Greenbrier, Faulkner County, Arkansas Census and History by Sondra Johnson Estep Cemetery Census by Sondra Johnson 2012 1
Copyright 2012 by Sondra Johnson. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system. Disclaimer While every effort has been made to produce as accurate and reliable information as possible, the certainty of errors is inherent in human nature. A number of resources have been used to construct the contents, some of which may also contain errors or misleading information. The author, therefore, advises that the information contained in this document should not be used to supplant or otherwise take the place of independently documenting and verifying any information contained herein. Dedication and Acknowledgements This census is dedicated to my sweet, dear mother, Veradean McCord, my wise and understanding sister, Charlotte Moudy, and Suzee Cia, my tried-and true, faithful friend, who have continually supported my efforts to complete this long and difficult project. It is also dedicated to the memory of so many loved ones that have gone before us, whose lives changed our history and our perspectives of life. To my Lord and Savior, whom I thank for guiding me and watching over me as I walked the hallowed grounds and for giving me courage, strength, and determination. Throughout the years that it took to complete the Faulkner County Cemetery Census, I was helped along the way by many people. To name them all, would be difficult due to the passage of time and I would run the risk of omitting some. However, I would like to especially thank the following: Veradean (Johnson) McCord, Charlotte (Johnson) Moudy, Stephanie (Moudy) Weatherington, Glenna (Blair) Shumate, Suzee (White) Cia, Joe Melton, Connie (Hall) Weir, Lynita Langley-Ware, Desmond (Walls) Allen, Euna and Steve Beavers, Charles Parsons, and Vivian Hogue. I'm also grateful for and indebted to Terri Buster and Charlie Ward, who have made it possible for me to accomplish my dream. Faulkner County, Arkansas, Cemetery Census by Sondra Johnson For more information on the cemeteries of Faulkner County, Arkansas, contact Sondra Johnson at littlefishes@windstream.net or the Faulkner County Museum at fcm@conwaycorp.com Estep Cemetery Census by Sondra Johnson 2012 2
Location and Description Estep Cemetery This is a small, inactive family cemetery. It is located behind Whit-Davis Lumber Company in Greenbrier. The cemetery can be accessed from Business Park Drive and then north on a small unpaved road east of Highway 65, past the Greenbrier Post Office. The last burial was Vera (Tapley) Ardis in 1988. History The 1980 FCHS census stated that: Samuel W. and Sarah W. Estep bought 80 acres of land and built a small log cabin. After the land was cleared, but before a larger house could be built, Samuel Estep died in 1880 and his widow buried him near a pine tree. Biographical Sketches GPS Coordinates: 35 13.30 92 23.07 Township 7 North, Range 13 West, Section 21 Political Township: Hardin Thomas Ardis (Artis) was born in Scotland in 1799, and died in Alabama in 1875. He first married Dorkey Hill on January 6, 1825, in Madison County, Alabama. It is unknown whether there were any children born of this marriage. He next married Susan Pockrus, daughter of David and Mary Madeline Pockrus. She was born in 1810 and died in 1873. They were the parents of James (1830-1882), Thomas (1832 ), David (1834-1875), Calvin (1840-1862), Major Fleming (1842 ), and Andrew Jackson (1850-1930). Major Fleming Ardis was born in 1842 in Madison County, Alabama. He served as a private in Company C of the 50th Alabama Infantry in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He was captured in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and held as a prisoner of war. He married Julia A. Rice in Madison County on September 19, 1869. They were the parents of James Oakley (1870-1961) and Joseph Fleming (1872-1899). Joseph Fleming Ardis was born in 1872 in Alabama, and died in 1899 in Booneville, Arkansas. He married Mary Elizabeth Oliver on December 22, 1892, in Scott County, Arkansas. Mary Elizabeth was the daughter of Samuel Alexander Oliver and Mary Traylor. She first married William F. Cheek on October 11, 1888, in Scott County, Arkansas. Joseph and Mary were buried in Logan Hall Cemetery in Boonville, Arkansas. Their children were twins, Ethel A. (1894-1993) and Stella M. (1894-1993), and Basil Alvin (1898-1971). Basil Alvin Ardis was born on February 4, 1898, in Boonville, Arkansas, and died in Bee Branch, Arkansas, on February 14, 1971. He married Vera Tapley on December 24, 1938, in Conway, Arkansas. The obituary of Basil appeared in The Log Cabin Democrat on February 18, 1971: Estep Cemetery Census by Sondra Johnson 2012 3
Obituary of Basil Alvin Ardis B. A. Ardis, 73, former Conway resident, dies Basil Alvin Ardis, 73, of Bee Branch, formerly of Conway, died Sunday (February 15, 1971) at his home. He was a retired dry cleaner and laundry operator. Mr. Ardis was born February 4, 1898, in Booneville, a son of Joseph and Mary Oliver Ardis. He married the former Vera Tapley in 1983 and she survives. Mr. Ardis was a member of the Greenbrier United Methodist Church. Also surviving is a sister, Ethel Colby of Pomona, California. Funeral services were held Tuesday at the Greenbrier United Methodist Church. Burial was at Estep Cemetery, near Greenbrier, by Pence Funeral Home. [Note: It is unknown why the obituary stated that Mr. Ardis was buried by Pence Funeral Home, when in fact Pence had gone out of business in 1947.] John Dilbeck was born between 1755 and 1760, and died in Georgia. He and his wife (unknown) had nine children. His son, William Willis Dilbeck, was born in about 1805 in Rutherford County, North Carolina, and died on October 21, 1887, in Yellow Creek, Dawson County, Georgia. He married Sarah Jones, who was born in 1807 in North Carolina, and died in 1855 in Dawson County, Georgia. They were the parents of Josiah (1827-1879), John Joel (1829-1889), Cassandra Elizabeth (1832-1909), Elias Franklin (1835-1902), Benson G. (1839-1840), Mary Ann (1842-1860), Martha Ann (1845-1897), and George Washington (1848-1934). Josiah Dilbeck was born on August 11, 1827, in South Carolina, and died in Fort Payne, DeKalb County, Alabama, on May 11, 1879. He enlisted as a private on May 13, 1862, with Company B, 34th Georgia Infantry Regiment. He married Rosilla Conway on January 2, 1853, in Cass (Bartow) County, Georgia. According to a letter written by Beatrice Dilbeck on August 22, 1974, Josiah moved with his three sisters and six brothers in a wagon from Alabama to Arkansas when he was three years old. He lived near Conway, Arkansas, and in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Rosilla Conway was born in 1831 in Georgia, and died on June 21, 1921, in Faulkner County, Arkansas. She was the daughter of John Conway (1795 ) and Cynthia Poor (1799 ). The children of Josiah and Rosilla were Jasper Newton (1854-1936), Susan (1856 ), George Washington (1860-1944), Mary (1863 ), Thomas Mackey (1865 ), David Valentine (1868-1939), Florence L. (1870-1938), Willis D. (1873-1960), Eudocia Lena (1874 ), Josiah Lee (1876-1960), and Horace F. (1879-1958). Estep Cemetery Census by Sondra Johnson 2012 4
David Valentine Dilbeck was born on December 8, 1868, in Cass County, Georgia, and died on August 8, 1939, in Faulkner County, Arkansas. He married Drucilla Estep on December 28, 1898, in Faulkner County. Drucilla was born on December 7, 1870, in Faulkner County, and died on April 28, 1955. The only known child of David and Drucilla was Hattie, who was born on May 2, 1899, and died on August 10, 1939. Her grave is marked with a hand-lettered rock marker. According to the 1987 Faulkner County Historical Society's census of Estep Cemetery, both David and Drucilla were buried in Estep; however, their graves were not located in the 2003 census. Further evidence that at least David was buried in Estep is the Doolin Funeral Home record which stated that David Valentine Dilbeck was buried in Estep Cemetery. James Mathew Estep was born on November 23, 1819, in Tennessee, and died in Hot Spring County, Arkansas, in 1850. He married Sarah Ann Talley in Tennessee. She was born in 1821, and died on March 29, 1891, in Hot Spring County. James and Sarah were the parents of Eliza Jane (1841-1920), William P. (1842-1921), Samuel W. (1844-1880), Nancy Ann (1847 ), James Matthew (1849-1906), and Andrew H. (1850 ). Samuel W. Estep was born on March 30, 1844, in Perry County, Tennessee. He was the son of James Matthew and Sarah Ann (Tally) Estep. He entered the Civil War at Lewisburg, Arkansas, as a soldier in the 3rd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, Company G. His physical description was listed as 5 10, eyes dark, hair light, complexion fair, farmer, age 20, born in Perry Co., TN. He married Sarah M. Brinkley in Conway County, Arkansas, on October 18, 1866. Samuel and Sarah had the following children: Burlia, Lucilla, William A., Samuel, and James T. In the 1880 federal census, Samuel and Sarah Estep were living in Hardin Township in Greenbrier. Their children listed at that time were: Burlia (13), Lucilla (10), William (7), Samuel Lorenzo (4), and James T. (1). Also living with the family was John Burkett, age 40. John Burkett was listed in the 1987 Faulkner County Historical Society's census, but a grave site was not located for him in 2003. Samuel died about two months after the 1880 census was taken on July 25th, 1880. Samuel Lorenzo Estep was born on May 20, 1876, and died on February 4, 1969. He married Amanda Caldonia "Callie" Mobbs on June 16, 1904, in Faulkner County, Arkansas. Callie was born on June 16, 1879, and died on September 12, 1936. She was the daughter of William and Charity Mobbs. Samuel and Callie were buried in Estep Cemetery. Census Data A total of 13 burials were listed in the 1980 census conducted by Mrs. W. C. (Hattie) Hinkle. Two people Sarah Estep and Vera Ardis were added to the census in 2003. However, five of the monuments located in the 1980 census were not found in 2003. A total of four rock markers and two unidentified funeral home markers were found. One could speculate that these markers perhaps mark the graves of John Burkett, David and Drucilla Dilbeck, William A. Estep and Tommie Estep. Estep Cemetery Census by Sondra Johnson 2012 5
Whit-Davis Lumber Co. Estep Cemetery Estep Cemetery Census by Sondra Johnson 2012 6
Estep Cemetery Census by Sondra Johnson 2012 7
Driving Directions: In Greenbrier, at the junction of Wilson Farm Road, drive north on Highway 65 to Business Park Road (between the Post Office and Radio Shack), and drive to a small dirt road on the left. Drive a short distance to the cemetery. The cemetery can also be seen from the back parking of Whit Davis Lumber Company. Estep Cemetery Census by Sondra Johnson 2012 8
Abbreviations and Symbols? Monument inscription illegible or difficult to read DS Double-Stone Monument (two names listed on one monument) MS Multi-Stone Monument (more than two names listed on the monument) HS Headstone FS Footstone w/ with md. Married Co. County FH Funeral Home FM Funeral Marker "..." Epitaph or other information engraved on the monument b. Born c. About or estimated date d. Died Dau Daughter Bro Brother Hus Husband FCHS Faulkner County Historical Society (name) Maiden names are enclosed in parentheses CSA Confederate States of America WW I World War I WW II World War II LCD Log Cabin Democrat (Newspaper) Rev Reverend OES Order of the Eastern Star yrs years mos months dys days WOTW Woodmen-of-the-World monument US United States Ark. Arkansas FC Faulkner County Estep Cemetery Census by Sondra Johnson 2012 9
NAME BIRTH DEATH OTHER INFORMATION Ardis, Basil 1898 1971 DS w/ Vera (Tapley) Ardis Ardis, Vera (Tapley) 1909 1988 DS w/ Basil Ardis Burkett, John c. 1880 1980 FCHS census - not located in 2003 Byrd, Billie Jean 4 Jan 1932 4 Jan 1932 Dilbeck, Drucilla (Estep) 7 Dec 1870 28 Apr 1955 Wife of David Valentine "Tiny" Dilbeck; FCHS census - not located in 2003 Dilbeck, Hattie 2 May 1899 22 Mar 1903 Dau of David & Drucilla (Estep) Dilbeck; Hand-lettered rock marker Dilbeck, David Valentine "Tiny" Census of Estep Cemetery 8 Dec 1868 10 Aug 1939 md. Drucilla Estep 28 Dec 1898 in Faulkner Co.; Son of J. & M. Rosella (Conway) Dilbeck; Doolin FH record - not located in 2003 Estep, Amanda Caldonia 16 Jun 1879 12 Sep 1936 DS w/ Samuel Lorenza Estep; Pence FH "Callie" (Mobbs) Estep, Lee David 21 Nov 1910 18 Jan 1915 Estep, Samuel Lorenza 20 May 1876 4 Feb 1969 DS w/ Amanda Caldonia "Callie" (Mobbs) Estep; md. 16 Jun 1904 in Faulkner Co. Estep, Samuel W. 30 Mar 1844 18 Aug 1880 DS w/ Sarah M. Estep; 3rd Ark. Cavalry, Co. G. Estep, Sarah M. 3 Sep 1845 13 Feb 1927 DS w/ Samuel W. Estep Estep, Tommie 22 Jan 1879 25 Mar 1881 1980 FCHS census - not located in 2003 Estep, William A. 15 May 1873 11 Feb 1907 md. Ester Brannon 21 Oct 1900 in Faulkner Co.; 1980 FCHS census - not located in 2003 Reynolds, (Infant) Dau of Harrison & Claudia Reynolds; 1980 FCHS census - not located in 2003 Hattie Dilbeck Estep Cemetery Census by Sondra Johnson 2012 10