Yorkville Historical Society hosts cemetery tour

Don Davis traveled from his home Georgia this weekend to tell about the life of his fourth-generation great grandfather, the Rev. William Davis.

The late Davis and his wife, Isabella, are buried at York’s historic Rose Hill Cemetery. Don Davis and his wife, Brenda, portrayed the couple Saturday, during the Yorkville Historical Society’s Stories of the Stones cemetery tour.

Rev. Davis, who lived from 1760 to 1831, preached that slavery was wrong 50 years before Abraham Lincoln was born, said Don Davis. He also shared his beliefs in a publication called “The Gospel Plan.”

When Davis’ church banned him from preaching because of his beliefs, he founded the independent Presbyterian churches. Several of the independent Presbyterian churches that began in York County under his leadership still remain, Davis said.

The cemetery tour featured historic interpreters at 10 graves sites, sharing information about those whose final resting place is in the cemetery. The tour is held every other year.

The historical society’s next event is its annual Christmas In Olde York historic home tour, from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 12 and 13. Cost is $15 for a two-day pass, or $12 by 2 p.m. Dec. 12.

The tour will feature five historic homes and two others sites.

Tickets are available in advance and on tour days at the Greater York Chamber of Commerce, 23 E. Liberty St., York, or by calling 803-684-2590. For information on historical society membership, call Jan Ramsey at 803-684-3844 or Scott Hollis at 803-610-8035.

This story was originally published November 24, 2015 at 12:05 PM with the headline "Yorkville Historical Society hosts cemetery tour."