U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Laurel Lake Grave Relocation Project

U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Grave Relocation Project

for the construction of Laurel Lake

Frances Carr Gravesite

Mary-Woods-Gravesite

Matt Carr Gravesite

Matt-and-Frances-Carr-Grave

Rogers Ford Location Map

Rogers Ford New Plat

Rogers Ford Original Cemetery

Rogers Ford Original Plat

Rogers Ford Relocation Bid

Rogers-Ford-Reloation-Proje

Rogers-Ford-Relocation-Proj

Rogers-Ford-view-before

In 1960, Congress authorized construction of a dam on the Laurel River which ran through Laurel and Whitley Counties, Kentucky. Construction began in 1964 with the completion and impoundment occurring in 1974. Just before the lake was impounded approximately 300 grave sites were relocated from nine separate cemeteries.

Anyone with families living along the Laurel River are encouraged to research the document pertaining to this disinterment. The document is held by the U. S. Forest Service in London, Kentucky and is entitled, "Grave Relocation Project". The grave sites were relocated to various cemeteries in the Laurel, Knox and Whitley County areas with the largest relocation being the Rogers Ford Cemetery.

The Rogers- Ford Cemetery relocation was to Resthaven but this section of the cemetery has been abandoned.

Approximately 130 markers as of 2005 were buried six inches under the soil. The majority of the markers at the original cemeteries were made of sandstone and the U. S. Corps of Engineers did not move those original markers but instead placed new ones at the site.

Rogers-Ford Cemetery Link to UPDATE!!!!!!

Upon initially finding the cemetery and before any cleaning was done I tried to document the graves that were visible. The following is a list of those graves.

Lucinda Sizemore Delph
1853 – 1941
“Gone but not forgotten”

Aluminum Vankirk Funeral Home Marker with no name
1920 – 1988

Josh Edward Delph
1854 – 1931
“Gone but not forgotten”

Mary Irvin Delph
Died 1911
“Gone but not forgotten”

Harvey Edward Delph
No dates
“Gone but not forgotten”

Litha Delph Cook
Feb. 21, 1887
Oct 8, 1961

Ollie Harrell
Daughter of J. E. Delph
Born March 20, 1884
Died
July 25, 1905

Concrete marker marked “Cem 7 grave 19”

Concrete marker with no information.

Benn J. Rogers
June 2, 1908
May 15, 1910

John G. Rogers
August 1852
December 1919

Lucy H. Rogers
Oct 1862
June 1929 One stone for John and Lucy

Elmer B. Rogers
Dec. 7, 1882
Dec. 16, 1925
Cooper Lodge No. 668
Stone has Masonic Emblem
“Dearest husband thou has left us, here, they loss (could not read rest of inscription)

Martha J. Renner
Born March 20, 1867
Died Sept 26, 1909
(Also footstone “M.J.R.”)

Evan A. Rogers
June 10, 1918
Oct 28, 1918
“A little bud of love to bloom with God above”

Jesse Solomon Litteral
Oct 20, 1898
July 25, 1926

J. R. Litteral
Mar 16, 1891
Apr 5, 1916
“Blessed for the pure in heart for they shall see God”

L. A. Litteral
May 13, 1885
July 22, 1911
‘Thy memory shall ever be a shining star to heaven”

James Franklin Morgan
Son of Jessee and Rebecca Morgan
May 15, 1873
Apr 17, 1938
“Here I lay my burden down, change the cross into a crown”

G. W. Whitman
June 22, 1861
August 22, 1932
“Father”

Christine Morgan
Born Jan 1, 1869
August 7, 1908
? Stone is broken. Dates possible incorrect.

Mary Woods
Wife of P. O. Woods
Jan 9, 1889
Oct 21, 1910

Sergeant
Samuel G. Steele
Co. F
7 KY Inf.
“No dates on stone”

Rich D. Rogers
Co. F
7th Ky Inf.