Franklin County Historical Association 

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PRESIDENTIAL MUSINGS: CEMETERY WANDERINGS
By B. F. Hicks, FCHA President 

I had a really neat experience this past summer (2009); troubling in some ways but really neat and gratifying. I urge our members to make a similar effort at visiting burial grounds.

I come by the appreciation of cemeteries in a natural sort of way. I have the unusual background with all of the old maid school teacher aunts – all living in or near Mt. Vernon; and with a real interest in history. My own father’s senior English term paper marked with an “A” is entitled “The History of Franklin County” – and he was writing that in 1931.

My maternal grandfather’s sister, Mae Hughes Masters Milam: Widowed in 1931, she won’t marry again for 17 years. So, in the gap years, she gets a job selling tombstones. She employs a discreet approach: reading obituaries, getting in a car, calling on families all over Northeast Texas, and selling tombstones for the Bergin Monument Yard of Sulphur Springs (and originally of Jefferson). She knew where every cemetery was in about eight counties. And she knew where her own people were buried. She was avidly interested in history, and, when I was a young child, she would load me up and go call on distant cousins and take me to the old burying grounds. She could tell you the state where the marble was mined for tombstones installed a century before.

With my own parents, grandparents, and great-parents in the Mt. Vernon city cemetery, it is a bit more difficult to get out to the cemeteries where the great-great grandparents lie (Tranquil and Marshall Springs over on the Trace – that earliest route for settlement of the first arrivals here); and then to go back another generation to the graves of their ancestors in Red River County at English and Old Shamrock and a generation before that to Old Halesboro.

I had not been to the Red River County cemeteries since I graduated from high school and went with Aunt Mae. So on a Saturday afternoon in July my two nephews agreed to humor me and we made a regular family outing of the pilgrimage to the old graveyards in Red River County. Also on the outing were my brothers, John and Sid, sister-in-law Mary, and our adopted Brazilian college student, Eduardo Luz, with me telling him he needed to know the roots of his adopted American family.

Well, I think I said, “Aunt Mae was in the marker business.” So here’s the troubling part of the day. Ok – out at Tranquil, the two marble tombstones of her grandparents were in disrepair. She had a modern large granite marker installed; it is out of keeping with the other Aikin markers nearby (four Aikin siblings and family members all in close proximity). Where did the original marble markers go? Probably some ditch. But the granite will remain.

And then at Old Halesboro: the tombstone of Mary Stark Grant, 1797-1877. I have a picture of the marker; a tall marble marker with an engraved hand and index finger pointing to heaven. Where is it? Aunt Mae put down a very frugal granite marker. You would not be sure that it still marked the original burial; it’s one of those instances where someone just bought a marker to make sure the ancestor was remembered. I have the earlier proof – a photograph taken about 1968 – but where did the historic marker go? My nephews missed out on the historic context.

The day was very fulfilling. My nephews perhaps absorbed a little of my appreciation and reverence for the heritage they have here. The family time was fun.

At English, we managed to topple a leaning monument (we were trying to right it). The only good to come of that is that I am now compelled to repair that tall marble monument (Mary Aikin 1806-1866); so I’ll follow the state guidelines for repair. But I want to make sure it will last. I’ll pay for granite, too. Aunt Mae will be proud. But I’ll leave the old marker and so there will be two. And while I’m at it I’ll get another grave more permanently marked with a granite marker to go by her marble stone (Anne Aikin Aikin, 1777-1867 – yes, an Aikin married an Aikin) so that the old grandma who is mentioned in our civil war correspondence can be found in a few more generations. My dad’s sister Ivey Hicks Smith always said that we had good genes and they were enhanced by all the marriages between cousins. I’ve contended it was to ensure that family lands weren’t divided with other families; in any event, those levels of intermarriage are common across the south a century ago.

Check out the Texas Historical Commission Website for great information on cemetery preservation. We have 48 in Franklin County alone that can be documented. We have the great work of Martha Hare and the members of the genealogical society.

At Halesboro we found over half of the tall tombstones toppled; senseless vandalism in an otherwise beautiful setting. Watch over the cemeteries.

I truly believe that cemeteries should be treated as parks. It is one way to ensure continuing interest in these rural areas. We should strive to place some inviting benches, to plant some trees and provide shade. Make the public welcome. Maybe children will read the markers. The markers tell the stories.

On May 3, 2010, we’ll have a cemetery walk in the Mt. Vernon City Cemetery. Then we’ll adjourn to the Depot for refreshments and a slide show featuring other cemeteries of the county. Martha Dickson Hare and I will lead the walk. Come join us for food and fellowship. And plan on visiting some of our county cemeteries. A top suggestion is Collier’s Chapel, a beautiful cemetery. You can understand its location. The Methodist church long gone; the cemetery on a hill with the church site; the burials in the churchyard on both sides of a small stream. A mile or so west of Highway 37; north of White Oak Creek. The burials and the beautiful location remain. The visit is worth a picnic outing. Check it out.

WHAT ELSE YOU WILL FIND ON THIS PAGE

A Listing of the Members of the Board of Directors and the Officers of the FCHA, The Organization's Mission Statement, and Its Goals and Objectives

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

•Gary Strange 2010
•Elease Hubbell 2010
•Martha Hare 2010
•Donna McFarland 2011
•Lu Butler 2011
•Nicki Armstrong 2011
•Cynthia Loftis 2012
•John Tutor 2012

OFFICERS FOR 2009

•President B. F. Hicks
•First Vice President John Stephenson
•Second Vice President Nancy Miller
•Third Vice President Norman G. Horn
•Forth Vice President Jean Ann Marshall
•Secretary Lillie Bush Reves
•Treasurer Mary Lou Russell
•Newsletter Editor Elaine Thomas

COMMITTEES 2009 - JOIN TODAY!

Special events: Jean Ann Marshall, chair
Committee includes Docent Training; coordination for tours and coordination for fund raising or other special events
Subcommittee, Docent Coordination for Firestation – Kenneth Greer, chair
Subcommittee, Docent Coordination for Special Events/ all other site visits – Jean Ann Marshall, chair
Publicity and Public Relations – John Stephenson, chair
Newsletter and Program Calendar - Elaine Thomas
Webmaster – John Hicks
Educational Outreach – Donna McFarland, chair for schools, general public, tourists, church groups, clubs
Facilities and Grounds - Lillie Bush Reves, chair
Site Review - Gary Strange, John Tutor, committee members
Historic Signs/Markers/Recognition – all significant sites properties - Libby Milton, chair
Historic Signs/Markers/Recognition Subcommittees:
Local Markers/property review & sign maintenance – Ron and Libby Milton, chairs
Historic Signs/Birding/Nature/Early Roads and Indian Trails - Lu Butler, chair
National Register and State Marker Subcommittee – Steve Hammons, chair
State Historic Marker, National Trust Registrations, State Historic Landmark Registrations, Historic Assets and Resources Inventory Committee - Lillie Bush Reves
Exhibit Coordination – Mary Lou Russell, chair
Exhibit Coordination Subcommittee for the Firestation’s Wilkinson Library and Bird Eggs - Lillie Bush Reves
Archives: Accession and Curation – Nancy Miller, chair
Documentation, computer records management (database for all facilities through management in Gertrude Smith House) - Nancy Miller
Documentation Subcommittee for the Meredith Collection – Nicki Armstrong, chair
Documentation Subcommittee for the Wilkinson Library - Elease Hubbell, chair
Finance and Budget – Norm Horn, chair
St. Clair endowment committee – Nancy Miller, chair
Landmark Commission Representation from Association – B.F. Hicks
Hotel/Motel Tax Representation from Association – B.F. Hicks
Main St. Alliance Representation from Association – designate from board by resolution
Texas Historic Commission Visionaries in Preservation Representation from Association – John Stephenson
Personnel - Jean Ann Marshall, chair
Vision and Growth - Cynthia Loftis, chair
Cemetery Recognition - B.F. Hicks and Martha Hare, co-chairs

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to preserve our natural and cultural heritage.

We will promote our mission by striving for four goals:

1. We will further appreciation and preservation of our heritage through involvement of all ethnic groups in our community in our endeavors.

2. We will endeavor to promote the economy of our county and community through a special emphasis on heritage tourism.

3. We will act to acquire, maintain, and preserve artifacts and records of historic significance, as well as provide museums and exhibit areas to display and promote education and heritage tourism in Franklin County.

4. We will promote the participation of our youth in the activities of this association; we will strive through education to further appreciation of our natural and cultural heritage; we will serve as leaders to assure the youth of today carry our mission forward in generations to come.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

1. All projects, exhibits and educational processes will relate to people, items, or events of historical significance to Franklin County. Artifacts and records will be determined to be of historic significance if they are 50 years or older. Homes and farmsteads will be determined to be of historic significance if built prior to 1918.

2. All projects will be prepared with a "Do It Right The First Time" mindset.

3. All projects will conform to the requirements specified by the Board of Directors.

4. Artifacts, records and, property which cannot immediately be determined to meet "historic significance" criteria will be reviewed by a committee to ascertain their historic value.

5. Develop, educate, and recognize employees and volunteer workforce.

6. Maintain all properties and grounds to set an example of "excellence."

7. Promote an attitude of pride within the community.

8. Recognize historic homes in Franklin County with historical signs if homes are maintained in the image consistent with our goals.

9. Acknowledge all donations by letter with a Gift of Deed document signed by the donor and an FCHA representative.

10. Review goals and objectives annually.