History of Thurman Cemetery

     Elijah Thurman was one of St. Elmo's earliest settlers. He came to Hamilton County sometime before 1832 and lived on Missionary Ridge which later became the site of Bragg's Tower. He married Minerva Rice in 1834 and then in 1839 began taking possession of half dozen properties making up most of the lower end of St. Elmo. Elijah also owned land across the state line in Georgia calling his farm "Ashland". The Thurman's had five children which they named Monroe R., John B., Martha E., Mary E., Emily V. and Caroline. S. Thurman.  Both Monroe and John fought in the Civil War. John became Cpl. in the GA. Calvery while Monroe fought for the Union Army. Elijah Thurman donated a section of his land to be used as a cemetery, he being the first to be buried in the new Thurman Cemetery in 1873. Minerva Thurman lived in St. Elmo until her death in 1890 then was laid to rest in Thurman Cemetery.

 

Thurman Family Cemetery

 

 

Many people living in St Elmo are not aware that St Elmo has another Cemetery. Thurman Cemetery is located beside the entrance to the City Of Chattanooga collection center near the GA. state line. Thurman Cemetery was named for Elijah Thurman who was one of St. Elmo's earlist settlers. Thurman Cemetery is located in the St. Elmo area of Chattanooga. It is a small cemetery located on private property that is fenced and locked. There are only six markers remaining. The additional information for this survey was taken from the WPA survey made prior to 1939. The land for the cemetery was given by Elijah Thurman in 1873.
The following list was compiled by Alma Webb using death certificates and should be considered a complete listing.

         

                                        Thurman Family at their Georgia farm

 

Bradford, Archie D Bradford, Bessie Davis Bradford, William J Chambers, Henry H C Chambers, Mary M Thurman Davis Bradford, Bessie Davis Thurman, Emily Davis, Arch T Davis, Carmel Parks Davis, Emily Thurman Deratt, Edna D Hamill Thurman, Margaret Jane Mathis Thurman, Mary Docia Rice Thurman, Minervia Thurman, Albert Thurman, Charlie H Thurman, Elijah Thurman, Elijah M Thurman, Frank Thurman, John Thurman, Lucy Bell Thurman, Margaret Jane Hamill Thurman, Martha E Thurman, Mary Docia Mathis Thurman, Mary Eliza Thurman, Minerva Dealphia Thurman, Minervia D Thurman, Minervia Rice Thurman, Monroe Rollins Thurman, Raymond M. Thurman, Sallie C Thurman, Sallie Carroll Thurman, Walter J Wyatt, Alford

07/25/1899 00/00/1878 03/09/1872 09/14/1870 11/10/1871 00/00/1878 00/00/1843 00/00/1876 00/00/1881 00/00/1843 * 03/10/1852 03/11/1849 00/00/1816 02/07/1874 * 02/07/1805 03/20/1875 12/11/1877 02/09/1845 11/7/1878 03/10/1852 00/00/1838 03/11/1849 00/00/1840 02/04/1884 02/04/1888 00/00/1816 05/18/1836 03/09/1893 01/07/1871 01/07/1871 10/09/1882 *

02/08/1945 00/00/1924 12/07/1941 11/22/1929 10/09/1905 00/00/1924 00/00/1889 00/00/1899 00/00/1909 00/00/1889 * 02/05/1934 10/17/1923 00/00/1890 02/22/1898 03/16/1963 01/30/1873 03/17/1912 02/28/1896 02/27/1933 09/01/1903 02/05/1934 00/00/1910 10/17/1923 00/00/1880 06/25/1909 06/25/1909 00/00/1890 09/07/1896 12/22/1966 09/17/1910 09/17/1909 02/15/1904