Bailey Cemetery (Black), Upshur County, Texas

Submitted by Sharon Pierce

Cemeteries of Texas Coordinator: Dolores I. Bishop

Take Hwy 80 west out of Big Sandy, Turn left on Hwy 155, and go to River Rd., turn right onto River Rd and go about ½ mile. You will see a yellowish colored house with cable across the front with no trespassing signs on the right hand side. The cemetery is in the woods across the road.

This very little cemetery sits under the biggest pine tree I have ever seen. If this tree ever falls, it will take the graves with it. Two of the stones have come off of their pedestals, with one of them propped in front of it, while the other one has fallen into a pretty deep hole. It was found by Tom Mitchell, and maneuvered enough to be able to read it. Plans are to go back and right these two stones.

Read January 19 & 20 by Sharon Pierce, Judy Mitchell, Tom Mitchell and Judy Greenway. Photos courtesy of Sharon Pierce.

This little "History of Baileys" was sent in by Ann K. King Tebow.

Fannie Donald was the child of a family named Bailey. The Baileys, a black family, farmed for mine and Royce Ann Tinton’s great-grandfather John Washington King, a white man, in Big Sandy. Fannie had two daughters by John Washington, to wit Martha (Mattie) King Greenwell and Mary King. Both women used the last name of King when they reached adulthood. Martha’s marriage license to Jacob Greenwell reflects King. Also the 1880, 1900, 1910 and 1920 Upshur County census lists Mary King. E.L. Bartlett is the son of Mary King and William Bartlett. William Bartlett was a white man from Wood County. I also believe Mira Fletcher was a Bailey.