PECAN GROVE CEMETERY - McKINNEY
SH5
33.178N
96.616W
Cemeteries of Collin County, Texas, by Joy
Gough
This cemetery
was started in 1870 by I. D. Newsome, Isaac Graves, Thomas J. Brown, G. A.
Foote, and E. R. Stiff. The cemetery was surveyed and platted by George White.
It is a private cemetery and does not belong to the city of McKinney.
Many early
residents, besides the trustees, are buried here. Among them are Governor
Throckmorton, Elder R. C. Horn, Senator J. R. Gough, and surveyor George White.
The original deed for the cemetery was for 21 acres and is listed in Vol S, p
427. Additional land has been bought since then. A cemetery association was
started in 1889. Memorial Day is celebrated every year in May.
This is a very large, fenced cemetery with over 2000 graves. It has many
impressive markers, several over 10 feet tall. There is a stone entrance on
McDonald Street and openings in the fence on Industrial Blvd. The stones and
grounds are in excellent condition. There has been some vandalism here, but
repairs are usually swift. The cemetery has a fulltime sexton. The sexton's
office should have a list of all of the veterans of the Mexican Wars, War of
1812, and the Civil War buried here. The SAR chapter in Plano is currently
getting military markers for the veterans buried here.
This cemetery
has been the main cemetery for McKinney since 1870. It is still active. There is
a Potters' Field Cemetery on the south that is actually a part of this cemetery.
The Ross Colored Cemetery, which has a separate charter, is on the southeast.
There are a few graves in the cemetery that predate 1870. These graves were
probably moved here from other cemeteries. The cemetery has a historical marker.
The inscription for Gov. James Throckmorton, who is buried here reads:
We give thee
up, arise in the light.
Above the darkened glass of human eyes,
Yea - face to face, bound in our love, we leave
Thine unveiled fame to Truth, Thy soul to God.
HISTORY OF PECAN GROVE CEMETERY
December 25, 1950?
by Oscar E. Smith
On March 19, 1870,
Thomas J. Brown, G. A. Foote, Isaac F. Graves, I. D. Newsome, and E. R. Stiff,
early settlers of Collin County, purchased a certain tract of land, 21 3/10
acres, located about one and a half miles south of the County Court House in
McKinney for the purpose of establishing a cemetery, and in an instrument filed
for record in the office of the County Clerk of Collin County, Texas, recorded
in Book S, pages 427 - 431, certain stipulations are set forth:
A plot of the
cemetery was prepared by George White, father of Mrs. W. T. Hoard of this city,
dividing said land into blocks, lots, walks and drives, providing for 84 blocks
and 500 lots, each lot 20' by 30.' It was stipulated that blocks 71, 72, 73, 74,
79, 80, 81, and 82 (48 lots) were to be used for the burial of white persons,
evidently such persons as were not financially able to purchase a lot, and
blocks 69,70, 75, 76, 77, 78, 83, and 84 (48 lots) for the burial of black
persons and freedman. Certain lots were set aside for the promoters, as follows:
Thomas J. Brown, lot 1 in Block 23; G. A. Foote, lot 1 in Block 28; Isaac
Graves, lots 2 and 3 in Block 21; and I. D. Newsome, lot 4 in Block 24. The
remaining 399 lots were to be sold at $90 each, the proceeds therefrom to be
used in repaying the sum of $260 to the promoters for purchase price of the
land; the erection of a fence around the grounds, and the maintenance thereof,
and any remaining amount to be used in establishing an endowment fund, the
interest therefrom to be used in the keeping of the grounds.
On August 8, 1889,
J. P. Nenney, John Church, H. C. Herndon, B. W. Rhine, and J. H. Jenkins, other
early Collin County settlers, voluntarily associated themselves together for the
creation and organization of a private corporation under and by virtue of the
General Incorporation laws of the State of Texas, and upon submitting the
necessary articles of corporation to the Secretary of State, a charter was
issued to them on August 10, 1889. In the articles of corporation it is stated
that the number of Directors of the corporation shall be five, and that the
incorporators as named above shall constitute the first year. So far, I have
been unable to obtain further information until the year 1892, and it is assumed
that the directors as above named carried on without the naming of other
officers in the interim.
A second tract of
land adjoining the original purchase on the east, 42.40 acres, was purchased by
J. H. Jenkins, acting as agent for the corporation, on February 12, 1892, at a
price of $1,272.00. This transaction is recorded in the office of the County
Clerk, Book 53, pages 296 - 298, on February 25, 1892.
On April 27, 1907,
persons holding lots in the cemetery, met at the Elks Hall in McKinney, and by a
majority vote of those present determined to incorporate under the name and
style of McKinney Pecan Grove Cemetery, and passed a resolution to that effect.
Evidently they were not aware of the fact at the time that a charter had been
previously obtained, and there appears to be no record of a second charter being
issued. At the meeting in question the following directors were named for the
first year: Mrs. Jennie M. Walton, Mrs. Jean Rhea Emerson, Mrs. Mattie E. Wylie,
Mrs. Rachel C. Heard, Mr. J. L. White, Mr. J. R. Gough, and Mr. J. L. Doggett.
Mrs. Jean Rhea Emerson is the only survivor of this group. It was further voted
at said meeting that the Directors prepare suitable By-Laws for Government of
said corporation, and when done Mr. Thomas J. Brown, the only survivor of the
original group of incorporators at the time, transfer of all property to the
association in deed dated June 12, 1907.
If By-Laws were ever
adopted no trace of the original or copy could be found at this time. I was also
unable to determine if officers, other than directors, were elected at the
meeting held April 27, 1907, or just when the first president and Secretary were
elected. However, an old minute book was finally located, which covers a period
from June 29, 1907, to October 23, 1944, and it would appear from record of the
first meeting that Mrs. S. H. Abbott was the first president.
No doubt it would be
of interest to quote in full record of the minutes of meeting held on June 29,
1907, more than 43 years ago, as follows:
"The Cemetery
Association had a very pleasant meeting with Mrs. Wiley (Mrs. T. W. Wiley) June
29. Mrs. S. H. Abbott resigned as President and Mrs. E. A. Newsome was duly
elected to fill the chair. Mrs. Pardue resigned as Treasurer and Mrs. Henry
Warden was elected to fill her place. Dues received Mrs. W. P. Polley $1.20. The
ladies discussed the lawn mower which had recently been purchased and they were
favorably impressed with same. There being no further business the Association
adjourned to meet July 27. Mrs. W. C. Robinson, Secy."
Mrs. Lula (W. C.)
Robinson, recent President of the Association, and Mrs. Henry Warden are the
only survivors of those mentioned in the minutes as quoted.
Throughout a greater
part of the time covered by the old minute book the Association held monthly
meetings, and was one of if not the most important gathering of the women of the
time. The reading of this now historic record by the present "old-timers" would
bring to mind many pleasant memories of bygone days, and no doubt would inspire
us not only to carry on but to enlarge upon the work started and kept alive by
the many good women long gone to their reward.
In the early days of
the association, as recorded in the old minute book, funds needed for the upkeep
of our cemetery were raised by giving dinners, holding bazaars, sponsoring
base-ball and other games and amusements. These affairs were usually held in
December of each year, and on an occasion in December, 1911, more than 100
ladies are named as being on various committees.
Mrs. Sarah Howell
holds the record for the longest period as President of the association, having
served continuously from June, continuously from June 6, 1908, until her death,
July 13, 1938, a little more than 30 years. Others serving as President, as
shown by the old minute book were Mesdames S. H. Abbott, E. A. Newsome, and Lula
(W. C.) Robinson. Mrs. T. W. Wiley probably served longest as vice-president.
Henry and Ona Warden no doubt gave more of their time and effort than any one
else in carrying on the work of the association.
Historical marker, 1976.
PECAN GROVE
MEMORIAL PARK
THIS PARK IS
SITUATED ON PROPERTY GRANTED BY THE
REPUBLIC OF
TEXAS TO SAMUEL McFARLAND IN 1845, ONLY
FOUR YEARS
AFTER THE FIRST PERMANENT SETTLEMENT IN
THIS AREA WAS
BEGUN BY A PIONEER FROM TENNESSEE, DR.
WILLIAM E.
THROCKMORTON (1795-1843), AND HIS FAMILY.
BY THE 1850s,
WHEN THE FIRST KNOWN BURIALS OCCURRED,
R. A. DAVIS
OWNED THE LAND. THE NAME OF THE SPOT WAS
DERIVED FROM A
HANDSOME STAND OF TREES. OWNERSHIP
BY THE PUBLIC
BEGAN IN 1870 WITH THE PURCHASE OF A
21.3-ACRE
TRACT BY ISAAC F. GRAVES, I. D. NEWSOME, G. A.
FOOTE, E. R.
STIFF AND THOMAS J. BROWN. THE ORIGINAL
CHARTER WAS
ISSUED IN 1889 TO PECAN GROVE CEMETERY
ASSOCIATION,
INC., A PRIVATE CORPORATION. ADDITIONAL
LAND WAS
PURCHASED IN 1892 AND 1960.
THE NAME,
"PECAN GROVE MEMORIAL PARK", GRANTED IN A
NEW CHARTER IN
1964, COMMEMORATES THE COURAGEOUS
AND
COMPASSIONATE PIONEER MEN AND WOMEN OF THIS
VICINITY. ONE
OF THESE, DR. JAMES WEBB THROCKMORTON
(1825-1894),
WAS A TEXAS LEGISLATOR IN THE 1850s;
BECAME A
CONFEDERATE BRIGADIER GENERAL DURING THE
CIVIL WAR; WAS
GOVERNOR OF TEXAS IN 1866-67; AND WAS
IN THE UNITED
STATES CONGRESS INTERMITTENTLY FROM
1875 TO 1888.
PECAN GROVE
DECORATION DAY IS HELD EVERY SPRING.
McKinney
CEMETERY INDEX
Recommended
citation:
Pecan Grove
Cemetery - McKinney,
"CEMETERIES OF COLLIN COUNTY." Collin
County, Texas History and Genealogy Webpage by Genealogy Friends of Plano
Libraries, Inc., <http://www.geocities/genfriendsghl>
[Accessed Fri February 13, 2004 ].
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