To Everything A Season: EDGAR Family Cemetery, DeWitt Co., TX

Friday, March 08, 2013

Attached is first "before" photo. Mahler

graves are just past the cactus. John's is on

the right; Mina's behind his from this angle.

Yes, we are wearing boots!

Friday, March 08, 2013

Another View

Friday, March 08, 2013

Parked on the "Path"

Friday, March 08, 2013

Great Cedar Tree to Save

Friday, March 08, 2013

Add Cactus to Cemetery Swallowers

Friday, March 08, 2013

In it are Joyce MANNING and our BROWN

cousin, Bob MANNING.  Joyce was signing

my copy of Yoakum Community The First

Hundred Years 1887-1987 published by the

Yoakum Sesquicentennial/Centennial Book

Committee which Joyce chaired.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Rancher Jane [Bob's wife]

It was very cloudy yesterday and rained last

night. But, it is sunny now. We are headed

back out there now. You can Selah's

footstone in this photo.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Mysterious Footstone: The attached photo

was taken with my iPhone in backwards

mode (i.e. photographing toward me rather

than away from me).  The dark area in the

photo is part of one of my brush-clearing-

pants legs. I could not get to the front of this,

at least not yet.  I saw it as I was raking at

the edge of a thick thicket of briars.  I

chalked it from behind by reaching into the

briars; then, I took a reverse photo of it.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Look what greeted us near the gate to the

cemetery!

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Afternoon sun at back, looking northeast

with Bluebonnets in foreground and

cemetery up hill in distance.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

This Morning 8:15 a.m. Headed South from

Yoakum, about to turn right (west) toward

the area of JSE's first class headright land

grant and the old EDGAR family cemetery.

Bluebonnets under the sign. Great day in

DeWitt County, TX!

Sunday, March 24, 2013

New View: From west fence, looking

northeast.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

MJBE - Broken gravestone

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Morning Sun - Whilst the dew was still on

the roses.

From left DNM, JCMM, MHMS, Baby.

Headstones in rear, facing forward (east).

Foot stones facing west.

Photo by Robert Merritte WEBB

24 March 2013

MHMS and parents

Photo by Robert Merritte WEBB

24 March 2013

MHMS and Baby

Photo by Robert Merritte WEBB

24 March 2013

MHMS and Baby (Close up)

Photo by Robert Merritte WEBB

24 March 2013

Sunday, March 24, 2013

It was still alive on this photo, but not for

long. This was not a catch and release

situation. Crew leader Gallacious Garcia

holding young snake he caught; Joel

Jackson looking on. Joel has been here

working all day, and his wife, Susan, just

arrived. She is very nice and is very

interested in the cemetery.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Joel, His Truck and His Chainsaw

Sunday, March 24, 2013

End of Work Day - Jane, Joel and Andy

Friday, April 05, 2013

Article on Victoria Advocate

Sunday, April 07, 2013

Jerry SPARKMAN and Bob WEBB  in front

of Jerry's great grandmother's gravestone. It

was the first time he had been to the

cemetery to see her grave, and his first time

in Texas since 1967.

Sunday, April 07, 2013

Jerry SPARKMAN and Bob WEBB  in front

of Jerry's great grandmother's gravestone.

(Here is the uncropped original with our car

and Joel's tractor showing in the

background.)

Saturday, March 09 , 2013

EFC Before Photo

From outside the cemetery, looking

northeast, toward the gate

Monday, April 08, 2013

EFC After Photo

From inside the cemetery looking

southwest, toward the gate

Journal: Journey to Decoration Day 2013

        Welcome Grave Stones Location Meetings&Visits Management Politeness

Latest update: Saturday, June 15, 2013

This is such an exciting time -- establishing the first Decoration Day for the EDGAR

Family Cemetery, resurrecting the cemetery from certain deterioration and extinction. We

thought a Journal of the activity that lead to the first Decoration Day might interest others,

also.  Enjoy. Bob and his wife Jane made two multi-day trips to the EDGAR Family

Cemetery to manage a team of workers as they did the hard-clean of the cemetery.

In reverse chronology.

Select any photo for a photo slideshow.

• Wednesday, April 10, 2013

From: Bob Webb

To: Lynn Adams, Gonzales Inquirer

Subject: RE: Local News/History Article for Gonzales Inquirer (P.S.)

Hi Lynn,

No problem with the delay.  Thanks for the response and for the interest in our project.

Yes, it’s definitely local news as well as local and state history.

Attached is an updated article which I have modified since the gathering at the cemetery

this past weekend.  We had a great turnout.  Most of the major brush and briars had

been cleared by a crew we had hired, prior to the family members’ arrival on Saturday.

But, much clean up was done on Saturday including a detailed survey of all the

gravestones with and without inscriptions.

We are tentatively planning another gathering at the cemetery in early October. It’s a

labor of love and will be an ongoing project, for sure.

The two photos are

Before: from outside the cemetery, looking northeast, toward the gate [Saturday, March

09 , 2013]

After:  from inside the cemetery looking southwest, toward the gate [Monday, April 08,

2013]

Please let me know if you have any questions and/or if additional details are needed.

Kind regards,

Bob

• Tuesday, April 09, 2013

We are home safely, as of last night.  But, we are moving pretty slowly this morning,

mentally and physically.  It was a great success, but exhausting.

There is so much to report, I really don’t know where to begin, or when to begin... As a

preview, we found so many stones marking graves but with no inscriptions that I now

believe there are probably as many or more of those as there are ones with inscriptions. 

Remember the P.B. mystery that the Goebel team recorded “Footstone only?”  Well, it’s

not a footstone.  It is a headstone of a child’s grave, with an oval of stones around the

grave and with the stone into which P.B. was scratched at the head.  It is beside 4 other

children’s graves marked with similar ovals of stones but with no inscriptions.  ALL of that

was uncovered in the raking and earth-scratching process.  Note that I didn’t say

digging.  But, there will be “deeper scratching” in future visits, no doubt.

We also found similar graves which appear to have been children’s graves with no

inscriptions very near Martha Washington WOLLARD’s and Joshua N. EDGAR’s graves. 

I believe those may have been some of Darden’s and Mary’s infant’s graves.

Here is a scanned copy of the article.  I didn’t intend this to be so much about me.  But,

the reporter (Sonny Long) kept sending me questions, and from that he wove the story

together as he wanted it to appear. It did get the website address included, and the gmail

address which was good.

• Sunday, April 07, 2013

This is a photo [Photo] of Jerry Sparkman and me taken by Jane this morning in front of

Jerry's great grandmother's gravestone. It was the first time he had been to the cemetery

to see her grave, and his first time in Texas since 1967. He wasn't able to attend the

activities yesterday although not without trying. Much to come in this awesome weekend.

Which is still underway.

Here is the un-cropped original with our car and Joel's tractor showing in the background.

• Friday, April 05, 2013

Article in Victoria Advocate - Man breathes new life into cemetery

• Sunday, March 24, 2013

This Morning 8:15 a.m. Headed South from Yoakum, about to turn right (west) toward

the area of JSE's first class headright land grant and the old EDGAR family cemetery.

Bluebonnets under the sign. Great day in DeWitt County, TX! [Photo]

Good thing you set up a mystery page. As we clear and rake, we are finding numerous

fieldstones, most with head and corresponding foot locations. We will have a fun

challenge to speculate on identities, surely to include all of Darden's and Mary's babies

(the ones who didn't die in Frio county and were buried there). Bob

As luck would have it, the area around the mysterious stone is the last to be cleared, and

not yet. We are shocked at the number of obvious grave markers that have no surviving

inscription, thus were not even mentioned in the Goebel survey. When we are done, the

cemetery will be the cleanest it has been in at least 75 years, I suspect. Hopefully, we

can help keep it this way. Bob

New View: From west fence, looking northeast. [Photo]

EDGAR

MJBE - Broken gravestone [Photo]

Morning Sun - Whilst the dew was still on the roses. [Photo, 19. Tabitha Jane BROWN

EDGAR]

MCMEEN & SPARKMAN

From left DNM, JCMM, MHMS, Baby. Headstones in rear, facing forward (east). Foot

stones facing west. [Photo]

MHMS and parents [Photo]

MHMS and Baby [Photo]

MHMS and Baby (Close up) [Photo]

It was still alive on this photo, but not for long. This was not a catch and release situation.

Crew leader Gallacious Garcia holding young snake he caught; Joel Jackson looking on.

Joel has been here working all day, and his wife, Susan, just arrived. She is very nice and

is very interested in the cemetery. [2 Photos]

Joel, His Truck and His Chainsaw [Photo]

End of Work Day - Jane, Joel and Andy [Photo}

• Saturday, March 23, 2013

We just arrived. Look what greeted us near the gate to the cemetery! [Field of

Bluebonnets Photo] We also drove by a mama cow with a newborn girl calf with part of

her umbilical cord still hanging down, standing unsteadily. Both watched us but didn't run

away as we drove by slowly.

Afternoon sun at back, looking northeast with Bluebonnets in foreground and cemetery

up hill in distance. Much progress made today fine tuning around gate (SW corner) and

around EDGAR area (SE corner). Measurements tomorrow. I did find George Bell's

gravestone in a thicket. It will be cleared and photographed tomorrow. Had fun and

delicious lunch at H&H Cafe in Yoakum and worked out details with them for the

luncheon gathering on the 6th. They were named one of the best small town cafes in

Texas. Very small townish and Texan, and great southern food, and very friendly.

• Saturday, March 23, 2013

From: Bob Webb

To: DG

Subject: Second pre-DD Trip Update

All is well in DeWitt county after a good night's sleep in a garage apartment

(experimenting with a new find; AOK, so far) in Yoakum. It is cool and cloudy here, but

with lots of birds singing. Joel has given us permission to work at the cemetery today.

The crew will be there, and we will also be there, tomorrow. Some more measurements

and tending around JE's and SW's graves today. Simulation transition from work session

to H&H for lunch today. Onward, the cows! Bob

• Sunday, March 17, 2013

From: Bob Webb

To: Joel Jackson

Subject: Re: Cemetery Update

Joel,

The second check we sent to Garcia’s Lawn and Tree Service was cashed and cleared

our bank on 03/14/13.  Jane talked with him before we sent the replacement for the one

that was not done correctly, and she apologized to him.

We would like to come back down there either during (or right after) their completion of

the work.  Hopefully, that can be no later than the weekend of 03/29, a week before the

big event.  Have you heard from him yet about his coming back out to finish?  We also

thought about sending you the last check made out to his company, and you could give it

to him on completion.  Or, we can if we’re there.

Attached are the latest drafts of a proposed news release and a tentative agenda.  Do

you have any questions or suggestions or concerns about any of that?

Also, we are thinking that we will provide a shuttle to and from the cemetery to lessen the

traffic through your fields and to help those who may be less able to drive back there. 

Maybe we could have the parking in the field just inside your gate, or maybe along

Concrete-Edgar Road.  What are your thoughts about that?

Another issue has occurred to me in thinking about the EFCA.  That is, maybe we could

help insulate you from requests to visit the cemetery.  Any inquiries that get made to you

directly about the cemetery and visitations could be directed to us and we could interact

with interested relatives of anyone buried there and “persuade” them to attend one of the

group visitations to be scheduled once or twice a year.  Occasionally, there might be a

special case request for a visit.  In any of those cases (group visits or special situations

for individual visits), we would always clear that with you first.  And, we would always be

very specific that there is to be no attempt to visit the cemetery without first getting your

permission (through the EFCA, if that is OK with you).

We are really excited about getting that cemetery totally cleared, cleaned and secured

and kept that way.  Needless to say, it has so much ancestral and historical importance,

it’s certainly worth the expense and effort.  But, we are also determined that this initiative

(before, during, or ongoing) does not wind up being an imposition or burden for you as

the landowner (and one of the direct descendants).

We have tentatively chosen H&H café in Yoakum as the place for the luncheon and

organizational meeting.  Do you have any other suggestions of places we might consider,

either in Yoakum or Cuero?  We found out when we were there that the Longhorn Café

in Cuero is not open on Saturdays.

All the best,

Bob

• Tuesday, March 12, 2013

On Mar 12, 2013, at 3:10 PM, Bob Webb wrote: Mysterious Footstone

DG,

The attached photo was taken with my iPhone in backwards mode (i.e. photographing

toward me rather than away from me).  The dark area in the photo is part of one of my

brush-clearing-pants legs.

I could not get to the front of this, at least not yet.  I saw it as I was raking at the edge of a

thick thicket of briars.  I chalked it from behind by reaching into the briars; then, I took a

reverse photo of it.

Who could this be?  I think we only have two surnames identified so far beginning with P,

right?  Pincham and Powers.

Another Pincham child, maybe?

• Sunday, March 10, 2013

From: Bob Webb

Sent: Sunday, March 10, 2013 6:39 PM

To: Sharon Duke

Subject: Re: DUKE Inquiry

Hi Sharon,

I saw Felix’s and Anna’s shared gravestone today, through the thicket and briars, but I

couldn’t get to it to photograph it.  I will get a good photograph when we are there for

Decoration Day on Apr 6th.  It’s a large, shared gravestone inside a low iron fence

surrounding their graves.

Here’s a link to a website we are building with information about the EDGAR Family

Cemetery. http://parkerhannah.com/EdgarFamilyCemetery/Welcome.html

You and/or any other DUKE descendant you may know are certainly welcome to join us

on Sat. Apr 6th at the cemetery.  We’re hoping to have at least one relative of each

person who was buried in that cemetery attend.  I was already communicating with

relatives of everyone except for Felix and Anna, and now I have made contact with you!

I am descended from the Edgars.

Kind regards,

Bob

• Sunday, March 10, 2013, Cemetery Visit for Pre DDay Cleaning

From: Bob Webb

It was very cloudy yesterday and rained last night. But, it is sunny now. We are headed

back out there now. You can Selah's footstone in this photo.

• Saturday, March 09, 2013, Cemetery Visit for Pre DDay Cleaning

From: Bob Webb

Big delay yesterday, but main event about to start. We are at the cemetery. Crew has not

arrived yet. It's cloudy, breezy and about 65 degrees. Perfect day for jungle clearing!

On Mar 9, 2013, at 6:47 PM, Bob Webb wrote:

Exhausting day... It was a bigger and rougher job than I had expected. But, good

progress was made. Details and photos to come.

• Friday, March 08, 2013, Cemetery Visit for Pre DDay Cleaning

From: Bob Webb

• Attached is first "before" photo. Mahler graves are just past the cactus. John's is

on the right; Mina's behind his from this angle. Yes, we are wearing boots!

• Another View Photo

• Parked on the "Path" Photo

• Great Cedar Tree to Save Photo

• Add Cactus to Cemetery Swallowers Photo

•  In it are Joyce MANNING and our BROWN cousin, Bob MANNING.  Joyce was

signing my copy of Yoakum Community The First Hundred Years 1887-1987 published

by the Yoakum Sesquicentennial/Centennial Book Committee which Joyce chaired.

• Thursday, March 07, 2013

From: Bob Webb

We have arrived safely in Victoria.  We stopped in Cuero to look for some Nellie

Murphree records in the DeWitt County Museum and "sat in" on the monthly board

meeting.

We are having lunch in Yoakum tomorrow with Joyce and Bob Manning.  You may

remember she is a major researcher in DeWitt and surrounding counties.  And, through

my happening to meet her in the Yoakum library about six years ago, we discovered one

of the lines she has been researching is BROWN because Bob is a descendant.  He and

I (and he and you) share MRCAs James BROWN and MILLY MAYES/MAYS.

Then, we have an appointment to visit at his home in Victoria, 82-year-old Dr. Robert W.

Shook, noted historian in Victoria and DeWitt counties and editor of Nellie Murphree's

book.

Tonight, we will scout out a possible restaurant (probably Olive Garden) for the group

feast on the 5th and/or 6th of April.

Saturday will be spent in measuring, recording data including accurate GPS coordinates,

and overseeing the major (and careful) fence row and criss-cross clearing of the old

EDGAR Family Cemetery.  Saturday night will probably be an exhaustion collapse.  Or,

maybe we'll take Joel and his wife out to dinner if they are available and interested.

Tomorrow on the way to Yoakum we are going to try to find the Evergreen cemetery and

photograph it and get coordinates.

The drive down here was very smooth and relaxing with a smooth departure (except we

forgot our pillows which we like to bring with us when we are driving); too many tools and

instruments and too much excitement, I suppose.  The Fairfield is OK, and Jane as a

frequent Marriott guest gets us special service.

More to come.

BB

P.S.  I sent Gloria Mayfield a message before we left asking about that Edgar cemetery

she referenced in Sabine county.  Hopefully, she will have responded by the time we get

home.

• March 7, 2013

From: Bob Webb

To: Joel Jackson

Subject: Re: Book It

Joel,

No problem.  Yes, we will be there.  But, I don't think I have ever gone to the cemetery

from that direction.  The first time you took me, we went around and in the back way,

past Doris Kubecka's house.

We will plan to be there at 8:30.  What do you suggest as to how we find our way?

Should we go in the back way (which I know), or try to find our way the front way?

If we came up there tomorrow evening (or this evening), would you be available to show

me the way?  Or, we could come very early Sat before  you go to work.  Maybe that

would be more convenient.  Whatever will work better for you is fine.

Thanks.

Bob

• Monday, March 04, 2013

From: Bob Webb

To: Carol Ogle

Subject: RE: Cemetery Reflections

Carol Jeanette,

Thanks for the additional details.  Jane and I are going down there this coming weekend

for some advance scouting and maybe some advance brush clearing.  I’ll be sending out

updates after we get back which will be Sun night or Mon.

None of the hotel prices down there are very good; the shale oil activity in the area has

“pumped up” prices, unfortunately.  Doyce and Tinker and her sisters are staying at the

Best Western.  Jane and I are staying at the Fairfield Inn, nearby.

What are you hearing from Mary Pat?  I think she’s still in Australia, right?

Bob

• Monday, March 04, 2013

From: Bob Webb

To: Joel Jackson

Subject: Some Thoughts about Brush Clearing Crew

Joel,

Before Mark left for vacation, he suggested a crew of 2.  I’ve been thinking more about

that, and I just briefed my wife on your call and my latest thoughts.

How does this sound to you:

·       Schedule the work for Friday, Mar 8th if that’s OK with them (and with you).  The

weather report is currently good for that day.

·       Schedule a crew of two to probably work 8 hours (not including lunch break,

however long that is).  They would bring their own tools and would work safely.

·       Special care and attention would be paid to not damaging any of the grave markers

with extra special care where we tell them we suspect there were graves but without

markers currently showing.  An example of that is in the corner (southeast?) of the

enclosure where James EDGAR’s and Selah EDGAR’s gravestones are.  We believe

there was a fieldstone marker (first burial in the cemetery in Oct 1863) next to theirs.

That fieldstone was partially buried last time we were there.  It may be totally buried by

now.

·       First clear the fence row with a path (6-8 feet wide) cleared around the interior

perimeter of the fence.  Good clearing and weed removal along the fence row itself.

Writing that brings back memories of when I was a boy growing up on a farm in southern

Mississippi and clearing fence rows.

·       Then, clear a horizontal path through the middle of the cemetery (about 10-12 feet

wide).

·       Then, clear a vertical path through the middle of the cemetery (about 10-12 feet

wide).

·       If the crew is working hard and we are happy with their work, we might ask for more

(longer day Fri and/or return Sat or Sun).  Or, if we feel the crew isn’t working hard and

making good progress, we might dismiss them in less than 8 hours.

·       Depending on how far they get in the 8 hours, it may be the remainder could be

done by the group of volunteers coming on Apr 6th.  And, Jane and I would go back

there Sat and/or Sun, with your permission, to do some “fine pruning.”

What are your thoughts about this approach?

I like the fact that they will do this on an hourly basis.  And, while I think the rate may be

high as compared with what their average hourly payroll costs are, you and I both know

there are other costs involved assuming they will provide their own tools, transportation,

etc.  But, I’m a little concerned going into this with the expectations that it’s a commitment

for 8-10 hours x four people x $32.50/hour which would be $1,040-$1,300 if I’ve

calculated correctly.

One reason I wanted to talk with Jane (my wife) is that we are going to front the cost of

this with Mark and Karan already agreeing to “chip in,” later and hopefully with whatever

group we get organized agreeing to chip in some more so we wind up paying a good

share but not all.

Your offer to pile and burn the accumulated brush is gracious, and very much

appreciated.  That will save some money in the debris removal, no doubt.  If the crew can

work on Friday but that’s not convenient for  you, maybe you wouldn’t need to be there

all day Friday depending on your availability.  We can probably oversee the crew,

assuming you’re right and that who is sent in this crew is bilingual.

Anyhow, these are just some thoughts subject to your consideration and approval.

Thanks.

Bob

• Saturday, March 02, 2013

Hi Jeanne,

I need some publicity advice (newspapers and whatever else).  We are going to have a

"Decoration Day," at the old Edgar Family Cemetery near the Edgar community on Sat,

04/06.  It's a really old cemetery on private property (Joel Wayne Jackson's ranch).  This

will be the first Decoration Day there in a long time, maybe ever.

To what newspapers do you think I should submit this article?  And, are there any other

ways you think we should try to "get the word out?" Part of the article will be some history

my ancestors, the James Edgar family who established that old family cemetery near

their homestead.  It was called the "Edgar Yard," in some old family Bible records.

James Edgar and his wife, Selah Witherington and several of their children (and

spouses) and grandchildren relocated from Maury County, TN in late 1853 and settled on

1,476 acres of land in DeWitt County, Texas.  It had been granted their son, Joseph

Smith Edgar (1818-1837) for his presence in Texas prior to its Declaration of

Independence.  JSE was also granted land for his service in the Texas Army (in general)

and more for being a veteran of the Battle of San Jacinto.  The community of Edgar,

Texas was named for them.

Below are the surnames of people either buried in that cemetery or closely related to the

ones buried in that cemetery.

Thanks!

Bob

P.S.  I know that similar Decoration Days are traditional at several cemeteries in that

area, especially Hebron Church Cemetery and County Line Cemetery near where you

live. Do you know of any Decoration Days that are especially active in DeWitt or Lavaca

County.  I'm just curious.  We are hoping this can become an annual event, with an

Edgar Family Cemetery Association formed at this first one.

Decoration Day (from the Encyclopedia of Alabama):

http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-2316

Decoration Day (from Digital Heritage):

http://digitalheritage.org/2010/08/decoration-day/

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