The history of the Cavett’s Station site dates back to 1790, when Alexander Cavett purchased 640 acres of land on Sinking Creek, in what is now Knox County, TN. On September 25, 1793, Alexander, his family, and two Sullivan County militiamen, were attacked and killed by a force of approximately 1,000 Cherokee and Creek warriors. This event was known as the Cavett's Station Massacre.
After the massacre, the victims were buried on a hill where Alexander had buried his mother the year before, in 1792. Alexander Cavett's brother, Moses Cavett, along with his wife, Agnes, moved onto Alexander's land, and upon their deaths, were buried in the same area. This burial ground was then referred to as the Cavett Family Cemetery.
Mars Hill Baptist Church, established in 1855, was built nearby, and soon began to use the cemetery for their church graveyard. The majority of the burials in the cemetery date to the time of the church's use of the land. After the church burned down, and a new one was built up the road, the name of the cemetery became Mars Hill Cemetery, and we still use that name today.
A monument dedicated to the memory of the massacre victims was erected in 1921 by the Sons of the American Revolution. It stands proudly in the center of the cemetery. There are many unmarked graves in Mars Hill Cemetery. The headstones that remain in the cemetery are organized into family groupings, primarily at the eastern and western ends of the cemetery.
Over 70 people joined us for our luncheon on April 12, 2025! FCS President Amy Mays Emert told everyone about the life of Alexander Cavett, and Dr. Magra explained how the massacre paved the way for the creation of the state of Tennessee. Carol Zimmerman has been associated with Mars Hill Cemetery for over 47 years, so she spoke about the changes she has seen in the cemetery over the years.
We had good food and fellowship as well! In attendance were plenty of descendants, friends and community members, representatives from the Historic Ramsey House, James White's Fort, and the Knoxville History Project, members of 4 area DAR groups, and current and former Knoxville city council members.
We are so thankful to everyone who attended the event! Even those who could not attend and wished us well helped in the success of the luncheon.
Mars Hill Cemetery
Please join us for our third annual Cavett Station Day!
Mars Hill Cemetery
Mars Hill Cemetery
Please join us as we place wreaths on the graves of our 12 known veterans.
Mars Hill Cemetery
Central Baptist Bearden
Please join us as we host the first annual Bearden History Fair! More details to come!
Central Baptist Bearden
There are three (known) unnamed infants buried in Mars Hill Cemetery. These three babies were the infant daughter of Samuel L. and Catherine Jane Lones Gilson, the infant son of Campbell Harrison and Mary Jane Hardin Walker, and the infant son of Samuel Richard and Gemima Jane Griffith Lones.
Friends of Cavett Station President, Amy Mays Emert, has affectionately named these three babies Sissy Gilson, Buddy Walker, and Jack Lones. Ask her how she came up with these names, and she will be DELIGHTED to tell you!
Infant Dau. of
S.L. & C.J. GILSON
BORN SEP. 7, 1866
DIED SEP 16, 1866
Gone, but not forgotten.
Infant Son of
C.H. & MARY WALKER
DEC. 1, 1867
Infant Son of
S.R. & G.J. LONES
Born Nov 19 & died Nov. 21, 1869
Thomas Wilson Parham was the only one of Mars Hill Cemetery's six Civil War veterans to hold an officer's rank. When Marcus DeLafayette Bearden (whom the Bearden community was named for) was appointed as the Captain of Company D of the 6th Regiment of the Tennessee Infantry in the Union Army, he immediately assigned the rank of 2nd Lieutenant to his cousin, Thomas Wilson Parham. Thomas enlisted on April 18, 1862, in Knoxville, for a period of three years.
Thomas suffered from tuberculosis, and was sick during much of his enlistment. Unable to continue his service, Thomas resigned his position on August 17,1864. He was granted the resignation, and received a discharge based on a physical disability. Thomas later applied for and received a pension for his service. His wife, Melvina, later received a widows pension, and upon her death, their minor children received the pension.
THOMAS W PARHAM
2D LIEUT
6 TENN INF
JAN 16, 1831
FEB 19, 1872
Mars Hill Cemetery at Historic Cavett's Station: Biographies and Stories of the Men, Women, and Children Interred in Mars Hill Cemetery details the lives of the people known to be buried in the cemetery. It can be purchased on Amazon or from the author (fill out the Contact Us form below to purchase a copy signed by the author).
The Veterans of Mars Hill Cemetery discusses the lives and military service of the 12 known veterans buried in the cemetery. Our veterans served in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, and the Philippine-American War. It can be purchased on Amazon or from the author (fill out the Contact Us form below to purchase a copy signed by the author).
Massacre at Cavett's Station: Frontier Tennessee during the Cherokee Wars, written by Dr. Charles H. Faulkner, gives insight on the chain of events that led up to the Cavett's Station massacre, as well as its aftermath. Dr. Faulkner also provides an archaeological perspective to Cavett's Station, as well as to Mars Hill Cemetery.
Friends of Cavett Station is always looking to find descendants of people buried in Mars Hill Cemetery! If you are a descendant, please contact us and let us know who you are related to in the cemetery. We especially would like to know if you are a descendant of:
James M. Balou
John and Catherine Stickley Covington
John Moore
Thomas and Melvina Geasland Parham
James and Clara Kidd Roberts
Joshua and Sarah Bennett Roberts
Amanda Parham Vanosdal
Archibald Lafayette Walker
Isaac and Mary Parsons Wittenbarger
The mission of Friends of Cavett Station is to preserve and maintain Mars Hill Cemetery at Historic Cavett Station. In addition to providing perpetual care for the cemetery, we also endeavor to provide opportunities for historical events, including heritage, historical, and educational programs about the cemetery and Cavett Station site for current and future generations.
Mars Hill Cemetery is located at 438 Broome Road in Knoxville, TN. It is a landlocked cemetery, and is accessible only through the driveways of private residences. If you visit the cemetery, please be respectful of where you park, and do not block driveways or mailboxes. Also, please adhere to the rules of the cemetery, which are posted on signs at the east and west ends of the cemetery.
Donations are vital to the maintenance and preservation of Mars Hill Cemetery and the Historic Cavett Station site. We appreciate your support! Donations can be made online (by scanning the QR code or clicking the link below) or can be mailed to our P.O. Box.
Friends of Cavett Station
P.O. Box 50241
Knoxville, TN 37950
We appreciate everyone who respectfully visits Mars Hill Cemetery, especially when they leave single, small flowers on the headstones of some of our babies (whomever that was, it was sweet). Due to some recent acts of vandalism though, we would like to take this opportunity to post the rules of the cemetery.
Do not damage or deface any part of the cemetery (which includes the headstones, the monument, the trees, the old fence posts, etc.).
Do not put anything on the headstones, including water, soap, cleaners, shaving cream, chemicals, brushes, etc.
No headstones, markers, monuments, etc. are to be placed in the cemetery.
No ceremonies or events are to be held in the cemetery without prior permission from Friends of Cavett Station.