Established prior to 1900, the Blankenship-Jones-King Cemetery is an early 20th century family burial plot consisting of approximately 45 graves. Originally known as the Jones Burial Ground, the site is 1680 feet above sea level. The vast majority of known buried persons are members of a family unit procreated by direct descendants of Joel Goff (1806-1870).
In 1848 and again in 1856 Nelson Goff, brother of Joel, purchased 169 acres lying in Roanoke County. Heirs of Nelson Goff were his grandnephews: John N. Jones and William H. Jones. The Goff family is one of the earliest pioneer families to have settled in this western portion of Roanoke County now called Riverside, formerly the community of Olaf. Rhoda (Baker) Blankenship, widow of Andrew, most likely, relocated to western Roanoke County with her three daughters and six grandsons to escape the Civil War aftermath as none of her four adult sons accompanied the family's move from Bedford County, Virginia. Three Blankenship-Goff marriage alliances took place between 1870 and 1880 and therefore, there are interred a substantial number of "double first cousins". Tracts of the 338 acreage called "Goffland" remained with the Blankenship-Goff descendants until all subtracts were acquired in 1984 by the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors as a watershed for the proposed constuction of a reservoir, now known as Spring Hollow Water Reservoir. This cemetery, surrounded by wood post and wire mesh fencing, is located above Camp Roanoke. It was field inspected, photographed, and grave markers transcribed in October 1998 by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources' Roanoke Regional Office. Of the approximately 45 graves only 14 were identified with inscribed markers. Since 1998 fourteen (14) more graves have been identified by personal knowledge of family members and/or by reviewing death certificates,funeral book records, noting that most often the funeral home record only stated who purchased a coffin, the purchase date, but no mention for whom the coffin was purchased. In 1940 with the interment of John Robert Griggs, the cemetery was erroneously called Dry Hollow Cemetery. This rural and remote cemetery has been well kept. Because of its elevation, the walk to visit the cemetery can be physically challenging.
Directions: I-81 South to exit 132 toward VA-646/Dixie Caverns. Turn left onto Dow Hollow Rd. Turn right onto US 11/460 W/West Main St. Turn left onto West River Rd. Take 2nd right onto Dry Hollow Rd. Stay right on Dry Hollow Rd until you reach Camp Roanoke. Camp entrance is to the left. Check at office to obtain permission to visit this private family burial ground. The key to the gated fence is currently maintained by a Blankenship family member who lives on Dry Hollow Road.

Frank A. Linton, Jr. April 23, 2012



Roanoke County, VA GIS Tax Parcel ID 083.00-01-16.01-0000

Owner Name: CEMETERY

Legal Description: BLANKENSHIP JONES KING CEMETERY

Estimated Acreage: 0.129 AC

Sale Date: Jan 01, 2004