Location: Aetna, Sharp, Arkansas
Latitude: 35.932N -- Longitude -91.450W -- Map

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Thank you to Sherry for the information on this cemetery. She found it.


The Dawson Cemetery is located on private property in Sharp County, Arkansas. From the stop sign in Strawberry, drive west toward Cave City for 5.2 miles, and turn left onto the unmarked gravel road. Proceed south 2.7 miles to a gated field path. From the gate, the Dawson Cemetery is visible in a cluster of trees approximately 200 yards due west. This is a family cemetery, which contains the remains of CSA Capt. William A. Dawson and at least 3, possibly four, of his children. Dawson was murdered in 1884 while staving timber in the Black River Bottoms between Saffell and Turkey Hill in Independence County. His wife, Lavina (Lou) and other children, are buried in Batesville.

Dawson, Baby Girl -- born November 25, 1873, died December 11, 1873

Dawson, Joseph Bunyon/Burrell -- born 1879, no date of death

Dawson, Leony "Lenny" -- born aft 1865, died 1875

Dawson, Martha Malindy -- born July 28, 1878, died Sept 14, 1878

Dawson, William A. (Capt.) -- born November 12, 1838 in North Carolina, died August 25, 1884. Captain Bill, was the son of Burwell/Burrell and Edith Folsum Dawson, the husband of Lavina Cason (Perrin) Dawson, father of William Alvin, Susan Ada, Edith Bryant, Baby Girl, Joseph B., Leony, and Martha Malindy.**


The headstones and rocks marking the graves of the children have no discernable carvings remaining. There were four distinct sets of rocks and graves noted in the 1980s. Three sets were noted in October, 2002.

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** Veteran
** Information taken from Times Dispatch Newspaper

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If you find someone you are looking for, I would be happy to create a link to you. Also if you know of someone that I have omitted, please let me know.

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Nancy Matthews

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