The first church established in the Dana community was Refuge Baptist Church. The church was officially founded in 1846 from Ebenezer Baptist Church. But Baptists began meeting first in the home of William W. Case and the Ridge School about 1837.
The first church was built near the “waters of Tumble Bug Creek and Ridge Road.”
Early members included families with the surnames of Blackwell, Brock, Case, Duncan, Gilbert, Hill, Hoots, Jones, Justice, King, Pace, Tabor, Taylor, Staton, Stepp, Williams and many more.
Slaves of Robert Jones were members prior to the Civil War.
In 1889 William Nicholas Clark and his wife, Malinda Justice Clark, gave land for a new building to be erected. The church has expanded and undergone more building and renovations in the 20th century.
A state legislator from Henderson County, who also served as Henderson County Sheriff at two different times, and who also once owned a stagecoach line that came through the county, has a grave site within this cemetery.
Terrell Wilkie Taylor (1826-1904) served as Henderson County Sheriff from 1848 to 1852 and again from 1870 to 1874. Additional information on his second term as sheriff is located at http://hendersonheritage.com/sheriffs-town-mashals/
In 1865, he bought the stagecoach line from John T. Poole. Valentine Ripley had earlier sold the stagecoach line to Poole. Taylor owned the stagecoach line until the railroad was completed in 1879.
Taylor, a Democrat, was elected as a state senator to the N.C. General Assembly three times, serving from 1874 to 1890. On July 4, 1879, he was grand marshal of the parade that greeted the arrival of the first train in Hendersonville. He also spoke during the ceremonies.
One of the most well-known and prominent Baptist ministers in the region, and who also served as one of the county’s first clerks of court and in the state legislature, also has a grave site in this cemetery.
James Blythe (1808-1897) was appointed the first clerk of court (entry keeper) for Henderson County. He served eight years.
He was the first pastor at Hendersonville First Baptist Church and at Saluda First Baptist Church. He also served the following churches: Little River, French Broad, Beulah, Ebenezer, Refuge, Mud Creek, Green River, Mountain Page, Crab Creek, Mount Moriah and Cathey’s Creek.
He established and printed the first newspaper published in Hendersonville, the “Carolina Baptist.” He was one of the founders of Judson College.
He served in the N.C. House in 1866 (Presidential Reconstruction). In 1868, during Radical Reconstruction, he was elected to the state senate. He was too old to have served in the Civil War and had no political connections to the Confederate government in the state. In 1872, he was elected to the state house again.
Two men who died in World War II have grave sites at this church cemetery.
Lowell Everett Love (1918-1945) served as a second lieutenant with the Army’s 774th Tank Battalion. He was killed in action April 12, 1945, in combat near the Rhine River.
Aaron Eratus Williams (1918-1944) was a Tech 4 with the Army’s 44th Engineer Combat Battalion. He died of wounds received in the Battle of the Bulge.
One man from Henderson County who died in World War I has a grave site in this church cemetery.
Thomas Jefferson Jones (1893-1918) was “killed while crossing the Hindenburg Line.”
Two men who served in the Philippine-American War have grave sites in the cemetery: Henry Dock (Dock H.D.) Hyder (1861-1942) and John Walker Hoots (1880-1967).
There are 22 Confederate veterans with grave sites in this church cemetery:
Pulaski Brock enlisted in the 64th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. B, on 7-10-1862. He was captured 9-9-1863 at Cumberland Gap, a prisoner at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill.; and released 5-17-1865. He died in 1901.
Reuben Brock enlisted in the 35th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. G, Henderson Rifles, on 10-5-1861. He was captured 4-1-1865 at the Battle of Five Forks during the Appomattox Campaign, a prisoner at Point Lookout, Md., and released 6-24-1865. He died in 1911.
George Washington Brown enlisted in the 64th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. B, on 7-12-1862. He was wounded 9-1-1862 near Knoxville, Tenn., captured 9-9-1863 at Cumberland Gap, a prisoner at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., and released 5-17-1865. He died in 1921.
Joel Carlisle enlisted in the 25th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. A, Edney’s Greys, on 1-23-1865. He “deserted to the enemy” on or about February 1865, was confined by the Union in Washington, D.C., and released 2-13-1865. Based on his confinement, the term “deserted to the enemy” in the Confederate records is most likely inaccurate. He died in 1914.
James Manning Case enlisted in the 56th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. G, Henderson Blues, on 10-1-1864 at the age of 15. There are no further military records. He died in 1932.
James W. Case enlisted in the 35th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. G, Henderson Rifles, on 10-1-1861. He was captured 3-25-1865 at the Battle of Fort Stedman during the Siege of Petersburg, a prisoner at Point Lookout, Md., and released 6-24-1865. He died in 1914.
John C. Case enlisted in the 54th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. I, on 3-24-1862. He was captured 11-7-1863 at the Battle of Rappahannock Station during the Bristoe Campaign in Virginia, a prisoner at Point Lookout, Md., exchanged 3-20-1864, and reported AWOL 5-3-1864. There are no further military records. He died in 1908.
William A. Duncan enlisted in the 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 served through the war. He died in 1918. The gravesite is at Refuge Baptist Church Cemetery in Dana, according to his death certificate. The grave is unmarked.
John P. Hill enlisted in the 64th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. B, on 10-27-1862. He transferred to Co. C on 1-1-1864. He served through the war. He died in 1892.
Hiram Dyer Justice enlisted in the 64th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. B. Pension records indicate he served in this company, He died in 1927.
John Thomas Justice enlisted in the 64th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. B, on 7-12-1862. He served through the war. He died in 1912.
Robert Jones King enlisted in the 25th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. A, Edney’s Greys, on 5-15-1861. He was discharged 12-5-1861 by reason of disability. He died in 1924.
Jesse Maxwell enlisted in the 25th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. A, Edney’s Greys, on 5-15-1861. He served through the war. He died in 1905.
Irvin Neal enlisted in the 56th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. G, Henderson Blues, on 4-12-1862 at the age of 42. He served through the war. He died in 1894.
Thomas Franklin Pace enlisted in the 64th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. B, on 7-12-1862. He was captured 9-9-1863 at Cumberland Gap, a prisoner at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., and released 6-16-1865. He died in 1909.
Benjamin Allen Staton enlisted in the 35th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. G, Henderson Rifles, on 10-5-1861. He was hospitalized with a gunshot wound 5-15-1864. The place and date that he was wounded was not reported, but it was probably at the Battle of Proctor’s Creek during the Bermuda Hundred Campaign. He was furloughed 9-13-1864. He was dropped from the rolls 11-13-1864. He died in 1921.
John Walton Staton enlisted in the 64th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. B, on 7-12-1862. He was captured 9-9-1863 at Cumberland Gap, a prisoner at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., and released 5-18-1865. He died in 1915.
Hiram Kimsey Stepp enlisted in the 1st Battalion N.C. Junior Reserves, Co. C. The date of enlistment was not reported. N.C. Pension records indicate he served in this regiment. He died in 1911.
Benjamin Merritt Taylor enlisted in the 35th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. G, Henderson Rifles, on 10-5-1861. He was wounded in the right knee 7-1-1862 at the Battle of Malvern Hill during the Seven Days Battles. He “deserted to the enemy” 11-21-1864, was confined at Washington, D.C., and released on an unspecified date. Based on his confinement, the term “deserted to the enemy” is most likely inaccurate. He died in 1935.
Alexander S. Thompson enlisted in the 35th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. G, Henderson Rifles, on 10-5-1861. He “deserted to the enemy” 2-25-1865 and was confined 3-1-1865 at Washington, D.C. He was released on an unspecified date. Based on his confinement, the term “deserted to the enemy” is most likely inaccurate. He died in 1917. His gravesite is at Refuge Baptist Church Cemetery in Dana, according to his death certificate. The grave is an unmarked fieldstone.
Robert P. Townsend enlisted in the 16th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. I, Henderson Guards, on 5-5-1861. He was reported present through October 1864; however, he was reported absent sick or absent without leave during most of that period. He died in 1890.
Levi E. Ward enlisted in the 64th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. B, on 7-10-1862. He was captured 9-9-1863 at Cumberland Gap, a prisoner at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., and released 6-16-1865. He died in 1907.
There are nine men who served in the Union Army with grave sites in the cemetery:
James Brock enlisted in the Confederate Army’s 56th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. G, Henderson Blues, on 4-12-1862. He deserted 5-13-1863 near Raleigh. He enlisted in the 2nd N.C. Mounted Infantry, Co. H, on 5-6-1864. He was wounded on 1-1-1865 at Tazwell, Tenn. He died about 1887.
William S. Case enlisted in the Confederate Army’s 64th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. B, on 7-10-1862. He was promoted to musician 9-1-1862 and was reported on detached service through February 1863. The only person who enlisted in the Union that this may be is a William S. Case in the 8th Tennessee Cavalry who enlisted 11-24-1863 and stated that he was born in 1837 in Yancey County. He was captured at Strawberry Plains, Tenn., on 11-14-1864. He was a prisoner of war from 11-14-1864 to 2-21-1865 and confined in Libby Prison in Richmond, Va. William S. Case of Henderson County did receive a Union pension and was on the 1890 U.S. Veterans Schedule. He died in 1904.
Elias Madison Gibbs enlisted in the Confederate Army’s 64th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. B, on 10-27-1862. He was captured 9-9-1863 at Cumberland Gap, a prisoner at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., and released in December 1863 after joining the U.S. Navy. He enlisted in the Union Navy on 12-31-1863. He joined the Union Navy to get out of a Union prison. He died in 1921.
Perry Newton Hood enlisted in the Confederate Army’s 60th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. D, Henderson Rangers, on 7-10-1862. He was captured 11-25-1863 at the Battle of Missionary Ridge during the Chattanooga Campaign, a prisoner at Rock Island, Ill., and released 10-6-1864 after joining the U.S. Army while a prisoner. He enlisted in the 2nd U.S. Volunteer Infantry, Co. G, on 10-6-1864. He joined the Union Army to get out of a Union prison. He died in 1875.
Robert Monroe Justice enlisted in the Confederate Army’s 64th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. B, on 7-12-1862. He deserted 7-1-1863 at Knoxville, Tenn. He enlisted in the 2nd N.C. Mounted Infantry, Co. H, on 10-25-1863. He died in 1926.
Robert Valentine Osteen enlisted in the 2nd N.C. Mounted Infantry, Co. F, on 3-1-1865. A Confederate military record could not be found. He died in 1919.
John Bailis Shipman enlisted in the Confederate Army’s 64th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. B, on 7-12-1862. He deserted 3-24-1863. He enlisted in the 2nd N.C. Mounted Infantry, Co. H, on 10-1-1863. He died in 1924.
Jesse A. Staton enlisted in the Confederate Army’s 35th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. G, Henderson Rifles, on 10-5-1861. He deserted 7-1-1863. He enlisted in the 2nd N.C. Mounted Infantry, Co. H, on 10-1-1863. He died in 1908.
Robert M. Stepp enlisted in the Confederate Army’s 64th N.C. Infantry Regiment, Co. B, on 7-12-1862. He was present through 6-30-1863. He “went over to the enemy” on an unspecified date. He enlisted in the 2nd N.C. Mounted Infantry, Co. H, on 10-1-1863. He died in 1920.