EASLEY FAMILY CEMETERY, Pickens County, SC A.K.A. Easley & Greenville, SC Version 2.3, 15-Jul-2003, P170.TXT, P170 ******************************************************************************** It's believed that the usage of any original work submittals contained within these webpages such as articles, compiling, photographs or graphics, conform to Fair Use Doctrine & Copyright Guidelines. COPYRIGHT NOTE: (1.) Works published before 1923, are considered to be public- domain. (2.) Works published 1923-1977 without a copyright notice, are considered to be public-domain. (3.) Unpublished non-copyrighted works will have Author permission for public-domain. Facts, names, dates, events, places & data can not be copyrighted. Narration, compilations and creative works can be copyrighted. Copyright law in the U.S. does not protect facts or data, just the presentation of this data. REPRODUCING NOTICE: These electronic pages may only be reproduced for personal or 501(c) Not-For-Profit Society use. Use the following names, if, you would like to give any author compiling credit. AUTHORS: Paul M. Kankula-NN8NN & Gary L. Flynn-KE8FD *********************************************************************** 05-01-15 HISTORY WRITE-UP : Nancy Hawkins at mshawk220@aol.com in Jun-2003 Barbara Eades at bleades@qwestinternet.net in Jun-2003 TRANSCRIPTION .. : Nancy Hawkins at mshawk220@aol.com in Jun-2003 CEMETERY LOCATION: ------------------ Locate intersection of Highways 123 & 135 (S) of Easley. Drive (E) on Highway 123. In 6.0 miles turn right (SE) onto SR S39-37 (S Fishtrap Rd). In 0.5 miles turn right (SW) onto SR S39-145 (S Crosswell Dr). Go straight and cemetery is located on your right. Cemetery is surrounded by a black wrought iron fence. As of Jun-2003, the cemetery is overgrown with weeds. Latitude N 34 49.473 x Longitude W 82 29.247 CHURCH/CEMETERY HISTORY: ------------------------ This cemetery was commonly referred to as the Old Easley Cemetery - est. 1700. It is now called the Easley Family Cemetery and was designated a Pickens County Heritage Landmark in 2002 by the Pickens County Council. A local watch group keeps an eye on the place. As of Jun-2003, the place is overgrown with scrub brush and in need of a good cleaning and spraying with Roundup-Pro. ENTRANCE PLAQUE: Easley Family Cemetery. Here, in graves marked with plain field stone, over 100 unknown Pioneers, Revolutionary War and Civil War veterans are buried. The cemetery is on land obtained shortly after the Revolution by Robert ( Robin ) Easley ( died 1806 ) and was named Riverside Plantation. His grandson, William King Easley, ( 1825-1872 ) for whom the town of Easley was named, was buried here. He, with other immediate family members, was moved in 1976 to Springwood Cemetery in Greenville. It is believed that members of the Easley, Blassingame, Field, Lark, Sloan and other family members are buried here. This area, the Crosswell Community, was named for a nearby point on the Saluda River that could be " crossed well " ( forded safely ). A branch of the Great Wagon Trail crossed the river here. (Nancy Hawkins) MEMORIAL MARKER: This is the memorial stone reading at the entrance to the Easley Cemetery, Easley, SC. It reads: "In Memory Robert and Mary Allen Easley Thomas, Nancy Easley and Sarah Edmonson Blassingame and to those who rest here known only to God." The land was originally owned by Robert Easley the father-in-law of General John Blassingame and Thomas Blassingame who is featured in the current and Feb 2002 editions. The clean-up of this cemetery was spearheaded by Horace Craig with help from his son Phillip, Lida Finley, and Darrell Anthony descendants of Thomas & Nancy Easley Blassingame. Numerous descendants of Thomas and his wives Nancy and Sarah have contributed financially to this clean- up effort. The property was recently surveyed, and a new iron fence installed. Some of the stones were replaced. The following people have been identified as being buried here: Mary Obedience Field 1833 - 1857, Mary E wife of R. A. Blassingame February 19, 1829 - March 5, 1883, Infant Daughter of Wm. and R. E. Ellis December 19, 1882, William Rupert Field 1866, John Allen Easley 1781 - 1864, R. E. Blassingame September 3, 1801 - July 25, 1882 and 2nd wife Millie Blassingame February 21, 1814 - June 15, 1891, Nancy Bowen 1st wife of R. E. Blassingame no date and their Sons Robert A, Sam, Thomas, James no date, Sam Easley, Henry Lark and wife. (Barbara Eades) A new entrance "marker" has been placed. A cousin of mine, Horace Craig, spearheaded the cleanup of this cemetery think it was 2 years ago now. He, his son, and 2 other cousins of mine, Darrell Anthony and Lida Finley helped out. They hired some heavy equipment and really cleaned it up beautifully. Of course, such an undertaking is virtually perpetual as if it is not maintained the overgrowth starts right back again. They had it surveyed again to make sure there was no encroachment, and I think also for legal purposes. There was an article in I think the Pickens newspaper about their undertaking. They sent me a copy, but I will have to find it. When the heavy equipment was in there cleaning, etc., one of them would walk in front of it (so obviously the equipment was going very slow) so if there was an obvious grave the equipment could avoid it. Numerous descendants that were not able to participate physically did participate financially as obviously it was not an inexpensive project and we felt it was only fair to do so. I do have pictures of the new entrance "marker" both the front and back that I could send to you if you like. The County paid for and has completed the wrought iron fence around it. It is my understanding the County did this as it is of historical nature being so old. (Barbara Eades) Reference: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/sc/pickens/cemeteries/p170/ Image Easley3.jpg Note: This is Robert Easley (R.E.) Blassingame son of Thomas Blassingame and Nancy Easley and his 2nd wife Mildred "Millie" Jackson (parentage unknown at this time). Their son David Westfield Blassingame is buried in the Field Burying Ground where his cousins Eliza Jane "Jennie" Blassingame Field and husband Dr. William T (W.T.) Field are burried. Jennie & Dr. Field's only child, a son, Rupert (William Rupert I think) is buried in the Easley Cemetery having died at age 6 weeks. (Barbara Eades) Dear Mr. Kankula; In answer to your recent question: A cemetery below Easley was identified by a group of citizens as having historical significance. The name of this cemetery was "Easley Family Cemetery". This situation was brought to the attention of Pickens County Council. Council decided that this cemetery warranted special consideration as there were members of the Easley family interred there. This family is the namesake for the City of Easley. Council therefore decided to appropriate funds to fence off the cemetery to stop encroachment from nearby development and erect a sign with the historical summary on it. No other cemeteries have been considered for enclosure at this time. If you need more information, or if I can be of further assistance please let me know. Rebecca Sink, Temp for: Sheila Tinsley Administrative Assistant Pickens County Administration Office 222 McDaniel Ave., B-2 Pickens, SC 29671 864-898-5844 TOMBSTONE TRANSCRIPTION NOTES: ------------------------------ a. = age at death b. = date-of-birth d. = date-of-death h. = husband m. = married p. = parents w. = wife BLASSINGAME, Mary E., b. 19-feb-1829, d. 15/25-mar-1883, h. r.a. blassingame BLASSINGAME, Millie, b. 21-feb-1814 BLASSINGAME, R.E., b. 3-sep-1801, d. 28-jul-1882, w. nancy bowen blassingame, sons robert a., sam, thomas, james blassingame BLASSINGAME, Sarah Edmonson EASLEY, John Allen, b. 1781, d. 1864 EASLEY, Mary Allen EASLEY, Nancy EASLEY, Robert EASLEY, Sam, jan-18?? EASLEY, Thomas ELLIS, Infant Daughter, b. 19-dec-1882, d. 19-dec-1882, p. william & r.e. ellis FIELD, Joseph A., d. 3-mar-1842, a. 39y-1m-17d, scared to the memory of, in same plot with mary obedience field FIELD, Mary Obedience, b. 1833, d. 1857 FIELD, Robert S.E., d. 21-may-1847, a. 12y-2m-1d, p. j.a. & e.e. field, scared to the memory of, in same plot with mary obedience field FIELD, William Rupert, 1866 LARK, ? LARK, Harriett L., b. 25-nov-1820, d. 14-dec-1856, " That welcome face, that sparkling eye and sprightly form, now buried lies. Deep in the cold, silent gloom, the rayless night fills the tomb." note: This tribute of love placed to the memory of his beloved wife, harriett l. lark. LARK, Henry, w. harriett l. lark Nancy Hawkins: I have further information on this family for anyone who might be interested. My great grandparents are buried at this cemetery.