Magnolia Cemetery
Est 1860
Magnolia Cemetery was operated by a private cemetery corporation
until the City of Norfolk purchased it in 1911.
The cemetery lies in the Berkley section of Norfolk, one of the oldest communities in Virginia. Berkley is listed as a National Historic District.
Many generations of George and Elizabeth Wallace’s are at rest here.
George and Elizabeth began their life together in the Dismal Swamp Canal.
Between the 1840’s and 1855 George purchased almost 14,000 acres
on both sides of the Dismal Swamp Canal.
This area became known as Wallaceton.
Wallaceton is where they built their family home, Glencoe Plantation.
There were seven children.
Many generations of Wallace’s owned local business.
Wallace and Son – 1850’s
George and his son John owned a lumber and milling business.
The Wallace Company – 1889
The name was changed to The Wallace Company. They began to move away from the lumber manufacturing and into growing and selling corn, potatoes and soybeans that were mainly produced on the family plantations “Glenco” and “Dover”.
Wallace Brothers – 1897
Granby Street Norfolk, VA
Owned by John’s sons, George Jr, William McGehee and John II.
They sold Locomobile, automobiles, tractors, typewriters, photographic supplies, bicycles, gasoline motors, sound equipment, including the “Gramophone,” and musical instruments.
The Wallace’s are in good company of other Prominent Citizens.
Forster Black 1844 – 1903
He owned and operated Atlantic City Mills, Chesapeake Knitting Mill and the Elizabeth Cotton Mills. John was also a founder of the Merchant and Planter’s Bank of Berkley as well as serving as president of the People’s Bank of Berkley.
Eijah Leander Cox, Sr 1842 – 1911
Civil War – Prisoner of War
68th North Carolina Volunteers
Cox held the rank of Captain. In July 1863, he was captured for the remainder of the war. At the end of the war he was released and returned home to Moyock, NC.
He chose the vocation of Funeral Director and embarked on a 40 year career.
In 1886 he relocated his business to the Berkeley Ward of Norfolk and for several years, he was the only funeral director serving the Berkeley Ward of Norfolk.
In anticipation of his eventual death, he erected a 48,000 pound sarcophagus carved out of a block of solid stone. It was hauled to Magnolia Cemetery by the
Norfolk Southern Railway. Reference - Virginian Pilot, February 9th, 1911
In 2008 Cox Funeral Home joined forces with H.D. Oliver Funeral on
Colonial Avenue Norfolk, Va – to date it is still in operation.
George Poe, Jr
1846 – 1913
Civil War Veteran
Noted Scientist and Inventor of the Respirator
Poe Chemical Works – The first plant in America for mass-producing liquid nitrous oxide (laughing gas). By 1883 he was supplying about 5000 dentists.
George was a prominent inventor in the field of artificial respiration.
He perfected a machine that used a pump to draw out any poisoned air from
victims lungs and pump in fresh air.
Nominated for a Nobel Prize for achievement in chemistry, but did not win.
GC6B99T– Glencoe Plantation
Visit this cache to learn more about the Wallace Family and Home
GC6AEXZ – Wallace Family Cemetery
Visit this cache to pay your respects to George and Elizabeth
GC6BK1R – Glencoe Diary
Visit this cache to learn about Elizabeth’s Civil war writings
GC6C4WR – Wallaceton Superintendent's House
Visit this cache to see the Superintendent's House
GC6DPVR – Wallaceton Through The Centuries
Visit this cache to see Wallaceton
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