Hackberry Cemetery
From A Now and Then, by Carolyn Maxwell, The Frederick Press, January 16 and 19, 1978
(reprinted in The History of Tillman County8, Volume II, published 1978):
Contributed by Carolyn Tharp ctharp@osrhe.edu
Hackberry Cemetery, located two miles east and six miles south of Frederick, served the once-flourishing Hackberry Flat community. Since the first burial (Bina Emenhiser in June 1903), burials have continued there through the years, the most recent being that of Robert E. Stewart, who died March 8, 1977.
In 1971, an effort to clean up, fence, and maintain Hackberry Cemetery was begun by Ed Burke, Wichita, Kansas. With financial support from many descendants of early-day area settlers and elbow grease from the younger generation, the cemetery was restored, and a gateway arch built. There are a few instances where new stones have been placed on graves where older stones have deteriorated badly. Unfortunately, like all the other country cemeteries, there are many, many unmarked graves in Hackberry.
Three generations of Burkes and Hickersons are buried in this cemetery. These two families were the first to move into the Red River community east of Davidson after the land opening in 1901.
Alta Burke French has two marvelous pieces of Tillman County history: a history of Hackberry Cemetery, handwritten by Bert Schneider in 1912, and the constitution and by-laws of the cemetery association, also hand-written by Mr. Schneider. Part of the charm of Mr. Schneider's writing is his spelling sentence construction, which I've tried to duplicate. The account gets a bit tedious halfway through, but don't give up! (Documents are found following tombstone transcription.)
The following information is on tombstones in this cemetery:
AFFHOLTER, Geneva, January 6, 1920 - January 28, 1937
AGEE, Margaret A., January 23, 1870 - March 2, 1965
AGEE, Irb W., May 8, 1865 - August 26, 1934
ANDERSON, George Robert, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. D., July 10, 1904 - January 8, 1907
ANTHONY, Minnie, daughter of S. P. and F. C., June 8, 1907 - June 19, 1907
BEVERAGE, William J., April 17, 1923 - February 8, 1924
BIRKHEAD, Fannie M., wife of G. F., April 17, 1891 - March 26, 1914
BLACKWOOD, Martha Jane, January 1, 1894 - September 13, 1939
BLANKENSHIP, Dessie Odell, June 7, 1942 - October 2, 1942
BLANKENSHIP, Albert, June 9, 1975 - 69 years, 2 months, 6 days
BROWN, Verlin G., son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H., August 31, 1923 - August 5, 1935
BURK, G. A., September 30, 1884 - August 1, 1914
BURK, Emma, 1866 - 1938
BURK, John A., 1862 - 1928
BURK, Betty Jo, 1921 - 1926
BURKE, Lambert, son of J. D. and Emma, March 1, 1902 - July 23, 1913, 11 years.
BURKE, Emma A., 1865 - 1941
BURKE, J. D., 1861 - 1938
BURKE, Willie C., wife of P. J., 1894 - 1938
BURKE, Billie Rue, March 16, 1919 - July 6, 1920
BURKE, Percy J., husband of Willie, 1892 - 1961
BURLESON, Aunt Sally, 1857 - 1949
COLLINS, Jesse Jenkins, Kizer's Co., Forrest's Scouts, CSA
COLYER, Eliza T., 1886 - 1933
COLYER, Robert L., 1882 - 1935
CUNNINGHAM, sons of G. T. and Lue, August 19, 1903 - August 19, 1903; August 19, 1904 - August 24, 1904
DAVIS, A. L. "Mack", April 21, 1891 - October 3, 1916
DAVIS, Eliza Celia, 1864 - 1952
DAVIS, Henry Mack, 1866 - 1915
DEFEE, F. M., 1860 - 1924
DEFEE, Infant son of Marion and May, 1918
DEFEE, Baby Gillis, 1915 - 1917
DENNIS, Mary Isabella, daughter of David and Ida May, 1905 - 1907
DILL, Lloyd Eugene, son of W. R. and Sally, 1926 (unmarked)
EMENHISER, Earl, 1894 - 1962
EMENHISER, John T., 1857 - 1926
EMENHISER, Lettie E., 1862 - 1911
EMENHISER, Bina M., 1890 - 1903
EMENHISER, Tilden O., 1903 - 1906
EMENHISER, Cecil G., 1887 - 1906
FERGUSON, Stephen H., January 8, 1891 - December 1, 1909
FERGUSON, Lou Ella, April 1, 1865 - October 5, 1910
FERGUSON, Henry Wise, August 16, 1856 - October 20, 1946
FILLMORE, Infant son of Mr. and Mrs. D. L., September 15, 1916
FINE, Joseph C., October 30, 1907 - November 4, 1907
FREEMAN, Charles C., 1883 - 1929
GOLDEN, Willie Mack
GUEST, children of R. D. and M., Thaddeous, January 21, 1900 - June 4, 1902 and Lial, December 5, 1902 - January 4, 1903
HAMMONDS, J. M., February 20, 1853 - October 16, 1908
HAMNER, Kitty, August 21, 1894 - March 14, 1904
HARRIS, Maggie, 1862 - 1933
HARRIS, J. F., 1850 - 1929
HARRIS, Richard, October 4, 1896 - December 10, 1918
HAVRON, Mabel Myrtle, daughter of M. H. and Mary E., September 24, 1901 - January 22, 1908
HEFNER, Jessie C., 1878 - 1936
HEFNER, Baby son of Henry and Laura, January 6, 1911
HICKERSON, Floyd M., April 20, 1910 - April 29, 1945
HICKERSON, Mary R., 1872 - 1932
HICKERSON, James M., 1868 - 1956
HICKERSON, Anita C., daughter of R. S. and Zelda, April 18, 1922 - January 5, 1924
HICKERSON, Jim and Charlie, January 25, 1905 - February 17, 1905
HIPP, John Morrison, Okla. Pvt., 358 Inf., 90 Division, World War I, January 20, 1893 - June 20, 1951
HIPP, Julia, March 23, 1862 - February 5, 1942
HIPP, J. P., January 11, 1846 - July 17, 1909
HOLDERREAD, Ora A., son of H. H. and M. B., August 26, 1906 - September 9, 1907
HORNE, Elnora, January 24, 1929 - February 18, 1929
HORTON, Marvin E., September 20, 1894 - July 24, 1914
KIDWELL, Philip Oakley, February 7, 1890 - March 2, 1946
KIDWELL, Dave, March 2, 1881 - November 26, 1950
KIDWELL, Thurman Eugene, October 22, 1927 - March 23, 1929
KIDWELL, J. H., May 14, 1888 - January 21, 1943
KIDWELL, James L., November 13, 1853 - March 21, 1904
KIDWELL, Mary Elizabeth, 1852 - 1939
KIDWELL, Jacob Henry, January 25, 1918 - April 1, 1918
KIDWELL, David Russell, March 4, 1927 - November 25, 1946
KIDWELL, Charlie J., 1882 - 1967
KIDWELL, Ellen Jewell, wife of C. J., 1890 - 1940
LANDFAIR, Artis, son of W. H. and Donia, June 19, 1904 - September 27, 1905
LANFAIR, Everett, Texas Pvt., U. S. Army, November 19, 1936
LEATHERWOOD, Margaret, 1847 - 1916
LEDBETTER, W. T., 1868 - 1921
LITTLE, W. M., February 4, 1851 - February 26, 1912
LITTLE, Martha, 1856 - 1934
LITTLE, Albert (Jack), 1888 - 1943
LONG, Jacob H., 1869 - 1920
LYNCH, Anna H., July 17, 1882 - August 7, 1959
LYNCH, George B., February 23, 1868 - March 17, 1941
LYNCH (Third grave in plot without marker)
MADDOX, Elizabeth, March 2, 1880 - September 5, 1944
MADDUX, Illo and Willie, died 1928
MANSELL, Violet, Louis, and Lillie
MARSHALL, A. Blanche, May 20, 1870 - August 1, 1947
MARSHALL, Vada G., October 9, 1925 - January 6, 1926
MARSHALL, W. J., 1853 - 1924
MARSHALL, William C. "Bill", April 5, 1902 - blank
MARSHALL, Gladys Stewart, May 2, 1909 - December 24, 1928
MATHIS, Infant son of Mr. and Mrs. W. M., May 26, 1926
McCAGER, Martin Garvin, 1856 - 1920
McDANIEL, R. L. October 13, 1877 - March 28, 1906, 28 years, 5 months, 15 days
McDANIEL, Maude M., 1887 - 1927
McDANIEL, Lois Welma, daughter of L. K. and E. E., April 21, 1905 - October 4, 1906
MITCHELL, Infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George, April 28, 1917
MONTGOMERY, Martin Nathan, son of E. D. and Katie, March 18, 1903 - October 29, 1907
MONTGOMERY, Vonie V., son of C. M. and V., February 14, 1908 - March 6, 1911
MONTGOMERY, William O., son of C. M. and V., August 24, 1895 - March 1, 1911
MONTGOMERY, Ira B., son of G. M. and M. A., November 10, 1912 - November 23, 1912
MONTGOMERY, Elsie E., daughter of G. M. and M. A., September 30, 1908 - March 25, 1909
MONTGOMERY, James A., son of J. E. and E. L., July 3, 1906 - January 14, 1908
MONTGOMERY, George M., 1876 - 1952
MONTGOMERY, Anna, wife of George M., 1886 - 1928
MORRIS, Baby daughter of Allen and Carrie, April 1, 1910 - April 6, 1910
MORRISON, Son, Vivian Glenn, April 24, 1917 - February 5, 1920
MORRISON, Beloved Wife Annie Mae, June 26, 1895 - February 11, 1920
MURPHY, Pearl O., wife of W. H., November 14, 1873 - March 19, 1904
NEAL, Claudie L., April 3, 1924 - May 8, 1924
NEAL, Jewel Mae, August 31, 1929 - August 31, 1929
NEAL, James Overton, June 18, 1918 - December 24, 1936
OVERTON, Daisy Lee, 1930 - 1932
POLK, James Ellis, March 13, 1873 - March 22, 1934
POLK, Liller E., November 16, 1876 - March 21, 1964
PRESCOTT, Della H., November 12, 1882 - October 22, 1976
PRESCOTT, James G., March 28, 1886 - September 29, 1935
PRESCOTT, Leon C., July 3, 1911 - January 15, 1918
PRESCOTT, Cora L., 1886 - 1967
PRESCOTT, John H., 1881 - 1948
PRESCOTT, Minola, July 10, 1916 - July 10, 1916
PRESCOTT, Virgil Lee, son of J. H. and C. L., March 9, 1910 - February 11, 1924
REID, Eliza E., wife of G. W., April 17, 1839 - December 12, 1908
ROBSON, Nora B., November 20, 1887 - November 24, 1914
SCOTT, Willis F., 1850 - 1908
SCOTT, Infant son of Mr. and Mrs. E. K., 1908 - 1912
SIGGINS, William A., 1852 - 1929
SIGGINS, Marry T., wife of Wm. A., July 27, 1867 - February 17, 1924
SIMPSON, Thomas W., February 9, 1867 - April 15, 1910
SPLAWN, John N., March 17, 1912 - July 30, 1913
STEWART, Infant son of Robert and Clara, August 7, 1951
STEWART, Clara O., June 16, 1908 - August 7, 1951
STEWART, Robert E., December 14, 1901 - March 8, 1977
TATE, son of J. P., October 30, 1918 - November 3, 1918
THOMPSON, Lula S., June 30, 1881 - October 14, 1960
THOMPSON, Sidney C., May 21, 1874 - March 6, 1952
WAGES, R. M., 1848 - 1917
WAGNER, Joan, October 8, 1932, 1 month old
WAGNER, (first name undecipherable), October 9, 1926, 1 day old
WAGNER, Margie, November 16, 1932 - 3 years, 4 months, 24 days
WAGNER, (two more small metal markers, names undecipherable)
WALLS, Susie E., 1880 - 1956
WALLS, K. W., 1878 - 1933
WEIMER, J. G., February 16, 1876 - August 4, 1914
WEIMER, J. E., June 11, 1878 - January 24, 1917
WEIMER, Joseph B., June 8, 1846 - March 4, 1925
WICKOFF, Mary A., 1870 - 1947
WILLIAMS, E. Delma, 1906 - 1938
WINFREY, Oscar, July 13, 1920 - May 19, 1936
WOLFE, James, son of J. H. and M. C., August 24, 1911 - September 1, 1911
WOOD, Dorothy P., daughter of D. B. and Mamie, February 13, 1908 - June 12, 1908
WOODALL, Amon, 1865 - 1921
WOODALL, G. W., 1839 - 1918
WOODALL, Susan C., 1840 - 1926
WRAY, Infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Van, April 14, 1960 (Not positive of Wray. Marker difficult to read.)
YOUNG, Rochester, son of T. M. and Addie, March 7, 1914 - June 23, 1917
YORK, Wesley, October 7, 1910 - October 7, 1910
YORK, T. B., October 6, 1912 - March 4, 1913
YORK, Frank, September 24, 1915 - August 25, 1916
The history of Hackberry Cemetery was written in 1912 by Bert Schneider and is reproduced here as faithfully as possible:
Our organization first came into existence in December 1902 when Bro. M. LaDue, superintendant of Hackberry Sunday School, called our attention to the fact that we were likely to need a Cemetary some day and suggested that we begin to look after this matter. After discussion Mr.s Searle Eminhiser, Lewis LaDue and Schneider were appointed to secure an acre of land and raise funds to pay for same if necessary.
A donation of 1 acre in the south west corner of Sec 15 T#S, R 17 W was secured from Fred Leonard by Mr. Eminhiser. Location secured nothing else was done until June 16, 1903 when it became necessary to prepare a grave for Bina Eminhiser. Mr. Alexander who lived near the proposed site objected. Mr. Leonard's consent to move to the north west corner of ¼ section was secured where we again met with objections from Mr. Mathison who lived near that place. After a heated discussion a compromise was secured in the present site to which Mr. Leonard agreed.
On Nov. 14, 1904 a general call for volunteers was responded to by 16 men who worked all day surveying and staking according to a plan submitted by Mr. Lewis.
$1.65 worth of bodark blocks and poasts were donated by six men for stakes.
A deed was secured, made to the directors of cemetery association and $7.00 was raised pryor to Mch 18 1905 at which time we tried to call a mass meeting to consider fencing there were only three persons came to this meeting. We were informed by Rolla Guess that our association was unlawfull not having the right to own and a charter.
As we had not the funds to either build a fence or incorporate under the laws of Oklahoma, we decided to have Mr. Eminhiser secure a new deed made to school district no 165, have the same recorded and await a more oppertune time for fencing.
The deed was secured at once and placed upon record, as Mr. Leonard was trying to sell his farm, but we have since found that while the school district actually ownes this property according to the tearms of the deed and there is no law to prevent us from using it for a cemetery and no law to prevent school district from making deed to individual lot owners and no way for any one to disposess either school district or lot owners, yet a deed given by school district is invalid as school districts have no more right to own a cemetery than any other unincorporated organization.
One way to clear our title is to have school district incorporate. Another way is to incorporate the cemetery association and acquire title by condemnation proceedings.
There may be other ways but we would have been compeled to have employed an attorney to find them.
How ever we have successfully worked the rule or ruin game, for while we failed to get this like we wanted, no one else can get it either and should we se fit to bring condemnation proceedings we believe the school district would ask less damage than the man who is likely to own this farm by that time.
Had we have known we could have had the deed made to some secret order such as the Masons or Wodmen as their grand lodges are incorporated, and their subordinates do business under this same charter, and they could have deeded it to us any time we saw fit to incorporated if they did not go defunct.
But
1-1/2 years after we attempted to call this meeting, we attempted to call another notifying 43 persons, heads of families, either by postal or in person to attend besides announcements at churchs and in local papers there were only three at this meeting.
Mr. Eminhiser made the statement if we would agree he would call on every one who had relatives buried here, and demand $2.00 from them that he would take this and the $7.00 we had in tresure and put a 3 barbed wire fence around cemetery. We consented.
Nothing was done for three months until Mr. Eminhiser called upon Chas Cuningham and Jim Hamner for $2.00 each. the $2.00 did very well but the cheap barb wire they claimed an outrage and a disgrace to the community and said if we would call upon the citizens we would find every one willing to donate money for a good fence even though they had neglected to attend our meetings which we later found to be true.
It was here agreed by Mr.s Eminhiser Cuningham and Hamner that they would give $5.00 each toward a good fence, and promised to call on every one living south or east of school house for donations saying if they failed to secure the cash we need not try, within 30 days we had $94.30 in treasure which was later raised to $98.05.
There were 46 men who contributed to this fund, 11 of which gave $5.00 each several $2.00 each, there was one man who has no one buried here gave $5.00 however most of us only gave $1.00 each.
On February 27, 1907 we again attempted to call a meeting notifying 48 persons, heads of families to attend, there was only one person other than the three directors present and director Eminhiser brought him.
We decided upon the kind of fence ourselves and purchased material.
On Mch 29 1907 a call for volunteers to set poasts were responded to by 17 men who said they would be satisfied with any kind of fence we saw fit to buy.
On May 30 1907 we met at cemetery to assist Mr. Banta stretch wire, puled up a corner poast, and hired Mr. Beatty to reset and anchor corner and gate poasts for 10.00.
On June 13 we met and assisted Mr. Banta stretch wire and hang gates.
The fence cost $84.41 including the 10.00 paid for anchoring corner poasts, recording deed $1.00 minute book 35 cents postcards used in attempting to call meetns 40 cents, a tot of $86.16 from $98.05 the total amount donated leaves a balance cash on hand of $11.89 in Treasure.
This acre of land was ploted into 100 lots besides 6 potters field lots. There are at present 82 persons buried in 80 graves on 63 lots besides one buried in the drive way and 2 in potters field.
There are 37 lots not buried upon but if the one in the drive way should be placed upon a lot we would only have 36 lots a fraction over 1/3 left, the first grave was placed here in June 1903, 9 years ago. Funerals were not very frequent during the first 4 years as many farms were vacant and others were tenanted by a long bachelor gave us a small population and many were sent back to their old home for burial, but about this time our population doubled. The pasture was thrown open to settlement and before they secured cemeteries down there a great many came here. 24 of the 63 lots buried upon received their first grave during the years of 1907 and 1908. Since then there has been established cemeteries at the Brethern Church and near Holister, Lovland, Qunah* and Grandfield which has reduced the frequency of Funerals here.
However, the city of Frederick has recently adopted the pay as you enter plan which may disgust some who live around here and would have buried at Frederick as some of our neighbors have in the past, a few of which doubtless would be willing to donate more than a lot cost, and many who are not able to pay $15 or $25 for a lot in addition to a large doctor and undertaker's bill.
It is a safe calculation that within 4 years not many lots will remain. Should we have some kind of epidemic they may not last that long, and again should we use all these 36 lots before we enlarge, some one may wish a lot near some one who is buried here, or some ones lot may be filled and they would be compeled to choose a lot at a distence when they would much rather have one near by.
*Old-timers say there never was a cemetery near Quanah.