Near Marion in Smyth County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Aspenvale Cemetery

Photographed by Mark Parker, October 4, 2024

1. Aspenvale Cemetery Marker

Inscription.
This property has been placed on the
National Register of Historic Places
by the United States Department of the Interior

Erected by United States Department of the Interior.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Cemeteries & Burial Sites. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list.

Location. 36° 48.883′ N, 81° 38.426′ W. Marker is near Marion, Virginia, in Smyth County. It is on Seven Mile Ford Road (State Road 642) west of Spring Branch Road, on the right when traveling west. From Seven Mile Ford Road, take the gravel road approximately 0.1 mile north. The cemetery is on the right. The marker is to the right of the gate on the west side of the cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 303 7 Mile Ford Rd, Marion VA 24354, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Virginia

and in the Blue Ridge Highlands.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Fight Like Devils! (here, next to this marker); Elizabeth Henry Campbell Russell (a few steps from this marker); Campbell's Home (approx. 0.2 miles away); William Campbell’s Grave (approx. 0.3 miles away); Seven Mile Ford

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(approx. 0.9 miles away); Chilhowie Methodist Episcopal Church (approx. 2.4 miles away); Transportation Through the Ages (approx. 2.6 miles away); Chilhowie (approx. 2.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Marion.

Regarding Aspenvale Cemetery. Excerpt from Statement of Significance within the Aspenvale Cemetery Nomination Form:

Aspenvale Cemetery contains the grave of General William Campbell, a Virginia-born hero of the American Revolution. Named for the Campbell family home, which formerly stood near the site in a lush vale of aspen trees, the cemetery is the only known tangible reminder in Virginia of Campbell's signal contribution to the success of American arms in the War of Independence. The commander of Virginia militia at the decisive battle of King's Mountain of October 7, 1780, Campbell fell ill while assisting Lafayette at Yorktown and died in Hanover County, Virginia, on August 22, 1781. His bones were brought to the cemetery and his tombstone erected by his son-in-law, General Francis Preston, in 1823. The Preston-Campbell family plot in,which he is buried also contains the gravestones of his mother, Margaret Campbell; his widow, Elizabeth Henry
Photographed by Mark Parker, October 4, 2024

2. Aspenvale Cemetery
Aspenvale Cemetery has been registered as a Virginia Historic Landmark pursuant to the authority vested in the Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Act of 1966
Campbell Russell; his sole surviving child, Sarah Buchanan Campbell; General Francis Preston; and several succeeding generations.

...The graves of other families, Confederate soldiers, slaves, and freed blacks are located outside of the stone walls to the south and east. The third section, to the north of the wall, is a small fenced area belonging to the Thomas Rector family. The stone markers within the walls date from the colonial period to as recent as 1971. The most prominent monument shapes are table tombs, 19th-century obelisks and simple rectangular stones with rounded heads, and 20th-century rectangular granite markers

Also see . . .
1. Aspenvale Cemetery Nomination Form (pdf). Prepared by Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission, 1980 (Submitted on October 8, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)

2. Aspenvale Cemetery.

Aspenvale Cemetery was the first cemetery to be declared a Virginia Historic Landmark. Not only is the Revolutionary hero, Gen. William Campbell, famous for the Battle of King's Mountain, buried here, but also his wife, Elizabeth Henry Campbell Russell, known as "Madam Russell" and sister to Patrick Henry.

(Submitted on October 8, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)

Wide view of Aspenvale Cemetery entrance. Marker to the left of the gate image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, October 4, 2024

3. Wide view of Aspenvale Cemetery entrance. Marker to the left of the gate

"Fight Like Devils" marker to the left along the stonewall L.

Aspenvale Cemetery sign on Seven Mile Ford Rd. looking toward Spring Branch Rd. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, October 4, 2024

4. Aspenvale Cemetery sign on Seven Mile Ford Rd. looking toward Spring Branch Rd.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 10, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 8, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 436 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 8, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. 4. submitted on October 9, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.