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What Lies Beneath: Texas Pioneer Cemeteries and Graveyards
Unearth the Mysteries of Those Who Lie Beneath the Oldest Graveyards in the Lone Star State
Texas, the second largest state, both in land mass and population, has more than 50,000 cemeteries, graveyards, and burial grounds. As the final resting places of those whose earthly journey has ended, they are also repositories of valuable cultural history. The pioneer cemeteries—those from the 19th century—provide a wealth of information on the people who settled Texas during its years as a Republic (1836-1845), and after it became the 28th state in 1845. In What Lies Texas Pioneer Cemeteries and Graveyards, author Cynthia Leal Massey exhumes the stories of these pioneers, revealing the intriguing truth behind the earliest graveyards in the Lone Star State, including some of its most ancient. This guide also provides descriptions of headstone features and symbols, and demystifies the burial traditions of early Texas pioneers and settlers.
Texas, the second largest state, both in land mass and population, has more than 50,000 cemeteries, graveyards, and burial grounds. As the final resting places of those whose earthly journey has ended, they are also repositories of valuable cultural history. The pioneer cemeteries—those from the 19th century—provide a wealth of information on the people who settled Texas during its years as a Republic (1836-1845), and after it became the 28th state in 1845. In What Lies Texas Pioneer Cemeteries and Graveyards, author Cynthia Leal Massey exhumes the stories of these pioneers, revealing the intriguing truth behind the earliest graveyards in the Lone Star State, including some of its most ancient. This guide also provides descriptions of headstone features and symbols, and demystifies the burial traditions of early Texas pioneers and settlers.
- GenresNonfictionHistory
400 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2021
About the author
Cynthia Leal Massey
12 books29 followersCynthia Leal Massey is an award-winning author of historical fiction and nonfiction, focusing on Texas and Mexico. A former corporate editor, college English instructor, and magazine editor, she has published hundreds of articles and stories in anthologies, newspapers, and magazines, and is the author of several books. She was the 2008 winner of the Lone Star Award for Magazine Journalism given by the Houston Press Club for "Is UT Holding our History Hostage?" published by Scene in SA magazine. Her books have won several awards: Among them, a WILLA Literary Award for Best Original Softcover fiction, a Will Rogers Silver Medallion Award for Best Western Nonfiction, and a San Antonio Conservation Society Award. She is a full-time writer.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 4, 2021
I grew up with parents who made regular visits to our relatives in the cemetery. We left flowers, wreaths and had conversations as we wandered the headstones reading aloud and wondering or reminiscing about the lives of the people there.
This author brought back all my wonder, curiosity, and love of obscure with this book. Taking the reader on a tour arranged geographically, I went to places near (surprisingly near!) and far from my Texas home. The research into the lives and traditions was excellent. Questions I didn’t even realize I had were answered. Like, Who really was Sam Bass? I’ve been on that road a lot and assumed it was someone’s name – now I know!
There are numerous photographs that enrich the reading experience as well as blocks of historical information on items such as Yellow Fever and Consort and Relit (I have always wondered about those terms). Both the famous and infamous are included in this book as well ordinary people who were important each in their own way. The workmanship on some of the grave markers is elaborate and intricate. For example, one is a cross of tree limbs with shields and emblems created for a saloon owner and gunfight victim.
This is one of those books that I think of as a perfect gift for someone who has everything. Everyone can find something in here to enjoy. It’s one of those wonderful pick up again and again books that you can enjoy in pieces or as a whole. This book will be living on my shelf to be revisited as I travel different areas of Texas.
Read it - Who knows, you might even learn about the thought behind where the term “Stinking Rich” came from!
This author brought back all my wonder, curiosity, and love of obscure with this book. Taking the reader on a tour arranged geographically, I went to places near (surprisingly near!) and far from my Texas home. The research into the lives and traditions was excellent. Questions I didn’t even realize I had were answered. Like, Who really was Sam Bass? I’ve been on that road a lot and assumed it was someone’s name – now I know!
There are numerous photographs that enrich the reading experience as well as blocks of historical information on items such as Yellow Fever and Consort and Relit (I have always wondered about those terms). Both the famous and infamous are included in this book as well ordinary people who were important each in their own way. The workmanship on some of the grave markers is elaborate and intricate. For example, one is a cross of tree limbs with shields and emblems created for a saloon owner and gunfight victim.
This is one of those books that I think of as a perfect gift for someone who has everything. Everyone can find something in here to enjoy. It’s one of those wonderful pick up again and again books that you can enjoy in pieces or as a whole. This book will be living on my shelf to be revisited as I travel different areas of Texas.
Read it - Who knows, you might even learn about the thought behind where the term “Stinking Rich” came from!
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July 30, 2021Reviewed for Lone Star Literary Life.
Featured on Lone Star Book Blog Tours. Lone Star Blogger Team average rating: 5.000.
Featured on Lone Star Book Blog Tours. Lone Star Blogger Team average rating: 5.000.
October 13, 2021
My Review:
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
At first glance, this book is an in-depth tour of old Texas graveyards, their locations and a brief description of who is buried in each. But it is much, much more.
"The life of Elizabeth Ann Carter Clifton (1825-1882) illustrates the tragedies that often befell women in the Indian territories of Texas."
Doesn't that make you want to dive in and read more!
Dividing Texas into regions, Massey provides the historical context for towns and settlements, how they were founded, and by whom. She gives insight into the settlers and describes the conflicts and obstacles they faced in establishing a new home. Many of the people are fleshed out, not just names and dates, but their occupations, place of origin, how they died. The author gives points out burial customs and the symbolism used on headstones. You feel you come to know something about these brave Texas Pioneers and a deeper insight into the founding of Texas.
A travelogue of Texas, this would be a great reference to take along on a road trip or just sit and read, picturing the dusty Texas towns, some long gone or past their heyday. It’s a book you can pick up and put down without losing a beat. I found it a fascinating read and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
At first glance, this book is an in-depth tour of old Texas graveyards, their locations and a brief description of who is buried in each. But it is much, much more.
"The life of Elizabeth Ann Carter Clifton (1825-1882) illustrates the tragedies that often befell women in the Indian territories of Texas."
Doesn't that make you want to dive in and read more!
Dividing Texas into regions, Massey provides the historical context for towns and settlements, how they were founded, and by whom. She gives insight into the settlers and describes the conflicts and obstacles they faced in establishing a new home. Many of the people are fleshed out, not just names and dates, but their occupations, place of origin, how they died. The author gives points out burial customs and the symbolism used on headstones. You feel you come to know something about these brave Texas Pioneers and a deeper insight into the founding of Texas.
A travelogue of Texas, this would be a great reference to take along on a road trip or just sit and read, picturing the dusty Texas towns, some long gone or past their heyday. It’s a book you can pick up and put down without losing a beat. I found it a fascinating read and thoroughly enjoyed it.
October 11, 2021
I have long been fascinated by cemeteries and gravestones. Growing up in the South, I was expected to attend funerals and graveside services from an early age, and I always liked walking around cemeteries to see what interesting tidbits I might find on the grave markers. So when I had a chance to review What Lies Beneath, I jumped at it.
The book is divided into ten sections, based on the ten Texas Heritage Trails established by the Texas Historical Commission. That makes it easy to read in smaller chunks (if you can bear to put it down – I found it quite engrossing!), and if you’re interested in traveling to see any of these places in person, the book’s structure will make it easy to find and visit several in one area.
I lived in Texas for a time, and while I didn’t grow up there, I appreciate its history and culture. Massey doesn’t just give you a coffee table book full of pretty pictures. She really digs into the pioneer stories, the life and times of the folks whose grave markers she’s writing about. I learned a lot of things I didn’t know and was introduced to some fascinating characters. Some of the people whose burials she highlighted were lawmen. While many were good, honest men who strove to uphold the law, a couple turned out to be just about as bad as the criminals they were supposed to go after!
I’ve said before how much I enjoy books that both entertain and educate. What Lies Beneath does both admirably. It’s not a dry historical read at all. Massey’s prose brings the people she writes about to life, and I particularly enjoyed the sidebar facts. For instance, did you know that a “cemetery” is not the same thing as a “graveyard”? I’d never given it much thought. The terms have always been used interchangeably in my experience. But there is a difference. I also learned how women were identified on their tombstones if they died before or after their husbands. I had really never given that any thought at all.
We’d like to travel more, and I hope we can see at least some of the locations mentioned in the book. I’d love to go take pictures and share them on the Find A Grave site.
This is a great read for “the spooky month,” as my kids call October, and one I’d highly recommend for any student of history and anyone who, like me, feels the pull of the past coming from a graveyard.
Five stars as bright as the ones you’ll see in an old country cemetery on a moonless night.
The book is divided into ten sections, based on the ten Texas Heritage Trails established by the Texas Historical Commission. That makes it easy to read in smaller chunks (if you can bear to put it down – I found it quite engrossing!), and if you’re interested in traveling to see any of these places in person, the book’s structure will make it easy to find and visit several in one area.
I lived in Texas for a time, and while I didn’t grow up there, I appreciate its history and culture. Massey doesn’t just give you a coffee table book full of pretty pictures. She really digs into the pioneer stories, the life and times of the folks whose grave markers she’s writing about. I learned a lot of things I didn’t know and was introduced to some fascinating characters. Some of the people whose burials she highlighted were lawmen. While many were good, honest men who strove to uphold the law, a couple turned out to be just about as bad as the criminals they were supposed to go after!
I’ve said before how much I enjoy books that both entertain and educate. What Lies Beneath does both admirably. It’s not a dry historical read at all. Massey’s prose brings the people she writes about to life, and I particularly enjoyed the sidebar facts. For instance, did you know that a “cemetery” is not the same thing as a “graveyard”? I’d never given it much thought. The terms have always been used interchangeably in my experience. But there is a difference. I also learned how women were identified on their tombstones if they died before or after their husbands. I had really never given that any thought at all.
We’d like to travel more, and I hope we can see at least some of the locations mentioned in the book. I’d love to go take pictures and share them on the Find A Grave site.
This is a great read for “the spooky month,” as my kids call October, and one I’d highly recommend for any student of history and anyone who, like me, feels the pull of the past coming from a graveyard.
Five stars as bright as the ones you’ll see in an old country cemetery on a moonless night.
August 2, 2021
Cynthia Leal Massey has written an intriguing, scholarly work, What Lies Beneath: Texas Pioneer Cemeteries and Graveyards.
The introduction alone is fascinating. Massey, a born and raised Texan, traveled thousands of miles to visit more than a hundred Texas cemeteries, graveyards and burial grounds. She recalls many peaceful visits to Texas cemeteries as well as some harrowing experiences. Massey’s extensive research is impressive as she tells the story of the founding of Texas through those buried in pioneer cemeteries— some stately, some abandoned—from the early days through the nineteenth century.
The large volume is enriched with many pictures reproduced from archives as well as pictures of grave sites as seen today. Throughout the book are text boxes with captivating subjects, gems such as the devastating effects of yellow fever, the difference between cemeteries and graveyards, and the history of the Texas Rangers, to name only a few. These pictures and text boxes further convey the cultural history of Texas from the period before and during its years as a Republic (1836 - 1845) and after it became the 28th state in 1845. The guide also provides descriptions of headstone features and symbols traditionally used by early Texans.
The book is organized using Texas Heritage Trail Regions, then cities, towns, unincorporated communities and forts. As the many graves are visited, the reader is taken back in time while learning about individual attitudes and challenges, and how those people helped shape what is Texas today.
What Lies Beneath: Texas Pioneer Cemeteries and Graveyards is an ambitious, well-written account of Texas history. Massey’s background in journalism and love of history shine through the pages of this valuable resource of early Texas families and their communities.
The introduction alone is fascinating. Massey, a born and raised Texan, traveled thousands of miles to visit more than a hundred Texas cemeteries, graveyards and burial grounds. She recalls many peaceful visits to Texas cemeteries as well as some harrowing experiences. Massey’s extensive research is impressive as she tells the story of the founding of Texas through those buried in pioneer cemeteries— some stately, some abandoned—from the early days through the nineteenth century.
The large volume is enriched with many pictures reproduced from archives as well as pictures of grave sites as seen today. Throughout the book are text boxes with captivating subjects, gems such as the devastating effects of yellow fever, the difference between cemeteries and graveyards, and the history of the Texas Rangers, to name only a few. These pictures and text boxes further convey the cultural history of Texas from the period before and during its years as a Republic (1836 - 1845) and after it became the 28th state in 1845. The guide also provides descriptions of headstone features and symbols traditionally used by early Texans.
The book is organized using Texas Heritage Trail Regions, then cities, towns, unincorporated communities and forts. As the many graves are visited, the reader is taken back in time while learning about individual attitudes and challenges, and how those people helped shape what is Texas today.
What Lies Beneath: Texas Pioneer Cemeteries and Graveyards is an ambitious, well-written account of Texas history. Massey’s background in journalism and love of history shine through the pages of this valuable resource of early Texas families and their communities.
October 14, 2021
“All my heart is buried with you/All my thoughts go onward with you/Come not back again to labor/come not back again to suffer/soon your footsteps I shall follow/to the land of the hereafter!”
What Lies Beneath is a wealth of Texas historical stories about long passed souls who found their way to Texas. Those souls are what helped make Texas what it is today. Learning this history was refreshing and completely new.
Author Cynthia Leal Massey took me on a Texas-wide historical journey into the major geographical regions that make up this state. While each region is idiosyncratic the people who settled in those regions were equally distinctive.
Just like learning from any history book, What Lies Beneath, expanded my knowledge base tremendously of the people who helped create our great state. Massey’s book makes learning about history more enjoyable than a straight history text.
I will share that long ago one of my parental grandmother’s had her baby daughter reinterred in another cemetery on a journey of about 100 miles. That was just weird to me as a young girl. Because there was no casket anymore, only the bones and strands of the blue dress she’d been buried in. Then after reading What Lies Beneath I found out it was quite the common thing to do back in the 1800s and early 1900s – digging up people and reinterring them in another location. That is just extraordinary to me.
Zinc monuments are something else Massey introduced me to in this book. Plus, it was quite common amongst the early Texas settlers to remarry, often more than once, twice, or three times. I learned about the Center Point Cemetery and its ties to the Texas Rangers.
Many murders occurred in Texas while this state was gaining a foothold. There were a lot of strong women back then that endured a lot to call Texas home. I will definitely be checking out one of the books Massey mentions in her book, Lady with the Pen: Elise Waerenskjold in Texas. I also learned about the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge and its secret, as well as Assault the thoroughbred.
I agree with Massey that cemeteries are important to our collective histories and humanities. While I acknowledge the controversy surrounding the history of our Confederate past – it is our past and one we should never forget. In all truthfulness, our country would be quite different without that Confederate legacy.
If you are a lover of Texas history then this book should become part of your library. If you are a taphophile then you will definitely love this book.
What Lies Beneath is a wealth of Texas historical stories about long passed souls who found their way to Texas. Those souls are what helped make Texas what it is today. Learning this history was refreshing and completely new.
Author Cynthia Leal Massey took me on a Texas-wide historical journey into the major geographical regions that make up this state. While each region is idiosyncratic the people who settled in those regions were equally distinctive.
Just like learning from any history book, What Lies Beneath, expanded my knowledge base tremendously of the people who helped create our great state. Massey’s book makes learning about history more enjoyable than a straight history text.
I will share that long ago one of my parental grandmother’s had her baby daughter reinterred in another cemetery on a journey of about 100 miles. That was just weird to me as a young girl. Because there was no casket anymore, only the bones and strands of the blue dress she’d been buried in. Then after reading What Lies Beneath I found out it was quite the common thing to do back in the 1800s and early 1900s – digging up people and reinterring them in another location. That is just extraordinary to me.
Zinc monuments are something else Massey introduced me to in this book. Plus, it was quite common amongst the early Texas settlers to remarry, often more than once, twice, or three times. I learned about the Center Point Cemetery and its ties to the Texas Rangers.
Many murders occurred in Texas while this state was gaining a foothold. There were a lot of strong women back then that endured a lot to call Texas home. I will definitely be checking out one of the books Massey mentions in her book, Lady with the Pen: Elise Waerenskjold in Texas. I also learned about the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge and its secret, as well as Assault the thoroughbred.
I agree with Massey that cemeteries are important to our collective histories and humanities. While I acknowledge the controversy surrounding the history of our Confederate past – it is our past and one we should never forget. In all truthfulness, our country would be quite different without that Confederate legacy.
If you are a lover of Texas history then this book should become part of your library. If you are a taphophile then you will definitely love this book.
October 15, 2021
It's amazing how much history a graveyard can hold for the living to see if only we take the time to look! That is the message I received from Cynthia Leal Massey's What Lies Beneath: Texas Pioneer Cemeteries and Graveyards. Through substantial research, Massey is able to provide to us snippets of history in a detailed and very organized way. Any aficionado of cemeteries (yes, I do believe there is such a thing) would do themselves the favor of picking up What Lies Beneath. With its organizational guide of graveyards, cemeteries, forts, etc., Massey gives an extensive and quite informational layout of what to see and what to expect. Each place brimming with history to inspect.
What Lies Beneath is a great read for anyone interested in combining their love of history, Texas, and the slightly spooky. The stories within these pages are interesting and easy to read through - there was no putting this book down! I also plan on keeping it handy for the next time I travel through our state. I think you should too!
What Lies Beneath is a great read for anyone interested in combining their love of history, Texas, and the slightly spooky. The stories within these pages are interesting and easy to read through - there was no putting this book down! I also plan on keeping it handy for the next time I travel through our state. I think you should too!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews