Nineteenth Century Alabama Marble Carvers and Quarries

Gantts Marble Quarry

Early Alabama tombstones were purchased from a wide variety of talented carvers, with white marble being the most popular material for nineteenth century burials. Marble was imported from Italy and Vermont as well as the “Sylacauga Marble Belt” in Talladega County, Alabama. Dr. Edward Gantt, a surgeon under General Jackson, is credited with being the first to discover marble on his Sylacauga farm in 1820. The Herd brothers, from Perth Shire, Scotland, first quarried marble in the vicinity of Dr. Gantt’s discovery before purchasing their own quarries north of Sylacauga.

Following are marble carvers and/or quarry owners that had businesses in Alabama during the nineteenth century. Their tombstones can be found throughout the south and some unsigned stones can be recognized by the carver’s mark–a decorative element generally seen after the epitaph. I have included their signatures and marks in their images galleries where applicable.

Signature, Carver, J. T. Allen

J. T. Allen, Cahaba Marble Works

More Info and Image Gallery

Dr. Edward Gantt, Signature

Dr. Edward F. Gantt
Sylacauga, Alabama

More Info and Gantt Image Gallery

Herd Trademarks

The Herd Brothers,
Talladega County, Alabama

More Info and Herd Image Gallery

Holt Signature,n Cemetery, Carver

Thomas H. Holt,
Birmingham, Alabama

More info and Image Gallery

Carver, Lawler

Matthew J. Lawler,
Mobile, Alabama

More info and Image Gallery

Carver, McDonald, March, And Co., Signature

McDonald, March and Co.,
Mobile, Alabama

More info and image gallery

Carver, Miller

Richard and Cornelius Miller, Talladega County, Alabama and later Mississippi

More info and image gallery

Carver, James Newton Montgomery, Signature

James Newton Montgomery & Sons
Selma, Alabama

More info and Image Gallery

Carver, Nix

J.M.N.B. Nix,
Talladega County Alabama

More Info and Image Gallery

Oden, Carver, Signature

Henry P. Oden & Co.
Talladega County, Alabama

More info and image gallery

Carver, Jarvis Turner

Jarvis Turner, Mobile Marble Works

More info and image gallery

Carver, Wildman

T.H. Wildman, Tuscaloosa

More Info and Image Gallery

Carver, Yancey

A.J. Yancey, Birmingham

More Info and Image Gallery

List of Quarries in Alabama

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