The Methodists began holding campground meetings at the Blue Ridge Campground prior to the Civil War in the Dana community. This campground site was near the Blue Ridge Academy, near or at the site of today’s Dana United Methodist Church.
Some primary source documents indicate a building was used for church services about 1861. This may have been the same building used for the Blue Ridge Academy, often called the “Blue House” by local residents.
But, the cemetery contains graves that pre-date 1861. Therefore, as with other Methodist campground meeting sites, Methodists in the community established the cemetery prior to erecting a building or using a building for services.
A church building, separate from the school, was erected in 1897.
Families with grave sites within the cemetery include the surnames of Blackwell, Cagle, Case, Dill, Duncan (Dunkin), Hammett, Hyder, Jackson, Justus, Jones, King, McCraw, McGraw, Parris, Revis, Taylor, Stepp, Young and others.
The oldest legible grave stone within the cemetery is that of Harriet B Jackson who died March 6, 1842.
The grave site of a Henderson County Sheriff is within the cemetery. Albert Merriman “Branch” Blackwell (1852-1921) served as sheriff from 1908 to 1912. He was born in Dana, a son of Thomas Blackwell and Nancy Justus Blackwell. He married Laura Sarah Jackson. He was a farmer and also a school teacher at the Upward School. In 1900 he worked at the Federal Distillery in Gaston County. He resigned at the end of his second term as sheriff because of poor health.
One Spanish-American veteran’s grave site is within the cemetery: Samuel Pinkney Case (1877-1947).
There are nine Confederate veterans with graves in the cemetery.
William P. Blackwell enlisted in the 56th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. G, Henderson Blues. His service record was not located. Pension records indicate he served in this company. But, William Pinkney Blackwell from Henderson County was not born until 1850, according to his death certificate. Service in the Confederate Army is questionable based on this birth date.
Charles Allen Case enlisted in the 35th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. G, Henderson Rifles, on 10-15-1861. He was appointed second lieutenant on 10-5-1861 and resigned 6-5-1862. The reason for his resignation was not reported. He re-enlisted in the same company on 9-25-1863. He was captured at the Battle of Fort Stedman on 3-25-1865 during the Appomattox Campaign. He was a prisoner at Point Lookout, Md., and released 6-24-1865. He died in 1890.
Thomas Jefferson Case enlisted in the 25th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. A, Edney’s Greys, on 9-3-1863 at the age of 43. He served through the war. He died in 1895.
Andrew Jackson enlisted in the 64th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. B, on 7-12-1862. He was present through 6-30-1863. There are no further military records. He died in 1880.
Hiram P.M.D. King enlisted in the 56th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. G, Henderson Blues, on 4-12-1862. He transferred to the 25th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. A, Edney’s Greys, on 3-13-1863. Confederate records state that he “went over to the enemy” 10-1-1864. But, this is questionable, as he was confined at Louisville, Ky., by the Union. He was released 10-14-1864. He died in 1929.
John Liverett enlisted in the 35th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. G, Henderson Rifles, on 10-5-1861. He was wounded 7-1-1862 at the Battle of Malvern Hill during the Seven Days Battles. He transferred to the 25th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. H, Cane Creek Rifles, on 2-4-1863. He was reported as deserted 4-28-1863 and later reported under arrest in May and June 1863. He returned to duty and was present through December 1863. He was reported AWOL on the muster roll of November-December 1864 and listed as a deserter 1-1-1865, a couple of months before the war ended. He died in 1914. His gravesite is at this cemetery, according to his death certificate. The grave is not marked.
Dolphus H. Parris enlisted in the 56th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. G, Henderson Blues. N.C. Pension records indicate he served in this company. He died in 1904.
Jasper Albert Revis enlisted in the 64th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. B, on 7-12-1862. He deserted 12-17-1862. He died in 1921.
John G. Young enlisted in the 60th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. C, on 7-8-1862. He deserted 11-22-1862 at Murfreesboro, Tenn. He died in 1924.
There are seven men who joined the Union with graves within the cemetery.
Francis M. Blackwell first enlisted in the Confederate Army’s 35th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. G, Henderson Rifles, on 10-5-1861. He deserted 4-21-1863. He enlisted in the 2nd N.C. Mounted Infantry on 9-25-1863.
John J. Blackwell enlisted in the 2nd N.C. Mounted Infantry, Co. A, on 9-25-1863. He was ineligible for mandatory Confederate service until late 1863 or 1864. He died in 1889.
Thomas Blackwell first enlisted in the Confederate Army’s 35th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. G, Henderson Rifles, on 10-5-1861. There are no Confederate records after 8-8-1863. He enlisted in the 2nd N.C. Mounted Infantry on 9-25-1863. He died in 1888.
Alfred J. Duncan first enlisted in the Confederate Army’s 7th Battalion N.C. Cavalry on 7-15-1862. On 8-3-1863, this battalion was consolidated into the 65th Regiment N.C. Troops (6th Regiment N.C. Cavalry). He was reported AWOL on an unspecified date in 1863. He enlisted in the 2nd N.C. Mounted Infantry, Co. H, on 10-1-1863. He died in 1909.
James V. Hammett first enlisted in the Confederate Army’s 60th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. D, Henderson Rangers, on 7-10-1862. He was hospitalized sick in January 1863 and returned to duty 8-1-1863. He was captured 11-25-1863 at the Battle of Missionary Ridge during the Chattanooga Campaign. He was a Confederate prisoner at the Union’s POW Camp at Rock Island, Ill. He was released from the Union’s POW Camp on 1-25-1864 after agreeing to join the U.S. Navy while a prisoner. He joined the Union Navy to get out of a Union prison. He died in 1919.
Jeremiah M. Taylor first enlisted in the Confederate Army’s 35th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. G. He was wounded at the Battle of Fredericksburg while serving as a Confederate. He deserted 4-21-1863. He enlisted in the 2nd N.C. Mounted Infantry, Co. H, on 10-1-1863. He died in 1889.
Lynch Young first enlisted in the Confederate Army’s 39th Infantry Regiment, Co. D. He deserted 7-10-1862. He rejoined the Confederate 56th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. G, on 3-1-1863, deserting 5-13-1863. He enlisted in the 2nd N.C. Mounted Infantry, Co. H, on 10-1-1863. He deserted the Union Army on 1-25-1865. He returned to duty on 6-25-1865, but “was not restored to duty.” He was later “restored to duty by S.O. (special order) #26 on July 2, 1867.” He died in 1908. He served in three different regiments, four different times, in two different armies.