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One of the
projects undertaken by the Grayson County Millennium Committee and its
Historic Cemetery sub-committee was to track and document all the
cemeteries in Grayson County. Dr. Ann Van Wynne Thomas, co-chair, of the
committee rediscovered the Massey-Steele Cemetery, which is located on
Preston Bend, north of Pottsboro. The cemetery was so covered with
underbrush, vines, and trees, that from the road, one could not see it.
This pioneer cemetery contains the graves of several Steele and Massey
family members as well as a number of unnamed markers. Two of the graves
are of particular historic note. John T. Massey, a veteran of the War of
1812, traveled to Texas from Kentucky in about 1853 when John was around
77 years old. He came with his wife, Margaret; son, George and his family;
and daughter Emily Massey. There is also a grave marker for John T.
Massey's grandson, Henry Massey, 1st corporal of Reeves 11th Texas
Cavalry, Confederate States of America. Henry was 15 in 1861 when he was
mustered in the cavalry unit on the Grayson County Courthouse grounds. He
took with him a horse, a $50.00 pistol and a $40.00 gun. Henry died from
injuries sustained in the Battle of Atlanta in 1864. When
Dr. Thomas heard of the cemetery she told committee member Lee
Safford. Lee in turn went on an "exploration
hike." After Lee found the cemetery, Dr. Thomas contacted Mrs. Dickie Gerig, a fellow
member of the Millennium Committee and member of the Dixie Chapter of the
United Daughters of the Confederacy. Mrs. Gerig in turned contacted Darryl
Odom, member of Reeves 11th Texas Cavalry Camp, Sons of Confederate
Veterans. Mr. Odom, who also serves as an Asst. Scoutmaster for BSA Troop
66, sought help from the troop. Kirk Meyers, decided in April 1999 to
organize and execute the clean up the cemetery for his Eagle project. Kirk
organized Scouts and other interested volunteers for four workdays from
May to November of 1999 to clear the cemetery and clean some of the
tombstones. In March of 2000, 180 feet of metal fence sections were
donated for the project. With the help of two fence builders, the scouts,
troop leaders, and other volunteers erected a fence across the front of
the cemetery. On this workday, a descendent of John Massey, Mrs. Kirsten
Solomon, and her husband came to help. In all, Kirk and his 40 volunteers
donated over 300 man-hours in this project. On May 6, 2000 ceremony was held at the cemetery to rededicate the markers of John and Henry Steele and to honor Kirk Meyers for his work in the preservation of this pioneer cemetery. The ceremony was led by Reeves' 11th Texas Calvary, Sons of Confederate Veterans with Mark Farrington, as master of ceremony. Mrs. Dickie Gerig, President of the Texas Division of the U.D.C. laid a wreath in honor of the service of Henry Massey and presented Kirk Meyers with a certificate of appreciation. The Daughters also presented a certificate of appreciation to Darryl Odom for his many efforts in encouraging and assisting Kirk. The Sons of Confederate Veterans saluted their fallen hero with a 21 gun and cannon salute. Also present were representatives from The Texas Society of The Daughters of the Veterans of the War of 1812 who honored the memory of John T. Massey with a wreath and presented a certificate of appreciation and gift to Kirk. Members of both the Massey and Steele families spoke in remembrance of their family members and the cemetery, expressing their appreciation to Kirk and the other scouts who took part in the clean up. Judge R. C. Vaughan was on-hand also to applaud the work and tell the background of the project. |