Old Williams Cemetery

"Know Your Heritage"

Panola Watchman, Carthage, Texas, 1 Jun 1975
By Leila B. LaGrone

One of the landmarks in Panola County is Old Williams Cemetery, just north of Highway 79, about one mile west of Fairplay. This is where PIRVINES (sometimes called PRIMES) WILLIAMS and his brother, JOHN WILLIAMS, settled. According to old records, they came to Texas in 1838. JOHN must have died before 1850, for though his name is listed among those buried in Williams Cemetery, he is not given on U.S. Panola County Census for 1850.

This 1850 Census shows "PURVINE" WILLIAMS with quite a large family. He was born in1804 in North Carolina and his wife, MATILDA, was born in 1814 in Tennessee. The first five children: JAMES P., ROBERT P., ELIZA J., SARAH and BENJAMIN were born in Tennessee. BENJAMIN was thirteen in 1850, which verifies their being in Tennessee at least part of 1837. Six other children: ELIZABETH, MANERVA, NANCY, JOHN, SUSAN, and P.W. were born in Texas. It is also possible that WILLIAM M. WILLIAMS was an older son, for he was married to MARY ANN before the 1850 Census.

PIRVINES WILLIAMS headrighted land where the Williams Cemetery is located. MR. S.T. ALLISON tells how they crossed Sabine River, "The river was low and they cut down two trees with an axe, falling them across the river. They then swam the oxen across, tied a rope to the wagons and the oxen pulled the wagons across on the logs." Today's historian can hardly believe that all their worldly possessions could be transferred across a dangerous river in such a manner. Perhaps their descendants have not inherited all of that courage and determination.

It was PIRVINES WILLIAMS who gave the land for the first church (Bethesda), school and cemetery in the Fairplay area. C.A. WEST, Methodist minister and historian, says, "Bethesda Methodist Church was founded by LITTLETON FOWLER in 1838 and is perhaps the oldest Protestant Church in Panola County. A cemetery, now know as Williams Cemetery, is on the grounds of the old church. There has been no active church organization in this place for many years, but a replica of Bethesda Church was built of logs and I think it is yet on the grounds."

According to legend, the REV. LITTLETON FOWLER, who is buried under the altar of McMahan's Chapel, often stayed in the WILLIAMS home when he was preaching in this area. In fact, PIRVINTES WILLIAMS apparently sent word to REV. FOWLER to come to Panola County to preach. FOWLER was a missionary to all the East Texas vicinity.

This first Panola County Protestant Church was built of logs with thick hand-riven boards for flooring (called punchion). Split logs with pegs for legs famished the benches. A dirt chimney where logs burned supplied heat. Windows were open for summer and closed with wooden (hand-riven) shutters in winter. This building was also used for the first school in the neighborhood.

One who is interested in getting a better mental picture of life in Panola County more than 125 years ago, should visit this peaceful hillside which still identifies some of the county leaders in the very earliest settlements. JOHN ALLISON, first county judge is buried there, as is his son, THOMAS G. ALLISON, who was also a county judge and member of the Texas Constitutional Convention. Preachers, other county officers and Civil War veterans were also buried there. A large marker was erected in 1952 by descendants of those pioneers.

Near the back of the cemetery is the small replica of that original Bethesda Church and a marble marker identifying the place as the location of that early church.

In 1882, Bethesda Church was moved to what is now Allison's Chapel on Highway 79 near Fairplay Crossroads.

A memorial service and homecoming are still held on the grounds of Williams Cemetery in July each year. Large crowds attend taking basket lunches; and it is a day of good fellowship and reminiscence.