Written by Freda Day – Clara Jane Farr was born in Indiana on September 4, 1882. On March 2, 1919, Clara married Dr. Noah Achor of Illinois. According to her marriage license, Clara was a school teacher at the time. I am unclear how they came to to be in Texas.
Clara became an osteopathic physician, and in the early part of the twentieth century was the only licensed female doctor practicing in Brownwood. Her sister, Rose Denson, was her nurse and assistant.
Clara’s husband, Noah, was also a doctor. He was a veteran of the Philippine Insurgence, between 1899 and 1902, and also served in both the Spanish American War and World War I. While he practiced medicine in Brownwood, he was active in the Masonic Lodge. Noah died in the VA hospital in Waco in 1939, long before Clara.
Doctors Noah and Clara had two sons: Merlin and William. Merlin grew up to be a doctor like his parents. William served in the US Army Air Corps during World War II. His grave stone states, “Teacher and Engineer, At Peace with God.”
During her life, Clara was active in her community. She was a member of the Brownwood Business & Professional Women’s Club, at a time when not that many women in this area qualified. She married, raised children, was involved in her community, and was a physician. She seems to have proven that women can, indeed, have it all.
Dr. Clara Achor died at the age of 77 on December 3, 1959, and was buried beside her husband at Greenleaf Cemetery. Her headstone reads, “Mother, Teacher, Physician, Perfect Peace in God.”
About Greenleaf Cemetery:
The Greenleaf Cemetery was established in 1868. Greenleaf Fisk gave five acres to the town for a burial place, and two and one half acres each the Pecan Valley IOOF Lodge No. 236, October 26, 1883, and to the Brownwood Masonic Lodge No. 141 AF and AM, December 3, 1883, making a total of ten acres for burial purposes. There has been four additions to the cemetery since then and now has over 18,000 burials. A section was set aside in 1958 for members of the Catholic denomination. The cemetery was named Round Mountain and later renamed Greenleaf. The Brownwood Garden Club built the present entrance. During 1918 they averaged about four burials a day due to the flu epidemic. At this time they had four crews digging day and night.
The Greenleaf Cemetery Association was incorporated April 10, 1923 The Greenleaf Cemetery is a non-profit perpetual care cemetery. Its governing body consists of five board members, elected by members of the Greenleaf Cemetery Association. The cemetery is located off Highway 377 South (Brady Highway) across the railroad tracks within the city limits of Brownwood.
Freda Day
Office Manager at Greenleaf Cemetery
Freda Day works as the Office Manager for the historic Greenleaf Cemetery. She moved to the Brownwood area in her teens, after traveling with her family as an “Air Force Brat.” Now in her 60’s, most of the generations of her family that came before her have passed. She says “Everyday is like a family reunion coming to work.”
If you would like to help Greenleaf Cemetery with a financial donation, please make a check payable to Keep Brownwood Beautiful and write “Greenleaf Project” on the memo line. Mail your check to:
Greenleaf Cemetery P.O.Box 455. Brownwood, Texas 76804-0455
Donations by credit card are also accepted by calling the cemetery office at (325) 646-6919.
