Number Nine Hall Cemetery, Memphis, Shelby County

Number Nine Hall Cemetery (image by author)

Not far from the Mississippi state line in Shelby County (less than two miles) is a cemetery belonging to the Independent Pole Bearers Number Nine Hall. The Independent Pole Bearers started in Memphis shortly after the Civil War, and were initially a semi-military group with the members having the right to bear arms (Green Polonius Hamilton, The Bright Side of Memphis, 207).  The Pole Bearers were an active group, and by the end of the nineteenth century there were multiple lodges throughout West Tennessee.

The Articles of Incorporation for Independent Pole Bearers Association No. 9 states that the group was incorporated in 1896 and that it was located in the 12th Civil District of Shelby County, near the town of White House.  According to the Articles, "The object of this incorporation is to establish a means whereby we may secure for cash other exemption from neglect in the exigencies of sickness, want and death; to secure for each other employment, and to hold social meetings for the purpose of advancement of each other" (Record Group 42, Secretary of State Charters of Incorporation, Volume O-O, Page 172, located at the Tennessee State Library and Archives).  Various lodges of the Independent Pole Bearers continue to exist in Shelby County.

In April 2013, I visited this cemetery in Shelby County. The cemetery is adjacent to a Church of Christ church, and is very well-maintained.  There were several examples of hand-carved tombstones in the cemetery. There is no sign indicating the name of the cemetery.  The most recent grave dated to 2011.  It is possible there are a number of unmarked graves in the cemetery as there were several sunken spots in the rows of graves.  The tombstones were some of the most interesting that I have seen.

Example of hand-carved tombstone. Image by author.

Hand-carved tombstone.  Image by author.

Image by author.