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Mount
Gilead Cemetery
Photo courtesy David
Cole, July 2011 |
Historical
Marker Text
Mount Gilead
Cemetery
This burial ground
originally served a pioneer settlement of related families who migrated
to the area from Missouri in 1847 as members of the Peters
Colony. They were headed by a widow, Permelia Allen (d. 1866),
who is buried here in an unmarked grave. This tract, adjacent to the
Mount
Gilead Baptist Church and School, was first owned by her sons-in-law
Daniel Barcroft (1812-81) and Iraneous Neace (1816-79). The earliest
marked gravesite is that of William Joyce (1836-54). Homemade grave
markers here reflect the pioneer lifestyle the early settlers.
(1981) |
Mount Gilead Cemetery Historical Marker
Photo courtesy David
Cole, July 2011 |
Mount
Gilead Cemetery entrance
Photo courtesy David
Cole, July 2011 |
Pioneer
Stone Burial Cairns Marker
Photo courtesy David
Cole, July 2011 |
Historical
Marker: Bancroft Road at J.T. Ottinger Rd., Mt. Gilead Cemetery, Keller
Pioneer Stone
Burial Cairns
Scattered throughout
many of the pioneer cemeteries in Texas are unusual stone structurers,
or burial cairns, built by the early settlers to memorialize their
dead. Primarily surface structures of native stone, the cairns vary
in design and workmanship. Their use, however, is representative of
traditional burial customs prevalent in the South during the eighteenth
and nineteenth centuries. Although their specific purpose and origin
are subject to theory, cairns such as these are outstanding examples
of pioneer lore and tradition.
1983 |
Mount Gilead
Cemetery
Graves & Tombstones
Photo Gallery
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Note
the small stones
Photo courtesy David
Cole, July 2011 |
"I think they
were using ground penetrating radar or some similar technology to
figure out where these unmarked graves are and the small stones were
the "hits." I finally found something on Google. http://mountaingenealogy.blogspot.com/2009/04/
unmarked-graves-raise-historical.html But it says "outside the cemetery
proper" and this was definitely inside the fence. Hmm." - David
Cole
See Dowsing
For Graves Witching For Water by Dana Goolsby |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and vintage or recent photos, please contact
us. |
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