Watson/Mt. Erie Cemetery

[The African American section is also known as Mt. Erie Cemetery]

Submitted by Timothy Martin.

Watson Cemetery is located in Port Vincent, T 8S R 3E Section 58. 30° 19’57.0”N 90° 50’27.0”. I have been working with the African American church that also buries its members at this location. After William Watson and Abigail Torrance were buried there the African American community started burying its families there also. As the original report states burials started here around 1830. Many of the graves are not marked. The earliest marked burial was in 1911.

The African American portion of this cemetery is known as Mt. Erie. Sometime during the late 1970’s early 1980’s Leo Cambre sold the property the graveyard is on and a plot to the African American community to build a Church. At the present time due to the flood of 2016 the church is no longer in use. The last remaining deacon of the church is David Ealy. He has been working with me to find the graves and have the cemetery truly recognized by name for the majority of the community that is buried there.

I reference the vol. 5 December 1980 report prepared by D.N. Pardue. Source of the original article was Mercy Aydell Cambre. I suggest the name of the cemetery to be Watson/Mt. Erie to truly reflect who is buried on this property. Deacon David Ealy is the only person that upkeeps this cemetery. Please let me know if you need any future information on this subject. The following are buried on this location and all have tombstones.

Ealy, Charles James "CJ"  Dec. 13, 1919-Aug. 28, 2009

Ealy, Eva Mar. 4, 1875-May 14, 1911, "Mother"

Ealy, Lillian Jackson  Sept. 19, 1923-Apr.25, 2008, "A Loving Mother and Wife"

Ealy, Mary L. Sept. 11, 1945-Dec. 12, 2006, "A Loving Mother"

Ealy, Sylvia Aug. 1821-Dec.2011 "Momo"

Jackson, Edmond Sr. Sept. 25, 1860-April 15, 1964

Jackson, Irene S. 1879-1958

Jackson, Sherman Jan. 2, 1918-Apr.23, 2015, M.Sgt. US Army, WWII

Smith, Minice Ealy 1887-1936, wife of Wm. Smith

Thornbor, Percy Sr. Sept. 10, 1946- Feb. 16, 2016, Sgt. USAF, Vietnam

Watson, Abigail Torrance

Watson, William

 There are many more unmarked graves on this property. The purpose for this name change is to reflect the African Americans who are buried here are recognized. This will make it easier for family members doing genealogy research to have as accurate description of the cemetery. “Show me your cemetery, and I will tell you the character of your community”. Bro. David Ealy has a lot of pride for his church and community.