History of the Adams State Road Cemetery
The Early History
Although
little is known about the earliest history of the cemetery, it most
likely started as a small family burial ground and for at least 30 years
was
associated with the Adams First Baptist Church, which was founded in Honeyville
in 1802.
In 1835 Elijah Harris donated half an acre of land to the State Road Baptist Society (Adams First Baptist Church at Honeyville). This parcel of land was likely used by the Church for the interment of many of its members and was referred to as the Honeyville Cemetery. Two years later, the present day Church was constructed at the intersection of Route 177 and Fuller Road.
The Adams State Road Cemetery Association
The Adams State Road Cemetery Association was formed September 17, 1868. Shortly after the formation of the Association, the Board of Trustees secured the half an acre of land which had been donated to the First Baptist Church at Honeyville. Since then the cemetery has grown and today encompasses 3 acres. Concurrent with the formation of the Association, the cemetery was renamed from the Honeyville Cemetery to the Adams State Road Cemetery.
The Cemetery - A Travel Through Time
Interments in the cemetery mirror both the growth and the history of
Jefferson County. The earliest reported burial was in 1808; however, the
first documented burial was Richard Otis who was interred on October
18, 1824. In 1878, association records recorded the total number of
interments as 975. This number has grown over the years and as
of 2006, the total number of known burials was approximately 1,500.
The cemetery is the final resting place of many early settlers of this
area, veterans of the Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War, Spanish American
War, and World Wars I and II. It is also the
final resting place of the parents, brother
and sister of Henry Keep, philanthropist and one
of Jefferson
County's most
prominent citizens. A complete list of surnames
found in the cemetery is
available on our Surname page.
Visiting The Cemetery
The Cemetery is open from dawn to dusk daily. Not able to visit the cemetery? We offer a "Walking Tour" video which provides a leisurely and informative stroll through the cemetery. It includes a view of both the most notable interments (gravestones) and the picturesque gardens. Please visit our Tour page for details on both personal visits and the "Walking Tour" video.