Link Family Cemetery
Historical Marker Text
This cemetery was established when John and
Mary Otelia Link buried their young daughters Annie and Allean at this
site within a week of each other in July of 1887. Both children died of
diphtheria. At that time no Catholic cemetery existed nearby and local
tradition suggests the children were buried near their home because
transportation of unpreserved bodies over a long distance in the heat
was impractical. John Link died in 1888 and was buried next to his
daughters. The Links practiced burial procedures commonly used in rural
Texas in the 19th century. The deceased was washed and laid out on a
cooling board with bags of saltpeter or silver coins placed over the
eyes in an undertaking shared by friends and neighbors. Pallbearers
lowered the locally manufactured casket with the use of three
traditional cotton straps. After the burial, participants gathered at
the home of the deceased to eat and express sympathy. John and Mary's
eldest son Andrew B. Link formally set aside the cemetery in a deed
transferring family land to his youngest brother John F. Link in 1919.
Of the 32 burials currently in the cemetery, 11 are of children under
the age of 6. The Link Family Cemetery is maintained by an association
of family members.
1993
location: about 6mi. NW of Palestine via SH
19, then 1 mi. west on CR 433W |
