French Cemetery, Dayton, Liberty County, Texas Submitted by Carol Higginbotham higgie@samlink.com *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit  or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations  desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain  the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of  the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of  this consent. Gloria B. Mayfield, LadyTexian@tcainternet.com  TX Tombstone Project Manager ************************************************************************ French Cemetery, Dayton, Liberty County, Texas Submitted by Carol Higginbotham higgie@samlink.com Located in Dayton-Kenefick area off 1008. Directions: Take HWY 90 from Crosby to Dayton at the first red light turn left on 321. Go to the next red light. At this intersection of 321 is 1008 to the right to go toward Kenefick. Go 2.8 miles. French Cemetery is on the left. There are two possible entrances. This is a well-kept cemetery. Some headstones are broken and lying on the ground. NOTES OF THE TRANSCRIBER: I have visited this cemetery. Update of this cemetery is January 30, 2000. If there are any mistakes you see or know of or if you have any additional information about this cemetery please email me at higgie@samlink.com The Main Gate reads French Cemetery Associate Est. 1830 There is a Historical Plaque there and it reads: Texas Historical Commission French Cemetery According to local tradition, This Cemetery derives its name from a group of French Settlers who were killed and buried near the site sometime during the 18th century. Although no physical evidence of the French burials has been found the name has been in common use for more than 100 years. Referred to the mid-1800’s as the Pruett family cemetery, the graveyards is located on the land acquired by Beasley Pruett from the Mexican Government in 1824. Upon his death in 1835, Pruett was buried on his land grant in a now-unmarked grave. The earliest marked grave here dated 1860, is that of Martha Day, a daugher-in-law of Beasley Pruett. Other early Liberty County Settlers and the Pruett Family descendants buried here includes Reason Green (1800-1868), who held several 19th century public offices. Surnames of other prominent citizens buried here include Brashear and Linney. Veterans of four wars and the Korean conflict are interred here. In 1946, Landowners W. T. Jamison, Sr. (1878-1962) and J. N. Coleman (1882-1948) formerly set aside these two acres of the French Cemetery as part of the sale of the surrounding land. The graveyard remains an important reflection of the Liberty County History. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986 DBL - means double headstone TRP - means triple headstone FHM - means Funeral Home Marker MHS - means Military headstone MFS-means Military footstone #1 - DBL Linked together in God’s Love SIMMONS Tom J. Married Wanda L. March 30, 1929 Sep 20, 1947 April 7, 1933 September 20, 1998 #2 -FHM-Sterling Funeral Home VOTAW, Henry C. 1902-1980 #3 VOTAW, Edna Mae “Mother” April 21, 1912 July 16, 1967 #4-FHM-Allison Funeral Home THIBEDOUX, No legible first name B. 1970 D. ???? Can not make out the small tin headstone #5-FHM-Sterling Funeral Home THIBEDOUX, Arlene 1950-1982 #6-DBL LEE Rufus T. Billie L. 1930 1930- 1981 #7-DBL SIMMONS Gordon B. Clara Belle October 6, 1932 March 10, 1929 August 24, 1995 MFS: For Gordon B. Simmons SP 3 US Army Korea October 6 1932 + August 24 1995 #8-DBL BATCHELOR Luther L. Ruth B. 1895-1987 1900-1986 #9-DBL SACKETT John L. Married Geraldine September 23, 1921 April 29 June 8, 1924 October 26, 1991 1942 September 5, 1998 NOTE: There is also a Sterling Funeral Home marker for Geraldine Sackett as well. MHS: For John L. Sackett, SR. PFC US Army W. W. II Sep 23 1921 + Oct 26 1991 #10 O’NEIL, Teresa Joann June 21, 1977 December 18, 1993 #11 PETER, Sandra September 21, 1950 November 17, 1991 #12 Masonic Emblem on top of headstone TABB, George Taylor Born in Houston, Mississippi December 1, 1848 Died at Stilson, Texas November22, 1911 “Gone but not forgotten” #13 WELSH, Ola Born: 7-18-92 Died: ?-4-27 (This is the best I could make out of this headstone) (Note this could be Wells Vs Welsh) #14 WELSH, J. N. B. 7-3-1883 D. 3-25-1943 (Note: this could be Wells Vs Welsh) #15 This could be a foot stone for J. N. Welsh(Wells) There is no markings on this stone and it is small in comparison to a headstone. #16-MHS McCARY, Hobson Lee TX F2 US Navy W. W. I August 15, 1898 January 15, 1965 Note: Hobson Lee McCary’s second headstone reads 1898-1964 #17 McCARY, Lexie P. 1901-1990 #18-DBL Masonic Emblem SIMMONS Mother Father Josephine William 8-15-1841 7-29-1836 2-15-1923 1-26-1901 #19 DAY, Martha C. Died January 15, 1860 58yrs aged #20 PRUETT, William P. Born 7-28-1851 Died 7-20-1881 #21 PRUETT, Richard M. Born December 11- 1857 Died October 22-1861 #22 PRUETT, Beasley Born 3-18-1863 Died 11-12-1863 #23 PRUETT, Edmond Born 3-22-1846 Died 5-2-1918 “Thy Trials ended thy rest is won” Wife Minnie November 3, 1886- June 15, 1937 MHS: For Edmond Pruett TX Co F 11 BN TX VOLS Confederate States Army March 22,1846 +May 2, 1918 #24 PRUETT, Nash 8-18-1895 to 8-18-1895 “Suffer little children to come unto me” #25 URN with no legible markings or dates Located in the Pruett cemetery plott #26 PRUETT, Lon (could be Lou) w/o E. Pruett Born 4-12-1842 (could be 1843) Died 5-16-1889 “Religion filled her soul with peace Upon a dying bed Let faith look up let sorrow cease She lives with Christ over head Our loss is eternal gain she dwells In cloudless light “ #27 LINNEY, Rebecca W/O Beasley Pruett Born Catahoula Parish LA. June 22, 1829 Died at Liberty Hill, Texas March 21, 1885 “Dear mother in Earth’s thorny paths How long thy feet Have trod! To find at last this Peaceful rest Safe in the arms of God” #28 PRUETT, Beasley SR. Born December 25, 1816 Died September 21, 1874 #29 PRUETT, James Born October 22, 1854 Died June 23, 1882 #30 BRASHIER, Mrs. E. C. May 13, 1860 Aged 49 years NOTE: Broken headstone #31 Stone Reads: Not sure of Gravesite but is in this Cemetery GREEN, Richard “Old Fogy” Born: 1765 Married: 11-6-1790 Died: 2-1-1834 #32 HEMHOFF, George R. November15, 1873 July 1, 1941 By Son #33 GREEN, B. M. August 18-1810 July 16, 1895 #34 GREEN, Edmond M. Born 1851 Died 1881 #35-DBl GREEN “Uncle Bigon” “Aunt Ludie” Edward R. Married Ludie L. December 28, 1903 47 years February 27, 1903 April 22, 1989 It was a good Life #36 ROBISON, Alna Green 1903-1963 #37-FHM ROBISON, Clara Pete May 19, 1918 April 13, 1994 #38-MHS GREEN, Reason PVT Continental Line Rev War January 1, 1800 February 11, 1867 #39 In Memory of GREEN, Martha Ann W/O Reason Green Departed this life February 12, 1860 In the 57th year of her aged #40 Masonic Emblem ROC, James (Can not make out the whole name or if there are any other letters) Died: February 18?? (May be 1874) This stone has been knocked over. #41 Broken Headstone Lying on the ground JACOBS, Walter 4-13-188? 5-12-1887 Son of I. A. and C. B. Jacobs (I. A. could be J. A.) #42 “The Angels Called Him” JACOBS, E. Son of I. A. and C. B. Jacobs 7-8-1888 7-25-1888 (I. A. could be J. A.) #43 JACOBS, C. B. Wife of I. A. Jacobs Born:11-8-1866 Died: 4-17-1890 #44 This is probably the headstone Of I. A. JACOBS it is located in same location As C. B. Jacobs, E. Jacobs and Walter Jacobs. Which leads me to this conclusion. This stone was broken into two pieces. I was unable to turn them over to be read. #45 “Sacred to the Memory” LINNEY, M. Born September 20, 1800 Died August 22, 1821 #46 “Sacred to the Memory” LINNEY, Elizabeth Died September 10, 1862 #47 CHRISLEY, Floyd 1901-1981 #48 “Mother” CHRISLEY, Bessie C. December 1882-October 1934 #49 CHRISLEY, H. 1871-1957 #50 CHRISLEY, Barney C. Born January 1904-Died June 1935 #51 “In Loving Memory” CHRISLEY,Paul G. 7-7-1911 1-23-1964 #52 CRIDER, J. O. No Dates #53 FRANKLIN, Sarah Josephine W/O L. D. Franklin Born June 11, 1870 Died September 16, 1889 #54-DBL THORNTON D. K., SR. Zula June 8, 1909 April 1, 1912 January 20, 1997 December 6, 1993 #55-TRP THORNTON Robert L. SR. Esther M. Vernon L. March 31, 1920 Jan 28, 1923 March 21, 1953 MHS: For Robert L., SR. S. SGT US Army World War II March 31, 1920-April 12, 1995 #56 STUBBLEFIELD, Roy Edward April 4, 1967-April 25, 1992 “Little Roy” #57-DBL “In Loving Memory” ALEXANDER John Presley Vida Pearl June 12, 1892 March 1, 1896 June 15, 1974 February 4, 1978 #58 ALEXANDER, Aline Elizabeth August 28, 1985 October 19, 1985 #59 ALEXANDER, Leroy July 27, 1959 December 23, 1989 #60 ALEXANDER, C. B. “Wig” July 25, 1924 January 28, 1989 #61 PARKER, Baby Boy 1972-1972 #62 PARKER, Baby Girl 1972-1972 #63-DBL MEADOWS James Robert Izzy Ozella October 10, 1910 January 14, 1911 September 21, 1997 November 11, 1991 #64-DBL PARKER Alvie Leroy Married Mary Alice June 9, 1931 June 22, 1951 October 23, 1931 August7, 1986 #65 PARKER, Donnie Lynn 1970 #66 PARKER, Ronnie Lynn 1970 #67 “Father” PARKER, Willie (could be also known as Willice) September 6, 1892-December 8, 1972 “In Loving Memory” #68 “Mother” PARKER, Mollie September 6, 1897-July 15, 1992 “In Loving Memory” #69-DBL PARKER Hardy Ida G. September 15, 1894 January 30, 1899 January 20, 1985 January 27, 1983 #70-DBL PARKER Avery Preston Goldie December 19, 1919 October 19, 1925 MHS: For Avery Preston Parker SF 2 US Navy World War II Dec 19, 1919 Apr 29, 1992 #71 PARKER,Charles Vernon January 26, 1957 June 5, 1980 “Loving Husband and Father” Has High School Photo #72 CAMPBELL, Howard November 5, 1900 March 17, 1960 #73-DBL FINGLEMAN Joseph E. Della Brandon October 27, 1888 December 7, 1894 December 1, 1957 December 6, 1987 74-MHS FINGLEMAN, Joel E. TX TEC 5 3349 QM Co World War II September 9, 1915-November 10, 1963 #75-MHS FINGLEMAN, Fredick, SR. PFC US Army World War II 1918-1983 (WP~FSF~JR.) This was written on an cememt pad with a stick. #76-DBL FINGLEMAN Edwin M. Eunice B. February 14, 1992 December 5, 1927 #78-FHM VOTAW, Hilton Hoy 1915-1986 MFS Votaw, Hilton Hoy SGT US Army Air Corps World War II July 3 1915 + Sept 2 1986 #79-DBL VOTAW “FATHER” “MOTHER” Jacob Willis Ida Gertrude Sept 30, 1904 Nov 10, 1910 Sept 01, 1969 July 30, 1975 #80-DBL HOWARD Billie J. Donald R. Nov 22, 1935 May 14, 1931 Aug 30, 1993 #81-FHM-Sterling Funeral Home HOWARD, Susan NO DATES #82 HOWARD, Gertrude O. June 12, 1907 August 13, 1961 “Thy Lord is my Refuge” #83-MHS HOWARD, Jacob P. SP4 US Navy Mar 17, 1938 Apr 17, 1994 #84-FHM MURPHY, Loyd D. MHS OR MFS Loyd David Murphy CPL US Marine Corps Korea Oct 4, 1930 + Sep 24, 1979 #85-DBL HOWARD Phillip A. Married Gloria G. Aug 15, 1941 Dec. 18, Oct 29, 1943 Oct 26, 1996 #86-FAMILY PLOTT VOTAW “Eternally in his Care” A.) “Our Little Angel” Donita Michelle “Shell” 1969-1972 B.) Thorpe M. Feb 3, 1911 Feb 8, 1968 C.) Votaw, Pamela Joy Wheelus July 31, 1956 March 12, 1992 Daughter Your Home Rest in Peace This ends the Votaw Plott #87 Main Head Stone Reads: FERGUSON Earnest W. 1900-1966 (this could read 1900 - 1906) Laura 1910 no other date #88 THAIN, William Franklin “Beloved Son and Brother” Born Sept. 1, 1957 Killed Oct 1, 1984 There is a small footstone reading W.F.T. #89-FHM HOLLERBACH, Walter 1927-1998 #90-DBL FRANKLIN “DADDY” Married “MOTHER” Clarence Mar 28, Corrine E. Aug 4, 1914 1948 Feb 12, 1929 Feb 9, 1982 “In Loving Memory” “In Loving Memory” MFS: + Clarence Franklin CMM US Navy World War II Aug 4, 1914 - Feb 9 1982 #91 BROWNLEE, John Paul 2-9-1950 1-24-1975 #92-FHM PETERS, Everett E. 1924-1973