Listed in Arkansas Register of Historic Places on 07/10/02
SUMMARY
The Douglas Cemetery is located in the city limits of the Town of Highfill and encompasses just over 3 acres of land. It was annexed only in 1995, when Highfill took in several thousands of acres in anticipation for the building of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport. Although the cemetery was located more than a mile from the original town of Highfill, the Douglas family played a big role in Highfill's history. In 1858 Henry and Nancy Turner, a father and daughter, became the first recorded burials in the cemetery. By 1863, Jessie and Majincy Douglas had set aside ground that they later called Douglas Cemetery. The site was used primarily as a family cemetery, but other early settlers also started burying their dead at the location. The land remained under the ownership of the Douglas' and was deeded to their heirs in 1904.
The cemetery contains approximately 362 burials at this time, of which 195 are historic. Some of the burials date back prior to the Civil War, with several early settlers and Confederate soldiers buried there. The Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport is located just over a mile east of the Douglas Cemetery and poses a threat to the cemetery in the future with growth and expansion that is inevitable. The cemetery is on a high spot on the edge of the Osage Valley. The cemetery faces is bordered by Douglas Cemetery Road, originally the Bentonville-Cincinnati Road. The road originally separated the cemetery from the Douglas Homestead. The only remnant of the homestead is the partial remains of an old cellar. A large ravine on the north side of the cemetery is going to be used for expansion of the cemetery, which is nearly at capacity. The south side of the cemetery is bordered by a ravine with pastureland surrounding it on the on the east.
Douglas Cemetery is being nominated to the Arkansas Register of Historic Places under Criterion A for its association with the early settlement of the area of present day Highfill. The cemetery is the final resting spot for many of the area's early settlers, including the Douglas family, whose original farmstead the cemetery was part of. The cemetery is also being nominated under Criteria Consideration D: Cemeteries.
ELABORATION
The Douglas Cemetery is located in the city limits of the Town of Highfill and encompasses just over 3 acres of land. Until recently a rural area, it was annexed in 1995 when Highfill took in several thousands of acres in anticipation for the building of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport. The cemetery was located more than a mile from the original town of Highfill, but the Douglas family played a big role in Highfill's history. By 1863, Jessie and Majincy Douglas had set aside ground that they later called Douglas Cemetery. The site was used primarily as a family cemetery, but other early settlers also started burying their dead at the location. The land remained under the ownership of the Douglas' and was deeded to their heirs in 1904.
The cemetery contains approximately 362 burials at this time, of which 195 are historic. Some of the burials date back prior to the Civil War, with several early settlers and Confederate soldiers buried there. The cemetery is on a high spot on the edge of the Osage Valley. The cemetery was located across the Bentonville-Cincinnati Road from the Douglas Homestead. The only remnant of the homestead is the partial remains of an old cellar. A large ravine on the north side of the cemetery is going to be used for expansion of the cemetery, which is nearly at capacity. The south side of the cemetery is bordered by a ravine with pastureland surrounding it on the on the east.
A wrought iron entrance gate in the front of the cemetery reads "Douglas Cemetery 1858", the date of the first recognized burial, even though there probably were a few prior to that. The gate was financed by the Douglas family in the 1950's along with a small building on the property to maintain the pews for the church service held the last Sunday in May, in observance of Memorial Day. This celebration has gone on for decades at the cemetery.
Gravestones have been well maintained and the cemetery is in excellent condition. Tablet style markers are the most common type of headstone found in the cemetery. Most of these markers have arched tops, however a considerable portion is cut evenly at the top. The pulpit style marker is another common design found in the cemetery. Other style types include obelisk, bevel markers and at least one historic marker in the shape of a heart. There are a wide variety of materials used in the gravestones. Marble, limestone, concrete and granite can all be found in abundance throughout the cemetery.
No vegetation is allowed in the cemetery for easy maintenance and upkeep. There are also no family plot enclosures that would require special attention, however historically such divisions were probably present. The land is mostly flat and it is a very peaceful setting with several large cedar trees on the east side which line a drive that extends around the cemetery which is used for overflow parking for large funerals.
A breakdown of the decades of burials are as follows:
1850s: 2 1930s: 29
1860s: 9 1940s: 32
1870s: 10 1950s: 21
1880s: 12 1960s: 27
1890s: 8 1970s: 28
1900s: 31 1980s: 36
1910s: 24 1990s: 37
1920s: 13 2000s: 4
Several of the stones in the Douglas Cemetery belong to the first settlers of the county such as Sullivan's, Test's, Robbins', Wilson's, Grammer's and Insco's. The two oldest stones in the cemetery are from 1858. They are Henry and Nancy Turner, a father and daughter. Undoubtedly the Douglas' were very important in the development of this area now known as Highfill.
Inscribed on the stone of Jesse T. and Majincy Roughton Douglas is the following:
"Both were born near Murfreesboro, Tennessee came by ox wagon to Twelve Corners, Arkansas in 1839, settled on this homestead in 1860. In 1863, they set aside this cemetery which was deeded by the heirs in 1904.
To them were born six sons: J. Marion, Thomas Hopkins, Jesse Powell, Eligah H., John Jasper and Decatur Quitman and two daughters, Christina Belle and Amanda. The sons are all buried here except Dr. J. Marion Douglas, a high-ranking officer in the Confederate Army who was killed in the Battle of Corinth and buried in the Confederate Cemetery at Vicksburg, Mississippi.
During the Civil War, Eligah was killed by bushwhakers a mile north of this site while trying to save his older brother's horse. These bushwhackers took all livestock, tore up the kitchen floor where food was hidden, missing only one box of corn buried in a field.
Thomas Hopkins Douglas also served in the Confederate Army.
We honor our pioneer forefathers who carved out of the wilderness this wonderful land we love."
There are at least twenty-nine veterans of the armed forces buried at the Douglas Cemetery, coming from the Union and Confederate Armies, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korea, and the Vietnam War. The majority of these are from World War II. The most significant of the veteran burials is that of James Marion Douglas, a member of Douglas family and a Captain in the Civil War.
Benton County is in the extreme northwest corner of Arkansas, bordered by Oklahoma on the west and Missouri on the north. By most accounts the first white settlers in Benton County were around 1830. Bluff dwellers and Osage Indians inhabited the land prior to 1830. Soon afterward, on June 15, 1836, Arkansas became the 25th state of the United States. It was named after Missouri Senator, Thomas Hart Benton, who helped with the admission.
Although there had been people living in the area for over half a century, Highfill did not come into existence until around 1906 when Elijah Highfill platted the town from his 1,000 acre farm. The town was based on the railroad boom and was a stop on the route from Siloam Springs to Rogers. The small town was not incorporated until 1958 when a gas line came through the area. In order to take advantage of the service, the residents decided to incorporate.
The most significant family buried in the cemetery is the Douglas family. The cemetery is located on land that was part of the original Douglas Homestead and the family has been influential in the area since their arrival. The Douglas family came from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, by ox and wagon to Twelve Corners, Arkansas in 1839. They later settled their homestead around 1860, of which the Douglas Cemetery was a part. The Douglas' had six sons: J. Marion, Thomas Hopkins, Jesse Powell, Eligah H., John Jasper and Decatur Quitman. They had only two daughters, Christina Belle and Amanda who died shortly after birth. All of the family is buried at the Douglas Cemetery except for Dr. J. Marion, who was a high-ranking officer killed in the Battle of Corinth, and is buried at the Confederate Cemetery in Vicksburg, Mississippi. A stone was erected in his honor at the Douglas Cemetery as well.
During the Civil War, Eligah Douglas was killed about a mile north of the Douglas Cemetery by bushwhackers while trying to save his older brother's horse. The bushwhackers took all livestock, tore up the kitchen floor where food was hidden, leaving only a box of corn buried in the field. Eligah's brother, Thomas Hopkins also served in the Confederate Army.
Jesse Powell and his wife, Martha Sophronia and John and Candis "Tad" Douglas were directly involved in the building of the Baptist Church in Highfill. They donated money, supplies and labor. Jessie Douglas Bolton also donated land across the road from the Baptist Church for the parsonage. John and Candis Douglas also ran the Highfill Hotel.
In 1877, the Pleasant Hill School was established with Thomas Hopkins Douglas being a director. This school was commonly known as the Douglas School where the abandoned town of Hoover was located. Hoover was succeeded by the new town of Highfill. With the new town of Highfill, a new school was needed. John Jasper Douglas gave land on May 24, 1911 for a new school officially known as School District #71. This building still stands today and serves as the Highfill Community Building for club meetings, reunions, and city council meetings.
Alex M. Douglas, John J. Douglas and Barney Douglas were all Douglas descendants who served as postmasters in Highfill. While Barney was postmaster (1926-1940), he also had a store and sold produce, feed, and farm supplies. Barney was quite the entrepreneur, as he also built a small cannery on his farm where people could bring their own produce to can. Barney was also the first Mayor of Highfill. Scott Elliott, a great great great grandson of Jesse T. Douglas is currently the Mayor of Highfill.
Scott Douglas, another descendant is currently the County Collector for Benton County. He followed in his grandfather, Marion's footsteps who was also the Benton County Collector from 1910-1912 and 1919-1921. Marion also served as Mayor of the neighboring town of Bentonville from 1902-1903 and as County Clerk from 1913-1918.
A number of Douglas descendants and others buried at Douglas Cemetery were early school teachers at Highfill. They are as follows: Bethel Douglas Hammontree, Annie Douglas Guthary, Nola Douglas Chastain, Hugh Douglas and Henrietta Douglas Vandergaten. Edward Brooks Test and his daughter, Frankie Test were also teachers in the area. Mr. Test taught at a small log building on the Morrison Douglas farm (Douglas School aka Pleasant Hill). He had also served as a Union soldier and fought in the battle of Pea Ridge. His first wife died shortly after they married and is buried at Douglas Cemetery.
David and Hannah Harris Adams, who are buried at the Douglas Cemetery arrived in the area after the Civil War. He was a Union veteran who freed his slaves and joined the army. David was imprisoned in Tennessee for two years and contracted tuberculosis, leading eventually to his death in 1877 after they settled at Highfill.
SIGNIFICANCE
Today the Douglas Cemetery is threatened by future expansion of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport. The cemetery is located less than a mile away from the airport, and with the continuing growth rate of that region will probably eventually be threatened as the airport grows to accommodate the population. The close ratio of historic to non-historic burials in an actively used cemetery, the addition of a small building to the grounds, and future cemetery expansions preclude listing on the National Register. However, the cemetery is still significant as the final resting place of many of the town's early settlers. Therefore, it is being nominated to the Arkansas Register of Historic Places under Criterion A, with local significance for its association with the settlement of the Highfill area. It is also being nominated with Criteria Consideration D: cemeteries.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Benton County Heritage Committee, History of Benton County, Arkansas, Curtis Media Corporation 1991
Margaret Cowden Shields, Hoover-Highfill
Records of the Benton County Assessors Office
C. Vale Mayes and Bertha Clark, Haxton Genealogy and Allied Lines, 1979
Billie Jines, Benton County Schools That Were, Volume 5, 1996