Edwards Cemetery is a public cemetery located just West of the Mount Pleasant city square. Once known as the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, some also say that it was called "Colonial Hill Cemetery". Edwards Cemetery occupies the entire city block bounded on the South by West First Street, on the East by Edwards Avenue, on the North by West Fourth Street, and on the West by Miller Street.
Colonel William R. (Bill) Edwards (1837-1900) was born in Tennessee and served as a Colonel in the Tennessee Militia. He arrived in Texas in 1850s and served as Titus County Sheriff from 1871 until 1882. Land for Edwards Cemetery was donated by the Edwards family in a deed dated August 11, 1903 and the cemetery was named in honor of Colonel Edwards. Colonel Edwards and many Edwards family members are buried in the cemetery.
Edwards Cemetery, like most historically significant sites, has its share of conflict and confusion. There is little doubt that it was Mt. Pleasant's earliest "town cemetery", but no documentation shows when the cemetery was first used. Recorded deaths show that the cemetery was used in the 1850s, and probably in the 1840s. Early deed records seem to indicate the existence of a "family cemetery" that may have been incorporated into the current Edwards Cemetery.
As Mt. Pleasant's population grew, Edwards Cemetery was used as the public burial grounds for both Caucasian and African-American residents. Then on December 14, 1888, a large meeting of citizens decided that it was impossible "to put the cemetery in a condition becoming Christian people" and Masonic Cemetery was formed for the exclusive burial of whites. African-American citizens began using the "Old Mt. Pleasant Colored Cemetery" in the Southwest part of town. Until June 22, 1977, Edwards Cemetery lots were free. Then the City of Mt. Pleasant plated the cemetery and began selling the lots.
Three older historically-significant area cemeteries were relocated to Edwards Cemetery.
In the 1970s, construction of Lake Bob Sandlin required the removing Camp County's Friendship Cemetery from the basin to be flooded when Cypress Creek was dammed. Remains from twenty graves were relocated to Edwards Cemetery, and nineteen granite blocks inscribed "UNKNOWN, moved from Camp County Friendship Cemetery" mark those grave sites. The remaining grave has a monument for William R. Freeman (born August 29, 1860). The relocated graves are found near the fence approximately half way down the East (Edwards Street) side near the City of Mount Pleasant sign.
On June 7, 1979, Richmond and Fitzgerald family heirs bought eight lots for the purpose of relocating remains buried in the Richmond-Fitzgerald Cemetery. They moved the remains and existing monuments in that year. The Richmond-Fitzgerald Cemetery remains are interred near the first gate in the fence on the cemetery's West (Miller Street) side. The monuments were apparently in poor condition or were broken during the move, so they were laid face-up on the ground and encased in concrete rather than being stood on end as they were designed.
Similarly, in 1980, Benton family heirs bought ten lots for the purpose of relocating the Benton family cemetery. Two lots marked by their monument were used for John and Deary Yan Benton. The remains in eight unknown burials were interred under a single marker inscribed "UNKNOWN".
Time, the elements, vandals, and well meaning individuals have removed some of the stones, wooden crosses, etc. used to mark grave sites. It appears that most of the earliest burials began on the South (First Street) end of the cemetery as very few markers are now found there. As you proceed North through the cemetery, monuments become more frequent and more dense. Most of the first markers encountered while walking North from First Street are very old marble monuments, many of which have weathered until they are very hard, if not impossible, to read. Newer monuments begin appearing as you progress further toward the cemetery's North end.
Many stories could be told from the cemetery's history, but are lost forever. How many desperados are buried here (Mt. Pleasant had a few)? The only significant tale arises from one of the inhabitants buried here.
Henry Clay Thruston (May 14, 1833 - July 2, 1911) is buried here with his wife and son. (We have also seen his name spelled "Thouston" and "Thurston"-our spelling is from the four family monuments).
A member of Company 1, 4th Missouri Cavalry of the Confederate Army and standing 7 feet, 7-1/2 inches tall, Thruston received notoriety as the tallest man to fight in the Civil War. Many stories abound about his war exploits. During one campaign, the two sides stopped hostilities while he and David V. Buskirk, at 6' 10-1/2" the tallest man in the Union army, were photographed together to resolve the argument of who could claim the title "Tallest man in the Civil War". Thruston won. Surviving the war was, of course, a remarkable feat (imagine the target he presented).
After the war, he moved to northwestern Titus County where he acquired large amounts of land. In post war years, Thruston joined P. T. Barnum's traveling circus and was billed as "The Texas Giant" and "The Tallest Man in the World". He wore a stovepipe hat to emphasize his height and during parades would array himself in the American flag and sometimes the "Stars and Bars".
He died July 2, 1909, while living in Mount Vernon and was buried in Edwards Cemetery. His grave, along with three other Thruston family members, is located just slightly southwest of the center gate on Edwards Avenue.
In the past, someone apparently painted many of the cemetery's older markers white (several times) in a misdirected attempt at preservation. Rather than preserving the markers, it has made many almost impossible to read due to the now-flaking paint build-up that both disguises raised letters and fills etched ones.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS FROM THE TITUS COUNTY COURTHOUSE:
Travel 0.3 miles West on West First Street to the intersection of Edwards Avenue. Turn right (North) on Edwards Avenue. The cemetery is very visible on your left, and the main entrance is approximately .01 mile from West First Street. Several other gates are found on the North (Fourth Street) side and West (Miller Street) side.
