Martha Cemetery

Unlike John L. and Sarah Hughes, we made our journey from Sherman, Texas to Altus, Oklahoma in just a few hours by car rather than the long trip by wagon. Shortly after we arrived we made 0ur first stop at the beautiful Martha Cemetery, a short distance north and west of Altus. Rows of cedar trees make this such a lovely place.

Buried here are John Linaeus [sic] and Sarah Kizzire[sic] Hughes, four of their daughters: Edna, Norah (spelled two ways on the marker), Mary, Alice Hughes Baker, and a son, James C. Hughes. Ruby B., daughter of James Edwin and Edith Hughes is also buried here.

One of the problems of searching for older grave markers is that time and weather have a way of making many of them very difficult to read. Sharryn made a transcription of each of the family markers so that a permanent record is made while they still can be read. However, we found the markers of the daughters of J. L. and Sarah almost unreadable. What to do? I made a decision to try tombstone rubbing, first with pencil and paper and then a more permanent rubbing with crayon and pellon. The picture of the rubbing below was amazingly clear. Now, we could read what we could not before.

Crayon rubbing on pellon

Life was difficult and many died young in those olden days as we see in the John Hughes family. The list of those family members buried in Martha Cemetery give a picture of indescrible pain as parents laid their children to rest. Life was and is precious.

John L. Hughes -- September 14, 1851-December 8, 1919
Sarah K. Hughes -- September 15, 1853-April 28, 1938
Edna -- October 7, 1890-February 18, 1901 (10 yrs old)
Nora -- January 11, 1891-July 6, 1894 (3 yrs old)
Mary -- February 2, 1883-November 14, 1900 (17 yrs old)
Ruby d/o J. E and E. T. Hughes -- November 2, 1894-September 16, 1901 (6 yrs old)



"Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Revelation 22:20