Compiled from articles posted by Freda Day – The stones at Brownwood’s historic Greenleaf Cemetery tell tales. Some stories are of heroes, some of villains, some funny, some tragic. All are worth discovering, and remembering. These are just three of the thousands of stories waiting to be heard.
Killed in Action
In 1942, James Lathem Ables was the only letter man on the Brownwood High School football team. After he graduated in 1943, he became an Air Force cadet, and served in the Air Force during the final days of WWII. After the war, he went to college at the University of Texas, graduating in 1949. He then went to work in Washington DC as an administrative assistant for Representative O. C. Fisher.
In 1950, the young officer was called back to active duty. He wanted to be where the action was, so he chose to join the Marines. He went to Korea in command of a rifle platoon with the 1st Marine Division.
Latham was killed in action while fighting the enemy in Korea on April 29, 1951.
Second Lieutenant Ables was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
Golf anyone?
Here’s an interesting story I heard from Shane Agan, Grounds Supervisor at Greenleaf Cemetery.
While the guys were working in the area where Patrick O’Shea’s grave is, they noticed this stone, with the line, “I never should have shot that priest.” They commented on it, and a gentleman standing at a nearby grave told Shane that he knew Patrick.
Patrick was a golfer. He had apparently come from Ireland to play golf. When he was playing and made a bad shot, he always commented on his bad luck saying, “I never should have shot that priest!”
Dewitt and Mattie England… Unhappy Home
Most of this story is from a 1937 issue of The Austin American… Jefferson Dewitt England was a 41-year-old farmer. He and his 38-year-old wife, Mattie, lived on their farm, about ten miles northeast of Brownwood.
On June 3, 1937, Dewitt was found in his vegetable garden, shot in the head, with his .22 caliber rifle in his lap. The dead body of his wife was found by his side. They had separated the month before, and had been living separately with family members in Brownwood. They returned to their farm that fateful day to divide their property. I sense things didn’t go well.
Mattie was buried at Greenleaf Cemetery, but with her parents, not her husband.
Mattie had twins in 1936. The son apparently died at birth or as an infant, but they left a ten month old daughter.
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.
Source: http://browncountyhistory.org/greenleafC.html
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.
