Texas Cemetery
Headstone Cleaning
During the photographing of the Jeffrey Cemetery headstones we noticed quite a few of the headstones had various types of corrosion coating their surfaces. Also, others were quite old and the stone was litterly flaking away while a few had been broken near their base.
Professional gravestone conservators say this is a normal process due to the effects of weather and the composition of the stone.
In most cases the green substance is a form of alge while the redish-orange is iron oxidation.
Whatever the cause, gravestone conservators agree that great care must be taken when cleaning the headstone so as not to inflict more damage.
Some people have already asked us why we didn’t clean the headstones prior to photographing them. The answer is quite simple. The Texas Cemetery law does not allow us to do it. Only family members or those retained by the family are allowed to perform cleaning and/or detailed restoration. In some cases, where the age of the grave is such that there are no immediate family members left, the custodian of the cemetery may take minimal remedial action to repair a headstone. However, the overall responsibility for the care of a headstone lies with the family.
There are many web sites with information about cleaning and restoring headstones. We have chosen two sites that have been prepared by professional gravestone conservators that will provide you with a wealth of information:
Cleaning and Preservation of Tombstones, Headstones & Gravestones
.
Cemetery Tour–Part 1
As you approach the gates of the Jeffrey Cemetery you are greeted by the Texas Historical Marker that was erected in 2004 by the Texas Historical Commission.
This marker offers a brief history of the establishment of the cemetery.
“Tennessee native Abraham Roberts wed Cynthia Jeffrey in Alabama in 1828. The couple arrived in Seguin, Texas, ten years later with their family. In 1840, Roberts purchased land on Tinney’s Creek in what was then Gonzales County. He and other area residents petitioned the Texas Legislature to create a new county, which was formed in 1847 and named Caldwell. That year the Roberts family made the first burial on family property when granddaughter Martha Ellison died while visiting them. The family and local residents soon began using the site as a community burial ground.
There are conflicting stories about the origins of the cemetery name and about which family gave the land for the site, but a 1921 deed cited acreage conveyed earlier to a cemetery association. In 1938, the community officially adopted the name Jeffrey Cemetery and elected officers to a board of trustees.
Today, the association maintains the site and continues traditional homecomings for families and friends of those buried here. Among the several hundred graves are the names of veterans of military service dating to the U.S.-Mexican War, as well as generations of area residents. Historic Texas Cemetery – 2004″
As you walk toward the main gate you see the twin pillars of the veteran’s memorial with the names of the veterans buried here. They continue to stand guard over the cemetery just as our men and women of our armed forces stand guard today at home and around the world. Ever vigilant and ever ready to fight and die for our freedom.
Veterans buried here dating from the Mexican-American War, American Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Iraq War, and other events are listed on the Pillars in no specific order.
The Pillars stand 6 ft. tall and new names are engraved to honor their service as a veteran is burried here.
Passing through the main gate of the cemetery you immediately notice the flowers place by families and visitors. The American flags are placed on the veteran’s graves by the American Legion and VFW. It is quite evident that this is an active cemetery where many families visit often to place flowers and small tokens of the memories of their loved ones buried here.
The cemetery is maintained year round by the Jeffrey Cemetery Association with regular mowings and trimmings of the grounds. Maintenance of the headstones is in the care of the families.
Two black-top driveways provide access by service vehicles during maintenance and internment services. Visitors are asked to park in the areas provided outside the cemetery fence.
Upon entering the main gates you can’t help but notice the Old Oak Tree that majestically stretches out over the graves on the south side of the cemetery.
The grave of Martha Ellison (b.1840, d.1847), the first to be buried here, lies under the west side of the Old Oak Tree.
By: Gregg Sterner
Posted: Oct. 30, 2011
