Marking history: Early Burnside business owner's burial site gets long-awaited stone

Apr. 12—A Burnside business pioneer from days long ago is buried in the Somerset City Cemetery — though one wouldn't know it to examine the headstones lining the graveyard. His current-day family is working to change that.

John R. Golden, who passed away on February 8, 1920, is credited with building and operating the earliest version of the Seven Gables Hotel in Burnside, Ky. — a business that still stands today on busy South U.S. 27 as the 7 Gables Motel.

"John was a visionary," said his great-great niece Carol Golden, who lives in Kingston, Tenn. "First, he built a huge hotel called the Seven Gables Hotel (in 1878). The hotel was in the lower section of town near the river and Southern Railroad. It catered to rail and steamboat travelers.

"In written material, it is said the structure was an elegant hotel with a good restaurant," she added. "He and his family owned and operated this hotel until 1903 when he sold it."

In the meantime, Carol noted, John was busy with many more business interests. He was involved in the Burnside Banking Company listed as one of the directors, was postmaster of the city of Burnside, and owned a large store and rental property.

According to Carol, John and his wife Celia traveled by train from Knox County, Ky., to Burnside — at that time named Point Isabel and quickly becoming a bustling riverside community and travel connection hub — after their 1871 marriage. John had $300 in his pocket to engage in business upon arriving; 11 years later, he was was the most substantial individual taxpayer in town.

The original Seven Gables — now under the waters of Lake Cumberland — was located right on the Cumberland River and offered lodging and a restaurant with easy railroad access.

John R. Golden was also the great uncle of Joanne Golden Hill, who resides in this area, noted that John's first wife, Celia, and daughter Laura, born in 1871, were both given burials in the Burnside Cemetery, both with notable recognition markers. He would later marry an Etta Kelsay, following Celia's death in 1907, whose father owned the first pharmacy in Burnside. The two of them had three children together, and John would move to Burnside with Etta following the sale of the inn.

It wouldn't be until near the end of the 20th century when Carol Golden would learn about John and what happened to him. Carol took a strong interest in genealogy, and in 1984, spoke to a woman named Amanda Golden Underwood in Knoxville who would change everything for Carol.

Living in Michigan at the time, Carol asked her father with help tracking down the roots of her family tree. Her father suggested she speak to Amanda — someone Carol didn't even know was part of the family. But Carol's father was certain she would be great source of family information. Carol was excited to discover that was indeed the case, as Amanda — 95 years old at that time — was the daughter of John Golden's brother James.

"She told me about how she went to live with her uncle in Burnside at the Seven Gables," said Carol. "She was so wonderful to talk to (about family history)."

Joanne said that she located John's current resting place by his death certificate, and spoke with a longtime cemetery employee "who knew exactly where he was."

The plot was there — but the grave was unmarked. Something that took John's descendants by surprise.

"Down in Burnside, where his first wife and daughter are, those are the biggest, most beautiful stones that are down there that sits on the hill," she said, contrasting that with John's burial without any sort of stone or marker. "... He's never had a (headstone)."

Added Carol, "We both find it shocking that a man who was so instrumental in the roots of Burnside, Ky., does not have a marker. Especially since he honored his daughter and first wife with large monuments in the Burnside Cemetery. Even the history books begin their stories about the Seven Gables with the family John R. Golden sold the hotel to."

It's not known why this was the case with John Golden's resting place, but cousins Joanne and Carol were determined to fix it. Years ago, Joanne placed a small metal marker on the grave in the Somerset City Cemetery after an older cemetery caretaker shared with her where he was buried.

Since that time, the Golden family members who attend the annual Golden Reunion have contributed money to place a grave marker on John Golden's grave. Carol designed an appropriate marker with John Golden's history and accomplishments engraved on it in text. The design shows a picture of the Seven Gables Hotel and the following inscription on a 48-inch x 20-inch black granite stone.

Carol bought the material for the marker from Tennessee Wholesale Granite in Maryville, Tenn., then had the engraving done at nearby Tennessee Memorials. The next step was taking everything north from Tennessee to Somerset, Ky.

"(Carol) contacted me and told me she was in the process of ordering a marker for Mr. Golden's grave," said Tricia Neal, Somerset City Cemetery Manager. "... I'm just always glad when a family or group steps up to permanently memorialize someone who has been forgotten over time. I know a lot of work and research went in to creating Mr. Golden's marker, and I appreciate that and hope others do too."

The family recently came out to the cemetery to take a look at where the marker would be placed and spoke to the Commonwealth Journal while on site. While the weather has not been ideal for setting the stone permanently in place just yet, Joanne said that process is being finalized and is pleased that one of Burnside's most prominent citizens of yesterday will be recognized by generations who visit the cemetery in the future.

"John's marker is a great accomplishment for Burnside and our family," said Joanne. "A lot of people have heard of the original Seven Gables Hotel but how many knows who built and owned it, John R Golden? We have wanted the history of all he did for Burnside to be recognized for a long time. He is constantly being left out of Burnside History. With this stone and all his accomplishments on it there for all to see, I'm very proud."

Added Carol, "It's like a goal finally accomplished."