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.

"Unknown" Cemetery Listing

Located on W 45th St. directly behind

4501 Alabama Ave.

Markers are as follows;

John S. Veal      7/18/1885 - 6-20-1931

Gertie Levi Hale 1/10/1894 - 4/30/1989

George Graham 6/16/1873 - 8/28/1958

Charles A. Turbyville 3/13/1903 - 1/2/1919

Nancy Love Fisher 5/11/1911

Gray David Latimore Smith 6/30/1950 - 7/7/1989

Lucille mathes 1/21/1912 - 2/3/1938

Darling Baby Layne 12/25/1945 - 1/7/1946

Herbert E. Parrott Sr. 9/28/1929 - 5/8/1991

Clara A. Holsomback 9/16/1881 - 4/21/1931

Mark P. Holsomback 2/25/1870 - 11/24/1958

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 earliest 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.