Last week the weather was beautiful!  The temps were just right for taking cemetery photos and the sky was a gorgeous blue!  What more can one ask?  Since this journey has begun, several years ago, we have visited 54 counties and taken photos of gravestones in at least one cemetery in each county – in some, two or three cemeteries.  So on this day we added Metcalfe, Barren and Edmonson Counties.  57 – very close to half of the 120 counties in Kentucky!  Starting in our home county of Mercer we have spiraled out until there is at least a two hour drive to get to new counties!

In Metcalfe County we started with the Edmonton Cemetery on Durham Street.  A rather small cemetery, it still contained some older gravestones.

You can see Edmonton Baptist Church in the background, although it is not affiliated with the cemetery.

R. H. Evans, died November 15, 1880, aged 45 years, 11 months.  Edmonton Cemetery, Metcalfe County, Kentucky.

I loved this stone – the wreath encircling the clasped hands, and ‘darling’ written above.  Unfortunately with initials it is difficult to know if there is a woman or man buried here.  What do you think?

Center-Asbury Cemetery

Center-Asbury Cemetery is located in the northwestern part of Metcalfe County on Highway 314.  As you can see there are some old graves.  This cemetery is surrounded on three sides by a corn field.

John Snider, born September 14, 1777, died March 20, 1865.  Center-Asbury Cemetery, Metcalfe County, Kentucky.

On to Barren County and its county seat – Glasgow.  We headed for the Glasgow Municipal Cemetery on Leslie Avenue.

Glasgow Municipal Cemetery

Glasgow Cemetery is huge!  It spreads out in every direction from where I took this photo – to the left and right, up over the hill and beyond, and behind me!

John Gorin, Sergeant, Continental Line, Revolutionary War, War of 1812, May 15, 1763 – August 5, 1837.  Glasgow Municipal Cemetery, Barren County, Kentucky.

How can I resist sharing with you the grave of a Revolutionary War soldier – and a soldier of the War of 1812!

As we came out of the cemetery and down Leslie Avenue to US68, Big Moose’s BBQ was right across the street.  If you read my blogs often you know how much we love to eat!  Cemetery hunting requires food!  I had a pulled pork sandwich with the best sweet potato crunch – not a lot of sugar, but just enough to hint at the sweetness, and lots of pecans! – and a great cole slaw.  After a good lunch we were ready to hit the road again – to Edmunson County!

The first cemetery I wanted to visit was Hill Grove Missionary Baptist – in the northeastern corner of the county, on the Nolin River.  Driving into the county we came through the Mammoth Cave area, eventually taking a ferry across a creek/small river to get to our destination.  And it was worth all the driving!

Hill Grove Missionary Baptist Cemetery

This small cemetery is wonderfully maintained by the parishioners and families.  Almost every grave is covered with a green carpet, and decorated with shells and flowers.  There are ten tall flag poles with flags blowing in the gentle breeze in remembrance of soldiers who fought in various wars.

John Wilson Carroll, Private, 8th NC Infantry, War of 1812, 1793-1862.  Hill Grove Missionary Baptist Cemetery, Edmonson County, Kentucky.

W. R. Wilmoth, born April 16, 1847, died August 7, 1922.  Hill Grove Missionary Baptist Cemetery, Edmonson County, Kentucky.

Our next stop, in the same county, was Grassland Cemetery on Hwy70 and 1365.

Grassland Cemetery

Grassland is a small cemetery, located on a hill, in a rural area.  As you can tell from the photo, shadows were starting to form.

Joseph A. Higdon, Private, CO B, 35th Kentucky Infantry, Civil War, 1845-1917.  Grassland Cemetery, Edmonson County, Kentucky.

It was time to head back to Mercer County.  Our journey took us through a small part of Warren County – and there we found Smiths Grove Cemetery – unexpectedly, but what a delightful surprise!  Located in the northeastern part of Warren County, I believe on Hwy 101, just outside of the town of Smiths Grove.

Smiths Grove is not a huge cemetery.  The graves are arranged, not in straight lines like most cemeteries, but in circles and groups.

In memory of L. W. Rasdall, born December 19, 1838, died March 10, 1883.  ‘Remember man as you pass by, as you are now, so once was I.  As I am now, so you must be, prepare for death and follow me.’  Smiths Grove Cemetery, Warren County, Kentucky.

As we came back through Metcalfe County we stopped at one more cemetery, since the sun was not yet set.  Cedar Flats Cemetery is on Hwy 163, south of Edmonton.

Salley Froedge, June 10, 1847 – August 12, 1928.  Cedar Flats Cemetery, Metcalfe County, Kentucky.

As you can tell from the photo the shadows were deepening and home was calling!  Our day was productive – we visited three new counties (we had previously been to Warren County) and seven new cemeteries!  A good days work!