|
James Aaron Walls was likely born a slave on March 26, 1857 in Nashville, Tennessee. James came to southwest Missouri sometime before 1886. In that year, he married Levina “Vine” England of Seymour, Missouri. By 1900, the couple and their children had settled near Ash Grove, where James worked as a laborer for the Ash Grove White Lime company. By 1910, the family had moved to Bentley St. in Ash Grove, and James was still working for Ash Grove Lime. James' death certificate indicates that he continued this line of work until his death of bronchial pneumonia on December 30, 1919. A January 1st notice in the Ash Grove Commonwealth tells us that James was known as "Parson" Walls and was a "highly respected and well liked old gentleman." The notice also reports that a funeral service would be held that day in the Ash Grove Pilgrim Baptist Church and that James would be interred at the Berry Cemetery. According to his death certificate, James was interred on January 20th. If this interment date is accurate, the period between James' death and burial suggests conditions were too cold for the community to inter him earlier in January (Ash Grove Commonwealth 01/01/2020; Russell 2012).
|
Ash Grove Commonwealth 01/01/2020
|
Grave Marker: The grave marker for James Aaron Walls is a concrete monument in the shape of a bird bath set into a circular depression in a rectangular concrete base. The monument appears to have been painted white at one point, as white pigment adheres to portions of the surface. The monument also commemorates James' wife Levina "Vine" Walls; JA-VINE is inscribed on the west side of the marker, as shown below. Excluding the base, the monument is 16 x 21 x 17 inches in size. The base is 20 x 18 x 4 inches in size.
West side of monument with inscription slightly visible
|
East side of marker
|
Sketch of east side of marker
|