Many years ago my wife Caroline Hargis took me to see the Sardis Cemetery near Morehead in Rowan County, Kentucky, where so many of her family on her mother's side are buried. I found the cemetery, church and surrounding area quit fascinating. Having been born in a more urban area near Cincinnati, Ohio, this rural setting stirs my imagination concerning what life must have been like on farms in Rowan County's rich historical past. Living now in Arizona, we recently returned to Rowan County where time has erased almost all traces of the farms where her ancestors, the Littletons, Hamms and Hargises once lived. One thing that has stood the test of time, however, is the Sardis Cemetery and Old Sardis Church, which stands just across Clearfork Road from the cemetery. I would love to know more about the history of this church. I know it has stood there for over 100 years. The church and cemetery are now located in the Daniel Boone National Forest. My wife informed me that services are held in the church twice a year, once by the Hamms and once by the Littletons. Both families produced several Christian Ministers over the years, as I have found by researching her genealogy. As I understand it, services must be held two times a year or the property reverts to the Government. Below are photographs of the Sardis Cemetery and Church, taken in July, 2009.
Photos circa July 2009