Remembering Those Buried Beneath the Cedars

Remembering Those Buried Beneath the CedarsSections of the oldest cemeteries in East Texas contain the history of our state. Grave stones "speak" the names of those who were brave enough to seek a new beginning, leave behind loved ones and travel long distances. Who were these men and women? What can we learn from them? Surely their stories are worth remembering and by doing so we honor their efforts. What religions did they practice and where did these settlers establish churches...
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Remembering Those Buried Beneath the CedarsSections of the oldest cemeteries in East Texas contain the history of our state. Grave stones "speak" the names of those who were brave enough to seek a new beginning, leave behind loved ones and travel long distances. Who were these men and women? What can we learn from them? Surely their stories are worth remembering and by doing so we honor their efforts. What religions did they practice and where did these settlers establish churches and cemeteries? How did they mark the graves? Seeking answers to these and other questions, I found myself walking through old burial grounds in Cherokee County and began to notice majestic cedar trees. This led me to ponder, would cedar trees be present in other pioneer cemeteries found throughout East Texas and what might the significance be.The first chapter presents an overview of these topics. Chapter Two examines the presence of cedars in cemeteries located in both Texas and Tennessee, suggesting the pioneers not only brought their religion with them but the significance of the cedar tree as well. Over fifty East Texas cemeteries are featured in this publication with stories of settlers buried at each site. The search for cedar trees and pioneer graves took place over a period of several years. In the process, photographs were made at each location. Research consisted of interviews with descendants, time spent in libraries, archives and museums. Additional information was gathered from relevant websites. Especially helpful were documents preserved by Daughters of the Republic of Texas, the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas, the Texas Historical Commission and Texas State Archives. African American community leaders shared their stories, documents and photographs. The Texas A&M Forest Service provided much needed expertise, with Foresters from the Districts of Jacksonville and Pittsburg as onsite resources.