I saw this on Texahoma roots and thought this might help someone so I am passing it along..... Reply-to: [email protected] To: [email protected] I am not researching this surname in this area but someone may be. The following article was in this morning's paper. I felt it would be of interest to any researcher that had JONES in their family tree that may have come to Texas or may have been born here. It's an unsolved mystery it seems and now, 122 years later this has come about: THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE, November 20, 1997 Article: LOCAL GRAVE SITE ABANDONED SINCE 1875 - Historic cemetery wants to resell land Writer: Goerge Flynn In March 1875, a man identified only as J.H. Jones paid $50.00 to Glenwood Cemetery for a family burial plot. Three months later, Mrs. Mary Jones, presumed to be his wife, was laid to rest in one corner of the 40-square foot plot, large enough to hold 11 other graves. Jone left and never returned. Neither did his family or heirs. In fact, the cemetery shows no further contact in 122 years. Glenwood went to the Harris County courthouse this week to try to close the final chapter in the lingering mystery at the historic cemetery on Washington Avenue. It used a new law to petition state district court to have the grave site declared legally abandoned, a necessary steop before the remaining 11 lots are resold. Eric Anderson, an attourney for Glenwood, said the myster of Jones has defied legal researchers. They combed city directories from 1867-1875 and early archives on obituaries. Clues cannot be found even at the cemetery plot in question. On Wednesday, the chilly, fog-shrouded location revealed not even a headstone or marker for Mrs. Jones. The cemetery office's only records appear as handwritten notations on the yellowed pages of a large ledger. The purchase by Jones and the more uncertain burial of Mary Jones are reflected on two short lines. A small map denotes the site of her grave, but the name is followed by a question mark. The plot, marked by a single tree, is covered by closely cropped grass. It is bordered on one side by graves of the can of W.A. Carrington, fomerly of Buffalo, N.Y. His wife, Pattie, was buried there four years after Mary Jones. On the other side is the grave of Eva Osbrow, wife of H. J. Lahrssen, who died in 1916. Anderson said Glenwood does not propose to disturb the remains of Mary Jones, but would reclaim the other 11 grave sites for use by others. The plot (11 graves) would now cost about $10,000.00. The cemetery holds about 15,000 remains, including those of many of the earliest and most enigmatic Houstonians, such as reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes. In this case, the intrigue has come with the passage of years after interment. "It is a mystery", Anderson said. "Mr. Jones never even left his adress with the cemetery. And assessment or maintenance fees haven't been paid in 122 years. A lot has changed in that time." See ya, Lou Ann P.S. Never dull in Texas! -- ******************************************************************** During our research trips, when a book is purchased relating to our family's history or listing information of the area, we buy two: One to keep and one to donate to our Clayton Genealogical Library in the family's name or a member of the family. Lou Ann & Woody Lunsford NATIVE TEXAN 8310 Werner, Houston, TX 77037 TEXAS PROUD ********************************************************************