Flinn/Casey Cemetery

This is a copy of the pamphlet handed out by the landowner 
at a dedication ceremony on October 6, 2002.  

     
Restoration of the Flinn-Casey Cemetery began 
about four years ago, and has been a work in 
progress. We will consider it complete when we 
have it properly fenced. Originally, there was a 
wrought iron fence around it, but it was broken up 
and taken. On two of the corner posts, there are 
original patterns of pieces found. Motorized 
equipment could not be used to work on this site 
for fear of damaging the head and footstones, and 
also because of the large tree stumps, some of 
which are fifty two inches in diameter. All 
restoration was done with hand tools, ground sifted 
for any artifacts, and none of value were found. All 
work has been documented by photographs, and 
literally measuring every direction of work. Nothing 
was moved, except to put stones back in their 
proper places. The ground was excavated only six 
to ten inches, simply to locate all the graves, by 
headstones and footstones. The graves were not 
entered. Nancy Rule's grave had been completely 
dug up and it's bricks and stone were piled on the 
grave of Mary Rule. The resulting hole was 
approximately seven feet long, five feet wide, and 
seven feet deep. We assumed that the base to her 
tombstone was in the bottom of the hole, which had 
about four feet of water in it. It was pumped dry and 
excavated another twelve inches, but nothing but a 
few bricks. There was no trace of a casket or 
remains, it appeared that the whole grave had been 
moved. Cuba Flinn's tombstone, leaning at about 
forty-five degrees, was the only one standing in the 
Flinn section of the cemetery, and was used as the 
guide for aligning all the others. What is interesting 
is that the faces of the tombstones in the Flinn 
section face west, and in the Casey section they 
face east. Some of the tombstones were found as 
far away as seventy five fee, some broken, and 

 
      
under six to twelve inches underground. There are 
six provable, unmarked graves in the Casey 
section, and we made blank tombstones from 
concrete. George Morris's tombstone was 
broken in half and the lost half was not located 
for two years. The obelisk on the Casey girls, 
and Addie Morris's headstone was close to the 
base, and was under about two inches of dirt. 
All the broken headstones and footstones were 
repaired with a mastic and that is used in acid proof 
construction. This material is difficult to work 
with, but it worked very well. The brick 
columns that mark all the corners of both 
cemeteries were constructed from bricks 
remaining after all the graves were back in 
place. The birdbath base, the statue base, the 
planter, and the cannon base were made from 
excess brick also. The walkway entrance to the 
Flinn Cemetery was added as was the benches, 
their bases, and the flag poles. Seven headstone 
bases could not be located and concrete bases 
were made, so the headstones could be located 
and anchored properly. A metal detector was of 
no use, because there was pieces of the original 
fence scattered throughout. All of the stones 
have been cleaned about three times in the past 
four years, with a mild solution of bleach and
water, or swimming pool cleaner. It seems to 
have a caustic effect on the stone, and we are 
currently looking for another method of 
cleaning. Some of the stains of the stone 
appear to be permanent. We have enjoyed our 
project and continue to "fuss" with and trying 
to keep in mind that "history ignored is history 
lost forever".  

We feel that maybe our unknowns are probably 
members of the Morris family. We welcome 
any information that any  have.
 
      
         
List of known graves.
       
1.  J. P. Casey  
DOB 3-22-1861
DOD 7-10-1915
A physician 
Practiced in Woodville
 
 
 
2. Emma Casey
6 years	
DOD 12-3-1892
 
 
 
3. Florence Casey
3 years   
DOD 12-3-1892
 
 
 
4. Addie Casey     
Mother and wife of Dr Casey and 2 children above
 
 
 
5. Mary Rule     	 
 30 years	 
DOD 12-29-1873
 
 
 
6. Mrs. Nancy Rule
DOB 9-18-1791
DOD 7-2-1864	
(grave that was removed)
 
 
 
7. Francis J. Flinn
DOB 1-9-1845
DOD 7-2-1865
 
 
 
8. D. F. Cavin
DOB 10-11-1823
DOD 2-2-1884
 
 
 
9.  Baby Flinn Morris
DOB 9-18-1903
DOD 6-21-1904
 
 
 
10. Daniel Lane Flinn
DOB 1-3-1866
DOD  9-17-1869
 
 
 
11. Cuba Flinn	
DOB  11-21-1858
DOD   6-30 1868
 
 
 
12.  Samuel D. Flinn
DOB 12-31-1952
DOD 9-13-1869
 
 
 
Civil War Veterans
 
 
 
1. Daniel L. Flinn
Corporal-Minutemen of Company A 
DOB 6-16-1816
DOD 8-21-1863
Captain in charge of this unit was James M. Miller
 
 
 
2. James C. Morris
Private, Company E 
21st Mississippi Infantry Regiment
formally Company E 1st Battalion, Mississippi Volunteers:
Hurricane Rifles 
 
 
 
3. George Monroe Morris
Private, 4th Mississippi Calvary
Captured 5-4-1865
Married to Francis I. Deloach
 
 
     


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Photo by Marcus Cothren