Pioneer Cemetery

Lamesa was platted in July 1903 by Frank Connor, J. J. Lindsey, J. F. Barron and several others. A. L. Wasson, a member of the first town committee, was struck by the tabletop flatness of the land and offered La Mesa and Lamesa as names; he preferred the Spanish form, but the committee chose the single word. Harrison B. Oliver became postmaster in 1904, the year a school opened. After Lamesa won the county seat by five votes in March 1905, it offered free lots to the merchants of rival Stemmons. The Santa Fe arrived on August 4, 1910.

What the plaque says

Pioneer Cemetery First burial ground in Dawson County, given by Frank Conner. First grave, Nov. 10, 1904, for Mrs. G. W. Pate, who had suggested cemetery. Plot closed 1907, except for 1949 burial of W. R. Kelly beside his wife. The 22 others here: Montie Andrews, Carrie Baker, Mrs. J. M. Baker, infants Bowser, Dickenson, McNew, Senter, Mrs. Zeke Harris, G. W. Kelly, Eunice C. Lindsey, John R. Lindsey, W. W. McElwain, S. H. Maxwell, Mrs. Elmira Pate, Ollie Pate, Frances C. Printz, John Puryear, Floyd Rains, John Earl Seeds, Roger Simpson, Mart Trammel, Elizabeth Wright. (1964)

Where it stands

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