The historic Lines Cemetery – the final resting place for some of the area’s first settlers – has been added to the Arkansas Register of Historic Places. The cemetery is located in southern Faulkner County, near Round Mountain Road and Scenic Hill Road. 

The Arkansas Register of Historic Places falls under provisions of the state register of Historic Places Act.

Nell Sterling, along with her brother, Richard Bell, completed the registration and application process that was necessary to add Lines Cemetery to the Arkansas Register of Historic Places. The application states that the burials in the cemetery are evidence of the early families that settled in the area. The cemetery serves as the last surviving physical remains of early communities in close proximity to Gold Creek and Round Mountain. 

“It is important to me that Lines Cemetery was added to the historical register for preservation of the land and graves themselves,” Sterling said. “The Registry provides protection to the cemetery against any type of future urban development for all the years to come. The Registry provides information for others to learn of the history of Faulkner County and the impact of this small country cemetery.”

Sterling and Bell felt led to continue their mother’s efforts by working diligently to protect the cemetery, so together the pair of siblings began the quest to include the cemetery on the register. “I think we should pay special tribute to my mother, Edna Higgs Bell, who was the one who originally led the fight to get the cemetery protected from developers and preserved,” Sterling said. “She loved her family and was proud of the impact they had on Faulkner County.” 

Bell has the same fond memories of his mother that his sister has. He recalls her deep love and pride for her family roots. “My mother instilled in us the importance of family,” he said. “The family cemetery was a part of our family work tasks growing up. Each year, there would be a cemetery cleaning by the Higgs, Barley and Lind families. During this time, food would be spread over tablecloths and served with gallon jugs of iced tea at the cemetery grounds. We would work with sickles, buzz saws, rakes, shovels and hoes while cleaning the grounds.”

The cemetery is rich in history and serves as the final resting place for many early settlers to the area. Lines Cemetery contains 34 known marked burials, as well as an unknown amount of unmarked burials and burials marked by fieldstones. 

The graves include iconography on basic style markers. Oak leaves, books, treestones and upward pointing hands are all examples of iconography and funerary art that appear on the gravestones at Lines Cemetery. 

A closed book represents a life that has been fully completed. An open book can represent the human heart with its thoughts and feelings open to God and the world. Books on gravestones can also represent a book in the Bible. 

Oak leaves can represent many characteristics including strength, endurance, eternity, honor, liberty, faith, hospitality and virtue. Oak leaves specifically represent Christianity. 

Treestones are a popular symbol across the Midwest and can represent the Woodmen of the World fraternal organization. 

Finally, the upward pointing hand can symbolize a soul making the journey into Heaven. 

Additionally, three graves are marked with Masonic symbols.

The oldest known burial at Lines Cemetery occurred between 1870-1879. The majority of the burials at Lines Cemetery, which numbers 10, occurred between 1880-1889. Approximately 80 percent of the burials at Lines Cemetery occurred before 1960. 

The Line Family originally donated the land where their family members were laid to rest. In addition to the Line Family, the following families were also buried at the cemetery: Barley, Adams, Goad, Higgs, Lind, Tabor and Shira. 

The Lines Cemetery Association now possesses direct ownership of Lines Cemetery. Bell and other family members serve as the main representatives for the association.  

Jack Ruple assisted in the process for adding Lines Cemetery to the register. “I would like to thank Jack Ruple for his research of the Lines, Lind, Barley and Higgs family histories; as well as other pioneer families buried in Lines Cemetery,” Bell said. “Further, I want to thank the Arkansas Historical Commission for recognizing the Lines Cemetery and its contribution to Faulkner County history.”