Near Winnsboro in Wood County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Willard Cemetery

Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 1, 2019

1. Willard Cemetery Marker

Inscription. The original cemetery site was donated by John and Martha Willard, whose son was the first to be buried here. They migrated to Wood County about 1866. In 1870, they purchased 300 acres for 50 cents per acre. Some of this property was rented to sharecroppers cotton was the main crop.

According to legend, about 1880, John was hauling cotton to market by wagon & his teenaged son was with him. The son fell from the wagon & was either run over, or a bale of cotton fell on him, resulting in his death. Earlier he had told his mother that he wanted to be burled under a cedar tree that he had seen while hunting with his father. He was buried under that tree & it is at this spot the tree once stood. His name has been lost in time, but the strongest probability that his name was William Lee is in census records. He was born in 1867. The oldest marked grave is that of Andrew Ledbetter, a local farmer, who died in December 1886.

Many of the marked & unmarked graves belong to children & young adults, depicting the hared life of these early settlers.

The Willard Cemetery Association was formed in April, 1998 & was
Designated a historical cemetery in December 2003

Erected 2003 by Texas Historical Commission (HTC Medallion). (Marker Number 13751.)

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historical marker is listed in this topic list: Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1998.

Location. 32° 57.042′ N, 95° 14.951′ W. Marker is near Winnsboro, Texas, in Wood County. Marker can be reached from County Road 4412 south of State Route 11 when traveling south. Cemetery is at the end of CR4412. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Winnsboro TX 75494, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Chalybeate Springs (approx. 1.3 miles away); Dr. George L. Baber (approx. 2.2 miles away); First Presbyterian Church of Winnsboro (approx. 2.3 miles away); Boom Town (approx. 2.4 miles away); Bonnie and Clyde (approx. 2.4 miles away); Winnsboro Depot (approx. 2.4 miles away); Carlock Home, 1903 (approx. 2½ miles away); Winnsboro (approx. 2½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winnsboro.

Willard Cemetery marker within the middle of the cemetery. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 1, 2019

2. Willard Cemetery marker within the middle of the cemetery.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 1, 2019

3. Willard Cemetery Marker

Willard Cemetery entrance gate. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 1, 2019

4. Willard Cemetery entrance gate.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 9, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 227 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 9, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.