OLDEST Marked Grave in Whitt Cemetery - Whitt, TX
N 32° 57.645 W 098° 00.921
14S E 592024 N 3647366
A 1992 Texas Historical Marker at Whitt Cemetery notes that the oldest marked grave here is that of Margaret A. Gipson, who was buried in 1879.
Waymark Code: WMY7MZ
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 05/06/2018
Views: 0
This white marble headstone is in fairly good condition, given its age. A rose is at the top, followed by the inscription:
Margaret A. Gipson
Born
June 29, 1861,
Died
Oct. 17, 1879.
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The historical marker provides some background:
The town of Whitt was officially established in 1877, but permanent settlement in this area had been taking place since about 1855. Originally a farming community, Whitt became a stagecoach stop for people traveling between Weatherford and Jacksboro. It later developed into a regional education center with the presence of two colleges, Whitt Seminary and Parker Institute, which operated here between 1881 and 1900.
Between 1876 and 1879, Oscar Grantham donated land to the community for burial purposes. The graveyard has served as a community burial ground since at least 1879. The oldest marked burial, that of Margaret A. Gipson, dates to that year, but the presence of more than 100 unmarked graves suggests that the cemetery was active prior to that time.
J.N. and M.L. Johnston made additional land donations over the years to enlarge the cemetery. Now over eight acres in size, the cemetery has more than 1,000 graves. Among those buried here are pioneer settlers and veterans of the Civil War, Spanish American War, World Wars I and II, Korea, and Vietnam. Since 1990, the graveyard has been maintained by a cemetery association. It is an important cultural resource in the area.
FIRST - Classification Variable: Person or Group
Date of FIRST: 10/20/1879
More Information - Web URL: [Web Link]
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