AN INVENTORY OF ANTEBELLUM TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS CARROLL COUNTY, TENNESSEE Compiled by Jonathan Kennon Thompson Smith Copyright, Jonathan K. T. Smith, 2002 AUTRY CEMETERY This burial ground is about two miles south of Westport, Tenn. and is about 200 feet east of the Natchez Trace State Park. [It is located on the former Loran Cary farm, whose son-in-law led the present writer to this cemetery] To reach it from nearby Clarksburg, Tenn., turn off State Highway 22 onto State Highway 424W, drive about 3.8 miles to the juncture of Highway 424 and 114; take 114 to a point about .8 mile on the east side of the highway; enter by fence gate, walk about 1.5 mile to the northeast through a long hollow, roughly on the north side of Horn Creek; after crossing a deep ditch, ascend a long hill at the top and edge of which this cemetery is sited. The graves are in a dense pine copse. Advise visit to this site only in winter months to avoid possible confrontation with cotton-mouth snakes and rank vegetation. One grave only is marked with conventional tombstone: ELIZA ANN wife of W. D. FLOWERS Born May 19, 1847 Died Mar. 23, 1878 The graves of Elder ELIJAH AUTRY, who died September 25, 1858 and his wife, MARY PARRISH AUTRY, who died October 24, 1860, are marked by large sandstones. There are at least four conventionally unmarked graves here. Elder Autry was the founding pastor of nearby Mt. Comfort Baptist Church. His obituary in THE TENNESSEE BAPTIST, May 5, 1860, states that he was born in Montgomery County, North Carolina, August 15, 1813; married in Carroll County; was an active member of the masonic order; soon after his twenty-fourth year of age he began preaching (Baptist); that he died from a small pistol wound, September 25, 1858, a son, nearly grown, with considerable persuasion, influenced him to take a small pistol he had along with him to fire for the purpose of securing the stock which he took and put into his pantaloons pocket. He returned late and having lost much sleep and being fatigued, shortly after dark lay down with his clothes on and fell asleep. After the family had all retired, except his wife, she awoke him. Then he had occasion to retire out of doors, having forgotten the pistol . . . was still in his pocket . . . endeavoring to take it from his pocket, which caused it to explode. The ! ball entered the abdomen and ranging up lodged near the lungs. He lingered, suffering intensely, until 2 o'clock Sunday morning. . . ." Elder Autry lingered long enough after his accidental shooting to deliver a nuncupative will before John Parish and William G. Hale, on October 28, 1858, on whose testimony it was probated the next month. He left his farm to his wife Polly, with which to raise his children. (Carroll County Will Book A, page 383)