J.W. Gore is standing beside the headstone for Levi Byram
photo by Scott Akridge, 2003
White County Historical Society members Scott Akridge of Bradford and Bill Leach of Searcy visited this cemetery September 15, 2003, at the request of Marion Haynes of Blytheville, a member of the Arkansas Archeological Society. The cemetery, which is labeled Gyles on a McRae topographical map, is on property belonging to J.W. and Judy Gore, 780 Highway 13, Hickory Plains, AR. Akridge, a former president of the state archeological society, prepared the following report:
"Mr. Gore took us to the cemetery, which is about one-half mile south of his house. The western boundary of the cemetery is the Lonoke-Prairie County line. The cemetery is actually in Prairie County. Cemetery is 25 meters east west and 53 meters north south. We found five graves with information. Cemetery has about 50 trees which are six inches in diameter or larger. There are no briars but the cemetery is covered in two-foot-tall weeds. We found that all graves with a rock or tombstone had been marked with a blue surveyor's flag. This was done very recently and without the knowledge of Mr. Gore.
"Mr. Gore was aware that an old Presbyterian church stood within approximately 100 meters east of the cemetery and that an early road passed on the north side of the cemetery. He does not know when the church was disbanded or the building torn down. The road is no longer identifiable at this location, but can be seen to the east of Mr. Gore's house. The east and south sides of the cemetery are bordered by minnow ponds. The north and west sides of the cemetery are rice fields. We drove to the site from Gore Road, which is one-quarter mile east of the cemetery. The path to the cemetery was quite crooked as it wound around the minnow ponds.
"Mr. Gore believes 34 or more people are buried here, based on his discussions with persons now dead who were knowledgeable about the cemetery. We found six graves marked with rock. At least two of these rocks are about six inches by six inches by thirty inches. We found five graves marked with cedar trees or cedar stumps. We found four graves marked with yucca cactus. We found the top eight inches or so of what may have been a wooden post or cross. The wood appeared to be cedar and was pointed on one end and was found next to the ‘William’ grave. There were at least six more graves identified only by oblong depressions in the ground. Mr. Gore said he was told that three depressions near the south line of the cemetery were graves that had been dug up and moved to Butlerville, a small town nearby. My impression is that the graves may still be here. Bill Leach feels that the graves have been moved, an event so unusual that he thinks local residents would surely remember it. These three graves are located in the southeast corner of the cemetery.
"Mr. Gore also observed that in clearing the land to the south of the cemetery, a bulldozer operator had pushed some dirt across the south line of the cemetery. A mound of dirt approximately two feet high was left by the dozer. It did not cover any graves but he told the dozer operator that he did not want the cemetery bothered in any way and was unhappy with this incident. This mound is near the southeast corner of the cemetery--to the east of the ‘removed’ graves and could be easily cleared away.
"Mr. Gore is an accomplished genealogist and can trace his line into at least the 1500s England. He has a genealogical chart of his family hanging on the wall. He also builds doll house-size models of old homes in his family by reconstructing them from old photos. One of these was a dogtrot house. The Gores were very gracious to us and Mr. Gore gave us permission to list the cemetery on the White County Historical Society Web site. He stated his desire to preserve the cemetery property and that he would support and assist any descendants of those interred who wanted to clean up the cemetery."
If you have additional information on this cemetery, contact the White County Historical Society, P.O. Box 537, Searcy, AR 72145.
Bryles, Adeline W. – born March 23, 1817 – died June 7, 1859 (marble tombstone). "A cedar tree one meter south is said to mark the grave of a brother. Husband said to be buried one meter north. It was obvious that a grave existed one meter south. We could not tell that a grave existed one meter north. UTM 15 0609256 3875332 NAD 1927 Garmin Etrex Summit (accuracy of reading was to 54 feet as GPS had more difficulty than usual locking onto satellites). GPS readings were taken at the head of each observed grave but not included in this letter. This information is available upon request."
Byram, Levi - born March 14, 1803 - died July 27, 1860 "A somewhat unusual marker for the area. It was fallen but was a three-foot tall marble tombstone with a cross high center. It had fins on the bottom, which inset into a notch in the base. The base was originally set on top of a flat slab of sandstone. A hole in the base and the sandstone indicated that an iron? bar probably once connected the two together."
Laux, Helen – died May 10, 1912
Laux – died December 23, 1912
Wm – no other information or dates (appears to mean William) (concrete)
(The following information on Levi Byram was submitted to the White County Historical Society in 2005 by Levi’s descendent Jennifer Shipley of Justin, Texas, who wrote the following: “I see on your website that Levi Byram is buried at the Bryles Family Cemetery on the Lonoke/Prairie county line in Arkansas. I have the family history of Levi Byram as he is my 1st cousin seven times removed and also the husband of my 5th great-grandaunt. I notice as many as 24 people are buried there, but only four readable markers. Also, I believe that my 4th great-grandfather William Wilbourn Geron is also buried there as is his wife Emily. Huldah Rigney was the cousin of Levi Byram. William Wilborn Geron family is below that of Levi's.”)
Descendants of Levi Byram
Generation No. 1
LEVI7 BYRAM (EBENEZER6, EBENEZER5, EBENEZER4, EBENEZER3, NICHOLAS2, NICHOLAS1) was born 11 Mar 1803 in Knox County, Tennessee, and died 27 Jul 1860 in Prairie County, Arkansas. He married MARY RIGNEY 16 Jan 1823 in Knox County, Tennessee, daughter of JOHN RIGNEY and CATHERINE HUFFMAN. She was born about 1803 in Tennessee, and died 14 Jun 1871 in Hickory Plains, Prairie County, Arkansas. Children of LEVI BYRAM and MARY RIGNEY are:
2. i. WILLIAM W.8 BYRAM, b. 13 Mar 1831, Madison County, Alabama; d. 19 Nov 1874, Hickory Plains, Prairie County, Arkansas.
3. ii. JOHN W. BYRAM, b. 1834, Madison County, Alabama; d. 1862, Civil War.
iii. NANCY KATHERINE BYRAM, b. 1837, Madison County, Alabama; m. WILLIAM HERST, 25 Dec 1854, Prairie County, Arkansas; b. 1832, Desoto County, Mississippi.
iv. HENRY J. BYRAM, b. 1839, Alabama; d. 01 Jan 1863, Civil War.
4. v. MARY ANN E. BYRAM, b. 23 Mar 1841, Madison County, Alabama; d. 01 Apr 1927, Gleason, Weakley County, Tennessee.
Generation No. 2
2. WILLIAM W.8 BYRAM (LEVI7, EBENEZER6, EBENEZER5, EBENEZER4, EBENEZER3, NICHOLAS2, NICHOLAS1) was born 13 Mar 1831 in Madison County, Alabama, and died 19 Nov 1874 in Hickory Plains, Prairie County, Arkansas. He married MARGARET REBECCA WILLIAMS 08 May 1861 in Prairie County, Arkansas, daughter of JOHN WILLIAMS and EMALINE HOCKADAY. She was born 09 Dec 1840 in Gibson County, Tennessee, and died 08 Mar 1916 in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas. Children of WILLIAM BYRAM and MARGARET WILLIAMS are:
i. MARY ALICE9 BYRAM, b. 17 Aug 1864, Carlisle, Prairie (now Lonoke) County, Arkansas; d. 08 Sep 1951, Cabot, Lonoke County, Arkansas; m. (1) ROBERT B. COOK, 29 Aug 1881, Jackson County, Arkansas; b. Abt. 1860, Missouri; d. Bef. 1893; m. (2) ROBERT ALEXANDER PATTERSON, 15 May 1893, Prairie County, Arkansas; b. 07 Oct 1850, Wilson County, Tennessee; d. 25 Mar 1926, Prairie County, Arkansas.
ii. ELIZABETH EMALINE BYRAM, b. 31 Dec 1866, Carlisle, Prairie (now Lonoke) County, Arkansas; d. 17 Sep 1945, Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas; m. ANDREW J. LOWE, 13 Jan 1886, Prairie County, Arkansas; b. 22 Aug 1852; d. 16 Nov 1914.
iii. MARTHA ELLEN BYRAM, b. 16 Jul 1870, Prairie County, Arkansas; d. 03 Feb 1953, Carmi, Illinois; m. CHARLES PORTER MITCHELL, 15 Nov 1888, White County, Arkansas; b. 18 May 1868, White County, Arkansas; d. 03 Aug 1937, Sedalia, Missouri.
iv. LINNIE BYRAM, b. 27 Jul 1872, Carlisle, Prairie (now Lonoke) County, Arkansas; d. 26 Jul 1923, Sylvania, Lonoke County, Arkansas; m. JOHN C. GREEN.
v. FRANCES M. BYRAM, b. 27 Jul 1872, Carlisle, Prairie (now Lonoke) County, Arkansas; d. 26 Oct 1946, Sylvania, Lonoke County, Arkansas; m. SAMUEL MCDONALD WORTHINGTON, 03 Jan 1890; b. 20 Nov 1867, Mississippi; d. 18 Oct 1954.
vi. CALLIE WILLIE BYRAM, b. 02 Oct 1874, Prairie County, Arkansas; d. 03 Sep 1883, Hickory Plains, Prairie County, Arkansas.
3. JOHN W.8 BYRAM (LEVI7, EBENEZER6, EBENEZER5, EBENEZER4, EBENEZER3, NICHOLAS2, NICHOLAS1) was born 1834 in Madison County, Alabama, and died 1862 in Civil War. He married MARISSA JANE BENEDICT Feb 1860 in Conway County, Arkansas, daughter of RUSSELL BENEDICT and SINA BURROWS. She was born Bet. 1835 - 1836 in Arkansas, and died May 1861 in Benedict's Landing (west of Mayflower), Faulkner County, Arkansas. Child of JOHN BYRAM and MARISSA BENEDICT is:
i. SINIA ANN9 BYRAM, b. Apr 1861, Arkansas; d. 28 Dec 1929, Marietta; m. GEORGE WASHINGTON THOMPSON, Conway County, Arkansas; b. Mississippi; d. 26 Oct 1840, Marietta.
4. MARY ANN E.8 BYRAM (LEVI7, EBENEZER6, EBENEZER5, EBENEZER4, EBENEZER3, NICHOLAS2, NICHOLAS1) was born 23 Mar 1841 in Madison County, Alabama, and died 01 Apr 1927 in Gleason, Weakley County, Tennessee. She married (1) EDWARD WILLIAM EDWARDS 13 Apr 1858 in Prairie County, Arkansas, son of JOHN EDWARDS. He was born 05 Sep 1830 in Weakley County, Tennessee, and died 16 Jun 1896. She married (2) MATTHEW SMYTH Abt. 1910 in Weakley County, Tennessee. Children of MARY BYRAM and EDWARD EDWARDS are:
i. JOHN LEVI9 EDWARDS, b. 04 Feb 1859; d. 21 Jan 1877.
ii. NANCY KATHERINE EDWARDS, b. 16 Jul 1861; d. 10 Jan 1864.
iii. ELIZABETH BLAIN EDWARDS, b. 18 Mar 1863.
iv. MARY ETTA EDWARDS, b. 01 Mar 1865.
v. ELIMINA ANN EDWARDS, b. 03 Mar 1867.
vi. ALEXANDER CALDWELL EDWARDS, b. 22 Jun 1869.
vii. WILLIAM JAMES EDWARDS, b. 12 Oct 1875.
viii. JOSEPH EDWARDS EDWARDS, b. 20 Nov 1878.
ix. EFFIE VIRGINIA EDWARDS, b. 21 Sep 1881.
Descendants of William Wilborn Geron
Generation No. 1
1. WILLIAM WILBORN4 GERON (SOLOMON3, SOLOMON2, JOSEPH1 GUERIN) was born 04 Sep 1823 in Jackson County, Alabama, and died 06 Mar 1861 in Pigeon Roost (today called Hickory Plains), Prairie County, Arkansas. He married EMILY HULDAH RIGNEY 19 Oct 1847 in Madison County, Alabama, daughter of JOHN RIGNEY and HULDAH BYRAM. She was born 23 Sep 1827 in Alabama, and died 03 Dec 1870 in Cuthand, Red River County, Texas. Children of WILLIAM GERON and EMILY RIGNEY are:
i. JOHN SOLOMON5 GERON, b. 02 Sep 1848, Jackson County, Alabama; d. 29 Aug 1853, Alabama.
ii. WILLIAM HENRY GERON, b. 26 Jan 1851, Alabama; d. 17 Jan 1881, Rockford, Lamar County, Texas.
2. iii. FLEMING NELSON GERON, b. 23 Jan 1853, Alabama; d. 26 Jan 1922, Sweetwater, Nolan County, Texas.
3. iv. MANERVA ALLIS GERON, b. 08 May 1855, Jackson County, Alabama; d. 01 Oct 1901, Blossom, Lamar County, Texas.
4. v. CHARLES YOUNG GERON, b. 04 Nov 1857, Alabama; d. 09 Feb 1922, Lamar County, Texas.
5. vi. ELIZA DORTHO GERON, b. 13 Apr 1860, Hickory Plains, Prairie County, Arkansas; d. Nov 1943.
Generation No. 2
2. FLEMING NELSON5 GERON (WILLIAM WILBORN4, SOLOMON3, SOLOMON2, JOSEPH1 GUERIN) was born 23 Jan 1853 in Alabama, and died 26 Jan 1922 in Sweetwater, Nolan County, Texas. He married (1) WILLIE A. WRIGHT 19 Feb 1874 in Red River County, Texas. She was born 29 Mar 1855, and died in Texas. He married (2) LEEANNAH HILTON 15 Feb 1885 in Lamar County, Texas. She died 13 Sep 1954 in Sweetwater, Texas. Children of FLEMING GERON and WILLIE WRIGHT are:
i. IDA F.6 GERON, b. 08 Dec 1874, Red River County, Texas; d. 23 Dec 1879, Cuthand, Red River County, Texas.
ii. MARTHA EMILY GERON, b. 24 Sep 1877.
iii. WILLIE H. GERON, b. 05 Oct 1881.
Children of FLEMING GERON and LEEANNAH HILTON are:iv. LIDA C.6 GERON, b. 09 Oct 1887.
v. FANNIE L. GERON, b. 13 Dec 1885.
vi. JOHN THOMAS GERON, b. 12 Oct 1889.
vii. CHARLIE N. GERON, b. 02 Jul 1893.
viii. HORACE A. GERON, b. 02 Oct 1895.
ix. NANCY ALICE GERON, b. 09 Jan 1902.
3. MANERVA ALLIS5 GERON (WILLIAM WILBORN4, SOLOMON3, SOLOMON2, JOSEPH1 GUERIN) was born 08 May 1855 in Jackson County, Alabama, and died 01 Oct 1901 in Blossom, Lamar County, Texas. She married BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MOORE 10 Jan 1877 in Clarksville, Red River County, Texas, son of ARCHIBALD MOORE and ELIZABETH. He was born 11 Nov 1854 in Wayne County, Missouri, and died 16 Jan 1934 in Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona. Children of MANERVA GERON and BENJAMIN MOORE are:
i. FANNIE YOUNG6 MOORE, b. 09 Dec 1877, Clarksville, Red River County, Texas; d. 06 Aug 1976, 307 Winnetka, Dallas, Dallas County, Texas; m. (1) SAMUEL JEFFERSON JUMPER II, 07 Aug 1895, Fannin County, Texas; b. 02 Oct 1873, Jumpertown, Prentiss County, Mississippi; d. 17 Mar 1919, Powderly, Lamar County, Texas; m. (2) JOSEPH LORENZO HAYES, 05 Oct 1919, Lamar County, Texas; b. Sep 1867, Wayne County, Tennessee; d. 16 Oct 1950, Home at 2810 Hammerly Drive, Dallas, Dallas County, Texas (Dallas County death certificate #47559); m. (3) JEPHTHAH MONROE MULLICANE, 04 May 1951, Dallas, Dallas County, Texas; b. 17 Oct 1864, Missouri; d. 31 May 1969, Tarrant County, Texas.
ii. MARY CALLIE MOORE, b. 24 Aug 1879, Clarksville, Red River County, Texas; d. 27 May 1964, Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas; m. LORENZO C. CASH, 18 Jul 1899, Lamar County, Texas; b. 28 Aug 1876, Fairplay Township, Saline County, Arkansas; d. Bef. 1964, Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas.
iii. JOHN WILLIAM EDWARD MOORE, b. 11 Sep 1881, Bogota, Red River County, Texas; d. Jul 1951, Mabelvale, Saline County, Arkansas; m. (1) BERLIE GERTRUDE CHITTY, 07 May 1905, Lamar County, Texas; b. 17 Mar 1890, Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas; d. 21 Nov 1973, Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas; m. (2) DORA, 31 May 1924, Little Rock, Arkansas; d. 1932, Giving birth to Ella; m. (3) MYRTIS BARHAM, 16 Mar 1934, Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas; b. 16 May 1908, Nevada County, Arkansas; d. 28 Aug 2000, Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas.
iv. LILLIE MAUDE MOORE, b. 14 Jul 1883, Bogota, Red River County, Texas; d. 21 Dec 1974, Dallas, Dallas County, Texas; m. (1) GUS HAYES; m. (2) WILLIAM T. CASH, 15 Jun 1902, Lamar County, Texas; b. 30 Jul 1875, Arkansas; d. Aft. 1920; m. (3) VIRGIL JENKINS, Aft. 1920; d. Bef. 21 Dec 1974.
v. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MOORE JR., b. 17 Feb 1885, Texas; d. 26 May 1965; m. MINNIE.
vi. EMILY PEARL MOORE, b. 17 Feb 1888, Texas; d. 03 Jul 1971, Ft. Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas; m. (1) WILLIAM WASHINGTON HOUSE, 15 Dec 1910, Lamar County, Texas; d. Abt. Jun 1911; m. (2) OTTO BRAUTIGAN, 30 Jul 1916, Garland County, Arkansas; b. Bet. 1860 - 1861, Germany; d. Bet. 1942 - 1960; m. (3) CLAUD CLINTON REESE, 27 Feb 1960, Ft. Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas; b. 15 Aug 1891; d. 15 Jul 1971, Ft. Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas.
vii. CHARLIE NELSON MOORE, b. 18 Mar 1890, Texas; d. 23 May 1935; m. (1) MAUDE LEE; b. Abt. 1895; m. (2) ADA HINES, 14 Nov 1909, Lamar County, Texas; b. Abt. 1893.
viii. ROBERT RIGNEY MOORE, b. 02 Nov 1892, Texas; d. 1933, Hot Springs, Hot Springs County, Arkansas; m. LULA JANE CARPENTER; b. Abt. 1894.
ix. HENRY OSCAR MOORE, b. 11 Dec 1894, Texas; d. Nov 1968; m. LETTIE SHEARS, 03 Oct 1915, Red River County, Texas; b. Abt. 1895.
x. WILLIE MAE MOORE, b. 22 Aug 1897, Blossom, Lamar County, Texas; m. CLAUDE CALLOWAY, Abt. 1918, Oklahoma; b. Bet. 1886 - 1888, Texas.
4. CHARLES YOUNG5 GERON (WILLIAM WILBORN4, SOLOMON3, SOLOMON2, JOSEPH1 GUERIN) was born 04 Nov 1857 in Alabama, and died 09 Feb 1922 in Lamar County, Texas. He married NANCY HATCH 03 Apr 1881 in Lamar County, Texas. She was born 22 Jun 1857, and died 06 Feb 1908 in Lamar County, Texas. Children of CHARLES GERON and NANCY HATCH are:
i. ALICE LENORA6 GERON, b. 09 Feb 1882.
ii. WILLIE KATHERINE GERON, b. 08 May 1884, Lamar County, Texas; d. 15 Oct 1971, Sweetwater, Nolan County, Texas; m. JOHN WALLACE BERRY, 16 Dec 1900, Biardstown, Lamar County, Texas; b. 17 Jan 1875; d. 28 Feb 1960, Sweetwater, Nolan County, Texas.
iii. EMILY ELIZABETH GERON, b. 28 May 1886.
iv. MARY ARIZONA GERON, b. 12 Jul 1888.
v. CHARLES WILLIAM GERON, b. 29 Nov 1890.
vi. GEORGE EDGAR GERON, b. 05 Mar 1892.
5. ELIZA DORTHO5 GERON (WILLIAM WILBORN4, SOLOMON3, SOLOMON2, JOSEPH1 GUERIN) was born 13 Apr 1860 in Hickory Plains, Prairie County, Arkansas, and died Nov 1943. She married ROBERT MARTIN 22 Dec 1879 in Lamar County, Texas. He was born 19 Aug 1852 in Marshall County, Tennessee, and died 18 Apr 1907 in Lamar County, Texas. Children of ELIZA GERON and ROBERT MARTIN are:
i. ARTHUR DEE6 MARTIN, b. 15 Jul 1881, Texas.
ii. JAMES NELSON MARTIN, b. 18 Sep 1883, Lamar County, Texas.
iii. WILBORN VINCENT MARTIN, b. 14 May 1886, Lamar County, Texas.
iv. OSCAR M MARTIN, b. 26 Nov 1890, Lamar County, Texas.
v. MYRTIE MARY MARTIN, b. 13 May 1894, Biardstown, Lamar Co, Texas.