Key Branch Cemetery

Searcy, Arkansas

Photo by Leroy Blair

This Cemetery is also known as: Sipes Family Cemetery.

Legal description: SE, SW, NW, Sect.7, T7N, R7W

GPS Location: 610284 -3901036

Arkansas Archeological Survey site #: 3WH0633

Number of Marked Graves: 1

Number of Unmarked Graves: Unknown

The last complete survey of this cemetery was: November 27, 2001 BY Leroy Blair.

Current status of cemetery: This cemetery is no longer in use.

Point of contact for cemetery. No know contact person.



Leroy Blair of the White County Historical Society found the remnants of an unrecorded pre-Civil War cemetery near Pinewood

Estates, west of Searcy on Highway 36, late in 2000. His subsequent research has led to more questions than answers. Following

is his report:

"I first visited the location of this cemetery on November 27, 2000. I was told about it by a friend, Farrell Cook of Morning Sun. He

had lived near it when he was a small boy. He said when he lived out there, there were eight or nine large stones there. But he was

afraid the cemetery had been destroyed when the area was developed. I went out there and talked to a man who owns a rental

store nearby. He also confirmed that there had been a cemetery there… He suggested that I check with a Mr. Davis who lives in a

large house on the hill beside Pinewood Estates. So, I went to see him. Mr. Davis said when he moved to his home, there was part

of a tombstone lying on the west side of his land next to Pinewood Estates. He said D.D. Young, who lives in Pinewood Estates,

found the other part of the stone in his yard. Mr. Young took both pieces and put them together and set the stone up in his

backyard. The name on the stone is Johneaton Wilson, who was born June 15, 1858 and died October 2, 1860, the son of S.M.K.

and Mary E. Wilson. The remainder of the stones could be buried in the same area. I have been told several different stories as to

what has happened to the cemetery…"

Historical Society president Bill Leach, after reading Leroy Blair’s report, recalled discussing this cemetery about 25 years earlier

with two other members of the Society, editor Cloie Presley and Miss Ellen Key. He said he was told that the cemetery was of the

Sipes family, who were ancestors of Miss Key, and that she had noticed around 1950 that the tombstones were missing from the

original gravesites.

If you have corrections or additions to this list or other information on this Cemetery Contact the White County Historical Society,

P.O. Box 537, Searcy, AR 72145. Or phone 501- 278- 5010

Following is a list of known burials in this cemetery.

Wilson, Johneaton Wilson – June 15, 1858 – October 2, 1860 – Son of S.M.K. and Mary E. Wilson - Key Branch Cemetery

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Legend: Copyright-Aug.23, 2016-Paul V. Isbell-Webmaster:

Most of the cemetery information listed was collected by Leroy “Lee” Blair Former member of the White

County Historical Society Board of Directors. Now working at the White County Historical Society office on

the square in Searcy. WCHS P. O. Box 537 Searcy, Ark. 72145.



If you have any additions or corrections to the burial listing please contact the Historical Society. Phone 501-

278-5010 or Email me at

lblblair74@gmail.com

or wchs1962@gmail.com

I will be posting more burials later. The Searcy Daily Citizen donated all their Micro Film and Ledgers dating

back to 1953. After reviewing them, if I find a death of a person that we do not have I will to add to the

cemetery listings.

There are some graves listed as unmarked that may have had a tombstone set since the listing was made.

I may have missed some graves when I prepared the listing. Some cemeteries are very hard to get an

accurate listing due to how some graves are scattered

The following Abbreviations are used in the listings

.

FM-Funeral home marker DS-Double tombstone TS-Triple tombstone

(Obit)-means that the Historical Society has, or has access to the Obituary for this person.