LARRISON CEMETERY This cemetery is located approximately one mile south of State Highway 21 East, approximately five miles from I-45. There is no access to this cemetery at present except by foot. The cemetery is enclosed in a cyclone fence. It is in very poor condition. Name Born Died Misc Duncan, Willie 21 Oct. 1888 27 July 1894 son of A.B. & S.E. Duncan Fraley, Caleb S. Co. E, 6th Bn TX Cav CSA Fraley, Sarah L. 8 Nov. 1837 1 Dec. 1895 Jenkins, Angus Jasper Co. I, 13th TX Inf CSA Jones, Addieline 10 Aug. 1893 1 Feb. 1899 dau. of A.N. & L.T. Jones Larrison, Daniel 17 Feb. 1786 3 Aug. 1845 Larrison, J. G. 3 Sept. 1821 31 Jan. 1900 Larrison, J. F. 29 April 1877 19 Dec. 1898 From a circa 1900 Madisonville Meteor: (top torn) A Sketch of His Life Joe Greenwood Larrison, "after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep," at his old homestead on Larrison creek, eight miles east of Madisonville, January 31, 1900. He was a descendant of the advance guard of civilization. His father, Daniel Larrison, was born in Mississippi, Feb. 17, 1786. His mother, Emmaus Larrison, was born Jan. 21, 1797. This couple doubtless hearing of the beauties of our Texas prairies, together with the wonderful fertility of same, and the super-abundance of game, literally took their lives in their hands and pushed on into the wilderness to build their home. They stopped for a while in what was then called Cherokee county, but now Red River county. Here on the 3rd day of September 1821, their second child was born, Joel Greenwood Larrison. His father pushed on to find a permanent location. He stopped for a while in Cherokee county, on what is known as Larrison's creek. Joseph Vehelin having obtained a charter to colonize a large scope of country, in 1826, including the present counties of Liberty, Hardin, Tyler, Polk, Walker, Montgomery, Grimes, Madison, etc., he became one of the colonists and located his land certificate in what is now Madison county. Joel, at this time, was about 8 years old. Here his father built his log cabin. His lot was palisaded in to protect their stock from Indian depredations. Two oak trees growing close together near the Madisonville-Midway road, a few hundred yards south of Larrison creek bridge, was used for the lot gate. Indians, bears, panther, (tear) and wild turkeys filled the country. Their nearest neighbors, some three or four families, lived in what is now Grimes county, 8 or 10 miles away. At most any time he could peep through the port holes and see Indians skulking through the woods. Accustomed to the war whoop of the Indians, the scream of the panther and the howl of the wolves, Joel grew to manhood. The Indians run them away from home once and they spent three years in Grimes county where the whites had gathered for mutual protection. After they had been driven back, they returned to their home where his father and mother and himself lived and died. The Indians stole their horses from them when they were tied to the logs of their house. He helped drive them back several times, and was in several lively skirmishes. While standing guard an Indian crawled on him to slay him, but being discovered the Indian beat a hasty retreat. At another time an arrow barely missed him. Again his keen eye caught an Indian in the act of shooting him, but bringing his gun to bear on him, he ran. When the Texans rebelled against Mexican government he volunteered, but soon after he was taken sick and sent home. But he served as home guard under Capt. Robbins to keep back the Indians. He was a celebrated marksman. His gun always took the meat. He was a great hunter, killed many bear, panther and deer. Near his old homestead stands a tree which is called "the bear tree." Out of it he killed a bear weighing 400 pounds. The bullet that passed through the bear's head imbedded in the tree. The scar, over which has grown a knot, may be seen. He was a fine violinst. His "fiddle" was a great comfort to him in his affliction. He accumulated a great deal of property, consisting of lands, cattle, horses and money. June 24, 1847 he was happily married to Miss Mary Lawrence. This union was blessed with two boys and three girls, of whom only two survive him: Mrs. S. E. Horton and Mrs. M. L. Wright. On the very day when he was 37 years old, he went stone blind. He made two trips to New Orleans to have his eyes operated on. But it was of no avail. He spent the balance of his life, near a century, in darkness. The wife of his youth was snatched from him by death, March 30, 1868. He married again, the second time to Mrs. Harriett Bobo, in 1870. They separated, and he was married, the third time, to Mrs. Mollie L. Carson, July 5, 1873. To them were given two children, both are dead. This wife died Oct. 10, '79. He was married, the fourth and last time, to Mrs. Sarah Ann Vaught in 1882, they separated in 1895; since then some of his children have lived with him. He has eleven grandchildren living and five dead. One great-grandchild living and one dead, and two sisters living. He was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal church, South, at Arbana church, about two miles from his old homestead, under Rev. Gideon Powledge, June 15, 1879. Of which church he remained a faithful and upright member to the day of his death. So ends the life of an old pioneer. One whose life extends nearly across the 19th century. One who has lived under four different flags, Mexican, Texas Republic, Confederate and United States. One who has lived nearly half a century in darkness. One who has lived in Montgomery, Walker and Madison counties without moving. These old men, hazarding their life in the (torn) for us to now live. (torn) we are. But they are rapidly passing away and will soon be gone. We should hold them and their deeds in everlasting remembrance. The writer in the presence of a large number of relatives and friends layed his body away to await the resurrection morn, in Larrison's cemetery, February 1st at 3 o'clock p.m. Peace to his ashes. Chas. U. McLarty