These are tidbits I found in a book written by Bud Phillips, the book is Bristol / Va. / Tennessee. I do not have the book, just found in the library. The book describes the status funeral of a L. M. Rhea who was buried in a satin lined, metal casket Jan. 15,1889. The reciept for the total bill was $35.00. Another A. S. McNeil reciept showed a complete funeral with coffin, cloths, and use of a hearse only $25.00. A simple funeral could be as low as $2.50 ! By the closing years of the century $40.00 could still buy a fine funeral. 1st cemetery in Bristol was called Oak Grove. The town was laid out in 1852. About 1784 a traveler died at Fort Shelby. His family and General Shelby chose a burial site located to the north east within site of the Fort. The site was shaded by several giant Oak Trees thus the name. Oak Grove become later known as Shelby Cemetery. Many of the early burials were without coffins. Bodies were covered by a thick layer of oak leaves then topped off with dirt.The first time Gen. Shelby was buried he was buried in this manner. The 1st Bristol Cemetery was located directly across what later became 5th Street, south of the intersection with Shelby. A small bit of the grounds extended westward onto the lot that was later the Redeemer Lutheren Church. From the days of Shelby til the founding of Bristol in 1852 the cemetery was unkept and unused. The Rev. James King sold the land to his son-in-law for a town site, and he reserved a cemetery lot. The lot was small with no room for expansion and the people realized they could no longer meet the demands of a growing town. Land was then set aside for a cemetery on Round Hill ( NOW EAST HILL) By 1871 the town was expanding and pushing hard against the Old Oak Grove Cemetery and the town's developers vision was a grand avenue leading from downtown to King College. They proposed moving the bodies, and there was a great court fight and the town was split on the issue. (March 24,1871 articals in Bristol newspapers). By late summer of 1871 after over a year of fueding the city started plans to move the bodies. ( Bristol news, Sept.1,1871) gave morbid accounts of the process. Those mentioned in the articals were Cyrus King and his 2 wives and child who they said was buried there for about 12,15,18,or 20 years. Those bodies were moved to East Hill Cemetery. On Fri. Feb. 22, 1872 Tobias Wade and Nathan Stepp hired by city council shoveled up the bones of General Evan Shelby from his resting place of 77 years. The bones were put in a goods box and locked up in the jail that stood on 5th Street. ( This was kept quiet as possible to keep down a protest possibly). That afternoon Fowler was admitted to jail by John Crowell, Town Sergeant. His purpose was to measure and view Shelby's bones. He later commented that Shelby's skull did not look to be that of a intelligent man, noting the forhead seemed very low and retreated greatly, he also noted Shelby's leg bones to measure a bit over 31 inches.Early on Sat. morning Feb. 23,1872 Tobias Wade, Nathan Stepp,& John Crowell took the box of bones from the jail and started towards East Hill. Mr. Phillips in his book describes with great humor a tale told by an aged daughter of Nathan Stepp. She says Tobias Wade, a little juberous already about his burden had the box of bones on his shoulder walking a little ahead of Crowell and Stepp when a bird lit atop the box and started pecking at the lid. Wade must have thought Shelby was knocking to get out, and with a wild yell he threw the box backward, scattering the bones at the feet of his companions and took out over the ridge toward Beaver Creek. Crowell and Stepp gathered the remains and made the interment. The 1st Shelby burial site in East Hill ( then called City Cemetery) was just inside and to the right of the western most gate. I. C. Fowler lamented that the old hero had not been given a fitting burial and kept the matter before the public for 3 months. Wed. May 20,1872 was set for Decoration Day for City Cemetery. Gen. Shelby was to be given a public ceremonial burial, and on Mon. May 18,1872 his bones again were shoveled up by H. A. Bickley and an assistant. The bones were taken to Bickley's establishment by the First Christian Church. where they were laid in order and put into a fine walnut casket ( cost $ 14.00). On Decoration Day Bickley hauled the coffin to the First Presbyterian Church where within a few feet of the spot the old hero rested for 77 years. R. Vance and George B. Smith delivered orations over Shelby and a grand procession ( nearly the whole town) followed to the cemetery. Rev. G.A. Claldwell gave a final prayer and at 11:45 A.M. May 20,1872 Shelby was lowered to a final resting place. Hope you enjoyed and I will try to do more cemetery history, but this was the best of the chapter.