Grimes Cemetery

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'm gonna do it justice. Out here in Cherokee County, there's a piece of ground that started with a father's grief and grew into something that belongs to a whole family, maybe even a whole community. The story begins with Benjamin Franklin Grimes, who came to Cherokee County in 1852.

He was just a boy then, traveling with his parents, Isaac and Sara Wilkinson Grimes. He put down roots here, and those roots went deep. In 1859, Benjamin married Mary Jane Wallace, and together they built a life.

Ten children came from that union. Ten. Benjamin kept things moving, literally, operating freight wagons for a living.

He also served in the Confederate army. He was a man of work, of family, of this land. But land has a way of asking things of you.

On April 20, 1883, Benjamin Grimes buried his daughter Cassandra Gabriella on the family's property. That was the first grave. One daughter, one patch of Cherokee County earth, and a cemetery was born, though nobody called it that yet.

It was just where Cassandra was. Over time, others came to rest beside her. Several of the other Grimes children would be interred there.

And eventually, Benjamin himself, and Mary Jane too, joined their family in that ground. The cemetery kept growing beyond the Grimes family, and it's still in use today. More than eighty graves now, including those of twelve veterans.

It started on April 20, 1883, with a father and a daughter. And it endures.

What the marker says

Grimes Cemetery Benjamin Franklin Grimes came to Cherokee County in 1852 with his parents, Isaac and Sara Wilkinson Grimes. In 1859, Benjamin married Mary Jane Wallace, and to this union were born ten children. For a living, he operated freight wagons. He also served in the Confederate army. On April 20, 1883, Grimes buried his daughter Cassandra Gabriella here on his family's land. Her grave was the first in what became the family cemetery; several of the other Grimes children, as well as Benjamin and Mary Jane, would later be interred here. Still in use, the cemetery has more than 80 graves, including those of 12 veterans. Historic Texas Cemetery - 2002