 combs
Dugan Smith Cem
36 25 01.5* 85 09 18
1 comb
Speck Cem
36 15 39.3
85 12 11.9 51 + 4 prob + 2 pos
ex-combs
Staggs Hollow Cem
36 16 00.9 85 19 02.6 7 combs + 1 ex-comb
+ 1 pos ex-comb
Story Cem
36 28 18*
85 12 08.5 1 comb
Stover Cem
36 28 25*
85 16 55.5 2 combs
Swallows Cem
36 11 46.5* 85 08 32.5 4 combs
Thompson Cem
36 11 51.2 85 15 53.4 3 combs
Tompkins Cem
36 26 33.4 85 21 38.8 5 combs
Tower Hill Cem
36 24 23.7 85 20 47.8 5 combs
UID comb
36 20 33.4 85 10 42.1 1 lone comb, but the
presence of a small upright fieldstone nearby suggests that at least one other
grave was present originally
UID cem S side Alpine Mtn.
36 19 52.2 85 12 54.2 8 combs
UID cem. with 4 combs
36 18 28.4 85 26 06.1 4 combs
Walker Cem
36 12 05*
85 16 27
4 combs
Walnut Grove Cem
36 23 54*
85 21 19
ex-comb cem; at least
one comb when first visited; now dismantled and used as bench & patio.
Warthen Cem
36 25 17.3 85 21 31.1 2 combs
West Cem
36 22 32.9 85 16 25.1 2 + 1 pos collapsed comb
or box grave
Nelson Williams Cem
36 19 00.7 85 25 58.8 2 combs
Moses Wilson Cem
36 12 53.2 85 13 44.4 1 comb
Ruben Wilson Cem
36 20 32.7 85 22 11.2 34 + 1 ex +
1 pos ex-comb
- Wells Cem
36 19 27.7 85 21 29.5 1 possible ex-comb
Winton combs
36 23 31.6
85 13 16.0 2 combs
Zion Hill Cem
36 16 44*
85 23 17
3 + 5 ex-combs
PICKETT Co.
Beaty Cem
Campbell-Canute Cem
Garrett Cem
Eligah Garret Cem
Gunter Cem
Huddleston Cem
Love Lady Sims Cem
10 comb cems
14 combs extant
36 32 38.1 85 04 54.4
36 36 03.6 85 03 36.9
36 29 53.5* 85 07 32
36 31 20.0
85 08 48.2
36 25 53*
85 07 11
36 34 29*
85 07 12.5
36 35 53*
85 09 53
85
2 combs
1 limestone comb
1 comb
1 limestone comb
3 combs
2 combs
2 combs
Rector Cem
36 37 21*
85 06 12
1 comb in cemetery on top
of Native American burial mound; cem split by TN-KY state line
Robbins Cem
36 26 14*
85 08 28.5 ex-comb cem; 6 combs
present when first visited.
Winningham Cem
36 29 04*
85 07 53
1 comb
PUTNAM Co.
63 comb cems
308 combs extant
Alex Byers Cem
36 11 53.9
85 35 57.6 12 combs
Bartlett Cem
36 07 25.1 85 26 36.0 4 + 2 possible ex-combs
Bear Creek Cem
36 14 27.6
85 25 57.5 3 combs: 1 sandstone +
2 sheet metal, 1989 & 2001; formerly 4 5-Vee sheet metal combs, but 2 removed
Bilbrey–Stamps Cem
36 10 44.9 85 19 35.7 18 combs
James Bohannon Cem
36 07 58.8
85 25 57.9 16 combs
Bloomington Springs Cem
36 11 47.5
85 37 14.1 3 combs + 1 prob ex-comb
Brewington Cem
36 09 38.5
85 33 30.9 4 + 1 ex-comb
Brown’s Mill Cem
36 07 05.0 85 27 23.6 4 combs
Buck Cem north
36 09 42.6
85 26 26.2 10 combs
Buck Cem south
36 08 59.0
85 26 59.7 1 comb
Buck Cem west
36 09 18.9
85 27 14.0 3 combs
Bullington (Quarles) Cem
36 12 53.9
85 32 28.1 1 comb
Campbell-Bohannon Cem
36 07 54.3
85 25 11.4 ex-comb cem, 4 or 5 when
photographed in 1979.
Cooke Cem
36 08 55.6
85 36 54.0 ex-comb cem; at least
one extant when first visited.
Cooper Cem
36 11 15.6 85 21 48.2 1 comb
Double Springs Cem
36 10 19.4
85 35 26.8 1 comb
Farley Cem
36 02 11.4
85 36 16.2 3 combs
France-Poteet Cem
36 08 22.1 85 17 34.8 1 comb
Robert Goodwin comb
36 12 16.4 85 20 42.6 1 lone comb
Green Family Cem
36 07 39.7
85 30 01.3 1 comb
Henry Cem
36 06 46*
85 19 01
7 combs
Herron-Thomas Cem
36 04 51*
85 39 51.5 1 comb
Johnson Chapel Cem
36 03 45.2 85 19 31.0 31 combs
Jones-Livesay Cem
36 11 16.5 85 20 22.3 4 combs
Judd Cem
36 09 01.3
85 32 17.0 1 comb + 1 ex-comb
Lee Cem
36 09 19.3
85 22 54.1 3 combs
Hop T. Lee Cem
36 13 22*
85 43 36.5 1 comb
Lovelady Cem
36 05 24*
85 30 43
4 combs
Marchbanks Cem
36 12 22.5
85 26 23.7 1 comb + 1 pos ex-comb
Maxwell Family Cem
36 07 44.3
85 44 52.6 2 combs
McBroom Cem
36 11 22.6
85 36 51.0 1 + 2 probable ex-combs
Miller Cem
36 11 02.7 85 18 42.1 6 combs (100%)
Norris Cem
36 14 43.0
85 27 11.1 1 + 1 pos ex-comb
Officer Chapel Cem
36 13 22.8
85 24 57.5 5 combs
86
Pearson Cem
36 12 22.4
85 29 16.5 1 comb
Phillips Cem
36 12 46.9
85 27 24.7 ex-combs cem, combs
present when first visited.
Pippin Cem
36 13 17.1
85 33 51.7 12 combs
Post Oak Shade Cem
36 11 15.6
85 33 54.9 2 combs + formerly 1
sheet metal comb when first visited
Quarles Cem
36 10 35.1
85 26 44.5 1 comb
Ray Cem
36 10 02.7 85 16 38.4 23 combs
Robinson-Stallion Cem
36 05 26.4 85 27 16.7 ex-comb cem, 12 to
possibly 15 ex-combs
Rock Springs Cem.
36 09 34.6
85 46 56.8 2 concrete combs
Russell Cem
36 08 11.0
85 45 27.2 2 combs, features
1 sandstone comb and 1 infant’s comb made of Chattanooga Shale
- Salem Church Cem
36 08 27.8
85 28 56.3 pos. ex-comb cem:
3 possible or probable ex-combs
Scarlett Cem
36 09 16.6
85 31 53.6 4 combs
Unusual location in middle of intersection of two city streets.
Shady Grove Cem
36 11 24.5* 85 19 23
20 + 3 probable ex-combs
Sliger Cem
36 07 09.9 85 29 45.8 1 comb
Smellage Cem
36 07 41.0
85 41 59.5 1 comb
Smyrna Cem
36 12 33.5
85 30 37.6 9 + 1 ex-comb
Stamps Cem
36 10 50.6 85 20 56.6 24 combs
Stewart Cem
36 08 14.4
85 34 25.8 1 comb
Terry Cem
36 16 11.0 85 28 43.1 2 combs
Thompson-Carr Cem
36 07 50.4
85 34 21.4 3 + 3 probable ex-combs
Watson Cem
36 07 09.4 85 26 28.8 4 combs – said to have
been 2-3 more prior to 1974 tornado damage
Walker Hollow Cem
36 10 14.2 85 18 42.6 12 combs
Wasson-Essex Cem
36 07 49.5 85 31 25.0 6 combs + 1 pos ex-comb
West Cem
36 11 30.5 85 20 13.4 5 combs
West Cem
36 06 46.5* 85 31 45
ex-comb cem, 1 to
possibly 4 ex-combs
Whittaker Cem
36 08 42.8 85 15 36.8 10 combs, including 1
flat sheet metal comb
Whitaker Cem
36 09 12.9
85 24 05.1 1 comb
Whiteaker Cem
36 06 44.8 85 27 03.7 ex-comb cem with
2 ex-combs that the owners stated (in 2014) that they intended to restore; they
re-set the headstones but used the broken side slabs in a small patio.
Whitson Cem
36 11 46.5
85 35 05.2 2 combs
Whitson-Denton Cem
36 09 36.9
85 28 37.0 1 comb
Woodcliff Cem
36 09 27.8
85 18 17.1 4 + 1 possible ex-comb
87
SMITH Co.
Lancaster Cem
VAN BUREN Co
1 comb cem
4 combs extant
36 07 39.3
22 comb cems.
85 51 21.6 4 concrete combs
260 combs extant
Beech Cove (Dodson) Cem
35 46 59.1 85 31 15.3 27 combs
Big Fork Cem
35 48 43.7
85 27 04.4 37 + 2 ex + 4 pos ex-comb
Hannah Billingsley comb
35 45 54.6
85 23 31.9 1 lone comb
Cummings (Stony Pt) Cem
35 48 09.4 85 30 57.2 2 combs
Cummingsville Cem
35 48 15.6
85 27 41.5 5 + 2 ex-combs
Denney-Molloy Cem
35 44 27.5* 85 27 56
14 combs
Simon Dodson Cem
35 47 01.2
85 31 03.6 1 comb
Carter Drake Cem
35 46 54.5* 85 24 22.5 1 comb
Ford Cem
35 46 54.0
85 27 37.4 2 combs
Gravel Hill Cem
35 48 10.6
85 25 34.5 28 combs
Hale-Sodom Cem
35 44 33*
85 29 28.5 ex-comb cem, at least one
sheet metal comb when first visited, now gone.
Haston Cem
35 47 58.5
85 26 20.7 ex-comb cem,
2 children’s ex-combs
Hodges Cem
35 48 56.8
85 28 36.7 28 + 1 or 2 pos ex-combs
Hollingsworth Cem
35 47 55.2
85 29 50.5 11 + 1 or 2 prob ex-combs
Lewis (Cane Creek) Cem
35 45 56*
85 23 47
5 + 1 prob ex-comb
Lonewood Cem
35 45 47*
85 16 42
7 combs
Long Chapel Cem
35 44 02*
85 32 31
13 combs
McElroy Cem
35 47 33*
85 33 55
39 combs
Old Drake Cem
35 44 16.2 85 33 19.2 1 comb
- Seitz (Walling) Cem
35 36 26*
85 26 07.5 possible ex-comb cem,
with 6 graves covered by flat slabs, possibly representing 3 to 6 ex-combs
Sparkmantown (Hopewell) Cem 35 48 27*
85 30 41
22 combs
Sparkman-Yates Cem
35 48 16.7
85 29 42.6 13 combs
Uninscribed
comb covers 1816 grave.
Wilson Cem
35 46 17.3 85 24 02.9 3 combs
WARREN Co.
Armstrong Cem
Blue Springs Cem
Concord Cem
Eureka Church Cem
Mt. Vernon Cem
Pine Bluff Cem
Hash Cem
Riverside Cem
11 comb cems
19 combs extant
35 34 30*
35 32 23.4
35 46 14*
35 43 38.6
35 44 21*
35 47 00*
35 47 20.2
35 40 36*
88
85 44 10
85 51 26.7
85 44 54
85 37 18.3
85 38 17.5
85 37 41
85 37 13.0
85 46 23
1 comb
1 comb
1828
1 comb
1 striped marble comb
1 comb
4 combs
3 combs
1832
2 limestone combs
Rock Island Cem
35 47 50.7 85 36 56.8 ex-comb cem, 2 ex-combs
Shellsford Cem
35 40 15*
85 42 28
3 limestone combs
Woods Cem
35 50 49.5* 85 50 06
2 combs Cem split in half
by DeKalb-Warren county line, but combs thought to lie in Warren Co.
WAYNE Co. KENTUCKY 1 comb cem
No extant combs
NB: This comb cemetery is considered to be part of the main Tennessee comb range.
Taylor Grove Cem
36 44 21*
84 57 14
ex-comb cem, at least one
sheet metal comb present when first visited, now gone.
WHITE Co.
103 comb cems
1280 combs extant
Anderson Cem
35 54 14*
85 33 35
16 combs
Anderson Cem
35 49 39.5* 85 30 56
53 combs
Austin (Anderson) Cem
35 53 16.5* 85 22 27.5 20 + 3 – 4 ex-combs;
uninscribed comb covers 1818 grave; dated combs from 1820s
Baker Cem
35 58 55.5* 85 37 44.5 8 combs
Baker Cem east
35 59 29*
85 31 58
ex-comb cem, 4 ex +
1 pos ex-comb
Bethlehem Cem
35 51 34*
85 28 40
30 + at least 5 ex-combs
Blankenship-Ball-Baker Cem
35 59 52.5
85 33 04.3 2 combs
- Board Valley Church Cem
36 03 02*
85 22 44
possible ex-combs
Richard Bradley Cem
36 00 43.6 85 21 12.4 9 + 1 ex-comb, including
1 1839 comb and 1 1838 ex-comb (dismantled by woman who feared snakes)
Bright Cem
35 49 31.0 85 36 01.3 1 comb
Cash-Farley Cem
36 04 21.1 85 28 50.3 5 combs
Cherry Creek C of C Cem
36 00 23.6 85 25 45.8 6 combs
Chisam Cem
35 49 17.6
85 37 33.3 1 comb
Chisum-Cole
35 49 41.4
85 40 17.4 2 combs
Cooke Cem
35 54 55*
85 35 52.5 4 combs
1830
Cope Cem
35 55 26.5* 85 37 42.5 11 combs
Cope and Sullivan Cem
35 56 47.5
85 36 18.8 2 combs
Crawford Cem
35 54 18.2 85 27 58.9 8 combs
Cunningham Cem
36 04 18.9 85 29 37.8 4 flat sheet metal combs
Cunningham Cem
35 49 32.1
85 25 46.2 9 combs
Davis Cem
35 56 30*
85 31 03
15 + 3 ex-combs
Davis Cem
35 49 34*
85 19 56
22 + 2 ex + 1-2 pos
ex-combs
Dillon Cem
35 49 01.2 85 35 58.4 1 comb
Dillon-Sparkman Cem
35 48 57*
85 34 26.5 18 combs
Dodson Rd. Cem
35 52 29*
85 24 17
ex-comb cem
Doyle Cem north
35 51 19.2 85 30 59.2 1 comb
Doyle Cem south
35 50 47*
85 30 40
8 combs
89
Dumplin Knob Cem
35 53 18.2 85 16 56.0 1 comb
Dyer Cem
36 04 03.9 85 27 52.1 11 combs
England Cem
36 01 36.0
85 30 02.8 4 + 1 pos ex-comb
England Cem (north)
36 02 01.3 85 28 51.7 3 + 1 probable ex-comb
England Cem (south)
36 01 01.0 85 29 01.5 6 combs
Floyd-Cameron Cem
36 00 23.3 85 22 15.4 3 + 1 possible ex-comb
France Cem
36 01 31.5* 85 20 17
13 combs
Fraser combs, Scotts Gulf
35 48 59*
85 21 20
2 combs
Wm. Fraser comb
35 49 03.6
85 22 54.3 1 lone comb
Frasier (Fraser) Cem, Dog Cove 35 52 25.0 85 20 39.5
2 combs
Frazier Chapel Cem
35 49 37*
85 23 55
15 combs
Gooch-Jett Cem
35 52 52.8
85 30 14.9 3 combs
Goodwin Cem
36 03 33.4
85 30 33.1 3 combs
Green Cem
35 52 24.7 85 21 01.6 3 combs
Greenwood Cem
35 50 37*
85 29 56
25 combs
Guy comb
35 49 00.1
85 24 01.0 1 lone comb
Hill Cem
36 02 38.1 85 28 22.6 12 combs
Hudgens Cem
35 55 01*
85 25 04.5 11 combs
1833
Hurd Cem
35 53 07*
85 31 37
53 + 2 ex-combs
- Abel Hutson Cem
35 50 15.0 85 35 56.6 1 possible ex-comb
Hutson Cem No. 3
35 50 21.8 85 36 03.0 24 combs
1833
Isom Cem
36 04 24.7 85 28 42.0 2 combs
Jericho Cem
35 50 05.5* 85 34 14
21 combs
Lance Cem
35 55 56
85 24 16.1 2 combs
Lost Creek Cem
35 52 50*
85 22 08
7 combs
Martin Cem
35 59 52.0 85 38 02.3 2 combs, 1 of which is
missing one side slab
Martin Cem
35 57 27.1
85 33 14.5 10 combs (3 in poor cond.)
McGee Cem
35 59 39.4
85 34 02.4 2 combs
Mitchell Cem (no. 2)
35 52 34.3 85 21 58.1 5 combs
Moon Cem
35 51 40.9
85 25 44.2 1 or 2 ex-combs: several
sandstone comb slabs, representing at least two combs, visible when first visited;
not as many slabs visible when revisited in 2014; slabs gradually being buried.
Moore Cem
35 49 48*
85 36 03
7 combs
Moore Cem No. 2
35 51 48.2 85 35 21.8 3 + 1 prob ex-comb
Moore Cem No. 3
35 52 19.3 85 33 54.0 8 + 1 prob ex-comb +
slabs laid flat that likely represent another 8 combs
Mt Gilead Cem
35 53 42*
85 30 12
138 combs 1836
Mt Gilead contains more combs than any other comb cemetery.
Mt. Pisgah Cem
35 50 52.5 85 35 32.1 126 + 1 prob + 2 pos excombs; perhaps the best comb cemetery in Tennessee for variety; 1817 dated
comb, believed on basis of headstone style to have been erected later than date
New Hope Cem
35 56 51.5* 85 36 26
31 + 5 ex-combs
Oakwood combs
35 59 54.6
85 31 05.0 2 combs right on the edge
of SR 136 ROW
90
-
Officer Cem
35 57 16.3 85 23 06.9 1 pos ex-comb; slabs so
disrupted by growth of a tree that it is not possible to tell for certain if this was a
comb or a box grave; no gable stones visible
Old Bon Air Cem
35 54 51*
85 23 11
3 + 1 possible ex-comb
Old Jericho Cem
35 50 29.0
85 33 51.5 65 + 1 prob ex-comb
Old Sparta Cem
35 55 31*
85 28 02
5 + at least 12 ex-combs +
numerous other graves that likely were once covered by combs
Old Union Cem
35 49 30.4
85 26 26.9 102 + >4 prob ex-combs
Old Zion Cem
35 58 14*
85 33 49
5 + 1 ex + 1 prob ex, plus
ca. 10 – 12 slabs laid flat that may have once been combs
Parks Cem
35 52 06*
85 21 46
3 combs
Peeled Chestnut Cem
35 57 49.5* 85 39 33
6 combs
Pleasant Hill-Davis Cem
35 52 59*
85 28 00
10 + 1 possible ex-comb
Plum Creek Cem
35 59 53*
85 23 55
7 combs
Pollard Cem
35 53 54.9 85 38 26.1 15 combs
Rice Cem
36 02 10.3
85 35 53.5 1 comb + 1 pos ex-comb
Roberts Cem
35 52 12*
85 37 02.5 2 combs
Rogers Cem
35 51 47.1
85 25 47.1 11 + 1 prob ex-comb
Saylor Cem
36 02 12*
85 32 00
28 combs + 1 probable
ex-comb
Scott Cem
36 00 59.9 85 29 56.2 4 combs, likely
5 originally; 1830
Scurlock Cem
35 49 35
85 29 53
12 combs
John Shellito comb
35 52 35.7 85 17 43.5 1 lone headless comb
Simmons Cem
35 48 54*
85 30 06
3 combs
Simrell Cem
35 51 36*
85 36 14
24 combs
Smith Cem
36 00 04.8 85 29 26.0 2 combs
John L. Smith comb
35 55 23.5 85 17 53.2 1 lone comb; difficult to
locate: badly overgrown area, no good landmarks; should be sought in winter.
Southard Cem
36 00 22.5
85 34 51.6 3 combs
Charlie Sparkman Cem
35 50 49.7 85 37 23.0 5 + 1 ex-comb
Swindell Cem
35 51 48*
85 36 28.5 3 combs
Templeton Cem
35 50 39.5 85 35 19.5 1 comb
Tollison Cem
36 00 16.5* 85 34 32
5 + 1 ex-comb
Underwood Cem
35 50 39.3 85 31 45.0 2 combs
Upper Cherry Creek Cem
36 01 14.7 85 26 39.0 5 + 1 possible ex-comb
Walling-Randals Cem
35 52 15.5* 85 31 44
38 combs
Walker–England Cem
35 58 31.4
85 32 45.5 3 combs + 2 ex-combs
Ward-Cashdollar Cem
35 55 26.5* 85 33 21
5 combs
Welch Cem
35 50 32.4 85 17 51.9 ex-comb cem, 2 or 3 excombs
Wesley Chapel Cem
35 58 23*
85 36 46.5 13 combs
Wheeler Cem
35 58 27.5* 85 25 19.5 4 + 1 ex-comb
White Cem
35 54 49.8
85 30 40.3 19 combs
White Cem
35 50 03.5
85 25 46.5 1 + 1 ex + 1 pos ex-comb
Wilhite Cem
36 03 59.3 85 29 07.5 13 combs
91
Wilson Cem
35 52 49*
several combs from the 1820s
Winstead Cem
35 53 51.5
Young Cem
35 54 11.3
Young-Hensley Chapel Cem
35 54 27*
85 24 41
13 combs, including
85 34 28.9 2 combs
85 32 55.7 6 combs
85 31 47
11 combs
Number of comb cems in main Tennessee comb range, inc. ex-comb cems: 406
Number of comb cems with extant combs: 372
Number of ex-comb cems: 34
Number of possible comb cems, not included in above totals: 9
Total number of extant combs: 3178
TENNESSEE COMB CEMETERIES OUTSIDE THE MAIN COMB RANGE
BEDFORD Co.
1 comb cem
Shofner Cem
35 26 47.4
combs, Shofner boys, both d. 1854
CANNON Co.
86 19 46.6
1 comb cem
Curlee Cem
35 46 37*
86 09 46.5
low walls, something of a hybrid comb-gravehouse
LINCOLN Co.
2 limestone children’s
1 cement comb with very
1 comb cem
Roper Cem
35 01 16.1 86 46 17.5
the southwesternmost known combs in Tennessee
2 limestone combs,
RUTHERFORD Co. 1 comb cem
Science Hill Cem
35 49 28*
86 14 52.5
1 5-Vee sheet metal comb
35 27 55
85 26 44
1 comb, though two when
SEQUATCHIE Co. 1 comb cem
McGlothen Cem
first visited
Number of comb cems in Tennessee, including cems outside the main range: 411
Number of comb cems with extant combs: 377
Total number of extant combs: 3185
92
APPENDIX B: Limestone Comb Graves
NB: GPS set for NAD 27 datum (same datum used for topos)
NB: * indicates lat-long measured from the quads, not on-site GPS readings.
First number after quad name = number of comb cemeteries in quad. Number of extant
combs in quad given in brackets [ ]
LIMESTONE COMBS IN THE MAIN TENNESSEE COMB RANGE:
Alto Q – 4 [15 extant]
20 Caldwell Cem
21 Cash Cem
22 Old Baptist Cem
35 16 55.5*
35 22 21.7
35 18 45.2
85 53 10
85 57 22.5
85 53 05.6
6 limestone combs
4 limestone combs
3 limestone combs
85 32 42
2 limestone combs
68 Payne Cove Cem
35 19 32.5*
69 Warren Cem
35 18 08*
Byrdstown Q – 3 [6 extant]
85 49 45
85 52 29
1 limestone comb
1 limestone comb
70 Eligah Garrett Cem
36 31 20.0
85 08 48.2
1 limestone comb
35 15 17.1
86 00 09.4
3 limestone combs
85 42 28
3 limestone combs
Burristown Q – 5 [10 extant]
64 Lynn Cem
36 22 58*
Burrow Cove Q – 2 [2 extant]
Capitol Hill Q – 1 [3 extant]
83 Partin Cem
Cardwell Mtn. Q – 2 [4 extant]
85 Shellsford Cem
35 40 15*
Hillsboro Q – 4 [18 extant]
232 Phillips Cem
35 23 54.7
85 57 16.4 3 limestone combs (plus
10 sandstone combs in same cemetery)
233 Price Cem
35 24 24*
85 55 32
1 dressed limestone comb
234 Stephenson Cem
35 23 50.5
85 55 36.5 3 dressed limestone
combs, one sidescribed (plus 1 sandstone comb in same cemetery)
93
Liberty Q – 1 [1 extant]
241 New Hope Cem
36 04 50*
85 59 50
1 limestone comb
86 00 19.5
2 limestone combs,
85 46 23
2 limestone combs
85 03 36.9
1 limestone comb
Manchester Q – 1 [2 extant]
270 Hickerson Cem
35 27 11.4
somewhat crudely constructed
McMinnville – 1 [2 extant]
271 Riverside Cem
35 40 36*
Moodyville Q – 5 [7 extant]
300 Campbell-Canute Cem 36 36 03.6
Winchester Q -1 [13 extant]
381 Perkins Cem
35 14 20.1
86 03 12.3 12 limestone combs
(plus 1 child’s comb of pink marble; the southwestern most combs in the main
Tennessee comb range)
LIMESTONE COMBS OUTSIDE THE MAIN COMB RANGE:
Dellrose Q, Lincoln Co.
Roper Cem
35 01 16.1
86 46 17.5
the southwesternmost known combs in Tennessee
2 limestone combs,
Normandy Q, Bedford Co.
Shofner Cem
35 26 47.4
combs, Shofner boys, both d. 1854
86 19 46.6
TOTALS: 53 limestone combs in 19 cemeteries
94
2 limestone children’s
APPENDIX C: Marble and Shale Comb Graves
NB: GPS set for NAD 27 datum (same datum used for topos)
NB: * indicates lat-long measured from the quads, not on-site GPS readings.
First number after quad name = number of comb cemeteries in quad. Number of extant
combs in quad given in brackets [ ]
MARBLE COMB GRAVES:
Welchland Q – 3 [15 extant]
375 Eureka Church Cem
striped marble
35 43 38.6
85 37 18.4
1 comb of black & white
Winchester Q -1 [13 extant - 12 limestone, 1 marble]
381 Perkins Cem
35 14 20.1
marble (plus 12 limestone combs)
86 03 12.3
1 child’s comb of pink
85 45 27.2
1 infant’s comb made of
CHATTANOOGA SHALE COMB GRAVES:
Buffalo Valley Q – 3 [8 extant]
53 Russell Cem
36 08 11.0
slabs of Chattanooga Shale
TOTALS: 2 marble combs and 1 Chattanooga shale comb in 3 cemeteries
95
APPENDIX D: Concrete and Cement Comb Graves
NB: GPS set for NAD 27 datum (same datum used for topos)
NB: * indicates lat-long measured from the quads, not on-site GPS readings.
First number after quad name = number of comb cemeteries in quad. Number of extant
combs in quad given in brackets [ ]
CONCRETE &/or CEMENT COMBS IN THE MAIN TENNESSEE COMB RANGE:
NB: One of the noteworthy characteristics of all of the concrete/cement combs listed
below is the obvious mimicry of the traditional stone comb. The sideslabs are imitated,
in the forming of the concrete (or cement), as are the recessed triangular gable stones.
Buffalo Valley Q – 3 [8 extant]
51 Lancaster Cem
36 07 39.3
85 51 21.6 4 concrete combs
Note: These combs share a continuous base and appear to have been all
constructed at the same time.
52 Rock Springs Cem.
36 09 34.6
85 46 56.8 2 concrete combs
Note: In addition to sharing a concrete base, these combs have a modified form,
with the crest being somewhat rounded rather than reaching a sharp apex.
Okalona Q 30 [324 extant]
327 Liberty Cem
36 19 17.2
85 16 49.5 2 cement combs (along
with 20 sandstone combs). Combs appear to be the work of the same craftsman
who erected the cement comb in nearby Okalona Cem.
331 Okalona Cem
36 19 18.0
85 20 21.3 1 cement comb (along with
31 sandstone combs). Comb appears to be the work of the same craftsman who
erected the cement combs in nearby Liberty Cem.
CONCRETE &/or CEMENT COMBS OUTSIDE THE MAIN COMB RANGE:
Readyville Q – 2 [2 extant]
Curlee Cem
35 46 37*
86 09 46.5
low walls, something of a hybrid comb-gravehouse
TOTALS: 10 concrete or cement combs in 5 cemeteries
96
1 cement comb with very
APPENDIX E: Sheet Metal Comb Graves
NB: GPS set for NAD 27 datum (same datum used for topos)
NB: * indicates lat-long measured from the quads, not on-site GPS readings.
First number after quad name = number of comb cemeteries in quad. Number of extant
combs in quad given in brackets [ ]
UID = Unidentified cemetery, no basis on which to name.
SHEET METAL COMBS IN THE MAIN TENNESSEE COMB CEMETERY RANGE:
Baxter Q – 4 [4 extant]
47 Halfacre Cem
36 14 11*
1 5-Vee metal comb
85 40 04
ex-comb cem, formerly
Cookeville East Q – 15 [47 extant]
108 Bear Creek Cem
36 14 27.6
85 25 57.5 2 combs, for a husband
and wife, erected in 1983 & 2001 respectively, and made of 5-Vee roofing metal;
formerly 2 others metal combs, which have been removed. (Cemetery also
contains 1 sandstone comb.)
Cookeville West Q – 17 [59 extant]
134 Post Oak Shade Cem 36 11 15.6
85 33 54.9 1 sheet metal comb when
first visited, now gone. (Cemetery still features 2 sandstone combs.)
Dry Valley Q – 16 [79 extant]
201 Cunningham Cem
36 04 18.9
85 29 37.8 4 flat sheet metal combs
Combs are riveted and the seams appear to be sealed with a tarry substance.
Hillsboro Q – 4 [18 extant]
231 Lambert Cem
35 23 20.2
85 55 57.1
comb photographed by Ball, 1977, now gone
ex-comb cem; metal
Monterey Q – 18 [168 extant]
292 Whittaker Cem
36 08 42.8
85 15 36.8 1 comb made of flat sheet
metal painted silver. (Cemetery also contains 9 sandstone combs.)
97
Obey City 6 [32 extant]
308 Pierce Cem
36 13 35.5
85 13 37.2 8 metal combs (the
greatest number of metal combs in a single cemetery): 4 5-Vee sheet metal
combs & 4 corrugated roofing combs. (Cemetery also contains 11 sandstone
combs.)
Okalona Q 30 [324 extant]
323 Harris Chapel Cem
36 15 31*
85 18 25
ex-comb cem, at least one
sheet metal comb present when first visited, now gone
Pall Mall Q – 1 [0 extant]
341 Jasper Pile Cem
36 32 48.5* 84 56 40 ex-comb cem, said to have had 3-4
metal combs at one time; at least one sheet metal comb present when first
visited, now gone
Powersburg KY Q – 1 [0 extant]
344 Taylor Grove Cem
36 44 21*
84 57 14
ex-comb cem, at least one
sheet metal comb present when first visited, now gone
Riverton Q - 6 [14 extant]
350 Wright Cem
36 25 22*
85 03 21
one sheet metal comb when first visited, now gone
ex-comb cem, at least
Spencer Q – 2 [14 extant}
371 Hale-Sodom Cem
35 44 33*
85 29 28.5
sheet metal comb when first visited, now gone
ex-comb cem, at least one
SHEET METAL COMBS OUTSIDE THE MAIN COMB RANGE
Readyville Q – 2 [2 extant]
Science Hill Cem
of 5-Vee roofing
35 49 28*
86 14 52.5
1 sheet metal comb made
TOTALS: A minimum of 26 metal combs (6 no longer extant) in 13 cemeteries
98
APPENDIX F:
EARLY COMB GRAVE DATES
Bald Knob quad: Sparkman-Yates Cem.: George T. Sparkman, died 1816, is buried
under an undated, uninscribed comb, possibly erected in 1816, or possibly later.
Doyle quad: Mt. Pisgah Cem.: 1817 (comb probably erected at a later date: stylistic
considerations, plus the fact that the church was not established until 1820)
DeRossett quad – Austin Cem.: Rachel Austin, died 1818, is buried in an un-dated
comb
Okalona quad – Roaring River Cem.: 1822
De Rossett quad – Austin Cem.: 1823, 1825, 1826, 1833, 1839
Sparta quad – Wilson Cem.: 1824, 1826, 1827
Viola quad – Blue Springs Cem.: 1828
Cassville quad – Cooke Cem.: 1830
Dry Valley quad – Scott Cem.: 1830
Doyle quad – Hash Cem.: 1832
Alpine quad: Old Alpine Cem.: 1833
Doyle quad – Hutson Cem. No. 3: 1833
Sparta quad – Hudgens Cem.: 1833
Winchester quad – Perkins Cem.: 1835 (at southernmost end of main Tennessee comb
range)
Cassville quad – Mt. Gilead Cem.: 1836
Dale Hollow Dam quad – Fitzgerald Cem.: (very near northern end of main Tennessee
comb range): 1839
Monterey Lake quad – Richard Bradley Cem.: 1838 ex-comb, 1839 comb
This sampling of early dates indicates that by the end of the 1830s the
comb tradition had spread throughout its main Tennessee range, i.e., in about
two decades after its introduction, which likely occurred in the decade 1810-1820.
99
APPENDIX G: Comb Grave Church Associations
COMBS PRESENT AT THESE 74 CHURCH CEMETERIES:
BAPTIST: 32
Bald Knob quad: Big Fork Primitive Baptist Ch.* Cem. (church, ca. 1808 -1856, not extant);
Greenwood Church*; Ole Bethel Church (Scurlock Cem.)*
Campaign quad: Concord Church Cem.
Cardwell Mtn. quad: Shellsford Church
Cassville quad: Hensley Chapel Free Will Baptist Church (note: cemetery pre-dates
church); New Hope Missionary Baptist Church
Clarkrange quad: Mt. Union Baptist Church (Camp Ground Cem.)
Cookeville East quad: Bear Creek Church (metal combs + 1 stone comb)
Cookeville West quad: Post Oak Shade Church (2 combs + formerly 1 metal comb)
Crawford quad: Falling Springs Missionary Baptist Church
Dale Hollow Res. SE quad: Fellowship Church
Dellrose quad: Roper Primitive Baptist Church
Doyle quad: Anderson Baptist Church; Hopewell Baptist Church (Sparkmantown Cem.)
Hilham quad: Old Union Church (original church used by Baptist, Methodist, and
Presbyterian congregations, later just Baptist)
Irving College quad: Philadelphia Baptist Church of Christ
Kinlock Spring AL quad: Posey Mill Missionary Baptist Church
Liberty quad: New Hope Southern Baptist Church
Monterey quad: Shady Grove Free Will Baptist Church; Woodcliff Church
Monterey Lake quad: Johnson Chapel Baptist Church (est. 1835)
Obey City quad: Hanging Limb Missionary Baptist Church
Okalona quad: Harris Chapel Freewill Baptist Church (had at least one metal comb
when first visited; none in 2012); Liberty Freewill Baptist Church; Roaring River
Primitive Baptist Church* (church building long gone)
Powersburg KY quad: Taylors Grove United Baptist Church (had at least one metal
Comb when first visited; gone in 2012)
Riverton quad: Wright Baptist Church (had at least one metal comb when first visited;
gone in 2012)
Sparta quad: Pleasant Hill Baptist Church
Viola quad: Blue Spring Church (1807-1858) (church building long gone)*
Windle quad: Poplar Springs Missionary Baptist Church (ex-combs)
Wofford KY quad: Redbird Baptist Church
METHODIST: 17
Bald Knob quad: Cummingsville Church; Frazer’s United Methodist Chapel
Campaign quad: Pine Bluff Church (Baptist in 2013, but formerly Methodist)
Cardwell Mtn. quad: Mt. Vernon Methodist Church (no longer in use)
Cassville quad: Mt. Gilead Church; Wesley Chapel United Methodist
Cookeville East quad: Salem Church (3 probable ex-combs)
Dale Hollow Res. SE quad: Mt. Pisgah Church*
DeRossett quad: Lost Creek United Methodist Church
Doyle quad: Mt. Pisgah Church
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Hilham quad: McFerrin Church
Okalona quad: Bethlehem Church; Okalona*
Sligo Bridge quad: Peeled Chestnut Church
Vandever quad: Hale’s Chapel (no longer in service)
Windle quad: Mt. Gilead Church; Zion Hill Church
CHURCH OF CHRIST: 11
Bald Knob quad: Bethlehem Church*
Burristown quad: Pleasant Hill Church*
Doyle quad: Church of Christ at Jericho; Church of Christ at McElroy
Dry Valley quad: Cherry Creek Church
Herbert Domain quad: Church of Christ at Newton
Hilham quad: Old Flat Creek Church
Irving College quad: Armstrong Church
Livingston quad: Walnut Grove Church
Readyville quad: Church of Christ at Curlee (cement comb)
Welchland quad: Church of Christ at Eureka
PRESBYTERIAN: 5
Bald Knob quad: Old Union Cumberland Presbyterian Church (ca. 1805)*
Cassville quad: Old Zion Cumberland Presbyterian Church (1810)
Dry Valley quad: Upper Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church U.S.A., established 1800
(presently a Baptist Church)
Hilham quad: Camp Ground Church
Okalona quad: Ruth Chapel Cumberland Presbyterian Church
CHRISTIAN CHURCH: 1
Byrdstown quad: Hatcher Hall Cem.
LUTHERAN CHURCH: 1
Normandy quad: Shofner Cem.*
OTHER DENOMINATIONS: 3
Burristown quad: New Hope Community Church*
Okalona quad: Fredonia Community Church
Wofford KY quad: Canada Town Holiness Church*
CEMS ASSOCIATED WITH CHURCHES OF UNKNOWN DENOMINATION: 4
Bald Knob quad: Cane Creek Church (no longer in use; denom. unk.)
Cookeville East quad: Officers Chapel (no longer in use; denom. unk.)
Cookeville West quad: Judd Church (no longer standing in 1999, denom. unk.)
Welchland quad: Long Church (no longer standing, denom. unk.
*Indicates denomination information from internet source
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APPENDIX H: Former Comb Cemetery Inventory
Cems which once had combs, but which no longer do: 33 – 32 in TN, 1 in KY.
(If eight possible ex-comb cemeteries—indicated below by *-- are included, the excomb cemetery total = 41.)
Cems from which all combs lost since first visited: 21 – 20 in TN, 1 in KY
UID = Unidentified cemetery, no basis on which to name.
QUAD
CEMETERY
Alpine Q:
Allison (Winton) Cem. –recorded on original comb survey as a comb cemetery;
no combs extant in 2013 and caretaker claims there have never been
combs here.
Robbins Cem. --about a mile SW of Bolestown Ch. (combs when originally
visited; as of 6/2013 6 ex-combs, all slabs laid flat)
Bald Knob Q:
Haston Cem. –2 children’s ex-combs
Dodson Rd. Cem. near old distillery: at least one comb present when first visited
(1960s?); cemetery completely gone by 2002.
Moon Cem.--1 or 2 ex-combs: several sandstone comb slabs, representing at
least two combs, visible when first visited; not as many slabs visible
when revisited in 2014; slabs gradually being buried. Mr. Rogers, 95 yrs.
old in 2013, said these stones have lain here as long as he can
remember, but he has no memory of them as intact combs.
Baxter Q:
Halfacre Cem.-- at least 1 sheet metal ex-comb when first visited; collapsed as of
2010.
Burgess Falls Q:
West Cem.– no extant combs; 1 for certain ex-comb, to possibly as many as 4.
Burristown Q:
Hall Cem.—no extant combs, but one when first visited; dismantled as of 2012.
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Campaign Q:
Len Cantrell Cem. --no extant combs, but Ronnie Cantrell (current landowner,
who is very familiar with comb graves) states that Jerry Wright, who was born in
a log house very near this cem, told him there were combs present until the
property was bought by a developer prior to Cantrell’s ownership; the developer
took the stones for use elsewhere; broken slabs still lie beside the cem.
Campbell Jcn Q:
Rains Cem.—no extant combs, at least one when first visited; gone in 2012.
Cassville Q:
Baker Cem. east – no extant combs, but 4 ex-combs + 1 possible ex-comb.
Cookeville East Q:
Campbell-Bohannon Cem. -- 4 or 5 combs photographed in 1979; all gone when
revisited in 2012.
Phillips Cem.-- combs present when first visited in 1970s; all combs gone as of
6/2012; reportedly removed by family members who feared vandalism..
*Salem Church Cem. – no extant combs, but 3 probable ex-combs.
Cookeville West Q:
Cooke Cem.-- at least 1 comb present when first visited; no trace in 2012.
Crossville Q:
*Crossville City Cem. – no extant combs; 2 possible ex-combs.
Dale Hollow Reservoir SE Q:
Old Bethel Cem.-- combs when first visited; none in 3/2013; present
groundskeeper says there were originally at least 2, possibly 3, that they
were in poor condition and former groundskeeper (now deceased) took
them down.
Doyle Q:
*Abel Hutson Cem.--remains of one pos. comb, cannot tell for sure
Rock Island Cem.– no extant combs, 2 ex-combs
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Dry Valley Q:
*Board Valley Free Will Baptist Church Cem. –no extant combs, but there are
Numerous “arrowhead” style headstones which generally occur with
combs; however these are not paired with matching footstones, so they
may never have been associated with combs.
Robinson – Stallion Cem. — no extant combs; 9 or more ex-combs.
Whiteaker Cem.-- 2 ex-combs, completely collapsed; dismantled in 2013 during
construction of new home; owners stated (in 2014) that they intended to restore
the combs; they eventually re-set the headstones but not the combs, instead
using the broken side slabs in a small patio.
Hilham Q:
*Campground Cem. – no extant combs, but 2 probable ex-combs, possibly 3 or 4
originally.
Hillsboro Q:
Lambert Cem. – no extant combs; 1 sheet metal comb photographed by Ball
(1977)
Livingston Q:
Ben Allen grave, one lone comb grave stood 2 blocks west of courthouse square;
moved (supposedly to Bethlehem Church Cem.) as of 1997. Commercial
development of the property followed.
Old Walnut Grove Cem. -1 ex-comb + 1 pos. ex-comb
Walnut Grove Cem. – no extant combs in 2/2012; at least one when first visited.
Lonewood Q:
Welch Cem.– no extant combs, but 2 or 3 ex-combs.
Obey City Q:
*Pine Ridge Cem. –1 pos. ex-comb
Okalona Q:
Christian Cem. – marked on original survey as a comb cem; no trace of
combs in 2012; farm manager of many years claims there have never
been any combs here.
Harris Chapel Cem. – no trace of a comb in 2012; had at least one metal comb
when first visited in 1980s.
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Jones Cem. (1 probable ex-comb) – no combs in 2012; had at least one
when first visited in 1970s or 80s.
Phillips-Martin Cem. -- combs present when first visited; when revisited in 2012
there were only the remains of 2 or 3 combs laid flat)
*Wells Cem. –1 pos. ex-comb; said to have been combs here (Wm. Carmack)
Pall Mall Q:
Jasper Pile Cem. -ex-comb cem, said to have had 3-4 metal combs at one time;
at least one sheet metal comb present when first visited, gone when
revisited in 2012
Powersburg, KY Q:
Taylor Grove Cem. -- metal comb, seen in 1990s, not photographed; gone when
revisited in 2012
Riverton Q:
Wright Cem. --1 metal comb when first visited; gone when revisited in 2012
Smartt Mtn. Q:
*Seitz Cem. (Walling Cem. on quadrangle) -- 6 graves covered by flat rectangular
sandstone slabs of proper size for comb side slabs; possibly or likely the
remains of at least 3 comb graves, if not 6; no triangular end stones
present in 2012.
Spencer Q:
Hale – Sodom Cem.--1 metal comb here in 1970s; gone when revisited in 2012.
Windle Q:
Isaac Gore Masters Cem. – marked on original survey as a comb cem; no
trace of combs in 2012; several local witnesses say there never were any
combs, but Mrs. Patty Huddleston and her aunt believe there was one.
Poplar Springs Cem. -- no extant combs; 7 ex-combs.
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