Abilene in Taylor County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Abilene Municipal Cemetery
Photographed By Duane Hall, October 21, 2014
1. Abilene Municipal Cemetery Marker
Inscription.
Abilene Municipal Cemetery is composed of five different burial grounds. The oldest documented grave is that of Florence Phillips, who was buried in the Masonic section in 1881 shortly before the establishment of the local Masonic Lodge in 1882. Among the notables buried here are Mary Houston Morrow, Abilene postmistress and daughter of General Sam Houston, and C.W. Merchant, who gave the land for the burial ground and helped establish Abilene. , The oldest recorded burial in the city cemetery, that of Oliver Bailey, occurred in 1882. Another grave of interest is that of Dr. W.H. Butler, an African American physician. , The first deed verifying the establishment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) cemetery was dated August 1906. Several early Abilene businessmen including James Radford and H.O. Wooten are interred here, as is Mrs. Jewel Scarborough, a prominent citizen and active woman suffragist. , The city of Abilene purchased the 20-acre Cedar Hill Cemetery in 1920. The Cedar Hil Cemetery Association bought it from the city in 1923. The city took over care of the Masonic and IOOF cemeteries in 1928 and the Cedar Hill Cemetery in 1934. Abilene founder K.K. Legett and railroad legend Morgan Jones, as well as veterans of major American and international wars and conflicts, are interred here. In 1945 the city bought an additional tract of land; the first burial in Cedar Hill Flats was in 1969. , More than 26,000 people are believed to be buried in the graveyard. A chronicle of the city’s past, Abilene Municipal Cemetery continues to serve the area.
Abilene Municipal Cemetery is composed of five different burial grounds. The oldest documented grave is that of Florence Phillips, who was buried in the Masonic section in 1881 shortly before the establishment of the local Masonic Lodge in 1882. Among the notables buried here are Mary Houston Morrow, Abilene postmistress and daughter of General Sam Houston, and C.W. Merchant, who gave the land for the burial ground and helped establish Abilene.
The oldest recorded burial in the city cemetery, that of Oliver Bailey, occurred in 1882. Another grave of interest is that of Dr. W.H. Butler, an African American physician.
The first deed verifying the establishment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) cemetery was dated August 1906. Several early Abilene businessmen including James Radford and H.O. Wooten are interred here, as is Mrs. Jewel Scarborough, a prominent citizen and active woman suffragist.
The city of Abilene purchased the 20-acre Cedar Hill Cemetery in 1920. The Cedar Hil Cemetery Association bought it from the city in 1923. The city took over care of the Masonic and IOOF cemeteries in 1928 and the Cedar Hill Cemetery in 1934. Abilene founder K.K. Legett and railroad legend Morgan Jones, as well as veterans of major American and international wars and conflicts, are interred here. In 1945
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the city bought an additional tract of land; the first burial in Cedar Hill Flats was in 1969.
More than 26,000 people are believed to be buried in the graveyard. A chronicle of the city’s past, Abilene Municipal Cemetery continues to serve the area.
Erected 1998 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 12215.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical year for this entry is 1881.
Location. 32° 27.615′ N, 99° 43.463′ W. Marker is in Abilene, Texas, in Taylor County. Marker can be reached from Cottonwood Street, 0.1 miles north of N. 10th Street. Marker is located in the southwest corner of the Cedar Hill section of the Abilene Municipal Cemetery; the above directions are to the main entrance to the Cedar Hill section of the cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Abilene TX 79601, United States of America. Touch for directions.
View to southeast from grave site and marker of Morgan Jones
Photographed By Duane Hall, October 21, 2014
4. Cedar Hill Section of Cemetery
View to northeast
Photographed By Duane Hall, October 21, 2014
5. City Section of Cemetery
View to north
Photographed By Duane Hall, October 21, 2014
6. Masonic Section of Cemetery
View to east
Photographed By Duane Hall, October 21, 2014
7. IOOF Section of Cemetery
View to southeast from northwest corner of section
Photographed By Duane Hall, October 21, 2014
8. IOOF and Cedar Hill Sections of Cemetery
View to north from IOOF Section across N. 10th Street with Cedar Hill Section on north side of street
Credits. This page was last revised on September 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 28, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 908 times since then and 73 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on October 28, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.