Wix Howard Cemetery is located in Loyall, Kentucky. Loyall, Kentucky is about 2 miles east of the town of Harlan, Kentucky along State Highway 840. The entrance to Wix Howard Cemetery was moved onto Kentucky State Highway 840 when the river was diverted and straightened through Loyall. In order to get there take US 421 North out of the town of Harlan, Kentucky. Turn left onto Kentucky State Highway 840 at the traffic light. Take State Highway 840 across the river and into Loyall, Kentucky until the road comes to a traffic light and T intersection. Take a left at the T intersection. Immediately after turning left, you will see the Loyall Funeral Home on the right hand side of the road. Go about 1,000 feet, and you will see the cemetery entrance on the left hand side of the street.



The cemetery is between State Highway 840/Wilkerson Street and the river, and takes up the eastern portion of Loyall. There is Church of Christ in a yellow brick building along with the church parking lot that is just to the left of the cemetery entrance. The cemetery entrance is the last road on the left as you are leaving Loyall, Kentucky and heading towards Keith, Kentucky. The entrance has a gate with a small sign that says Entrance, Wix Howard Cemetery. The paved road that runs through the cemetery is a narrow, one way road with a separate entrance and exit. The main portion of the cemetery is located at the top of the hill along the winding, one lane road. The exit to the cemetery comes back out onto State Highway 840/Wilkerson Street north of the entrance to the cemetery.



The home of Wix Howard originally sat at the top of the hill where the fence now runs along the new river route. Years ago, the federal government took the land, cut the hill in half, and ran the river through the middle of the old Wix Howard property. Wix's grandson, who is a federal judge and lived in the house, fought them for years but the government finally won. When the river was diverted through Loyall, the river was cut through the middle of the old cemetery grounds that were located on the Wix Howard property. Therefore, most of the graves had to be relocated to Resthaven Cemetery in Keith, Kentucky. There are still 100-200 graves at the Wix Howard Cemetery and some burials still occur there today.