Gail Cemetery

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Borden County. Way out there on the South Plains, where the land is flat and the sky goes on forever.

The county itself was created in 1876, but it took a while for things to take hold. It wasn't until 1891 that Borden County was organized, and that same year, the town of Gail was established as the county seat. Brand new county.

Brand new town. And already, people were thinking about how to take care of their own. The very next year, J.I. and L.E.

Wilborn gave land for the courthouse square and three churches. And right there in Block 18 of the townsite, they dedicated a burial ground. Now here's the thing about that cemetery.

It didn't wait for paperwork. As early as March of 1891, before the ink was even dry on the town itself, the ground had already received its first known burial. A woman named Fetnah Alexander.

And at least nine unmarked graves exist out there, some of which may be even earlier than that. The land held its secrets long before anyone thought to write them down. Then in January of 1901, J.I.

Wilborn made it official. He deeded the tract to trustees for what would become the county-operated cemetery. A handshake made into a deed.

Now, think about who rests in that ground. County officials. Among them, Sid Reeder and his wife Iva, and here's a detail worth sittin' with: they both served as county sheriff.

Husband and wife, both carrying that badge. Veterans are there too, men whose service dated all the way back to the Civil War. Three of the original cemetery trustees are buried among the people they were entrusted to look after.

And then there's John Henry Smoot. A stonemason. The man who built the foundation and vault for the courthouse, and who carved many of the cemetery's early grave markers with his own hands.

He shaped the stone that marked the resting places of his neighbors, and then one day, he joined them. The supplemental plate on this marker names two of the people behind it all: John Ira Wilbourn, born in 1848, died in 1932. And Louvina Beck Wilbourn, born in 1859, died in 1924.

The Borden County Cemetery Association and the commissioners court maintain the burial ground today, and family members and others donate their time and funds to keep the place. Not just out of obligation. Out of something harder to name.

A tie, the marker calls it, to local and family history. Out in Gail, Texas, Block 18 has been holding that tie together since 1891.

What the marker says

Borden County, created in 1876, was organized in 1891, the same year the town of Gail was established as county seat. The next year, J.I. and L.E. Wilborn gave land for the courthouse sqaure and three churches, and dedicated Block 18 of the townsite for a burial ground. The cemetery had been used as early as March 1891 for the burial of Fetnah Alexander. At least nine unmarked graves exist, some of which may be earlier. In January 1901, J.I. Wilborn officially deeded the tract to trustees for the county-operated cemetery. Buried here are many county officials, including Sid Reeder and his wife, Iva, who both served as county sheriff. Others interred here include veterans of military conflicts dating to the Civil War, three of the original cemetery trustees, and John Henry Smoot, a stonemason who built the foundation and vault for the courthouse, and carved many of the cemetery's early grave markers. The Borden County Cemetery Association and commissioners court maintain the burial ground, and family members and others donate time and funds to preserve this tie to their local and family history. Historic Texas Cemetery - 2003 SUPPLEMENTAL PLATE: John Ira Wilbourn (1848 - 1932) Louvina Beck Wilbourn (1859 - 1924)