The Cemeteries of Titus County – Jones Chapel
Here's a list of things we try to always have with us when we go on a caching trip. You should do the same.
Flashlight, needle nose pliers, screwdrivers, camera, tweezers, spare pens, micro log roller, telescoping magnet, swag, mirror, extended grabber, pocket knife, headlamp, and a poking stick. (This is a standard recommendation for this series... You don't need anything more than a pen on MOST of the caches in this series.)
We also like have the PAF (Phone A Friend) & TAF (Text A Friend) options in our toolbox before we head out on a remote cache run. Feel free to email that request to Zoonkai through his Geocaching.com profile page & you will be provided with a cell phone # to add that PAF / TAF option to your toolbox.
A very special thanks to Redicer for giving up this cemetery to allow this hide. This cemetery was formerly the home of GC52MP3 / Keeping Up with the Joneses.
This is a well kept cemtery with a few houses nearby, so be on your best behaviour.
Be sure to read the marker titled "My Buddy My Dad" on the black marker as you walk into the cemetery.
After you've read that marker, take a stroll on the nice sidewalk & relax on one of the benches. We personally like to sit at the picnic table...
PLEASE RETURN THE CACHE TO ITS HIDING SPOT AS GOOD OR BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT. (We’d prefer it stays hidden from the Muggles.)
Please respectful of your surroundings while searching all caches, particularly ones in cemeteries like this series. NO NIGHT CACHING!!
Congratulations to the following cachers who have completed this entire series!!
TP-Conductor and yakman4 (Co-FTF on the series as well as Co-FTF on many of the caches!!)
Murphree-Concord-Jones Chapel Cemetery
Not much is chronicled about the Jones Chapel Cemetery, a relatively small rural cemetery located in Southeast Titus County. One of the early settlers of Titus County stated that it was established before their arrival in 1882. Early on, the location supported a school, church and cemetery in close proximity. Even the name is in conflict. Because it is in the Isaac Jones Headright it is called Jones Chapel. However, there is a claim that it was named after the Murphree family who were early settlers and have several members buried here. And lastly it was mislabeled as Concord Cemetery. This probably originated when the school that was originally located there was relocated to the Pittsburg Road (currently US 271) and named Concord school. A non-denominational church also held services there. Then the South Concord Home Demonstration Club undertook the restoration of the cemetery. Subsequently, the Jones Chapel Cemetery Association was formed in 1970.
And the cemetery now retains the name, Jones Chapel Cemetery. It covers about 1 acre and is in good condition with many graves. A chain link fence once enclosed the cemetery but that has recently been removed. Recently too, vandals have shot, broken and tipped over the monuments in the cemetery. The Titus County sheriff’s department provided a prisoner work force that did an outstanding job to right the monuments and repair those that could be repaired. Many monuments have been replaced, particularly those of Benjamin, James and Martha Murphree whose remnants of the old stones lie in proximity to the new ones.
Although little remains of facts concerning those that are buried there without monuments, the Mount Pleasant Daily Tribune ran a “History of Jones Chapel” in it’s Sunday, April 18, 1971 edition that listed many names that were available. There are 64 concrete slabs that, at least one time, marked the grave sites of known burials without monuments. No doubt, some of those slabs have been moved and others may lie under encroaching dirt, grass and leaves. Additionally, there are some round concrete markers with identifying letter/number combinations inscribed. These were noted: P43, P45, P59, QR50, J51, U46, TY45, U43, U42, Y39, LM44, LM43. Two monument bases with the monuments removed were also found in the cemetery.
To reach the Jones Chapel Cemetery from the Titus County court house, take Madison Avenue south for 0.3 mile to the intersection of Ferguson Road (US 271). Turn left onto Ferguson Road for 0.1 mile to the intersection with Jefferson Street (US 271). Turn right (South) onto Jefferson Street and proceed 2.8 miles to the intersection from the left with County Road (CR) 4530. Turn left onto CR 4530 and the cemetery lies 0.5 mile on the right. Coordinates: 33°06.699'N 094°57.757'W
All cemetery details listed in this cache were found at www.hiddenancestors.com