Slaton, Roe, Huffman Graves

Slaton, Roe, and Huffman Graves
Northeast Texas and Southeast Oklahoma

November of 1999 my sister and I made a week long research trip to Dallas, TX. Along with several of our cousins we drove to Bryan Co., OK and to Harrison Co., TX in the hopes of finding the graves of our Slaton and Roe ancestors. We spent time in the county seat of Durant, OK and in the genealogy resource room of Calera, OK. Finally, in the small town of Old Bennington, Bryan County, Oklahoma, in Old Church Cemetery, we located the final resting place of our great-grandparents, Willis Saams Slaton and Mary "Mollie" Elizabeth Bingham. Buried between them is one of their infant daughters, Ada Ernest Slaton. Their marker is a relatively new one, a descendant apparently having replaced their old ones from long ago. We would very much like to locate this "lost" relative who took the time and effort to remember our great-grandparents.

According to old letters handwritten by our Great Aunt Elizabeth Slaton, other family members buried in Old Church Cemetery are Lee Bingham, Elisha Bingham, and Eagan Slaton, but their graves are unmarked and long since lost as to exact location.

Driving east from Dallas we arrived at Marshall, Harrison Co., TX to begin our search for the Roe and Huffman family members who lived there in the late 1800's and early 1900's, as well as neighboring Longview, Gregg Co., TX. A short drive from Marshall through scenic countryside we located LaGrone Chapel and the adjacent LaGrone Chapel Cemetery where several Roes are laid to rest along with many of the Huffmans who were related through marriage to the Roes. LaGrone Chapel has a Texas state historic marker which gives its early history.

As you walk through the main gate of LaGrone Chapel Cemetery, to the left are three Roe graves near each other. The tall tree shaped monument for Horace C. Roe denotes he was a member of the fraternal organization, Woodmen of the World. Horace was the older brother of our maternal grandmother, Annie D. Roe. He died at age 23. His monument is inscribed: "Dom Taget Clamat, Horace C. Roe, July 14, 1891 - Dec. 16, 1918, Gone but not forgotten"

Younger sister, Willie Ogie Roe, who was killed at age 20, is laid to rest close by. Her simple marker, worn by time, reads: "Willie Ogie Roe, Mar 18, 1896 - June 29, 1917, No pain, no grief, no anxious fear Can reach our loved one sleeping here"

Next to Willie is the broken and crumbling marker for Nancy "Nannie" Huffman Roe, wife of W.F. Roe and daughter of Garland Lane Huffman and Jane Weaver Huffman, early settlers in Harrison Co. who came from TN. We are uncertain as to how W. F. Roe is related to Willie and Horace, but we feel sure he is family. If anyone knows how he fits into this ROE family, please write.

"Nannie's" marker reads:
"In memory of Nannie, Beloved wife of W. F. Roe, born (stone broken off, possibly Jan.) 26, 1868, died (stone missing, but cemetery records indicate 1896)"

The momument for Garland Lane Huffman reads: "G. L. Huffman. Born Mar 7, 1825, Died June 27, 1903, Rest father, rest in quiet sleep, While friends in sorrow o'er thee weep"

The marker for his wife, Jane Weaver Huffman, reads: "Mrs. Jane Huffman, wife of G. L. Huffman, Born Jan. 29, 1827, Died May 21, 1913, Rest mother, rest in quiet sleep, While friends in sorrow o'er thee weep"

Four of their sons, Alfred Marion Huffman, James Lane Huffman, George Samuel Huffman, and Elbert King Huffman, are also found close by.

James Lane Huffman was also a member of Woodmen of the World and has the tree style monument so prevalent in that period and inscribed as follows:
"Woodmen of the World Corner Grove Camp No. 1594 James Lane Huffman, Born Oct. 18, 1863, Died Sept. 27, 1909, He has gone to the mansions of rest"

Rebecca Francis Parker, born Sept. 16, 1866, died Nov. 28, 1949, was the wife of James Lane Huffman. We suspect she may by the "Aunt Becky" referred to by our maternal grandmother long ago. If anyone knows who the parents of Rebecca Francis Parker were, please write us. Everett Roe married a Sallie Eugenia Parker and we are wondering about a possible link between Rebecca and Sallie.

The marker for Alfred Marion Huffman reads: "Alfred Marion Huffman, Born July 21, 1849, Died April 21, 1917, Gone to a bright home, Where grief cannot come"

George Samuel Huffman, born March 1, 1848, died Feb. 13, 1924, and his wife Emma Ward, born Aug. 17, 1857, died May 8, 1940, are side by side and share a double marker.

There is a tall and striking marker for Elbert K. Huffman and his wife Alpha Omega Garner Elbert was born Nov. 29, 1870 and died Aug. 13, 1951. His wife Alpha was born April 3, 1873 and died June 8, 1904.

kinquest@hotmail.com

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