I've been doing some research on the Old Pontotoc Cemetery vs. the New Pontotoc Cemetery in Pontotoc, Mason County, Texas. There have been many many websites and postings that list these as interchangeable and it's been awfully confusing. I confirmed the information at this website:
http://www.cemeteries-of-tx.com/Wtx/Mason/cemetery/NewPontot...The Old Pontotoc Cemetery is as follows:
Old Pontotoc Cemetery
On the right side of the road headed north .2 miles north of Hwy 71 on Hwy 501.
TEXAS HISTORICAL CEMETERIES
Cemetery Number: MS-C004
Cemetery Name (or nearest feature): Old Pontotoc
Feature Type: cemetery
USGS Quad Number: 3098-333
County: MASON
History:
This was the town's cemetery until an epidemic of typhoid fever in 1887. The cemetery filled quickly and it was closed to new interments in 1888. The New Pontotoc Cemetery was established just outside of town on the south side of Hwy 71.
Many graves (a minimum of 20) are either unmarked, have a small boulder for a headstone or are marked with a small rectangular stone with no inscription. The cemetery is so overgrown with tall grass, cactus, and full grown trees growing in and out of the graves that reading most of them is impossible without major restoration of the cemetery. The cemetery is surrounded on the back and sides by a fence belonging to the cattle rancher who owns the nearby property. The front is open to the road and one single rusted gate still stands.
Of the graves that I could read, these are the interments of Old Pontotoc Cemetery:
RIP
John W. Ake
"Seth"
1823-1887
(His is a fairly new stone obviously replaced by a loved one)
Ed
born Aug. 11, 1883
died Nov 2?, 1884
In Memory
Amie? Gartman was-
Born August 17-
1810 died June the-
? 1887
(Masonic symbol)
J M Gartman
born Sept. the 6-
? died May ?
? 96-
1887
(Masonic Symbol)
Infant
son of
E and Amanda
LIGHT
Aug 18 1887
(marker with rose)
In Memory of
Eld. W H Meadows
Born
Aug 29, 1852
Died
Aug 22, 1882
RMP
F.P.
B.P.
E. H. Williams
Born
JAN. 11?, 1816?
DIED
FEB 1? 1886
(This is my family member and these dates are nearly illegible and if I've got it correct here, do not coincide with the dates given in family records. His grave was completely grown over and unapproachable on my latest visit.)
Annie . I
Young
born
Feb. 27, 1861
Died
Feb., 17,1885
If anyone has information on the typhoid epidemic or records from doctors, post office, taxes, etc....please let me know. I'm having a hard time discerning why Edmund Hugh Williams was buried in Pontotoc when he lived in Seguin most of his life. He was born in Charleston, SC and his father, Edumnd Williams was born in Pendleton, SC.