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Submitted: 4/17/11 • Approved: 4/18/11 • Last Updated: 9/3/12 • R509557-G0-S3
Located West of Summers on Co Rd 462 State Line Road. Cemetery on left. Technically Oklahoma side of the road.
Cemetery - Cherokee
Field Worker: W. J. B. BIGBY
Date: August 20, 1937
Burial ground: CRITTENDEN Cemetery
Founded: unknown
Abandoned: 1922 why: new location
Present owner: Still CRITTENDEN
Address: Watts, Oklahoma, Route 1
# of graves: 40
Marked graves: 7
Condition: good
Legal location: Adair County, Sec. 9, Twp. 19, Range 24
"History of CRITTENDEN Cemetery" This cemetery, according to Still CRITTENDEN, as told to him by his father, Nelson CRITTENDEN, was started sometime during the Civil War. The father of Nelson CRITTENDEN lived on the place before the War. There were no graves then. After he returned to his old home he found the graves there. There are five graves at this place that are really old. No one knows who they are.
After the War the Cherokees that lived along the Illinois River used this as their cemetery. Then at the death of Mary CRITTENDEN in 1875, the cemetery was called the CRITTENDEN Cemetery. The cemetery was abandoned about statehood.
The community Cherokees agreed to get a new location if they could get government land. They all agreed to move their cemetery to the Tom SWAKE place which is several miles up the river. This cemetery is not a government acre, but at the death of Nelson CRITTENDEN he requested to be buried at home so they did. A year afterwards Mrs. CRITTENDEN died and she wanted to be buried beside her husband. These are the last two that have been buried here since statehood. The cemetery is now in the field.
"Inscriptions at CRITTENDEN Cemetery"
Jencie, Daughter of C.C. and J. CRITTENDEN Feb 7, 1895 - Sep 22, 1895
Mary CRITTENDEN d. Sept. 1875
Nelson CRITTENDEN Feb. 23, 1921
Infant daughter of Jim and Ella SWAKE died 1909
Mary Wife of Nelson CRITTENDEN died 1922, age 74 yrs.
Note: Two graves: inscriptions in Cherokee, no dates.
http://okgenweb.org/pioneer/ohs/bigby.html
Contributed on 4/17/11 by tslundberg
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Record #: 509557