Robert Lee Cemetery

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the Robert Lee Cemetery, out in Coke County. Now, some places take a while to figure out what they are. This one knew pretty early.

The city of Robert Lee was founded, and just two years later, in 1891, the cemetery was established right alongside it. Like the town already understood it was going to need one. On September 29th of that year, developers L.B.

Harris and Eugene Cartledge, serving as president and secretary of the Austin and Northern Land and Cattle Company, sold this land for the sum of one dollar. Eleven point seven acres of burial ground, changing hands for a single dollar bill. The deed went to Hayrick Lodge No. 696, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, with a purpose spelled out plain in the language of the document itself: sole use as cemetery grounds for the members, relatives, and friends.

Now here's the detail that stops you cold when you think about it. The land was already the site of several graves when that deed was signed. Somebody was already out there before the paperwork caught up.

The lodge later gave the cemetery its name, and what grew up in that ground over the years is a record of the region itself. Thirty-four Civil War veterans are buried there. Thirty-four.

Along with soldiers of later wars, and members of many of the families who built Robert Lee and called it home. One dollar, eleven point seven acres, and the weight of a whole community resting quiet underneath.

What the marker says

Established in 1891, two years after the founding of the city of Robert Lee. Developers L.B. Harris and Eugene Cartledge, as president and secretary of the Austin and Northern Land and Cattle Company, on Sept. 29, 1891, sold for $1.00 this 11.7 - acre burial ground. Already site of several graves, it was deeded to Hayrick Lodge No. 696, A.F. & A.M., for "sole use as cemetery grounds for the members, relatives, and friends". Later it was named by the lodge. Buried here are 34 Civil War veterans, as well as soldiers of later wars and members of many of the families in Robert Lee. (1973)