When Hugh B. CHANDLER was Confederate Soldier he placed their money in Cherry Sugar Chist with help of slaves and buried it in the MCCLENDON Cemetery. After war it was removed in first class condition. This was Sarah’s mother’s Chist which I now have.
Tapp WHITE, Jr. 5th gr. grandson has Joel MCCLENDON’S stone mallet that they beat wheat and corn grains into flour and meal, that was made by large stones from cemetery by slaves.
I purchased Joel MCCLENDON’S tin safe from Tapp WHITE, Sr. that Joel buried his money in Cemetery during Civil War. While in Evansville it was stolen from my garage where I was refinishing.
Aunt Sis WILEY had her mother’s Sallie MCCLENDON’S side saddle, which was buried in Cemetery during War, that her mother Sara FRIARMCCLENDON rode - can’t be located as Sis daughter Carrye was last to have it. Dennis CHANDLER had his 2nd gr. grandmother Benjamin MCCLENDON’s wife’s woven comfort and shawl by slaves, that were in safe in cemetery during war, burned in 1940 my home. Her 2 iron pots that she cooked in was also taken while I was in Evansville. I gave Dennis CHANDLER’s silver watch that was Hugh CHANDLER’s to J. D. CHANDLER. iT WAS IN mcclendon FAMILY.
I have wheat scycle that stored in Sugar Chist that belonged to Hugh B. CHANDLER, also large round top trunk with circular rollers some say they belonged to MCCLENDON Family. Hugh kept it to fight the Guriellas out of cemetery.
A very prominent doctor of Dixon, Ky. had an affair with the wife of a prominent undertaker. Gossip was the results, these two went to John KAVENAUGH saying they were proceeding with a slander suit making him give a lie bill. Mr. KAVENAUGH purchased morphine from store at Tilden, Ky. going to top of the Wilson Hill took enough and died there. It was an extremely hot Sunday, searching by the neighbors, he was found and buried in MCCLENDON Cemetery.
John W. WILSON died at his home 2 miles north of Poole, Ky. Cold weather , frozed ground was no name for it. His body was placed in a wagon, drawn by four mules, it took 4 hours to MCCLENDON Cemetery where he was buried. The family stopped at homes along the way for warmth. Farmers along the way exchanged mules as their feet were so badly worn some with blood frozen on them.
Panthers took up abode in this Cemetery. Joel MCCLENDON and Hugh B. CHANDLER killed nine in one night.
Joel MCCLENDON had a faithful Indian friend, Chief Wahoo buried here with his Indian parapanella. I plan to put a marker.
An eagle made its home in trees here. Joel protected it. One morning he found it dead with a bullet hole in its neck. It is buried at the right of Joel’s wife Sarah. Joel thought some of his enemies that tried to get part of his land fired the bullett. Joel said it was well he didn’t know who did it.
William MCCLENDON’s casket was carried by pallbearers from the road due to muddy road to Cemetery. The pallbearers gave out sit the casket down in mud to rest, other men took over, after much tugging and pulling the casket was lifted from the deep mud and carried to its resting place. Joel had slave to hold it up while mud was scraped off.
Joel MCCLENDON found 3 baby black cubs, built a shed in the cemetery and trained them to follow his race horses to his race tract and sit on a high box beside him during the races, if his horse won Joel put a gold piece in their mouth to take to the rider.
Joel MCCLENDON’s home was the church center on Sundays, suddenly fewer and fewer of the boys were attending, to their amazement they were discovered under the trees in the cemetery. Gossip was they were shooting dice, each mother accusing the other mother’s son of enticing them away from church. Joel said, "Today we’ll catch the so called "dice shooters" then the congregation proceed up the hill to the cemetery, to their dismay, the young men were conducting their own service, having bricked up a round hole for foot washing - Primitive Baptist, so Joel said, "Tomorrow meet me in the woods we’ll hew down trees and build a church here." The church was located on south edge of entrance to Cemetery. After service members went to their loved ones graves and had silent prayer.
People came distance to attend service here. Many leaving by daylight as the narrow roads were also a passage for cattle, buffaloes, deer that had to be "shewed" out so the wagons could pass. Each family had a herd dog with wide leather collars studded with nails for protection who would go ahead and locate the herd. Funerals were conducted here.
Joel MCCLENDON "Inn" was a so called stoppage for the "Stagecoach" that would nenture such narrow roads, due to illness or lifeless horses for a rest along these routes farmers would ask questions from his plough handles other people eager for news, of war, peace, deaths, etc. Everybody would rush to hear the news, catch a glimpse of the hero of the stage coach. Joel had a parking place for the coaches and stalls for their horses in the north end of the Cemetery, thinking no thief would venture there. Coach drivers usually had an interest in the "Inns". Joel did let one coachman purchase an interest, which brot mail from relatives. Joel had a special tables where all could dine together to hear the news. When all rooms were filled late travelers they would roll themselves up in buffalo robes with their feet toward the fire. The problem of making change for a dollar whereby the dollars were cut in eight pieces so the terms two-bits and six-bits were invented. When a silver dollar was given, Joel told his negro servant to "chop it" which he did. Joel served delicious meals - venison, bear, wild turkey, Johnny cakes, wild berries, vegetables, and fruits. It was said one of the servants cooked a panther - the delighted visitors were so enthused by it, they bought what was left to go on their way, sometime later Joel learned of this. The strongest drink served was home made cider at six pence per quart.
SOME TALES OF THE MCCLENDON CEMETERY, (cont’d)
When Claudia WHITE’s father John CHANDLER’s second wife Dolly (COBB) BRANN died to keep Dolly from being buried by John Claudie went to cemetery and sit on the side of her father’s grave while men were digging Dolly’s grave.
D. M. CHANDLER’s family plot was concreted July 2, 1976, inscribed with famuly record by Ora CHANDLER; she also made markers for Joel and Wm. MCCLENDON and Rebekah MCVEY CHANDLER. She has completed a plaque for the MCCLENDON Family from 1630 in Scotland to the 4th generation - Benjamin MCCLENDON including the 5th generation, Joel MCCLENDON and his children; and one to Wright BIBB, the second burial 1821.
The CHANDLER Family from 1558 in England is in the making and a Cemetery sign to be placed on 41A. (Was placed Sept. 18, 1977.
Joel MCCLENDON’s daughter Susan married Jack WATSON, a Catholic, died and was buried Catholic Cemetery near Waverly, Ky. against Joel’s will. That night Joel took his slaves dug her body up and placed it in his cemetery. Jack became friendly, is buried beside Susan.
At the time of burial of Jesse MCCLENDON, his casket was being lowered, fastened with ropes around it; the ropes broke, lid flew open, Jesse was tumbling out, the men put him back in , new ropes were obtained, lowering of casket proceeded without difficulty.
Hugh B. CHANDLER was buried with black velvet cap, ear muffs pulled down, black mittens with a red star covered his hands (my mother knitted the mittens) and his overshoes on, request of Hugh B. (I asked my daddy why they didn’t include his cane that he plopped me on the head with).
Hugh B. CHANDLER requested that the beautiful saddle of Maud’s his faithful black mare with a star in forehead be buried in the cemetery. Daddy buried it at foot of Hugh’s grave, also her bridle and blanket.
Joel MCCLENDON requested a $50 gold piece be placed in his casket, which was; also his birth, death and marriage dates.
Queen MCCLENDON and Wm. CHANDLER’s daughter married J. SMITH at Dixon, Ky. Nora was hang in her barn loft by her husband, so Queen said. She went to Dixon brought Nora home, buried in Cemetery. Two weeks after burial, Queen drove up to Smith’s home, took her buggy whip and gave him a good slashing.
Sallie MCCLENDON’s wedding dress of beautiful blue lace and Hugh CHANDLER’s wedding suit of black with white ruffled collar shirt were in Sugar Chist. Their son, Dennis had them, handed down to me, burned in my home 1940.
Joel MCCLENDON’s Grandfather Clock was also buried in Cemetery during war. It was stolen from his home one night when Joel was chasing hounds. Joel was almost sure it was taken by a son-in-law "ran thru" with his wife’s property, they brought several suits for more property but Joel defeated them, both are buried at Morganfield, Ky.
Metheglin soon took the place of cider made from honey locust - the beans ground mixed with honey herbs and water and fermented. All gathered in a large room, rough floors and seats and a rough writing desk; recreation was wild turkey shoot, with bear hunts on holidays. Bear meat was a delightful dish. Visitors helped furnish "fiddle" music for dancing, even Fortune Tellers were greatly enjoyed. Immense betting was conducted at Joel’s "Race Tract". If overcrowded people would pull coaches from Cemetery, place near the "Inn" for night lodging. No one dared sleep in Cemetery.
The inique baggages were queer carpetbags of brilliant color and hair covered trunks.
The ladies’ muskmelon hoods, poke bonnets large enough to hide pretty faces, hand baggage for men tall leather boxes to protect theor "stovepipe hats". All travelers wore "dusters" to protect their clothes from dust., women wore duster caps to protect their best bonnets. Large baggage were carried in rear boot. Rows of benches were out in front of the "Inn"; the people gathered at arrival and departure of the coach as this was the big event of the day with Joel wishing them a "pleasant journey and a soon return" as he doffed his hat while the coach driver gathered his reins and cracked his long whip, as the coach swayed and bumped often the passengers found themselves arguing, especially about slavery, and often the driver stopped to avert serious trouble.
Often slaves escaped by way of these coaches. Finally General Assembly passed Acts to prevent this.
Joel MCCLENDON was a young man when he undertook many adventures, always profiting by them.
So End the Woes and Tales of the MCCLENDON Cemetery - record handed down from Joel MCCLENDON to Sallie and Hugh CHANDLER to Dennis CHANDLER to his daughter Ora CHANDLER.