Alton Cemetery

Fisher Co. Cemeteries of TX

Submitted by Carol Hasten

7 miles West of Hamlin on Hwy 92 and FR 540.

News Article By Josie Liming / Reporter-News  September 25, 2004 


Afton's Memories 

Cemetery has been last reminder of Big Country town since 1965 

By Josie Liming / Reporter-News
September 25, 2004 

Five miles west of Hamlin on Highway 92 lies a little piece of Texas history. Although only granite gravestones remain, the words in Afton Cemetery speak volumes about the past and raise questions about the future. 

The cemetery is all that is left of Afton, which hit the height of its existence in 1892. At that time, Afton consisted of a school, church, post office and the cemetery, according to the book, ''History of Fisher County, Texas.'' The post office closed in 1893; the school was later consolidated with another in Hitson. The deterioration continued, and since 1965, all that remains is the cemetery. 

There are numerous unmarked graves. A tattered, plastic American flag marks the grave of someone who may have been a veteran. Some have a few rocks scattered atop them. Shirley Ann Townsend is the only face in the cemetery, her smiling picture on the stone declaring her a ''darling wife and mother.'' Although many dates on the stones have worn away with time, people are still being buried there. 

Jimmy Cooper, owner of Cooper Oil in Hamlin, has been taking care of the cemetery since his father died in 1987. He and other relatives of those buried in the cemetery have taken it upon themselves to maintain the lot. 

''We received a $12,000 trust 10 years ago and the proceeds from the interest are used for the upkeep,'' Cooper said. ''We usually get between one and 200 dollars a year to work with.'' 

With no water source nearby, Cooper has the cemetery sprayed once a year to keep grass and weeds from growing. This also cuts down on the maintenance costs. 

However, there always are unexpected expenses, such as the fence that had to be rebuilt after a vehicle ran a stop sign in the snow and came to rest in the middle of the cemetery. 

''Someone always steps up when needed,'' Cooper said.


 

Last Name First Name Birth Death Comments

Alexander

Baby

-

-

Known to be buried here

Bennett

Anna Lou

-

-

Known to be buried here

Bennett

James T.

-

-

Known to be buried here-

Brown

Eliza Jane

-

-

Known to be buried here-

Brown

Elmer

-

-

Known to be buried here-

Brown

Elvie

-

-

Known to be buried here-

Brown

Frances

-

-

Known to be buried here

Brown

Sally K.,

.

-

Known to be buried here

Brown

Sarah F.

-

-

Known to be buried here

Brown

William A.

-

-

Known to be buried here

Elder

Eppie Mae

Sep. 26 1908 Sep. 8 2005 w/o Ira Rickman Elder  M: Nov 20 1926

Hall

Baby

-

-

-

Hext

Herman Valdee

1918

1968

-

Hext

Martha Elizabeth

1876

1939

-

Hext

P J

1865

1924

-

Hext

Peter James Jr

1906

1977

-

Hext

Poe

1900

1922

-

Hext

Zuma

1896

1916

-

Hill Nora Belle Jan 30 1919 Feb 21 2006 d/o Thomas E.  & Alpha Milner Hill

Iles

Lucinda Weathingon

-

Nov 16 1933

w/o William F. (CH)

Iles

William F.

-

Jun 22 1915

children are William (Willie), born Apr 27, 1876, Annie C, born July 17, 1878, Robert L (Bob), born Sep  08, 1881, Elizabeth (Lizzie), born Jan  13, 1884, died Feb  23, 1968-my grandmother, John S, born May 9, 1887, Ophilia (Fellie), born Sep  02, 1891, and Bulah Mae, born May 22, 1895.  I am a descendant of Elizabeth Iles, wife of Alonzo Mitchell Evitt. (CH)

Isles

Benjamin

Dec 22 1889

-

s/o William F. Iles(Ga) & Lucinda Weathington Iles(Ga)  (CH)

Isles

Nora Alice Henlon

-

-

d/o W. M. & Ida Henlon w/o Benjamin  (CH)