FIRST Burial in Edom Cemetery - Edom, TX
N 32° 22.451 W 095° 36.749
15S E 254208 N 3584913
William Featherston was the first burial in Edom Cemetery back in 1857, and this is documented on his headstone as well as on an Edom Cemetery Association marker at the front of the cemetery.
Waymark Code: WMVX44
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 06/06/2017
Views: 0
The Edom Historical Society placed a gray granite headstone at Mr. Featherston's grave in 1998, with "First Grave in Edom Cemetery" at the top and "William Featherston 1791-1857" above "Edom Historical Society - 1998." He had been buried here back in 1857 among a grove of trees, and while there are some headstones from the 1860s nearby, there is no indication as to a previous marker of any kind. The Edom Cemetery Association marker also provides some cemetery background and mentions this, the oldest grave in the cemetery:
In this historic burial ground of more than 1500 sites rest many of Van Zandt County's early pioneers and their descendants. The oldest grave is that of pioneer William Featherston who was interred in 1857. The cemetery is in the city of Edom, the county's third oldest town.
The donor of the original tract is undocumented. Several additions include: An early tract given by A.J. Hays; a one-acre tract purchased in 1939 from T.J. and Delsie Mizzles; a one-acre tract deeded in 1943 by R.L. and Susie Beall. The east side of the cemetery, the site of an early grist mill, was donated in 1949 by A.V. Smith. The open air tabernacle was built in 1971. For many years Mr. Al Smith helped to maintain the grounds, and plan the annual Memorial Day activities, a gathering still held the first Sunday of each July.
On January 22, 1976 a certificate of incorporation and charter was granted to the Edom Cemetery Association, the first trustees being Mrs. Peggy Beggs, W.A. Davidson, W.L. Davidson, Noel Sexton, Bobby Smith, Carbon C. Smith and James R. Wyatt. Morris Brantley was elected a trustee in 1983.
A complete survey of the markers, conducted by Mrs. Peggy Beggs early in 1986, indicates that the family name appearing most frequently on the headstones is Smith, followed by Brown, Gray, Wyatt and Moore.
Dedicated During the Celebration of the
Texas Sesquicentennial - 1986
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An addendum plate adds:
Edom Cemetery Association received a 0.436 acre tract of land from Mr. and Mrs. Earl Wilkerson in 1964.
FIRST - Classification Variable: Person or Group
Date of FIRST: 05/11/1857
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