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Where the Sun First Rises in Tennessee & Tennessee History Begins


Brown Cemetery
Forge Creek, Johnson County, Tennessee


Index of Surnames Included

You may click on one of the surnames below to go to the first image with that surname. Click here to go to the first grave marker image or here to see views of the cemetery or views from inside the cemetery.

Blair  |  Brown  |  Dowell  |  Farmer  |  Hammons  |  Hodges  |  Icenhour  |  Main  |  McCrosky  |  Moretz  |  Potts  |  Rash  |  Roark  |  Simcox  |  Triplett  |  Younce  

Location

Located off Forge Creek, Johnson County, Tennessee.
Forge Creek Highway, turn N. on R. Dowell Road, left behind brick house. The road buttonhooks up the ridge (behind the house) to the remains of a large oak tree. Cemetery is fenced and maintained.
TopoZone Map 36.464ºN 81.746ºW
See the views below.

From The Tomahawk:

"Located in Forge Creek, just to the left of the R. Dowell Road, on a cleared hill under a mighty oak." These are the words Jeffrey L. Carrier used to introduce the census of the Brown Cemetery in his book "Upon a Lonely Hill."

On January 27, 1998 the limbs of the mighty oak collapsed under the weight of the ice and snow which covered them during the stormy night. Inmates from the Northeast Correctional Center had erected a new fence a few months earlier. As the limbs fell they destroyed part of the fence. A number of markers were toppled but none of them were destroyed. The families of those buried there have already begun the clean-up and repair. They will again be seeking the help of the inmates to repair the fence. In the meantime, Sam Icenhour and fellow workers of Iron Mountain Construction donated time and equipment to get the limbs out of the cemetery.

The linbs reached beyond the perimeter of the fence and provided a cover for the entire cemetery. The age of the tree has not been determined but the circumference of the tree measured shoulder high, was 22 feet and the diameter of the stump was about six and one half feet.

The storm that toppled trees and left the living in the dark also affected the final resting place of many loved ones.


Pictures Taken

These pictures were taken at Brown Cemetery in Forge Creek, Johnson County, Tennessee on December 30, 2002 by John B. Rochelle and he is the owner of all images unless otherwise noted.

Sources of Names Listed

The listing that follows is derived from the photographs taken by John B. Rochelle on 30 Dec 2002. We have used an alphabetical listing by last name. This is only a partial listing.

Information in brackets [sample] was provided by John B. Rochelle unless indicated otherwise.


Views of Brown Cemetery

The views are noted with the approximate location in the cemetery.
  • Brown Cemetery view
  • Eastern Whitecedar, Brown Cemetery
  • Oak stump with headstone to show size
  • Stump of tree mentioned by Carrier1.jpg
  • Stump of tree mentioned by Carrier2.jpg


    Brown Cemetery Marker Photos

    Cemetery burials are primarily the family of Millard Fillmore Brown and his wife Sarah L. J. Hodges, but Sarah's mother and sister are buried here, and likely, her father as well. The earliest marked burial is William R. Brown, eldest child of Millard and Sarah. See note under William.

    Some listings offer more than one picture. Most are marked with "alt view" as the link to the additional pictures.


    Sources

    1. Photos taken, readings and genealogical research by
    2. #Abstracts of Death Records for Johnson County Tennessee 1908 to 1941 by Eddie M. Nikazy


    Go to The Original Johnson County Tennessee Genealogy Page

    Go to Cemetery Page

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    Send additional information, images, questions, comments, complaints or general feedback about the cemetery pages to .


    This page added 11 March 2003 and last updated January 26, 2007

    The images and all content are copyright and may not be used for commercial purposes without specific written approval by Basil L. McVey or for images, the owner of the image. However, the images owned by Basil L. McVey may be used freely for non-commercial genealogical purposes as long as the source is cited.


    Copyright © 2003-2005, 2007 John B. Rochelle and Basil L. McVey All rights reserved