Lilac Cemetery Historical Marker

Lilac Cemetery

Corner of FM 487 and FR 3061

Dr. John Herndon Graves (1807-1889) and his family

settled in this area in 1858. They acquired

several large tracts of land over time, and Dr.

Graves' daughter and her husband deeded the land

around this site for Lilac Baptist Church in 1880.

It was intended for use as a cemetery as well.

According to oral history, another area resident

subsequently deeded a strip of land across the

south end of the cemetery. The earliest marked

grave on this site is that of Calvin McCormick (d.

1870). Dr. John H. Graves' marker indicates that

he was the earliest-born of those interred here.

Other burials of interest include four Civil War

veterans, one Spanish-American War veteran, nine

veterans of World War I and a number of veterans

of other wars and conflicts. Lilac Cemetery

continues as a chronicle of Milam County history.

Erected 2000

Lilac Cemetery Association
Secretary - Treasurer: Owen Rachel Graves, 12984 N. FM 487, Buckholts, Texas 76518
email: orgraves(AT)gmail(DOT)com