FIRST Person Buried in Driver Cemetery - Freestone County, TX
N 31° 39.982 W 096° 13.369
14R E 763311 N 3506807
A 1975 Texas Historical Marker at Driver Cemetery, between Teague and Fairfield, indicates that the first person buried here was Mary C. Driver, back in 1869.
Waymark Code: WM1626W
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 04/18/2022
Views: 1
Mrs. Driver's husband, William, followed her just about a year later, and they are buried with their daughter, Victoria (1856-1876) in a fenced-in plot that is missing one side section. Their final resting places are marked by a marble obelisk that is nearly 10' tall, with inscriptions for each person on the sides:
Mary C.
Wife of
Wm. G. Driver
Born
Sept. 16, 1836
Died
Jan. 19, 1869
A happier lot than ours and
larger light surrounds thee
there.
----------
William G. Driver
Born
July 8, 1834
Died
May 10, 1870.
Gone but not forgotten
----------
The historical marker provides some background:
Julius Driver (1795-1883) migrated from Georgia in 1852, buying some Faulkenberry headright land, and later giving 4.5 acres for this cemetery. A daughter-in-law, Mary Groover (Mrs. William G.) Driver, was first person buried here, in 1869. Driver also gave site in 1878 for nearby Hicks Spring Church and school. There the Confederate veterans of Freestone County had their first reunion in 1890. The recorded deed of cemetery to the public was made by a subsequent landowner, John Hays, in 1901. The Driver Cemetery Association has governed the property since 1915. There are now (1975) 673 graves.
FIRST - Classification Variable: Person or Group
Date of FIRST: 01/19/1869
More Information - Web URL: [Web Link]
|
Visit Instructions:As a suggestion for your visit log, please make every effort to supply a brief-to-detailed note about your experience at the Waymark. If possible also include an image that was taken when you visited the Waymark. Images can be of yourself, a personal Waymarking signature item or just one of general interest that would be of value to others. Sharing your experience helps promote Waymarking and provides a dynamic history of your adventures.
Recent Visits/Logs:
| There are no logs for this waymark yet. |
|
|
|