Near Albany in Shackelford County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Black Cemetery

Photographed by Duane Hall, July 8, 2017

1. Black Cemetery Marker

Inscription. This pioneer burial ground contains more than a dozen graves of African Americans. The land was part of the Veals Addition to the town of Fort Griffin. Milton Sutton bought the property at public auction in April 1882. Two visible markers are for Elijah Earles (d. 1880), who the Fort Griffin Echo reported as a “tonsorial artist,” or barber, and Marriah McKay Williams (1781-1891), who came to Fort Davis (Stephens Co.) before the Civil War as a free black. The Echo also reported the June 1880 burial of James Lowe in this cemetery. Most of the other burials are unknown. When Fort Griffin disbanded, many African Americans stayed nearby and homesteaded. Here, their lives as ranchers, farmers, cowboys and domestics are remembered.

Historic Texas Cemetery - 2009

Erected 2013 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 17611.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.

Location. 32° 56.01′ N, 99° 14.77′ W. Marker is near Albany, Texas, in Shackelford County. It is on Unnamed Road 0.2 miles east of County Road 182, on the left when traveling east. The unnamed road is on the east

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side of CR 182 2.3 miles north of US 283. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Albany TX 76430, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Big Country.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Mackenzie Trail (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fort Griffin (approx. 0.9 miles away); Fort Griffin Lodge Hall (approx. 0.9 miles away); Frontier Town of Fort Griffin (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Western Cattle Trail Crossings at Fort Griffin (approx. 0.9 miles away); Fort Griffin Civil Jail (approx. one mile away); Civilian Conservation Corps at Fort Griffin (approx. 1.1 miles away); Russell Young Gilbert (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Albany.

Regarding Black Cemetery. The burial ground is located approximately 1,400 feet northeast of the marker.

Also see . . . Rural Pioneer Cemetery. From findagrave.com website. (Submitted on July 11, 2017.)

Photographed by Duane Hall, July 8, 2017

2. Black Cemetery Marker

View to north

View to east along unnamed road image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, July 8, 2017

3. View to east along unnamed road

Marker is on left (north) side of road

Credits. This page was last revised on July 11, 2017. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2017, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 751 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 11, 2017, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.