Upland southern burial traditions in Montague county, Texas Page: 9 of 44
This paper is part of the collection entitled: UNT Special Collections General Collection and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the UNT Libraries Special Collections.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
ANALYSIS
The purpose for locating the cemeteries on higher ground
than the surrounding terrain was to offer protection from the
washing away of the land after a hard rain, and also to offer
protection in case of high water on the day of a funeral. Seven-
teen of the cemeteries included in the study were located on
high ground, Antioch was the one exception. Fourteen of the
cemeteries were located away from busy paved roads. Sunset,
Perryman, New Harp, Briar Creek, and Prairie Branch were situated
near paved roads, although not any of them were in populated areas.
Cedar trees were in seventeen of the cemetaries. Native
post oak grew in Scrougy cemetery. No gardenias were growing in
any of the cemeteries, but crepe myrtle was found growing in
twelve of the cemeteries. Briar Creek, Brushy, Jackson, and
Denver were the only cemeteries in which iris plants were located.
Only three cemeteries, Smyrna, Pleasant Hill, and Prairie
Branch, had tables or benches. These, according to Upland
Southern tradition, were to provide a resting and eating area
for the community cemetery workers, a time when several families
spent the day weeding and hoeing the graves and grounds.
The traditional Upland Southern cemeteries were on an
east-west axis, thus supposedly making it easier for the deceased
to rise and face the east on Judgment Day. The old Jackson
cemetery was on a north-south axis, and five percent of the
graves in Lindale were facing north. These were old uninscribed
sandstone markers.'4
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This paper can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Paper.
Schroeder, Lynette. Upland southern burial traditions in Montague county, Texas, paper, July 1974; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc851816/m1/9/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.