Seven Rivers Cemetery 
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NMG, Vol VIII, No 1, March 1969, page 6; Project is based on the cemetery surveys published in the New Mexico Genealogist, The Journal of the New Mexico Genealogical Society. P.O. Box 8283; Albuquerque, NM 87198-8283. The magazine's volume, date, and and page number is displayed under the cemetery's name. Our appreciation to the New Mexico Genealogical Society and the survey compliers. This material may not be reproduced or copied from this website nor be used for commercial purposes, resale, re-distribution, or used for profit.  Re-typed from original by C. W. Barnum 2002© .

Seven Rivers is located east of the highway about halfway between Carlsbad and Artesia. There is a Historic Marker sign on the highway which says: Historic Seven Rivers Cemetery three miles east. Here the pioneers of lively, rowdy Seven Rivers, one-time cowboy metropolis of southeastern New Mexico, buried their dead, including seven who were killed before breakfast. Tragically, many graves are of children who could not survive the rigors of the frontier. Vandals have scarred and broken many headstones, some of which carried unique tributes to the pioneer dead. Credit Source: Compiler Mrs. Kern Smith

The following graves were marked in 1969:

John M, Beckwith born Jan. 4, 1855 died Aug. 23, 1877

W. S. Keith Concrete headstone and large pile of rocks. No dates.

William H. Johnson died Aug. 17. 1879, in very small letters at bottom left of base stone Bob Brook.

May 11th 1880, broken stone, nothing else on it.

C. H. O'Neal Born A.D. 1810 Died Oct. 8, 1887

Daughter of Thos. B. and Sarah Gordon Died July 9. 1883
Earth having affairs to Heaven hath sent an angel her swift ambassador.

Bronze Marker fastened to old pile of rocks marking the graves:
In Memory of Mary Elizabeth Prather, 1830-1893 and her daughter Mertice Caldonia Andress, 1856-1893 and Mertice's children:
Myrtle Zelma Andress, 1887-1893 
Baby boy Andress, 1893-1893
To these pioneer women, whose men helped to build the first dam on the Pecos River. This tablet placed here by Alvin 0. Andress and S. August English, grandsons of Mertice.

In memory of John W. ______ broken and the rest of the stone is gone.

Jackson
Infant son of Thos. B. and Sarah Gordon
May 18, 1884, Aged one month 5 days. Sweet intercessor twixt God and Man. Gone on wings to plead for us there.

Catherine L. Gordon, wife of Nelson Gordon born in Botetourt Co. Virginia Died July 27, 1882 Aged 68 years. A mother's arms made of tenderness. Children have slept peacefully therein.

Francis 
daughter of Wm. and Maulda J. Bell
Born Nov. 7. 1878, Died Aug. 23, 1880, Our guileless pioneer to a better world.

In Memory of James C. Gordon
Son of J. Carroll and Nancy Gordon
Born Aug. 22, 1862 Died Sept. 10, 1882
Open the gates of Mercy, Gracious God, my soul files through these wounds to seek Thee out.

Perniney Gordon daughter of Sar___ , broken and the rest of the stone is gone.

Arthur C. Stevens Born Sept. 30th 1885 Died July 27th 1886, Rest In peace.

Minnie A. 
daughter of Geo. W. and Rachel Larre__re [Larremore?]
Born May 21st. 188 Died Dec. 29th, 1883
One less to love, One less to be given, Little Minnie's gone to join the hosts of Heaven. 
Footstone marked M A L [Larremore?] 

Frank Leslin 
son of J. L. and M. A. Dow, born July 2, 1891 died Oct. 3, 1893

Robert beloved son of G. F. and S. J. Nelson, Born Sept. 29, 1891 Died Dec. 25. 1891
Weep not. Papa and Mama, for me. for I am waiting In Heaven for Thee.

Infant son of J. L. and M.A. Dow born March 18_ Broken stone, missing pieces.

Clyde, beloved son of G. F. and S. J. Nelson, Born Mar. 24. 1897, Died Apr. 3, 1897
To angel form Thy spirit grown, Thy God has claimed Thee for His own.

Eliza L. Seymor Died, broken at the word died, nothing else around.

There are at least five piles of rocks Indicating graves, but there are no names or dates.

©2005