SONS OF DEWITT COLONY TEXAS Harmony Grove | Sylverino | O'Farrell
HARMONY GROVE Harmony Grove Cemetery lies south of Texarkana in Miller County, Arkansas on Line Ferry Road behind Line Ferry (formerly Harmony Grove) Baptist Church. From Texarkana, proceed south on Hwy 71 (East St.), continue south on Highland St. as Hwy 71 veers east toward Shreveport. Turn right on Miller St. at the golf course (Miller St. continues into Euclid St.), then left on Line Ferry Rd. (also called County Road #19). The church and cemetery are four miles on the left. From Atlanta, Bloomburg or Cass, Texas via Texas Hwy 74 (from Bloomburg) or Hwy 251 (from Cass) go east and cross State Line Road (border of TX and AR) to Arkansas Hwy 237. Turn north and cross the Sulphur River (AR 237 also called Blackmon Ferry Rd.) and then turn left on Line Ferry Rd. (County Road 19). Church and cemetery is two miles on the right. The cemetery is fenced with accessible gates, one to the northeast of the church, one to the southwest of the church. Upon entry of the southeast gate, there is a short stretch of pavement, which veers south and ends abruptly. *Sites noted with an asterisk were unmarked according to W.C.McKeehan and their estimated location was pointed out to son W.L. McKeehan, Nov. 1995. W.C. McKeehan recalls the time when the sites were marked by metal funeral home stakes. Some of the sites have since been marked with memorial markers as noted. *Charles Coffner (1821-1877)/Sarah Maria Sylar (1833-1901) McKeehan. The two sites lie 23 paces south and slightly uphill from a line running due east ending 130 paces from the northeast gate running through the large Nolan family marker. A large cedar tree surrounded by irises stands at the foot of the gravesite (1999, legend says it was planted when C.C. McKeehan was buried there). Until 1995 the C.C. McKeehan site was unmarked, legend in the family says there was some type of marker, but destroyed by falling trees. W.C. McKeehan says his father James Washington never mentioned a marker, but pointed out often to him, his son, the unmarked gravesite. In 1995, descendants placed a monument that reads "MCKEEHAN, Charles Coffner 1821-1877, from east Tennessee 1852, Sarah Maria Sylar 1833-1901, erected by descendants 1995". The old marker for his wife, Sarah Maria Sylar, was removed from its base in 1995 and laid flat over the grave sites east of the new double marker. It reads "Sarah M. McKeehan, born Mar. 4, 1833. Died May 18, 1901, thy trials ended, thy rest is won." For reference, the site is denoted as the CC site in notes below. Braxton Bragg McKeehan (1864-1939) (batchelor son of C.C. McKeehan). The B.B. McKeehan site is 6 paces east of the CC site directly under the cedar tree (2004). The upright part of the original marker was broken from its base as found in 1995. In Nov. 1995, the marker was placed upright between the old base of the orginal marker for Sarah Maria Sylar McKeehan (above) and the base of the original B.B. McKeehan marker. The marker was fixed with concrete between the two old concrete bases. The marker reads "B.B. McKeehan, Dec. 28, 1864 May 9, 1939, At Rest." Ray Neil Phillips (1926-1949) (son of Glenn McKeehan/Seth Phillips). 5 paces north of the B.B. McKeehan site above, reads "Ray Neil Phillips, Texas, BM2 US Navy, World War II, May 2, 1926 Oct 4 1949". Glenn McKeehan was a granddaughter of C.C. McKeehan. On a due north line from the CC site are the sites below: Elizabeth W. McKeehan (1901-1901). Marker reads "Elizabeth W., Infant daughter of, S.W. and R.L. McKeehan, born and died Mar. 19, 1901." The marker lies 8 paces north of CC site. This refers to Samuel William and Rebecca L. Paulk McKeehan, son and daughter-in-law of C. C. McKeehan. *Emmie McKeehan (1894-1930) (unmarried daughter of A.O. and Emma McKeehan). Emmie is listed as Emma McKeehan, 36 yr. old on Harmony Grove Cemetery lists. Unmarked until 1996 when descendants placed a marker for the A.O.F. McKeehan family at the site. *Archibald Overton Flipton McKeehan (1855-1922). Son of C.C. McKeehan. 23 Jun 1996, descendants placed a permanent marker on a line N from C.C. McKeehan site next to Swanger plot outline. The marker reads MCKEEHAN, Archibald Flipton McKeehan 1855-1922, Emma Watson. Daughter Emmie. *Emma J. Watson McKeehan (wife of A.O. Flipton McKeehan). Unmarked until 1996. The following are within an area bounded by concrete about 4 inches wide and 3 inches high which are Swanger relationships. There are three rows of gravesites east to west. The first row is on line with the CC site going north (16 paces). The first row are several Greers. The second row eastward begins with: Thomas Gist Lurry (b. 1 Feb 1882; d. 19 Sep 1949)/Lillian S. Swanger (b. 9 Sep 1887; d. 26 Nov 1984). Lillian S. is a granddaughter of C.C. McKeehan. Charles F. Swanger (b. 31 Oct 1855; d. 29 Jan 1916). Woodman of the World marker. Husband of Mary Elizabeth McKeehan (see below). Allen A. Swanger (b. 12 Dec 1895; d. 17 Dec 1917). Woodman of the World marker. A son of Charles F. and Mary E. Swanger. Mary Elizabeth McKeehan Swanger (1862-1952). The marker is on the north end of the second row in the Swanger area, 32 paces from CC site. It reads "Mary E. Swanger, February 10, 1862, June 26, 1952." Daughter of C.C. McKeehan. Third row going east from the above beginning on the south end of the plot: Raymond D. Swanger (b. 2 Jan 1910; d. 10 Oct. 1947). Grandson of Mary Elizabeth McKeehan, son of Charles Wilburn below. Charles Wilburn (Will) (b. 14 Dec 1888; d. 29 Aug 1957)/Margaret Catherine (Kitty) Swanger (b. 18 Feb 1889; 8 Dec 1936). Just north of above. Charles was son of Mary Elizabeth McKeehan. Oscar E. (b. 28 Nov 1897; d. 10 Jan 1963); Virginia A. Swanger (5 Jan 1890; 5 Apr 1974). Oscar was son of Mary Elizabeth McKeehan. Just north of the Swanger bounded area is a ground level marker stating "Tom Lurry Family." Three rows of gravesites south of the due east line from the gate mark the Gray relationships. The first row begins south from the line 29 paces east from the gate: Minnie Gray (b. 20 Sep 1891; d. 5 Feb 1922). Daughter of Virginia McKeehan. Jeff Works (1885-1937), husband of above. Separate markers. The second row begins 40 paces east of the gate: Rutha Gray (b. 31 Jan 1894; d. 14 Mar 1908). Daughter of Virginia A. McKeehan. George W. Gray (b. 7 Jul 1881; d. 4 Apr 1904). Son of Virginia A. McKeehan. Joshua Chesterfield (1852-1907)/Virginia Arkansas McKeehan (1858-1939) Gray. Marker lies 40 paces east from gate, then 16 paces south. It reads "GRAY, Virginia A. Feb. 27, 1858 Dec. 25, 1939, Josh C. Apr. 7 1853, June 9, 1907; Their spirits smile from that bright shore and softly whisper ‘weep no more." Virginia Arkansas was a daughter of C.C. McKeehan. J.H. Works (b. 23 Oct 1881; 5 Apr 1909). Husband of Alta L. Gray, daughter of Virginia McKeehan. Mark E. (b. 9 Aug 1874; d. 11 Nov 1954)/Martha L. Gray (7 Mar 1884; d. 5 Sep 1965) Jackson. 15 paces south in line with Joshua Gray site. Martha L. was daughter of Virginia A. McKeehan. Third row south, 45 paces east of gate: Alta L. (Gray) Richie (b. 5 Jun 1889; 11 Aug 1978). Daughter of Virginia A. McKeehan. The following three sites are also spouses of Alta L. above: James H. Works (b. 23 Oct 1882; d. 23 Apr 1909) William G. Dendy (b. 3 Sep 1882; d. 20 Mar 1927) Samuel Stewart (b. 19 Mar 1882; d. 6 Dec 1940) MOORE/MCKEEHAN: On the east line 56 paces from the gate and south of the line are McKeehan/Moore sites: James Washington (1870-1956)/Josephine Moore (1882-1950) McKeehan. It lies 55 paces south of the east line from the gate. It reads "MCKEEHAN, Josephine 1882-1950; James W. 1870-1956; Into thy hands I commend my spirit." James W. was a son of C.C. McKeehan. Daughter Marjorie Maye (living 2004). Just north of the above, daughter of James W. and Josephine Moore McKeehan. James Morgan (1849-1925)/Nancy Prisilla Touchstone (1851-1934) Moore. Just south of J.W. McKeehan site above. Marker reads "FATHER-MOTHER, J.M. Moore, June 18, 1849 May 5, 1925; Prisilla Moore Apr. 10, 1851; God defend the right." Parents of Josephine Moore McKeehan above. *Lafayette Moore (grandson of above couple, son of John David Moore). *J. Louis Moore (1886-1897) (son of James Morgan Moore). Katy Maye Moore (b. 11 Sep 1890; d. 8 May 1912). Marker states "Heaven is my home." Daughter of James Morgan Moore. *Martha (Mary) Jane Moore (1872-1914). May be present here in unmarked site, some believe she was possibly buried at an unmarked site in Sylverino Cemetery (below). Daughter of James Morgan Moore.
SYLVERINO CEMETERY About 10 mi south on Hwy 71 from Texarkana on the right is Sylverino Baptist Church and cemetery. From the entrance about three rows in and to the right are seven Shipp family sites in a single row. The first five markers are marked son or daughter of J. and M.E. Shipp. Infant (1902). "Builded on earth to bloom in heaven." Pauline (1905-1906). Brucie (1901-1906). Jessie Lee (1908-1911). Biffle B. Shipp. (1913-1915). Johnnie (1876-1948)/Mollie Moore (1880-1955) Shipp. Marker reads "SHIPP, Johnnie 1876-1948; Mollie 1880-1955". Woodmen of the World symbol. Mollie was Mary Elizabeth Moore, daughter of James Morgan and Prisilla Touchstone Moore (see above in Harmony Grove) Nimrod S. Shipp (1920-1943). "In memory of Nimrod S. Shipp, US Merchant Marine". Son of above couple.
O’FARRELL CEMETERY About 10 mi east of Atlanta,TX on Hwy 995 on the right inside a chain link fence. Sixty paces from the main west gate, then south is: Earnest W. Canant (1911-1952). "Texas, Pvt. Co BI Training BN, World War II". Son of the couple below. Eugene Eldridge (1873-1939)/Ida A. McKeehan (1876-1939) Canant. Marker states "CANANT, Dr. E.E.; Ida" with above dates.
STATE LINE/WOODLAWN CEMETERY The cemetery is on the left several blocks south from Interstate 30 on State Line Avenue in Texarkana (Arkansas side of the street). The back half of the cemetery is Woodlawn Cemetery on County St. and E. 31st St. From the main gate of Woodlawn Cemetery, 66 paces west from the entrance, and 76 paces south from the center of driveway entrance is a marker for Samuel W. McKeehan, son of C.C. McKeehan which reads "MCKEEHAN Mama Rebecca L. Apr. 17 1874 Sept. 8 1932; Papa Sam W. Jan. 4, 1866"
Springhill, Louisiana is southeast of Texarkana in Webster Parish near the Arkansas-Louisiana border on Hwy 371. Sites in Springhill Cemetery were located by markers present in 1997. Alta A. McKeehan Dunigan and relations are buried in the left front sector from the entrance. The stone says "Alta Dunigan, 1869-1942, She was the sunshine of our home." Nearby is daughter Mollie M. Dunigan Pagan and husband J. Edmond Pagan. Daughter Ophie D. Dunigan Posey is nearby next to her husband John E. Posey. Alta’s son Charlie C. Dunigan and his wife Ruby Oakley Dunigan are nearby. Also in the area is Luther Austin Dunigan (Pvt US Army World War I). Other Dunigans in the cemetery are San "Clint" and Norine K. Dunigan, Lewis B. and Beatrice W. (still living 1997) and Lewis Braxton Dunigan.
ALTMAN CEMETERY *Charles Houston McKeehan (1853-1930), son of C.C. McKeehan. W.C. McKeehan and sister Marge visited the cemetery in the 1960's on descriptions from daughter-in-law, Mattie Garrison McKeehan (son O.P. Shaw's widow). At that time it was concluded the site may be unmarked.
In 1997, the McKeehan descendants placed a permanent marker for Charles Houston and his wife Nancy Melvina Wright in the cemetery. Nancy (Nellie) Wright is believed to be buried in the Mesquite Cemetery in DallasCo, but to date a marker cannot be located. The new marker is the one in the lower left of the photo below.
To locate the cemetery, go NE out of Carlton on Hwy 1744 to the junction of Hwy 914. Turn NW on 914 and pass the ErathCo line which is 0.6 mi from the junction of Hwy 1744 and 914 on 914. Go E (NE) on ErathCo Road 293 which is 1.2 mi from the ErathCo line. The cemetery is about 1.5 mi on the left. From the left gate post walk 37 paces straight, then 7 paces left and the McKeehan marker is obvious.
SONS OF DEWITT COLONY TEXAS |
The Altman Cemetery was catalogued in
1968 by Weldon Hudson of Ft. Worth. He lists 53 markers the latest of which was 1963.
Earliest was 1902, most were in the 1920's. He noted that the cemetery was along a country
road, grown up with mule tail weeds and grass burrs. There were about 16 graves marked
with field stones with no writing. We visited the cemetery in Aug 1996. The cemetery
was grown over with buffalo grass, vines and weeds after an apparent fire some time
before. The latest marker was from 1982. 
The cemetery has been more