Matinburg Cemetery
Pittsburg, Camp County, Texas
Marker Inscription
According to local tradition this cemetery began when migrant W. P. Jones buried his wife, Delila, here in 1871, hoping to later bury her in an established graveyard nearby. Her burial nevertheless remains the cemetery's earliest on record. O. S. and Jane Bradfield deeded the cemetery land to the Fairview Baptist Church in 1883. Annual spring cleanups, which began in 1909, have become a cherished tradition for descendants of persons buried here. Interred in this cemetery are pioneers, members of fraternal orders, and veterans of conflicts from the Civil War to Vietnam.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Local tradition holds that this cemetery began in 1871 when W. P. Jones buried his wife, Delila, here, meaning only to move her later to an established graveyard — but her grave stayed and became its first. In 1883 O. S. and Jane Bradfield deeded the land to the Fairview Baptist Church. Annual spring cleanups, a tradition since 1909, still draw the descendants of pioneers, lodge members, and veterans from the Civil War through Vietnam who rest here.
Why it matters
The enduring spring cleanup tradition shows how a burial ground can bind generations of a rural community together long after the founders are gone.
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Related people
- · W. P. Jones
- · Delila Jones
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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