Jacksonville, Cherokee County
MIXON CEMETERY SETTLERS FROM TENNESSEE, ALABAMA, GEORGIA AND THE CAROLINAS, INCLUDING THE BLANTON, BRALY, DICKEY, LANGSTON, LONG, MUSICK, SHAW, STOCKTON AND THOMAS FAMILIES, ESTABLISHED PINE SPRINGS COMMUNITY (LATER MIXON) IN THE 1850s. IN 1853, JOSIAH THOMAS DEDICATED 9.7 ACRES OF LAND ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF HIS TWO-THIRDS LEAGUE OF A HEADRIGHT FOR CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS PURPOSES. AFTER THE LAND CHANGED HANDS SEVERAL TIMES, A MAY 22, 1883 DEED CONVEYED THE TRACT FROM S. A. AND F. M. BRALY TO THREE TRUSTEES, S. K. BRALY, MOSES LANGSTON, AND L. T. WILLINGHAM, REPRESENTING THE LOCAL CHURCHES – METHODIST EPISCOPAL SOUTH, CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN AND MISSIONARY BAPTIST. THE OLDEST MARKED GRAVE IN MIXON CEMETERY IS FOR OCTAVIO BRALY (APR. 11, 1853 – JUN. 12, 1854). MANY OF THE OLDEST BURIAL SITES ARE MARKED WITH LOCAL RED IRON ORE ROCK. TRADITION STATES THERE ALSO MAY BE UNMARKED GRAVES FOR MEMBERS OF LOCAL INDIAN TRIBES. MORE THAN 125 VETERANS HAVE MARKED GRAVES, INCLUDING SOLDIERS FROM THE WAR OF 1812 TO PRESENT. MANY OF THE 22 CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS BURIED HERE SERVED IN COMPANY G, 22ND REGIMENT OF THE TEXAS INFANTRY. GRAVESTONE MATERIALS INCLUDE LIMESTONE AND GRANITE. MANY LARGE OBELISKS AND WOODMEN OF THE WORLD MARKERS ARE PROMINENT. IN THE 1940s, BRICK COLUMNS AND A METAL ARCHWAY WERE PLACED ALONG THE PERIMETER. THE LANDSCAPE WAS SCRAPED EARTH UNTIL THE 1950s, AND HAS BEEN MOWED GRASS SINCE THAT TIME. THE MIXON CEMETERY ASSOCIATION BOARD ENSURES THAT THE TRADITIONS OF THE FOUNDERS CONTINUE WHILE ACTIVE BURIALS OCCUR. A MEMORIAL SERVICE AND DINNER ARE HELD YEARLY. MIXON CEMETERY CONTINUES TO BE USED AND REMAINS A TESTAMENT TO THE PIONEERING MEN AND WOMEN OF THE COMMUNITY.