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Blackton, monroe county, ARkansas

Mt. Union Cemetery

Preservation Association

Ways You Can Help

Volunteer

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History

The Mt. Union Cemetery was founded in 1882 by Nathan Cathey and other men arriving in the Monroe County area in search of a new life after slavery.  Cathey, a Civil War veteran, saved his pension, purchased land and moved his entire family to the Blackton, Arkansas community to settle new land and start a new journey. During the Progressive Era, Cathey and others helped to establish Blackton as a thriving and successful community of great prominence including grocery stores, sawmills, cotton gins and social clubs.

Cathey established the Mt. Union Church of Christ (known today as the Blackton CoC). The church is the oldest independent African American CoC in Arkansas and one of the oldest churches in the United States. Cathey was also Elder for the Pleasant Union CoC, one of the first churches established in this nation. He, along with Jefferson Bennett and Minister Frank Sowell, commissioned several pioneering ministers of the African American CoC during and after slavery.

Cathey taught himself to read and write by studying the Bible fireside at night with other well known ministers including Bill Phillips, Sam Womack, Levi Kennedy and Alexander Campbell. Cathey was also the maternal grandfather of R. N. Hogan the distinguished gospel preacher known around the country as the “boy preacher”. Cathey was not only a teacher, but a Biblical scholar.

In 1911, Cathey formally donated 1/2 acre of land to the church, cementing the establishment and founding of the cemetery. He died in 1918 and both he, his wife, Francis, and others are buried at the cemetery. There are over 100+ burials with many being military, historic and over 100 years old.

Legacy

MUCPA is partnering with the Arkansas Historic Preservation Association (AHPA) to secure a historic marker highlighting the significance of the location. The association also plans to maintain current historical burials, secure fencing and protect unknown graves. Please help us meet our goal by donating today and saving this beautiful American legacy.

$2k

Donations raised

100

Volunteer hours

2

Grants submission

3

Community outreach partners

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A number of projects are underway for the Mt. Union Cemetery Restoration Project including digital burial records, headstone restoration, obituary location and more. Please support and contact for additional details.

Save the Legacy

Get Involved

Records

MUCPA is working extensively to update all military, burial, state and academic records for the location of historic graves located on the property.

Notable Burials

MUCPA will highlight all known military burials and historic graves at the site.

Legacy

The MUCPA is working with state and government agencies to make the location a historic site and recognize with a state monument. Matching grant funds are needed to pursue this endeavor.

Give

All cemetery maintenance is done by trained volunteers and professional contractors, therefore, we welcome your monetary donations for larger projects and capital improvements. MUCPA is a non-profit organization qualified to accept tax-deductible donations.

contact

Mt. Union Cemetery Preservation Association

4398 Palmer Road

P.O. Box 240

Holly Grove, AR 72069

mucpa1882@gmail.com