Now just how did this old cemetery come into existence? The hill upon which the oldest part is located has been known by four names, the first of which was "Maryland Hill". By the time Bristol was founded (1852) it had become known as "Round Hill", the reason being obvious. Shortly, locals started calling it Rooster Hill, because some early residents began using it as a place to have game rooster fights. After burials began to be made there it went back to the name of Round Hill. Strangely, before the town was even an oversized village it began being called the City Cemetery, although it was then outside the town limits.

 

The first burial done here was that of little Nellie Gaines, aged five in late February, 1857. The late Hattie King Owen told that her father, Capt. J.W. Owen returned from Mexico on February 18th and that he assisted in the burial the following week. At that time the area was covered with trees and brush. Later that year two more children were buried near Nellie Gaines. Then prior to the beginning of the Civil War a few more persons were