Cahaba in Dallas County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

New Cemetery

Photographed By Tim Carr, August 15, 2009

1. New Cemetery Marker

Inscription. Burials in this cemetery, which served Cahaba from 1848 to 1900, tell a story of the town in which many deaths resulted from diseases of infancy, childhood and early adult life, Yellow Fever being a large factor because of proximity to Gulf of Mexico ports, Cahaba had many plagues, brought in by a constantly changing population. The famous Bell Monument is in this cemetery.

Erected by Cahaba Historical Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1848.

Location. 32° 18.63′ N, 87° 6.228′ W. Marker is in Cahaba, Alabama, in Dallas County. Marker is on Oak Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Orrville AL 36767, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Cahaba's "New" Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); Memorials for Prisoners of War (approx. 0.3 miles away); Old Cemetery (approx. 0.4 miles away); Lafayette's Tour (approx. 0.4 miles away); Anna Gayle Fry House (approx. half a mile away); Methodist Church (approx. half a mile away); Footprint of a Church (approx. 0.6 miles away); Cahawba - circa 1500 (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cahaba.

Also see . . . Old Cahawba, "Alabama's most famous Ghost Town". (Submitted on October 16, 2009, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama.)

Additional commentary.
1. Comments on the Bell monument (grave marker)
On May 23rd, 1856 there was a shootout

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on main street in Cahawba. John R. Bell and his two sons against Will E. Bird, Matthew Troy and Thomas Hunter (all three members of one large extended family). John R. Bell and his son John A. Bell were killed. Most of the town watched huddled behind their shutters. The survivors were exonerated in a court of law but, judging from the inscription, not in the eyes of the Bell family.
Inscription: "No murderer has external life abiding in him"

— Submitted January 6, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.

View of marker with New Cemetery just down the road in background. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, January 6, 2018

2. View of marker with New Cemetery just down the road in background.

Grave marker of John R. Bell, murdered in Cahawba. image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of Jonathan Matthews, October 10, 2019

3. Grave marker of John R. Bell, murdered in Cahawba.

Other side of grave marker - this side for John A. Bell. image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of Jonathan Matthews, October 10, 2019

4. Other side of grave marker - this side for John A. Bell.

New Cemetery Grave Sites image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim Carr, August 15, 2009

5. New Cemetery Grave Sites

Restored Joseph Babcock grave marker. image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of Carmen Yelle, February 29, 2020

6. Restored Joseph Babcock grave marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 15, 2009, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,584 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 15, 2009, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. 2. submitted on January 6, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 3, 4. submitted on April 21, 2024. 5. submitted on October 15, 2009, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. 6. submitted on April 21, 2024. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.