Meet The Broyles -- Mulberry Lavender Farm History: Episode I

The farm has many stories to tell. You can feel it was a happy place and loved by those who lived here before. Life is good on Mulberry Creek. Story has it that the farm was part of the first land grants after the Revolutionary War of 1776. Some of the original residents never left. What stories can they tell us? In a sunny spot behind the house, flanked by a giant Maple Tree, is a small graveyard with two graves.

Isaac and Mary Ann Broyles

Who are these early settlers of our little corner of paradise?

The stones read:
In memory of
Isaac Broyles, born July 25th 1779
and died February 15th 1842
in full faith in the lord Jesus

God my Redeemer lives
And ever from the skies
Looks down and watches
all my dust Till he shall
bid it rise

---

In
memory
of
Mary A Broyles
Born May 19th 1784. died May
5th 1843 in full fai
th in the lord Jesus

God my Redemer lives
And ever from the skies
Looks down and watches
all my dust Till he shall bid it rise

Whomever chiseled the text into Mary's stone, had a funny way of spelling and spacing it. I'm posting it as it appears on the grave.

We first thought the dates were 1812 and 1813. According to these dates Isaac would only have been 33, and Mary 29, however, after more research and help from the Lincoln County archivist, we realized the 1 is actually a 4, adding 30 years to their lives. Mary died just two weeks short of her 60th birthday, and one year after Isaac, who died at 63. Did they have children? Are there still descendants or living relatives in the area. Where did they come from? We'll try to find answers to these questions.

The text for both Isaac and Mary came from a hymn by Isaac Watts - #995 Because I live, ye shall live also