SKINNER CEMETERY, Pilot Point, Denton County, Texas Skinner Cemetery is receiving a State of Texas Historical Marker in a ceremony scheduled for Sunday, April 19th, 1998 Very little of the record of the old Skinner Cemetery would be available today had it not been for the efforts of Mr. William Oliver "Buddy" Skinner, retired Postmaster at Pilot Point,Texas. Mr. Skinner, a great-great grandson of Richard and Lucinda Skinner who donated the land for the Skinner Cemetery, has worked tirelessly and almost single-handedly to locate and document the remaining tombstones. Unless one has visited the cemetery, the tremendous effort involved in searching for even the stones that are remaining above ground cannot be appreciated. However, Mr. Skinner has gone far beyond simply locating and photographing any tombstones that were easily visible and accessible. He has chopped down undergrowth, trudged through poison ivy, and literally dug from beneath the vine-covered ground many of the tombstones recorded here. His photographs of the remaining tombstones may be the only permanent record of the Skinner Cemetery because of the loss of the original stones caused by years of neglect, vandalism and the inevitable erosion of porous stones. The Texas Historical Commission awarded Mr. Skinner the Citation for Distinguished Service in 1987 for his efforts toward the preservation of this valuable community historical resource. This story of the cemetery and the people buried there is an attempt to record the results of his efforts and preserve the history of a legacy on the verge of extinction. Text by Margaret Sexton Mathies Submitted by Elwood Branum, E-Mail: branume@iglobal.net William Oliver "Buddy" Skinner, E-Mail: WSki200615@aol.com NAME BIRTHDATE DEATHDATE NOTES ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alcorn, W.H. Jan 6, 1845 Mar 9, 1894 Augier, Mary Apr 27, 1883 Wife of Pierre F. Augier who was born in France. She was 26 years old when died Baldwin, Emelie Jan 10, 1880 Jun 6, 1881 Baldwin, J.H. Jul 8, 1888 Aug 3, 1888 Baldwin, N.C. Apr 3, 1852 May 20, 1898 Born in Tennessee. Wife named Mary Bates, Daniel N. Mar 15, 1827 Nov 23, 1886 Family had extensive ties going back to Marion County, Kentucky and to Nelson County, Virginia Bell, Bluford May 5, 1809 Jan 27, 1863 Born in South Carolina with the occupation of wagonmaker Black, Molly Ann Sep 27, 1860 Mar 21, 1862 Daughter of Robert F., born in Alabama,and Louisa Black, born in Tennessee Chastain, James C. Jun 1, 1876 Mar 11, 1877 Son of S.H. & V.H. Chastain Crites, Polly (Mary A.) Jul 1820 Sep 29, 1877 Wife of Conrad Crites N.M.C. Footmarker next to Polly Crites P.C. Footmarker, probably for Polly Crites Fortenberry, Oliver R. Dec 21, 1821 Apr 19, 1874 Wife was named Harriet French, John T. March 7, 1871 Nov 16, 1892 Son of James L., born in Tennessee and Ann E. French, born in Missouri French, Joseph C. Mar 28, 1873 Sep 9, 1874 Son of James L., born in Tennessee and Ann E. French, born in Missouri Gist, Minnie L. Jan 2, 1870 Sep 12, 1870 Daughter of Julian N. & Ruth Gist both born in Tennessee Graham, James Apr 5, 1808 Sep 9, 1867 Husband of Mary Graham. Came from Tennessee Graham, Mary Jun 14, 1808 Aug 1, 1889 Wife of James Graham. Came from Tennessee E.W.G. Footmarker Hill, Daniel 1809 1884 Born in North Carolina. Died at age 75 L.A.H. Footmarker (Probably L.A. Hill) Hill, Louisa C. 1840? Feb 28, 1897 Wife of Lawson Alexander Hill. Came from Missouri Hill, William E. May 27, 1880 May 8, 1883 Son of Lawson Alexander & Louisa C. Hill Holford, Harriet Feb 2, 1812 Aug 2, 1870 Wife of Matthew Holford. Came from Tennessee Holford, Matthew Mar 13, 1808 Nov 2, 1869 Husband of Harriet Holford. Came from Tennessee Hughes, Mary Sep 1872 Oct 28, 1872 Daughter of H.A. & Mary A. Hughes Hughes, Mary A. 1853 Oct 19, 1872 Wife of H.A. Hughes Inmon, Isaac Jan 10, 1809 Jul 24, 1873 Ives, Lizzie B. Nov 6, 1847 Sep 10, 1875 McFarlane, Elizabeth R. Oct 14, 1850 Nov 20, 1871 Daughter of S.P. and Mary Brown. Wife of J.L. McFarlane who was the son of Angus W. and Mary Cutbirth McFarlane who came from came from Arkansas Merchant, Child of Claiborne W. & Mary Francis Merchant Merchant, J.D., Sr. Aug 24, 1800 Dec 8, 1876 Born in Tennessee Ortez, Phipps, Joe Mylo Apr 16, 1928 Apr 27, 1928 Last person to be buried in Skinner Cemetery Rea, Arie Belle Coleman Feb 25, 1851 May 22, 1879 Wife of David Neil Rea. She came from Indiana, he came from Alabama Rudd, Rufus L. Jun 12, 1842 Mar 14, 1900 Born in North Carolina Russell, Jane Apr 4, 1816 Jul 9, 1866 Wife of John Russell Russell, John Jan 26, 1797 Jun 11, 1879 Husband of Jane Russell Saling, Ida May Sep 7, 1877 Jun 29, 1901 Wife of H.P. Saling Saling, J. May 20, 1901 Aug 13, 1901 Child of H.P. & Ida May Saling J.H.S. Footmarker for J. Saling Shelton, James L. Jan 5, 1863 Feb 15, 1863 Son of J.L. & S.E. Shelton Shelton, J.G. Sep 17, 1854 Feb 23, 1877 Short, Elizabeth Jun 6, 1826 Dec 2, 1878 Wife of Joel Short and daughter of Lucinda and Richard Skinner. Elizabeth and Joel Short came from Kentucky Short, Joel Feb 20, 1821 Jan 28, 1875 Husband of Elizabeth Short Skinner, Lucinda Jan 29, 1805 Jun 28, 1890 Wife of Richard Skinner and daughter of Wharton and Nancy Glasscock. Came from Kentucky Skinner, Richard 1790 Dec 12, 1863 Husband of Lucinda Skinner and son of Burdit and Nancy Austin Skinner. Came from Kentucky Stelzer, Albert S. Mar 8, 1853 Jan 28, 1874 Born in Choctaw Indian Territory. Son of Martin Stelzer, born in Saxony, Germany, and Eliza Stelzer. Stelzer, Eliza Jul 31, 1825 Nov 18, 1875 Wife of Martin Stelzer. Born in Virginia Taylor, Catherine Nov 17, 1820 Aug 18, 1900 Wife of Josiah Taylor. Born in Kentucky Taylor, Josiah Jan 23, 1814 Jul 30, 1858 Husband of Catherine Taylor Taylor, Josiah Mar 6, 1858 Son of Josiah and Catherine Taylor J.T. Footmarker (Probably Josiah Taylor) Turner, Pocahontas Jan 9, 1830 Jan 7, 1873 Born in Kentucky Vanderslice, Bell Z. Feb 8, 1866 Dec 16, 1882 Daughter of John A. and Rebecca M. Vanderslice Vanderslice, J.S. Jun 3, 1869 Oct 16, 1895 Son of John A. and Rebecca M. Vanderslice Vanderslice, Rebecca Apr 26, 1835 Mar 31, 1895 Wife of John A. Vanderslice Wellborn, Frances Annable Jul 14, 1811 Dec 4, 1893 Wife of John C. Wellborn, born in Cayuga County, New York Wellborn, John C. Feb 20, 1893 Age 85 years, 1 month, 16 days, husband of Frances Annabel Wellborn Wellborn, Leonia Jun 18, 1893 Wife of Thomas Wellborn, age 23 years West, Martha J. Jul 27, 1848 Sep 26, 1872 West, Mary B. Jun 20, 1871 Sep 28, 1872 Daughter of Martha West Wills, Daniel Oct 16, 1786 Feb 5, 1874 Born in North Carolina D.W. Footmarker next Daniel Wills Wilson, Cretia Apr 9, 1842 Sep 1866 Wilson, Juda Dec 25, 1818 Apr 7, 1873 Wife of Nathanniel Wilson Wilson, M.E. Wilson, Nathanniel Sep 1, 1813 Oct 19, 1885 Husband of Juda Wilson Wilson, Prissie Aug 1, 1848 Sep 12, 1873 Daughter of S.B. & M.A. Wilson Wilson, Sarah E. Feb 18, 1854 Jul 15, 1873 Daughter of S.B. & M.A. Wilson Unknown 61 years, 11 months, 29 days Unknown Infant DENTON COUNTY, TEXAS Vol. 96, Page 219 STATE OF TEXAS COUNTY OF DENTON Know all men by these presents; That I John Skinner, of the County of Denton and State of Texas, for and in consideration of the sum of Fifty-Dollars to me in hand, paid by J.R. Peel, J.T. Smith and R.J. Hardwick Trustees of the Skinner Cemetery Association of Pilot Point, Denton County, Texas the receipt of which is hereby fully acknowledged by me, have Granted, Sold and Conveyed and by these presents do sell, grant and convey unto the said J.R. Peel, J.T. Smith and R.J. Hardwick and their successors in office and trust for the use and benefit of the said Cemetery Association at Pilot Point in Denton County Texas all that certain tract, lot or parcel of land described as follows to wit: Three acres of land more or less out of Chas. Smith Survey in Denton County Texas, Beginning at the S.W. corner of a tract of land owned by G.R. Buchanon. Thence South 370 3/4 feet a stone. Thence West 280 2/3 feet a stone. Thence North 370 3/4 feet to stone on SB line of said Buchanon tract. Thence west 280 2/3 feet to the place of beginning, to have and to hold the above described premises together with all and singular the rights and appartenances thereto in anywise belonging unto the said J.R. Peel, J.T. Smith and R.J. Hardwick and their successors in office and trust forever for the use and benefit of the said Cemetery Association, and I John Skinner hereby find myself, my heirs, executors and administrators to warrant and forever defend, all and singular the said premises unto the said J.R. Peel, J.T. Smith and R.J. Hardwick, Trustees of the said Skinner Cemetery Association of Pilot Point, Denton County, Texas and unto their successors in office and trust against every person whomsoever lawfully claiming or to claim the the same or any part thereof. Witness my hand at Pilot Point, Texas this 29th day of November A.D. 1905 John Skinner STATE OF TEXAS COUNTY OF DENTON: Before me Will D. Burks a notary public in and for Denton County, Texas on this day personally appeared John Skinner known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument and acknowledged to me that he executed the same for the purpose and consider- ation therein expressed. Given under my hand and seal of office this 29th day of November A.D. 1905. Will D. Burks, Notary Public for Denton County, Texas Filed for record on the 2nd day of December A.D. 1905 at 1:30 O'clock P.M. Sam Hawkins, Clerk Co. Court Denton Co. Texas ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Elwood Branum, E-Mail < branume@iglobal.net > ====================================================================