McKnight Cemetery
Cushing, Nacogdoches County, Texas
Marker Inscription
McKnight Cemetery began as a burial ground for the family of William Newton and Rebecca McKnight, with the oldest marked grave dating to the 1850s. By the Civil War, it opened to other families in nearby communities, including Glenfawn, Linn Flat and Toliver, a farming town that declined when the Texas and New Orleans Railroad bypassed the community, causing residents to move to neighboring Cushing, which was on the rail line. Another community revolved around the McKnight Seminary, named for the cemetery's founder who donated land for the institution. The McKnight Seminary building had historic ties to the cemetery, as it also served as a place of worship utilized for funeral services. There are a number of veterans interred here, including Confederate soldiers and World War II R.A.F. Wing Commander Lance C. Wade, a decorated fighter pilot. Also noteworthy is the cemtery's annual picnic, which began early in the 20th century and later became a homecoming celebration. Today, the McKnight Cemetery Association maintains the cemetery, which continues to serve area residents. Historic Texas Cemetery - 2005
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
McKnight Cemetery began in the 1850s as the family burying ground of William Newton and Rebecca McKnight and opened to neighboring communities by the Civil War. It served hamlets like Glenfawn, Linn Flat, and Toliver—the last of which faded into a ghost town after the Texas and New Orleans Railroad bypassed it, drawing residents to rail-served Cushing. Among those interred are Confederate soldiers and World War II R.A.F. Wing Commander Lance C. Wade, a celebrated fighter ace.
Why it matters
The graveyard captures how the coming of the railroad could make or unmake East Texas towns, while its veterans link a rural community to conflicts from the Civil War to the skies over the Mediterranean.
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Related people
- · William Newton McKnight
- · Rebecca McKnight
- · Lance C. Wade
Themes & tags
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