Phantoms of Founders:  Historical Cemetery Twilight Tour

Cathy Harvey at the gravesite of her great-great grandparents, James and Mary Conerly, early hotel owners in Tylertown appeared at the Phantoms Twilight Tour.

On Saturday, October 5, 2019, the Judith Robinson Chapter of the DAR sponsored a walking tour of historical Founders Cemetery for any interested in the history of Tylertown. Gravesites of pioneer settlers, soldiers, and merchants who populated the village of Conerly’s, later named Tylertown, were visited and  “phantoms” appeared in period costumes to tell their fascinating stories. 

Founders Cemetery

Restoration Video

Regent's Message

Donation Letter

Donation Form

Donors

The tour began with Revolutionary War soldier William Thornhill, and his wife Liddy, who has unsettling memories of a Choctaw chief her party met on their trip from South Carolina to the Mississippi territory in 1811.  Two War of 1812 soldiers, Claiborne Rushing and Henry Magee, appeared, along with Claiborne’s brother Ephraim, who was elected to the state legislature in 1846.  Hotel owners, James and Mary Lamkin Conerly,  and merchant Benjamin Lampton also appeared, whose two infant children are buried at Founders.  Other “phantoms” present included William G. Tyler, for whom Tylertown is named; Civil War soldier Newton Ball; George Collins, the first elected mayor of Tylertown, and Carl Ball, a respected surveyor, both of whom have family members buried at Founders. 

This chronologically-organized tour reflected the development of Tylertown from a pioneer farming area to a business community.  It thus reflected not only the history of Tylertown but the history of the nation. 

Directed by Historical Preservation Committee member Cathy Harvey, this event offered three 45-minute tours. Ticket sales benefited the continued restoration of Founders Cemetery and the Judith Robinson Chapter of the DAR.
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For further information, please contact Cathy Harvey (228-223-3984).