Briar Branch Cemetery 
(Site of Huff Family Massacre)

Wise County, Texas
Layout Map, Table of Information & Links to Headstone Pictures below on this page

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(Click Here to go to Listing & Pictures of All Wise County Headstones)

    Briar Branch Cemetery is a couple of miles out to the east of Alvord. Start out of Alvord to the northeast on Fm Rd 1655 and turn right in town just past the railroad tracks. This is Pine Street but it becomes Old Decatur Road. Follow it a couple of miles and as the road swings to the east you will see the cemetery off in the pasture on the right. In 2001 there was a pipe gate on the road with a sign that says Marcon Operating Co. - Clyde Smith Lease.

  

  

Historical Marker
Huff Family Massacre
An atrocity of 1874, in one of last Wise County Indian raids, while C.W. Huff and son worked in remote part of land recently settled by the family, Indians killed Mrs. Huff and daughters, Palestine and Molly. Neighbors buried the scalped and mutilated victims in a wagon bed, in one grave. It is said that lumber was later obtained for coffins and the victims were reburied.
In 1879 land around plot was given for cemetery by C.W. Huff.
(Recorded – 1968)

Correction to this marker sent in by Janet Ariciu jeariciu@gmail.com 
She says that C.W. Huff was the son and William Alexander Huff was the father.

 Below is an article from the 'Wise County Messenger' and also a page from the 'Pioneer History of Wise County'.
These are thumbnails and, if clicked on, will be large enough to read.

 Huff1.jpg (281789 bytes)   Huff2.jpg (265878 bytes)   Huff Massacre.jpg (1815503 bytes)

    There were 48 headstones when we took photos in October, 2000.
Layout order listing below-
We started at the gate and went south and then back (east) in rows.
(Full alpabetical information and links to headstone pictures is at the bottom of this page.)

Row - #  - Last Name - First Name
1 1 Smith Elizabeth
1 2 Smith John
2 3 Jones Phillip
2 4 Jones W.H.
2 5 Smith J.L.
2 6 Jones M.A.
2 7 Smith R.R.
3 8 Lee W.A.
3 9 Lee America Ann
4 10 Evans J.H.
4 11 Evans Anna
4 12 Smith Annie
4 13 Smith Myrtle
5 14 Huff C.W., Mrs
5 15 Huff Palestine
5 16 Huff Molly
5 17 Covington Oscar M.
5 18 Covington Anna
6 19 Munkres Penelope
6 20 Munkres Richard
6 21 Free John
6 22 Free Nancy Ann
7 23 Carpenter John
8 24 McIntire Vollie Valentine
8 25 McIntire Shark A.
8 26 McIntire Rex D.
9 27 Smith Egbert
9 28 Smith John H.
9 29 Lowry Lulu Bell
9 30 McConnell Charlie F.
9 31 Cook Margaret Emaline
9 32 Davis Martha
9 33 Davis Ambrous L.
10 34 McDonald Sam
10 35 McDonald Dewey Neff
10 36 McDonald Nancy
10 37 McDonald Mary A.
10 38 McDonald Mark
10 39 McDonald James T.
10 40 Murray Veatress
11 41 Reynolds John A.
12 42 Whitlow Infant
12 43 Killingsworth Martha M.
13 44 Jones Jessey T.
13 45 Ross John Franklin
14 46 Reeves Mary E.
14 47 Miller T.O.
14 48 Miller W.H.

# Name Born Date of Death Information Notes Link to Headstone Picture
23 Carpenter, John 1859 1924   BriarBranch-23.jpg
31 Cook, Margaret Emaline Feb 13, 1830 Mar 27, 1910   BriarBranch-31.jpg
18 Covington, Anna Jan 11, 1885 Aug 10, 1885 Daughter of S.M. & E.H. BriarBranch-18.jpg
17 Covington, Oscar M. Aug 16, 1880 Jan 30, 1884 Son of S.M. & E.H. BriarBranch-17.jpg
33 Davis, Ambrous L. Nov 17, 1837 Sept 13, 1900 Husband of Martha BriarBranch-33.jpg
32 Davis, Martha May 29, 1839 Sept 16, 1902 Wife of Ambrous L. BriarBranch-32.jpg
11 Evans, Anna Nov 15, 1853 Sept 7, 1913 Headstone with J.H. BriarBranch-11.jpg
10 Evans, J.H. Sept 11, 1848 Mar 16, 1899 Headstone with Anna BriarBranch-10.jpg
10 Evans, J.H. Additional Picture     BriarBranch-10a.jpg
10 Evans, J.H. Additional Picture     BriarBranch-10b.jpg
21 Free, John 1846 Feb 25, 1893   BriarBranch-21.jpg
21 Free, John Additional Picture     BriarBranch-21a.jpg
22 Free, Nancy Ann 1866 Feb 23, 1890   BriarBranch-22.jpg
Not Found Hiner, Joseph ? ?   BriarBranch-No Picture
14 Huff, C.W., Mrs   1874 Killed by Indians BriarBranch-14.jpg
16 Huff, Molly   1874 Daughter of Mr. & Mrs.C.W. - Killed by Indians BriarBranch-16.jpg
15 Huff, Palestine   1874 Daughter of Mr. & Mrs.C.W. - Killed by Indians BriarBranch-15.jpg
Not Found Jasper, B.F. Dec 7, 184? Jan 25, 1881   BriarBranch-No Picture
Not Found Jones, Annie Jan 1, 1869 Jan 23, 1907 Wife of T.M. BriarBranch-No Picture
44 Jones, Jessey T. Nov 20, 1890 Dec 21, 1894 Son of J.W. & E. BriarBranch-44.jpg
44 Jones, Jessey T. Additional Picture     BriarBranch-44a.jpg
6 Jones, M.A. 1829 1887 Wife of W.H. BriarBranch-06.jpg
Not Found Jones, Ocey Bell Nov 17, 1898 July 20, 1899 Daughter of T.M. & A. BriarBranch-No Picture
3 Jones, Phillip 1858 1930   BriarBranch-03.jpg
4 Jones, W.H. 1834 1900   BriarBranch-04.jpg
43 Killingsworth, Martha M. Nov 10, 1893 Aug 10, 1894 Daughter of I.D. & E.C. BriarBranch-43.jpg
43 Killingsworth, Martha M. Additional Picture     BriarBranch-43a.jpg
9 Lee, America Ann Sept 5, 1837 Oct 8, 1887 Wife of W.A. BriarBranch-09.jpg
9 Lee, America Ann Additional Picture     BriarBranch-09a.jpg
8 Lee, W.A. Feb 9, 1831 Dec 6, 1895   BriarBranch-08.jpg
29 Lowry, Lulu Bell Oct 14, 1895 Sept 25, 1899 Daughter of W.P. & M.E. BriarBranch-29.jpg
29 Lowry, Lulu Bell Additional Picture     BriarBranch-29a.jpg
30 McConnell, Charlie F. Oct 7, 1878 Nov 25, 1891 Son of J.P. & P.E. BriarBranch-30.jpg
35 McDonald, Dewey Neff (Feb 17) 1903 (Nov 2) 1930 Headstone with Sam BriarBranch-35.jpg
39 McDonald, James T. July 27, 1895 Sept 9, 1919 Son of M. & Mary BriarBranch-39.jpg
39 McDonald, James T. Additional Picture     BriarBranch-39a.jpg
38 McDonald, Mark June 8, 1848 Dec 28, 1915 Headstone with Mary A. BriarBranch-38.jpg
37 McDonald, Mary A. Sept 13, 1858 Apr 6, 1944 Headstone with Mark BriarBranch-37.jpg
36 McDonald, Nancy Dec 18, 1882 Feb 7, 1886 Daughter of M. & M.A. BriarBranch-36.jpg
34 McDonald, Sam 1897 1965 Headstone with Dewey Neff BriarBranch-34.jpg
26 McIntire, Rex D. 1945 1979 Headstone with Shark A. BriarBranch-26.jpg
25 McIntire, Shark A. 1907 1973 Headstone with Rex D. BriarBranch-25.jpg
24 McIntire, Vollie Valentine June 5, 1905 Sept 19, 1986   BriarBranch-24.jpg
47 Miller, T.J. no dates     BriarBranch-47.jpg
48 Miller, W.H. no dates     BriarBranch-48.jpg
19 Munkres, Penelope June 21, 1837 Feb 23, 1914   BriarBranch-19.jpg
19 Munkres, Penelope Additional Picture     BriarBranch-19a.jpg
19 Munkres, Penelope Additional Picture     BriarBranch-19b.jpg
20 Munkres, Richard 1830 Apr 5, 1893   BriarBranch-20.jpg
40 Murray, Veatress Dec 5, 1893 July 3, 1894 Daughter of J.R. & O.A. or D.A. BriarBranch-40.jpg
40 Murray, Veatress Additional Picture     BriarBranch-40a.jpg
46 Reeves, Mary E. Sept 14, 1860 Feb 5, 1905   BriarBranch-46.jpg
41 Reynolds, John A. Jan 20, 1903 Nov 6, 1927   BriarBranch-41.jpg
41 Reynolds, John A. Additional Picture     BriarBranch-41a.jpg
41 Reynolds, John A. Additional Picture     BriarBranch-41b.jpg
45 Ross, John Franklin 1881 1936   BriarBranch-45.jpg
12 Smith, Annie 1904 1907 Headstone with Myrtle BriarBranch-12.jpg
27 Smith, Egbert Aug 18, 1885 Apr 16, 1906   BriarBranch-27.jpg
1 Smith, Elizabeth 1849 1934 Wife of John BriarBranch-01.jpg
5 Smith, J.L. 1889 1890 Son of J. & E. BriarBranch-05.jpg
2 Smith, John 1853 1943 Husband of Elizabeth BriarBranch-02.jpg
28 Smith, John H. Oct 22, 1877 Sept 20, 1883   BriarBranch-28.jpg
13 Smith, Myrtle 1912 1933 Headstone with Annie BriarBranch-13.jpg
7 Smith, R.R. 1891 1892 Son of J. & E. BriarBranch-07.jpg
42 Whitlow, Infant May 3, 1895   Child of T.N. & T.C. BriarBranch-42.jpg
42 Whitlow, Infant Additional Picture     BriarBranch-42a.jpg
42 Whitlow, Infant Additional Picture     BriarBranch-42b.jpg
           
  Not Found- information from Mar 28, 1965 listing by Mr. & Mrs. Homer L. Roper and Mr. & Mrs. Cletus Johnston