The gravestone of Newton Jasper Tillman is finally home. This after his tombstone was found during a renovation project by a local contractor. The stone was found after removing what seemed like a never-ender supply of debris. The contractor did not know where the tombstone had come from and his story appeared on a local news cast in hopes of finding somebody who knew about the gravestone and return it back to its rightful home.
The Washington County Cemetery Preservation Group contacted the news reporter by email, who in turn forwarded the email to the contractor. A representative from the group immediately began researching the cemeteries of the area and began searching other historical and genealogical resources to find out where the Tillman stone belongs.
According to the 1860 census of Christian Co., MO, N.J. Tillman and wife Mary were living there with their son John Newton Tillman, who was born earlier in Springfield, MO (Green County). By 1870, they were living in Prairie Township, Washington County, Arkansas. According to genealogical sources, Mary died on 26 Oct 1877 in Fayetteville, AR.
Using a couple of resources, namely the Cemetery Locator and Map Guide for Washington County, Arkansas, compiled by Barbara C. Hale, and The Washington County History Book, it was possible to locate the burial location of Mr. Tillman. In the Locator Guide for Washington County, it referenced a Mullins Family Cemetery located in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It was a family cemetery often referred to as the Judge Mullins Family Cemetery. However, the Guide stated that it had not been located when it was published in 1995. However, after a few phone calls, it was finally located and permission was obtained to visit the location.
Members of the Washington County Cemetery Preservation Group, along with the Contractor with the tombstone met at the location of the cemetery. Approximately 5 burials, including N.J. Tillman, were easily identified. The group confirmed that Tillman’s stone matched the base that was still at the cemetery and alongside the base for his first wife, Mary Margaret (Mullins) Tillman. The stones that were identified were: Newton Jasper Tillman, Mary Margaret Tillman, T.E. Tillman, Martha (Mullins) Bray, and Susan (Mullins) Stearns. According to the Thomas Mullins story in the Washington County History Book, submitted by Paul Mullins on page 1248, Mary Margaret and Newton Jasper had four children who died young and are buried at “Old Mullins Cemetery.” There were several others buried in the cemetery and according to later sources, several were exhumed and relocated to Evergreen Cemetery and Stearns (Ghering Chapel) Cemetery.
It is interesting to note that Martha Mullins married Patterson Bray. His death and burial information has not been found. Could he be buried in the Mullins Cemetery? We may never find out for sure.
