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While researching the families that have been laid to rest at Stephen Martin cemetery a few years ago I discovered some names that I had not seen before.  For example, the Hardegree family, sometimes spelled Hardigree and other times Hardegree.   

John Hardigree, born in 1844, came to Dunwoody from Coweta County, Georgia in the late 1800’s.  He began working as a carpenter.  There he met Catherine Elizabeth Dalrymple and they were soon married.  For a while, they lived in her parents’ home on what is still known as Dalrymple Road in Sandy Springs.  Then they moved to a home of their own on what is now Lake Hearn Drive, in the district of DeKalb County known as Cross Keys. 

 In 1903, when a group of men were looking for a site for the Methodist Episcopal Church, John Hardigree was chairman of the committee.  He submitted the plans on behalf of the committee, for a 30’ X 50’ X 14’ building, painted, and at a cost of $500.  This was the beginning of the Dunwoody Methodist Church and sat across Mount Vernon Road from today’s church building.  

John and Elizabeth Hardigree had five children, three girls and two boys.  Their son John William Hardigree fought in World War I.  His headstone in Stephen Martin Cemetery reads “CPL 201 PW Escort CO ASC World War I.”  According to his service records, Hardigree began by reporting to Camp Gordon.  Camp Gordon was a World War I camp established in Chamblee in 1918, where DeKalb Peachtree Airport is today.  His service continued into 1919 as a Prisoner of War escort.   

Following World War I, John William Hardegree married Beatrice Elizabeth Dearing.  They had one son, John William Hardegree, Jr. who died very young.  Unfortunately, Elizabeth Hardegree died in 1927 from tuberculosis at the Battle Hill Sanitarium.  This Atlanta hospital was specifically helping tuberculosis patients at that time.

Catherine Elizabeth Dalrymple’s parents were John Dalrymple and Alcy Ball.  Alcy Ball was part of an early family that was significant in both Dunwoody and Sandy Springs.  Her father, Peter Ball, was a large land owner whose property was where the North Fulton Annex and Big Trees Preserve are today.      

John and Elizabeth Hardigree are buried in the historic Stephen Martin Cemetery in Dunwoody near Perimeter Mall. The easiest way to get to Stephen Martin Cemetery is to park to the right of Nordstrom Rack on Hammond Drive.  Park in the back of the parking lot and step across to the gravel driveway in front of you.  You will see a historic marker for the cemetery.  Then, take a left and follow the path to the Stephen Martin Cemetery.

For more information on this and other local cemeteries, visit a beautifully written and informative blog by Traci Rylands at adventuresincemeteryhopping.com.

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