This tale begins in the year 1868. These part of the Appalachian Mountains were rarely traveled. The trails leading around the lonely ridges were used mostly by Indians.
Two men who traveled this ridge were Jacob Tyler and Caleb Murphy. The two were the best of friends and they traveled often across the ridge into Virginia to take supplies and even mail to friends and family who lived across the mountains
On this one trip "Old Caleb" had agreed to deliver a package for a friend. The package was wrapped in plain paper and was very thick.. Jacob Tyler had asked Caleb what was in the package, but the old man just said it was "Of great importance". He would not tell . This bothered Jacob, that Caleb wouldnt tell him what was in the package.
On the second night they camped in a wide level place on the ridge. They built their camp fire and settled down to cook their meal. Jacob had studied in his mind all day as to what could be in the packet that Caleb carried so mysteriously. The only thing Jacob could think of was that there may be a large amount of money in it and Caleb did not want him to know. And if it was, Jacob figured that Caleb was probably going to sneak off during the night and run off with the money and leave him to explain when he reached the settlement.
As the night wore on Jacob became more certain that Caleb would try and escape with the money. Finally as more suspicion weighed on his mind, he thought of a plan.. He would pretend to be asleep and later he would get up and take the package and leave while "Old Caleb" slept.
So when Jacob thought that the old man was sound asleep he silently got up and crept to where Caleb was sleeping. Jacob bent over and picked up the packet, but just as his hand grasped it "Old Caleb" jumped up and grabbed him. Jacob was stunned, The two men rolled and tumbled on the ground, each trying to keep their hold on the package. Then just when Jacob thought that he would have to let it go, his free hand closed around a large rock. Jacob swung the rock with all his might, hitting old Caleb in the side of the head. Caleb's body went limp.. Jacob sprung to his feet and looked down at what he had done. It was a terrible sight. The side of the old man's head was smashed. The blood was splurting everywhere. Jacob started to scream the old man's name as he knelt beside his one-time friend. But he knew it was too late. "Old Caleb" was dead. And he had killed him. Jacob looked at the package lying in the leaves, off to the side. During the struggle the paper had been torn and now Jacob could see part of what was in the package. It was not money. It was a book. No, as he got closer he could see that it was no ordinary book. It was a bible.
Jacob's mind snapped at this realization. He had killed his best friend over a bible. Surely his soul was damned to hell. He could never be forgiven for this sin.
All through the night Jacob dug a grave with only his hands and a hatchet he carried with him. He buried "Old Caleb" the next morning, on the lonely ridge. Covering the grave with rocks , so that animals would not disturb it.
That evening after sitting and thinking about what he had done, Jacob Tyler hanged himself from a large oak tree, within view of "Old Caleb's" grave.
Thus, the Cemetery On the ridge had begun
