Emory Cemetery Association

(Rains County Leader, December 1992)

This journal tells the account of the organization of the Emory Cemetery Association and was furnished by Jewell Cooper, secretary-treasurer of the City-Forbis Cemetery Association.  Submitted by Elaine Nall Bay

 February 24, 1904

On Feb. 24th, 1904, the ladies of Emory, moved by a common desire to better the appearance of our city of the dead, met by appointment at the M.E. Church and organized a cemetery association with 18 members.  Mrs. Wylie was elected as chairman and we proceeded to elect officers in the regular order by ballot.  The following were elected for the first term:

Mrs. Wylie, President

Mrs. Adams, Vice-President

Mrs. Sam Pierson, Secretary

Mrs. McCallon, Treasurer

Motions to arrange for regular dues and time of meeting made, seconded and decided upon as follows:
Resolved to meet every first and third Friday of each month; dues for ladies 10 cents, for gentlemen 25 cents.

Other questions concerning funds came up but were dismissed till later.

Meeting adjourned to meet again the following Friday week at cemetery for the purpose of clearing if off and fixing up the graves.

Dues paid in: $1.80

Signed, Mrs. Sam Pierson, Sec.

List of charter members:

Mrs. Clendenin Mrs. Adams Mrs. Cain Mrs. Masters
Mrs. Wylie Mrs. J.F. Pierson Mrs. Reeves Mrs. McCrum
Mrs. J.W. Pierson Mrs. Rhodes Mrs. E. Stewart Mrs. J.J. Montgomery
Mrs. McCallon Mrs. Green Mrs. S.A. Pierson Mrs. V.H. Montgomery
Mrs. Gunter Mrs. Peeples    

 

March 6, 1904

The Association met according to agreement at the cemetery, bringing hoes, rakes, spades, etc.  Willing active hands soon accomplished the tasks before them and the yard took on a new air, much more fitting and more expressive of the love and care which should be bestowed upon the last resting place of loved ones.
After our work there was accomplished, we ladies adjourned to the church to have our business meeting, hear report of committees, etc.

A committee was appointed to see about securing more land, fencing the old and arranging the details.  Ways and means of raising money for our purposes were discussed.  Finally an oyster supper was decided upon, and the president appointed a committee to prepare for that and take charge of all arrangements.  It was also decided to have cut and sold the wood on new ground provided we got it and in this way swell our treasury.

A committee was appointed to draft the constitution and bylaws for the government of the Association: Mrs. Masters, Mrs. J. Montgomery, Mrs. Wylie and Mrs. McCallon.

Several new members and their dues and subscriptions were brought in by committee on membership.

Meeting adjourned with Lord’s Prayer.
Mrs. S. Pierson, Secretary

 

April 1, 1904

The Association met on the regular day.  Meeting was called to order, business taken up and disposed of in following order:
Committee was appointed to negotiate for deed to new land.  The committee was selected from among the gentlemen members.  A committee was also appointed to see about note to be given bank for money to finish payment on land as the treasury did not contain enough.

The constitution and bylaws were read and adopted unanimously as they stood.

Having no new business, Association adjourned.  Several donations were made.  IN all, amount turned over to treasurer was $5.25.

The constitution and bylaws as adopted are as follows:

Preamble

Whereas it is the part of true respect to honor the memory of those departed; and,

Whereas our tenderest regards are shown in providing and caring for a suitable resting place for their remains; and,

Whereas no previous arrangements for this purpose in our town appear adequate;
Therefore, we adopt the following:

 

Constitution

 

Article I – Name

The name of this body shall be The Emory Cemetery Association.

Article II – Object

The object of this association shall be to secure grounds and provide and care for the Emory Cemetery at Emory, Texas.

Article III – Membership

  1. The members of this Association shall be divided into two classes: active and honorary.
  2. The active members shall consist only of the women of Emory who shall pay dues hereinafter provided.

Article IV – Officers

The officers of this Association shall be: President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer

Article V – Powers and Duties of Officers

The officers of this Association shall have like powers and perform like duties of like officers in similar bodies.

Article VI – Dues

  1. The finances of this association shall be procured by the payment of dues and such other means as decided upon by this body in stated session.
  2. All active members shall pay the Treasurer the sum of ten cents dues upon being received into the body and ten cents thereafter as monthly dues.
  3. All honorary members shall pay the Treasurer the sum of fifty cents semi-annually.
  4. Any member three months in arrears in the payment of dues shall not be entitled to vote on any question, and any member six months in arrears in the payment of dues shall stand suspenced.

Article VII – Expenditures

All expenditures of this association must be made by the Treasurer upon the order of the body and signed by the President.

Article VII – Elections

The officers of the Association shall be elected by ballot at the annual meeting of this body, requiring a majority vote to decide; the President and Secretary serving as tellers.

Article IX – Meetings

  1. Stated meetings of this Association shall be held twice a month on first and third Friday.
  2. The annual meeting of this Association shall be held on first stated meeting in July.

Article X – Quorum

Four of the active membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of regular business.

Article XI – Privileges

  1. All active members share equally in all the privileges of the Association
  2. All honorary members share equally with each other all privileges of this order except holding office and voting.

Article XII – Amendments

This constitution may be amended at any stated meeting of this Association; it requiring two-thirds vote to alter, provided the proposed changed has been offered and allowed to lie until the second succeeding meeting.

Committee:
Mrs. J.J. Montgomery, Mrs. McCallon, Mrs. Wylie, Mrs. Masters

Mrs. S.B. Pierson, Secretary

 

April 18, 1904

The Cemetery Association had a called meeting Monday, April 18th, to see about getting a charter in order to have the deed made and pay for the land.  It was decided to have the gentleman members get the charter and have the deed fixed up. 

A motion was made, seconded and decided upon to borrow $25.00 from the bank, paying back by our dues, donations and our work.

A motion was then made and decided upon to get up a dinner in May.  Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Masters, Mrs. Cain and Mrs. Clendenin were the committee members appointed to solicit donations.

One new member, dues collected.

Meeting adjourned by repeating the Lord’s Prayer.

Mrs. Clendenin, Sec. Pro Tem

 

June 3, 1904

The Cemetery Association met June 3rd.  The meeting was called to order by the President.  Business taken up and disposed of as follows:

Mrs. Adams was appointed to get the money and see Mr. Montgomery about sending for charter.
It was then decided that the lots are to be sold, the most desirable for $10.00, the others for $5.00 each, being 20 feet square.

Mrs. S.B. Pierson sent in her resignation as secretary, which was accepted, and Mrs. Clendenin was then elected secretary.

Number present: 7; dues collected: 70 cents

No other business coming before the house, the meeting adjourned by repeating the Lord’s prayer.

Mrs. Clendenin, Secretary

 

January 21, 1905

The Cemetery Association met Jan. 21st.  The meeting was called to order by the Vice-President.  Business taken up and disposed of as follows:
Our committee, Mrs. Pierson, Mrs. Green, and Mrs. Cain, was appointed to see Mr. Montgomery about securing posts to fence the cemetery.  Also, to see Mr. Stuart about surveying lots.  Number present: 7; dues and donations paid in: $4.80 (20 cents later, total, $5.00)

No other business coming up, the meeting adjourned.

Mrs. Clendenin, Secretary

 

February 24, 1905

The Cemetery Association met Friday, Feb. 24th.  The meeting was called to order by the President and opened by repeating the Lord’s Prayer.  A motion was made and acted upon to have a committee to phone Mr. Rabb about posts.

A motion also was made and acted upon to see Mr. Fouts and get him to see to selling lots for the cemetery.

Another motion was made and decided upon to have an entertainment at the schoolhouse consisting of some program of recitations and music, and serving refreshments such as oysters, etc.  Mrs. Birdie Pierson and Mrs. Clendenin were appointed to arrange program.

Number present: 6; dues collected: 65 cents.

No other business to attend to, the meeting adjourned.

Mrs. Clendenin, Secretary

 

April 1905

The Emory Cemetery Association met April _____, the meeting being called to order by the President.  Business taken up and disposed of as follows;
The committee reported that the posts were on the ground and paid for.  The amount paid for the posts 2as $62.00; $18.00 worth sold.

A motion was made and acted upon to get someone to put posts in the ground and pay him.  The committee, Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Wylie, were appointed to see the man to do the work.
Another committee being appointed to see the sample of fences consisting of Mr. Wylie, Mr. McCallon, Mr. Pierson, and Mr. Clendenin.

An election of new officers was called for: all the old officers being re-elected.  One new member enrolled, Mrs. Spradling.  Dues collected: $2.60.

Meeting adjourned with the Lord’s Prayer,

Mrs. Clendenin, Secretary

 

May 5th, 1905

The Emory Cemetery Association met May 5th.  The meeting was called to order by the President.

The report of fence committee was made, and it was decided to have fence made like the sample.

A motion was made to advertise lots for sale.

Dues collected: $2.50.  Mrs. McCallon and Mrs. McCrum were appointed to collect back dues.

No other business, the meeting adjourned by repeating the Lord’s Prayer.

Mrs. Clendenin, Secretary

 

June 2nd, 1905

The Emory Cemetery Association met Friday, June 2nd.  Meeting called to order by the President.  Business taken up and disposed of as follows:
The committee on collecting back dues reported that they had collected $6.65.

A motion was made and acted upon to get Mr. Crabb to make a map of cemetery and to pay for work in lots.

Ladies’ dues collected: 80 cents.  Donation $1.00.

No other business to attend to, the meeting adjourned to meet next regular meeting.

Mrs. Clendenin, Secretary

 

June 16, 1905

The Emory Cemetery Association met Friday, June 16th.   Meeting called to order by the President.  Business taken up and disposed of as follows:

A committee was appointed to see about plat being made.  IT was then discussed as how to raise money for fence which is being made.  It was decided to try to get money by selling lots, as many as we could.
No other business to attend to, the meeting adjourned by repeating the Lord’s Prayer..

Mrs. Clendenin, Secretary

 

July 7, 1905

The Cemetery Association met Friday, July 7th.  Business taken up and disposed of as follows (President in the chair):
A committee reports deeds made to G.M. & J.E. Alexander, S.S. McCrum, Mrs. Cain, E.H. Trumble, J.G. Martin.  A committee appointed to notify the same and collect on lots.

A motion then was made and acted upon to have an ice cream and weighing party.  Dues collected: $1.30.

No other business coming up, the meeting adjourned.

Mrs. Clendenin, Secretary

 

Sept. 29, 1905

The Emory Cemetery Association met Friday, Sept. 29th.  Meeting opened by President.  Business taken up and disposed of as follows:
The map of new cemetery was shown and accepted.

Mrs. Cain, Mrs. Adams were appointed to see to having wood hauled.  Mrs. Wylie, Mrs. Clendenin were appointed to see about getting stobs made.

Dues collected: 50 cents.  No other business to attend to, the meeting adjourned.

Mrs. Clendenin, Secretary

 

October 1905

The Emory Cemetery Association met on regular meeting day.  The meeting was called to order by the President. Business taken up and disposed of as follows:
The committee on wood hauling reports no arrangements have been made.  Committee on stobs reports that they are being made by a Mr. Alexander and will cost $4.00 for 500 stobs.

A motion was made and acted upon to have another bridge built.  Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Birdie Pierson on committee to see about lumber.

Mrs. Montgomery, Mrs. Clendenin were appointed to see Mr. Stuart about surveying lots.

Dues collected: $2.10.

Mrs. Clendenin, Secretary

 

Oct. 27, 1905

The Emory Cemetery Association met on regular meeting day.  The meeting was called to order by the President.  Business attended to as follows:
Committee on bridge reports that the cost of a large bridge would be about $50 or $55.  IT was decided upon to build just a temporary bridge to haul wood over.

It was then decided to ship one carload of wood to Greenville at $2.75 a cord.

Committees appointed Mrs. J.F. Pierson, Mrs. Clendenin to see a man to look after a car of wood; Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Birdie Pierson to see the darkeys about hauling wood.  Mrs. Reeves, Mrs. McCallon to collect up dues.  Dues collected: $1.00.

Mrs. Clendenin, Secretary

 

Nov. 10, 1905

The Emory Cemetery Association met on Friday, Nov. 10.  The meeting being called to order by the President.  Business attended to as follows:
A motion was made and acted upon to have Mr. McCallon to phone to Greenville to see about car of wood that had been shipped.  A committee to collect dues: Mrs. Adams and Mrs. McCallon.

A motion was then made and acted upon to sell all the remaining wood to Mr. Montgomery and have it put on the car at $1.95 a cord.

No other business, the meeting adjourned to meet next regular meeting day.

Mrs. Clendenin, Secretary

 

Nov. 24, 1905

The Emory Cemetery Association met Friday, Nov. 24th.  The meeting was called to order by the Vice-President.  Business taken up and disposed of as follows;
The committee on collecting dues and donations reports $5.60.  Also, $31.47 was collected for car of wood.

A committee was appointed to see about having a stile built, ditches fixed and wood cut.  This committee being Mrs. J.F. Pierson and Mrs. J.W. Pierson.

Mrs. Wylie sends in her resignation as President.  Dues collected: 20 cents.

Mrs. Clendenin, Secretary

 

January 12, 1906

The Emory Cemetery Association met Jan. 12th, 1906, the meeting being called to order by the Vice-President.  Business attended to as follows:
The committee reports that the stile has been built and the Association is out of debt.

A committee of Mrs. McCallon and Mrs. Wylie was appointed to see Mr. Montgomery, get a statement from him about wood and other business in which he was concerned, to collect what he owed the Association on wood, and also to pay Hasser $1.00 for hauling.  The secretary was asked to write to Mr. J.W. Martin concerning his lot.

The Secretary and Treasurer were appointed to get up a report of what had been done in the Association and have it printed in the paper.  A motion was then made and carried to retain all the old officers.

Another motion was made and acted upon to let Mr. Montgomery have the rest of the wood hauled and pay him for same.

Dues collected: $1.45

Mrs. Clendenin, Secretary

 

February 2, 1906

The Emory Cemetery Association met Friday, February 2, 1906.  The meeting was called to order by the President.  Business taken up and disposed of as follows:
A committee reports $12.45 collected from Mr. Montgomery for wood.
The Association extends a vote of thanks to Mrs. McCallon and Judge Pierson for getting up a report and having it published.

Mrs. McCallon and Mrs. Clendenin were appointed to see Mr. Alexander about working in cemetery.

A motion was made and acted upon to change the time of meeting from twice a month to only once a month.  The time will be the first Friday in each month.

Dues collected: 50 cents.  No other business coming up, the meeting adjourned.

Mrs. Clendenin, Secretary

 

March 2, 1906
The Cemetery Association met Friday, March 2, 1906.  The meeting was opened by repeating the Lord’s Prayer.  Business taken up and disposed of as follows;
One committee reports having engaged Mr. G.H. Alexander to work in the cemetery at $1.25 per day.  Up to this date he has worked 4 ½ days.  A discussion was made as to how long we should keep Mr. Alexander at work and was decided to vote to keep him until he gets the cemetery in good shape.  All the 4-foot wood has been shipped.  A committee was appointed to see Mr. Ed Alexander about getting Bermuda grass for the cemetery.  Mrs. Wylie is to see Mr. ….