University of Virginia Library

March 11, 1874

One day last week we stood in the cemetery of the late
Col. Nimrod Bramham, while the remains of his greatgrand-daughter
were interred, and the voice of prayer
ascended to heaven from the lips of Rev. J. C. Long, the
Baptist pastor. The cemetery is a large enclosed square
of ground, and the dead for five or more generations repose
there. It is a quiet, sunny spot, and the periwinkle
which creeps around the tombs of the silent dead was in
full bloom, its bright blue flowers contrasting with the
dark chocolate of the soil.

Col. Nimrod Bramham and his wife, Margaret, were
the parents of a large family; on all sides of their graves,
their descendants also sleep. They were good people,
followers of Him who gave His life a ransom for the
lost.

An obelisk of white marble stands nearly in the centre,
on which is engraved "Our Parents"; on one side of the
shaft, Wm. A. Bibb, and on the other side Sarah R.
Bibb. Mrs. Bibb was the oldest daughter of Col. Nimrod
and Margaret Bramham, and W. A. Bibb was her
husband.

Then there is the grave of Dr. Horace Bramham, cut
off in the springtime of life and usefulness.

A white tablet records the decease of John Simpson,
the son-in-law of Col. Bramham.

Here repose also, the remains of Dr. Wyatt W.
Hamner, another son-in-law of Col. Bramham, and here
are the remains of Edward J. Timberlake, the son-inlaw
of W. A. Bibb, and now his daughter, Mrs. Nellie
T. Smith finds a resting place among her kindred, who
have preceded her to the grave.

Other persons, the friends of Col. Bramham's family,
also rest here. The children of Wm. and Nancy Garland,
Mr. John and Martha Smithson. Immediately
next to the grave of Wm. and Sarah Bibb are three
large tombs, on the top of each rest marble tops; one
reads, Elizabeth Garland, born 1767, died Nov., 1840.
Erected by her children. On one side of her is her
grandson, Robert Slaughter, died July, 1840, aged 15
years 4 months. On the other side lies Elizabeth
Slaughter.

Mrs. Garland and Mrs. Smithson, previous to marriage,
were named Hamner. In another enclosure near
this cemetery lies the body of Mr. William J. Fife.

It is well to sit around the tombs of those whom we
once knew; it brings to remembrance the happiness enjoyed
in their company while living, and the good which
has resulted from their example of piety and trust in
God, and of the further necessity of being, like them,
prepared for death.

The fine brick mansion on the farm now occupied
[by] Rev. James Fife, was erected by Col. Bramham
about 1824.[92] The place was formerly owned by Gen.

Winston Garth, who removed to Alabama. Both Gen.
Garth and Col. Bramham, had been members of the
House of Delegates in the Virginia Legislature, from
Albemarle County.