King Cemetery

Montevallo, Shelby County, Alabama



King Cemetery
T
Dated 1979 ~ Transcribed from miscellaneous material
Samford University Library, Special Collection

Please understand that some of the grave markers were worn, broken, and/or illegible,
therefore, some errors in transcribing may have occurred.


Information on this page may not be used for personal or financial gain.
It is to be used for research only. Thank you.

Located on The University of Montevallo Campus

SHORTRIDGE, Elizabeth KING, ”Wife of Geo. D. SHORTRIDGE, Aged 88 years, Died ~ 22 November 1905"
Foot marker reads "Elizabeth SHORTRIDGE 1817-1905


SHORTRIDGE, Geo., Died 29 July 1870, “Aged 55 years”

KING, Mrs. Susan D., “Here lies the remains of Mrs. Susan D. KING, second wife of Edmund KING,
and daughter of Joshua and Sylvia WARD. She was born in Bertie County, N. Carolina
and died June 22nd 1850, in the 34th year of her age."


SHORTRIDGE, Eli, “Killed at Battle of Seven Pines, Va. 30 June 1862, Aged 18 years."
"He died for the southland he loved so well”


SHORTRIDGE, Frank Forrester, “Killed at Battle Atlanta, Ga. ~ 24 August 1864
"Almight example of Southern Chivalry”


KING, Frank Ragan, 10 March 1840, 8 October 1884

KING, Mrs. Nancy, “Consort of Edmund KING. Age at death: 49” ~ 10 September 1842

KING, Morgan "Our Darling Morgan KING"
Infant Son of Frank R. & Fannie V. KING”, 15 April 1882, 6 October 1884


KING, Lyttleton, "Sacred to the Memory of Lyttleton KING
he was accidentally killed by his brother in shooting at a deer
in September 1848
in the 21st year of his age"
CLICK HERE TO READ THE MELANCHOLY SURROUNDING HIS DEATH


KING, Nathan Ragan, 1831-1863

SHORTRIDGE, George D., Jr., 23 July 1837, 29 August 1868 "A Wife's Tribute"

KING, Edmund, "Born in Va, removed to Ga and married Nancy RAGAN in 1812.
Came to Ala in 1817 and settled on this place where he died 28 June 1863 in the 82 year of his age."
(Marker broken)
"He was a wise and just man, a kind neighbor,a patriotic citizen and was
more than fifty years an earnest and consistent member of the Baptist Church."

The obituary, Austin Statesman (Newspaper), Sunday, January 14, 1906, Austin, Texas: "Elizabeth King Shortridge. Born October 17, 1817, at Montevallo, Ala. Died November 22, 1905, at Austin, Texas. The tidings of the passing away of this aged lady, in Texas, brings a sense of loss to the friends of her earlier years in Alabama. The history of her family is closely woven with that of her native town, from its very beginning at Wilson's Hill, Elizabeth King being the first white child born in this town. Her childhood. youth and married life here add richly to that best heritage of any people; the imperishable riches embodied in the memory of noble lives. Her father, the late Edmund King, was one of the founders of the Montevallo Baptist church, which was indebted to him for the lot upon which stood the old brick church. He was one of the most extensive land owners the county ever had, and the frequency of his deeds of gift to churches in this community illumine the records of the county as memorials of his generosity. The records of this church make frequent mention of Mrs. Shortridge's brother, Rev. Shelby King, whose gifts in speaking of Divine things called forth resolutions urging him to consecrate himself wholly to the work of a minister of the gospel. Mrs. Shortridge united with this church in 1863; her husband, the late Judge George D. Shortridge, being also a member of the same. Of a large family reared in this home, in which were welcomed three nephews - Paul, Burwell and George Lewis, prominent Alabamians - not one remains in Montevallo. One son, Colonel W.W. Shortridge, of Ensley, Ala. and two daughters, Mrs. Lou Gaines, wife of the chief justice of the Texas supreme court and Mrs. Lelia Sedberry of Jefferson, Texas, survive the beloved mother. Two sons, Eli and Frank, that whom the annuals of the Confederacy furnished a no more notable example of daring and courage, she gave to the cause of the south. Frank was a member of Colonel John P. West's company, Second Alabama cavalry, and was killed in a skirmish near Atlanta shortly before the fall of that place. Newton Eddings, now in Montevallo, and the late Hon. B.B. Lewis were among those detailed to enter lines of the enemy with a flag of truce, and learn the fate of their comrade. They were told, with many expressions, of admiration by the Yankee caption, how Mr. Shortridge refused to surrender, fought to the death and went down with sublime defiance, a victim to the cruel ethics of war, and led them to the grave where he had been buried with honors by his foes. It is noticeable that Mrs. Shortridge's neighbors, of the old Shelby home, in recalling her life here, make frequent reference to the benevolence of her character. The writer said to one of them: "Tell me some special incident of her kindness to the poor." The light of grateful memory shone in her face, as she answered: "I will tell you of her kindness to me." Then followed the story, so sadly common in our fair southland in the '60s; of the widowed mother trying to support the family with the needle. There was not sewing enough to keep both the mother and herself, the elder daughter, busy. With the opening of the cotton factory came an opportunity for work, and she obtained a position there. On meeting two of her young friends soon afterwards, one of them spoke as usual, making kind inquiry as to how she liked her work; the other passed with averted look, and without speaking. In a few days Mrs. Shortridge, with a number of her aristocratic friends, visited the factory. Coming to the part of the room where she was at work, the stately lady placed an arm gently about her, stooped and kissed her, and spoke words of hearty approval of the step she had taken. In bringing the story to a close, she said: "I do not know, but I have always believed that this visit to the factory was for me; that Mrs. Shortridge had heard of the slight I had received, and planned the visit to show her friends how she proposed to treat the girl who dared to go out into the world to make a support for herself rather than leave the burden entirely upon her mother. At any rate, mother was reconciled to my position. After this, the girl who had passed me by in silence before, was a kind as others, and no lady in Montevallo refused to speak to me because I worked in the factory." Perhaps this generation of working girls, who may take any suitable place in the industrial world, knowing that they have the respect of the best men and women in so doing, can never fully realize what they owe to those women of the "old south," who surrendered the prejudices of generations, and like Mrs. Shortridge, cheered the fatherless and brotherless girls of the stricken land with genuine Christian sympathy, as they yielded, one after another, the sacred, and hitherto unquestioned rights of the southern women to live, love and work in the shelter of her home. The test of true nobility is sympathy and solicitude for, and an unselfish, helping hand extended to the lowly and needy. These were prominent characteristics of Mrs. Shortridge. She cheered, ministered to and befriended all, and with one accord they now rise up and call her blessed. Let us ever cherish the memory of and try to emulate this true nobility so beautifully exemplified in the life she lived. ... H.L. ... Montevallo, Ala., December 2, 1905.
This same obituary also appeared in the "Columbiana Sentinel" dated Thursday, December 7, 1905.

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