   William
T. Lankford died July 5, 1856 at the age of 44 years and is buried in
the Lankford Cemetery. His wife,
Martha, died in 1903 and is buried in the family cemetery. The family cemetery was located about 500 yards and across the road from where the Lankford house first stood. The cemetery location was chosen by William T. Lankford before he died because he wanted to be buried near the old oak tree there. One of the stories passed down through time is that one of Lankford's slaves was the first to be buried there, in the northeast corner of the cemetery where large flagstones mark several graves. There is no evidence of William T. Lankford's marker; however, one of the family tombstones in the cemetery is that of G.F. Lankford (1795 - 1864), William T. Lankford's father who was born in Alabama and who lived a few miles further east of his son's farm. The name of the cemetery, inadvertently, began to be called the "Jones Cemetery" or the "Jones burial spot." Dr. James L. Jones (1840 - 1903) married Sarah Berrie Lankford (1849 - 1899) in 1868. They lived in a dog-trot cabin near the Lankford Home for a number of years. Lankford Cemetery is located 6 miles east of Denison. From Des Voines Road, take Dripping Springs Road. It is believed to be located on the Calvin Knight farm (1979). The cemetery about this time was hid from view by cedar trees, briars, weeds, and burned trees that, through the years, have been struck and felled by lightning. Many of the tombstones have fallen over and/or are broken. Sources: History of the Lankford House and Lankford Family of Grayson County, Texas; compiled by M. C. Haggard, 2001, pg 15 Donna Hunt. "Familiar Names Found in Fairview Cemetery." Herald Democrat, May 14, 2016 Surveyed by Gay Scally & Hubert Knight The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, April 18, 1897 pg. 1 LANKFORD BURIAL GROUNDS The Lankford burial ground east of the city 4 miles, is a handsome and well kept spot, owing to the efforts of Mrs. Dr. J.L. Jones. This lady, with rare taste, has beautified the grounds. Every idle negro in that section has been pressed into service, and Mrs. Jones gives all of her time from her household duties. The verdant lawns have been redeemed from the weeds, and are kept bright with fragrant blooms and all kinds of beautiful tinted flowers. Nearly all country burial grounds are neglected and given over to the weeds and underbrush. The writer was present 2 years ago at the Virginia Point burial ground, which is a disgrace to a civilized community. Graves had fallen in and head stones toppled over, the fence had rotted away, and the weeds and underbrush were so rank that it was almost impossible to walk. Paths had been obliterated, and graves crowded each other so closely that when the pick was sent into the ground to make a new grave the digger was almost sure to...pass on another grave. The impression left was anything but favorable to the Virginia Point community. The Lankford burial ground is...for the beauty of its surrounding wild flowers, tangled vines, rich meadow lands, and wooded hills form the landscape. It breaks upon us a beautiful vision, a figment of the imagination. It holds us as the ancient mariners held the wedding guest, spell bound. Biography Lankford Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |