Lewis Family Cemetery Historical Marker, Buckholts, Milam, TX

Lewis Family Cemetery

Buckholts, TX

Erected 2007

3.3 miles south of Buckholts on FM 1915

Lewis cemetery gets historical marker

Rockdale Reporter, September 25, 2008

The historic Lewis Family Cemetery near Buckholts was honored by the unveiling of a

Texas Historical Marker on Saturday, Sept. 20.

The ceremony was attended by about 100 people including 50-plus Lewis/Curry decedents

along with local dignitaries, family friends and members of the Milam County Historical

Commission.

Master of ceremony, Bob Powell, introduced Buckholts Mayor, Hal Senkel, who welcomed the

family decedents to Buckholts and offered his support for this historic occasion.

Then introduced was Jackie Thornton, vicechairperson and marker chairperson of the Milam

County Historical Commission, who discussed the process that was required for historic

designation. Thornton then introduced attending members of the Milam County Historic

Commission. Those attending were Mary Ann Eanes, Dolores Sonntag and Dr. Lucille Estell,

chairperson of the commission. Dr. Estell then addressed attendees with some of the

incites to recognizing and importance of preserving historic sites such as this.

The unveiling ceremony then was conducted with senior family members, Beatrice

Kestenbaum of Cameron, Dorothy Jean Gause of Gause, Betty Laird of Montgomery and Nelsie

Love Chumlea of Fort Worth.

Joining them, as a symbol of passing heritage to the next generations were all direct

descendants pre-teen children including Dakota Powell, Lindsey Powell, Charley Cummins,

Loren Marie Green, John Jennings, Mark Jennings, Ben Culver, Lee Culver and Nickolas

Green.

In 1832, Thomas Curry, as a member of Sterling C. Robertson’s Nashville Colony, received

as a grant, one league of land reaching from the Little River north to the South Elm

Creek. The league containing 4428 acres included what is now the City of Buckholts.

Thomas died before he could settle and his son, David Curry, wife Jane (who is also

buried here) and their children including Anne Elizabeth Curry moved onto the southern

part of the grant in 1847. Indians roamed the land and times were hard. Ann Elizabeth

Curry married Squire Lewis, who was the fi rst Justice of Peace in the Corinth

Community, a charter mason in Cameron, one of the builders of the fi rst Milam County

Courthouse in Cameron as well as a Civil War Volunteer.

Five generations of the Lewis/Curry family are buried here with the last being Betty

Kensil Lewis in 1955.

The cemetery is maintained by families with the centerpiece a huge oak tree said to be

over 500 years old.

Following the dedication, the Lewis Family reunion was held at the Buckholts Community

Center with many friends and guests attending.

Members of the Lewis family dedicated a historical marker at the family cemetery

near Buckholts.