When “old timers” are in a reminiscent mood you can hear many
interesting incidents of the early days of Jefferson, and one that few
remember, and often wonder about, is the story of two men whose graves
are in Oakwood Cemetery, unmarked other than by two iron posts that were
chained together.
Mr. J. E. Hasty knew the men and gives this information: Rose and
Robertson let their hatred of each other and their love for a woman,
cause them to take the life of each other, a most unusual coincidence.
Rose owned and operated a blacksmith shop on Polk Street near where the
Jay Fort home stands. As he was working one day, Robertson, a gambler,
came across the street and entered the shop. When Rose saw him coming he
turned and started out the rear door, but Robertson had gone there with
the determination to kill Rose, so without warning he fired the bullet
that killed Rose, who as he went down aimed well and sent a bullet into
the heart of his enemy. Robertson walked across the street and sat down
upon the sidewalk saying, “that —— rascal has killed me,” and he too
passed away.
As a fitting finish they were buried side by side, chained together and
only iron posts to mark their resting place.
A few Epitaphs found on some of the stones in Oakwood Cemetery:
“Old Pop”
“Daddy Come Here, I am Coming”
“Sweet Babe, now quiet”
“God loveth a cheerful giver”
“She hath done what she could”
“I have three little angels waiting for me
on the beautiful banks of the crystal sea.
Not impatiently wait my darlings there,
for smiles light up their brows so fair
and their little harps ring out so clear,
so soothingly sweet to faithless listing ears.
They live in the smile of the Savior’s love,
who so early called my darlings above.”
“Weep not for me Carrie dear,
I am not dead, but sleeping here.
I was not yours, but Christ’s alone.
He loved me best and took me home.”
“Just in the morning of this day he died,
In the midst of life we are in death.”
“To know her was to love her.”
“She has crossed the rocks to rest in the shade.”
“On earth she was a dutiful daughter, a loving wife, an earnest
Christian, in Heaven an angel”
“Papa’s little girl no longer suffers.”
“Gone but not lost”
“Budded on Earth, Blooming in Heaven”
“A loved one has crossed”
“We will not say farewell”
“An honest man is the noblest work of God”
“It is good to have lived, to have loved to have thought.”
“As a wife, devoted. As a friend, ever kind and true, in life she
exhibited all the graces of a Christian.”
“Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal.”
“There is a world above where parting is unknown, Formed for the good
alone.”
“Gone from our home but not from our hearts”
“It is enough, Come up higher”
“No pains, no griefs, no anxious fear
can reach our loved one sleeping here.”
This little story will not be complete without mention being made of
some of the “Belles” of the early days of Jefferson, who are here today
to tell Jefferson’s history.
It is a rare treat to have as our guests, Mrs. Ida Rogers Rainey, Mrs.
Jessie Allen Wise, Mrs. Murph Smith Deware, Mrs. Jennie Lyon Jones and
Mrs. Sue Jackson Hale.
It has been the privilege of the writers of this pamphlet to enjoy
several “Get-Together Luncheons,” and to hear the “girls” tell of their
beaux, and the early history of Jefferson, along with the good times
they had at school.