History

Stories Cemeteries Tell by Merle R. Hudgins (this original story is reprinted with permission)

Cemeteries were established to benefit the living as place to grieve and perpetuate memories of loved ones for future generations. Tombstones are permanent records with name, birth and death dates, sometimes scripture or message, or organization emblem they were a member. Burials could have angels, carved busts of deceased, towering columns, etc., all works of art – these can be seen in Wharton Cemetery.

Depending on culture of who creates and maintains a cemetery, story within cemetery will reflect that culture in subtle ways. Many cemeteries created by immigrants from Western Europe have evergreen tree in the middle of tract symbolizing eternal life. Once a loving touch now creates problems via roots and constant shedding of cones and limbs. Southern Magnolia most prominent evergreen during month of May in Wharton Cemetery.

Cemeteries are thought to be a place where the old are buried, but death does not wait for only the old. Wharton Cemetery has section called “Babyland” where infants reside. Some have tiny lambs asleep on the marker or verse that reflects family grief; some no visible marker.

Wharton County Historical Commission has suggested tours in Wharton Cemetery where members would be placed throughout graveyard beside sites that have a “story to tell”. Today’s Visit a Cemetery Day is last Sunday in October which replaces “Decoration Day” an observance begun as day to honor those who died during Civil War, in April or May depending on state. New date due to occasion sometimes fell on Memorial Day.

Funerals once all-day events or several days, as some families had to travel long distances with poor roads or travel choices. Services began in the church, followed by procession from church to cemetery; walking, riding horses, in carriages. Dirt streets presented a problem. City of Wharton solved this by laying concrete sidewalk from Milam St, down Dennis St to Davis St, down Davis to East Ave ending across from stile located in old courthouse fence. This sidewalk served Mother Zion church on Milam and early Baptist church on Rusk St. Sidewalk still exists except for one small strip possibly removed due to tree roots buckling slabs. East Ave began as Graveyard Road, then Cemetery Street, eventually East Avenue.

Prior 1865, all ethnic races usually attended church services together but separate seating. June 1867, James McMaster sold congregation of Mother Zion Baptist Church 6 acres facing Milam St. Freedman Town occupied land east of courthouse, south of Milam, west of Alabama Rd. McMaster planned to open up a street [Mary or Flowers; neither opened] for funeral processions to serve all churches. Lucinda Flowers lived on Burleson St; her home was used by hers and other slaves for religious services. [Lucinda married Virgil Stewart who assisted WJE Heard to survey 1847 plat used for town of Wharton]

Numerous questions regarding Wharton Cemetery include: Why does NE area have no gravestones? Why are older burial sites not in line with fence? Where are burial sites predating establishment of dedicated cemetery? Wharton County Heritage Partnership, with cooperation of Wharton Cemetery Association is researching and arranging for surveys for answers. Knowledge of a graveyard in place prior to establishing town of Wharton lends to burials occupying area N & E of current fenced cemetery.

Area adjacent to Betts fenced site in NW corner has few markers, but evidence reveals section was used for pauper burials. Commissioners Court records lists payments to persons who conducted pauper burials. November 1860: Wm J Phillips paid $20 to bury pauper in Wharton Cemetery. Commissioner Court records list minimum of 155 pauper burials paid for by the county between 1860-1908; few would have had permanent markers. These additional burials would have stretched N & E of NW corner.

May 22-24, 2020: Dr Marty Horn, at LSU and Louisiana Geological Survey conducted Magnetometry and Electrometry studies to find burials lacking gravestones on 16.6 ac tract considered Wharton Cemetery; concentrated on oldest NW section.

Using magnetometry and electrometry to find burials can be affected by elements that can limit electrical impulses due to extraneous magnetic fields created by wrought iron fence, buried pipeline, concrete slabs, overhead electrical lines – all found in and adjacent to survey grid in fenced area. Some areas unaffected by extraneous magnetic fields and these areas revealed anomaly and anomaly pattern features interpreted as graves. Patterns consist of subsoil removed and replaced, and orientation of some sites west to east in like manner of oldest marked burials v/s those placed to parallel with fence/street.

Three multi-burial family plots [Betts, Rust, Harrison] began mid-late 19^th century. They align W-E; predating current Alabama St per 1847 plat. These plots’ burial orientation changed with placement of later fence and concrete curbing. Preliminary survey revealed some gravestones were realigned.

Horn’s survey indicates use of NW corner for burials may have extended N & E into vacant lot and school lot Alabama/Abell streets corner. These areas have no history of human occupation prior to 1930; suggesting area avoided due to known burials.

To produce burial evidence, a manual survey to include scraping away topsoil for excavation of sites to reach level of human remains is not a technique Horn’s Louisiana Geological Survey team conducts. Results of Horn’s preliminary study and a more intensive survey could serve as a basis for future planned use of these areas.

Evidence of burials outside of current fenced sections has been erased over time. Solid evidence, such as human remains, cannot be obtained without digging into areas. If government funds used for construction over or in areas where these anomalies exist, firm in charge must have professional survey done, follow state guidelines for leaving in-place or disinter and move to new location any human remains found, or move construction to a different site; non-adherence would remove qualification for government funds. Non-respect of those burials is not tolerated.