Hickory Grove Cemetery of Ashley County

History of Hickory Grove Cemetery of Ashley County by Rose Miller

In 1874 R. Laing acquired 80 acres in Egypt Township. On March 13, 1878, R. Laing deeded to Hickory Grove ME (Methodist Episcopal) Church approximately 4 acres. The Trustees for this land were Rob A. Geddie, Thomas J. Maxwell and Samuel M. Stevenson. On March 30, 1939, the trustees of Hickory Grove Church (Lois Farrar, C. Womble,

and C. Garner) gave an undivided half interest to the Meridian Masonic Lodge for use. The 1880 census showed Mr. Laing was 46 and was from Florida. His family was from Georgia. His wife Nancy 43 was also from Georgia. They had 7 children; 4 girls and 3 boys. There were 15 people buried in the 1800's. First buried was E. H. Gulledge born Jan 19 1879 and died May 28, 1880 however the Maxwell Family book at the Crossett Library includes Edgar Maxwell, born Mar 28,1877 and died Jun 27, 1877 and buried in Hickory Grove Cemetery. There is no headstone. Most of these early burials were children. Mr. Laing and his wife are buried at the old cemetery in Bastrop, Louisiana. Hickory Grove was located at Elon, Arkansas. It had a Post Office, a CC Camp, a school, church and graveyard. Also had a lumber camp. The church was torn down in the early 1980's. On Jan 14, 1993, Georgia Pacific gave a quick claim deed for 1.34 acres more or less to the cemetery. The cemetery now has approximately 5.3 acres of land.