Foster & Gourley Cemeteries
 2 small cemeteries north and east of Decatur, Wise County, Texas
Directions, Tables of Information & 
Links to Headstone Pictures are below on this page

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Foster Cemetery

   Foster Cemetery is northeast of Decatur in the Sycamore Community area. From Decatur go north on Fm Rd 51 and turn left on CR 2535. In about a mile you will pass the Sycamore Church on the left. Continue on 2535 for 1.5 miles until the road makes a sharp left turn. Just past the turn there is a cattle guard gate that has an oil lease sign saying "May Griffeth". Go through this cattle guard and take the pasture road to the right. You will go through 2 large double-hung pasture gates and see some cattle pens on the left. Just past these pens turn left in the pasture and go up the hill. The cemetery is at the top of the hill to the left.

  

  

  

  

    Thank you to Eddie Griffeth for telling us about this cemetery and to Nolen Griffeth for taking us to it.
   
In March 2002 we accompanied Rosalie Gregg and Carla Womack to the cemetery. A pipe fence enclosed the 15 headstones and the brush was cleared.
  
We were told that the little girl, Tressie Lee Edge, died on a wagon train going through the area, and she was buried in this cemetery.

# Name Born Date of Death Information Notes Link to Headstone Picture
3 Edge, Tressie Lee Apr 22, 1894 Dec 31, 1895 Daughter of J.I. & Ida Foster-03.jpg
3 Edge, Tressie Lee Additional Picture     Foster-03a.jpg
3 Edge, Tressie Lee Additional Picture     Foster-03b.jpg
3 Edge, Tressie Lee Additional Picture     Foster-03c.jpg
1 Foster, G.L. Additional Picture     Foster-01a.jpg
1 Foster, G.L. Additional Picture     Foster-01b.jpg
1 Foster, G.L. (George) Feb 14, 1873 May 14, 1897 (Son of S M & J C) Foster-01.jpg
14 Foster, J.C. (Jane Cunnius) Jan 13, 1843 Oct 29, 1883 Wife of S.M. Foster-14.jpg
14 Foster, J.C. (Jane Cunnius) Additional Picture     Foster-14a.jpg
14 Foster, J.C. (Jane Cunnius) Additional Picture     Foster-14b.jpg
7 Foster, J.T. Apr 20, 1863 Nov 6, 1890   Foster-07.jpg
7 Foster, J.T. Additional Picture     Foster-07a.jpg
8 Foster, Mattie B. Sept 15, 1870 Apr 21, 1892 Wife of J.T. Foster-08.jpg
8 Foster, Mattie B. Additional Picture     Foster-08a.jpg
8 Foster, Mattie B. Additional Picture     Foster-08b.jpg
9 Foster, Minnie Ora Nov 18, 1888 Oct 11, 1892   Foster-09.jpg
9 Foster, Minnie Ora Additional Picture     Foster-09a.jpg
9 Foster, Minnie Ora Additional Picture     Foster-09b.jpg
2 Foster, Ruth Eutolia Mar 26, 1896 Jan 25, 1900 Daughter of G.L. & A.L. Foster-02.jpg
2 Foster, Ruth Eutolia Additional Picture     Foster-02a.jpg
2 Foster, Ruth Eutolia Additional Picture     Foster-02b.jpg
15 Foster, S.M. (Samuel Major) Jan 19, 1834 Feb 6, 1900   Foster-15.jpg
15 Foster, S.M. (Samuel Major) Additional Picture     Foster-15a.jpg
15 Foster, S.M. (Samuel Major) Additional Picture     Foster-15b.jpg
12 Foster, S.M., Jr. (Samuel Major, Jr.) July 8, 1867 Nov 24, 1887 (Son of J.C. & S.M.) Foster-12.jpg
12 Foster, S.M., Jr. (Samuel Major, Jr.) Additional Picture     Foster-12a.jpg
12 Foster, S.M., Jr. (Samuel Major, Jr.) Additional Picture     Foster-12b.jpg
4 Foster, W.F. Additional Picture     Foster-04a.jpg
4 Foster, W.F. Additional Picture     Foster-04b.jpg
4 Foster, W.F. (William) Mar 20, 1865 Mar 17, 1901 (Son of S M & J C) Foster-04.jpg
5 Foster, Willie May 28, 1901 Nov 4, 1901 Son of W.F. & M.J. Foster-05.jpg
5 Foster, Willie Additional Picture     Foster-05a.jpg
5 Foster, Willie Additional Picture     Foster-05b.jpg
13 Gorham, Lucy J. Additional Picture     Foster-13a.jpg
13 Gorham, Lucy J. Additional Picture     Foster-13b.jpg
13 Gorham, Lucy J. Additional Picture     Foster-13c.jpg
13 Gorham, Lucy J. Additional Picture     Foster-13d.jpg
13 Gorham, Lucy J. Additional Picture     Foster-13e.jpg
13 Gorham, Lucy J. Additional Picture     Foster-13f.jpg
13 Gorham, Lucy J. (Jane Foster) Nov 19, 1860 Mar 21, 1886 (Daughter of S M & J C) Foster-13.jpg
6 Herndon, Nancy An (Foster) Feb 14, 1869 Oct 9, 1892 Wife of W.M. (Daughter of S M & J C) Foster-06.jpg
6 Herndon, Nancy An (Foster) Additional Picture     Foster-06a.jpg
11 Sampler, Norman Nov 19, 1900 Jan 26, 1901 Son of E.L. & Sarah - Headstone with Sarah Foster-11.jpg
11 Sampler, Norman Additional Picture     Foster-11a.jpg
11 Sampler, Norman Additional Picture     Foster-11b.jpg
10 Sampler, Sarah July 11, 1878 Feb 11, 1901 Wife of E.L. - Headstone with Norman Foster-10.jpg
10 Sampler, Sarah Additional Picture     Foster-10a.jpg
10 Sampler, Sarah Additional Picture     Foster-10b.jpg
10 Sampler, Sarah Additional Picture     Foster-10c.jpg
           
  Foster info. sent by Pauline Davis   zoom@voltage.net        
  Some additional information in parenthesis added by Douglas Harris douglas-harris@att.net         

Gourley or Lewis Cemetery

    Gourley Cemetery is located in the woods, just south of Hwy 380, about a quarter of a mile from the Denton-Wise County line. As you head toward Denton from Decatur on Hwy 380, look for the second gate on the right side of the road after you pass Denton Creek.
    Go through this gate on the highway. Go to the right side, and then straight ahead on the pasture road. When you come to a pasture gate look to the left and you will see some old cattle pens. The cemetery is in the woods behind these pens. An easier way to get into the cemetery is to go on through the gate and enter the cemetery from the woods on the south.

  

 

  

    With the help of Rosalie Gregg, I found this cemetery in March 2002. It was hard to see back in the thick woods, but I noticed all the iris plants that cover nearly an acre. It was very grown-up in brush and briars with several fallen trees. There was an old fence, but cattle are able to get in to the remaining headstones.
   I was able to take pictures of, and get information from
21 headstones, but most of them were broken and many are only engraving scratched on sandstone.
   There’s a Historical Marker on Hwy 380 in front of this place to the east of the gate. See text below.
   We think that "Gourley" may have been a settlement with at least a store and school at one time. We have no records to tell if Susan Chisholm, buried here, was related to Jesse Chisholm.

J. Vogel sent in this information about the Lewis family that is buried here:
(Lewis was a blacksmith who traveled to Texas from Ohio. Lewis had eight wives total in his lifetime. All except the last are buried there; she outlived Lewis. Nancy M. Lewis was Lewis's first and was said to be his favorite. She is buried directly behind Lewis with a fence made of buggy rim along its exterior. The other six wives are buried along side her.  It was said that Nancy was of Indian descent and that is how Lewis made it to Texas safely. All seven wives were one-at-a-time. Each died of various reasons.
Published in the North Texas Farm & Ranch, Vol.2, Issue 09, June 2014)

Cattle Trail Crossing

(Located ¼ mile south, on Denton Creek)

Near this site ran one of the many "feeder" branches of the famous Chisholm Trail, best-known of all the cattle trails that once linked the vast grasslands of Texas with the meat-hungry markets of the north.

The original trail, which stretched from the North Canadian to the Arkansas River, was blazed in 1865 by Jesse Chisholm, a half-Scottish and half-Cherokee Trader. The 220-mile route, soon taken up by drovers, was extended north and south. Branches all the way from the Rio Grande gradually snaked up to join the main trail at the Red River.

Although unpredictable Texas weather and hostile Indians sometimes prevented the drovers from keeping to the main route, certain points were fixed. One of these was the Trinity River ford at Fort Worth, just south of here, where cattle might have to wait for weeks to cross if the river had recently flooded.

In 1895 the fenced range, railroad, and quarantines against the fever tick had reduced to a trickle the flood of cattle leaving Texas on the hoof; but by this time, the trail had helped restore the economy of Texas (wrecked by the Civil War) and it had left a legacy in folksong and legend of cowboy days on the untamed Texas frontier. (1968)

    The information in the table below came from headstone pictures taken in March of 2002.
  
Information in parenthesis ( ) came from the cemetery listings done in January 1967 by Mr. & Mrs. Homer L. Roper and Mr. & Mrs. Cletus Johnston. They were able to read some dates that I could not, and they found 5 headstones that I did not find. I found 6 headstones that they did not find. Many stones were hard to read and there are many 'Additional Pictures'.

# Name Born Date of Death Information Notes Link to Headstone Picture
14 ?apilo, James no dates     Gourley-14.jpg
14 ?apilo, James Additional Picture     Gourley-14a.jpg
14 ?apilo, James Additional Picture     Gourley-14b.jpg
14 ?apilo, James Additional Picture     Gourley-14c.jpg
14 ?apilo, James Additional Picture     Gourley-14d.jpg
23 Bur? (Burrow), Codella no dates     Gourley-23.jpg
23 Bur? (Burrow), Codella Additional Picture     Gourley-23a.jpg
23 Bur? (Burrow), Codella Additional Picture     Gourley-23b.jpg
23 Bur? (Burrow), Codella Additional Picture     Gourley-23c.jpg
23 Bur? (Burrow), Codella Additional Picture     Gourley-23d.jpg
Not Found Cates, Bobbie Jan 19, 1883 June 9, 1894 Son of J.G. & M.E. Gourley-No Picture.jpg
18 Chisholm, Susan Linch Feb 21, 1858 (1863) Jan 31, 1888 (1883) Daughter of G.W. & C.O. (G.C.)Linch - Wife of W.N. Gourley-18.jpg
18 Chisholm, Susan Linch Additional Picture     Gourley-18a.jpg
18 Chisholm, Susan Linch Additional Picture     Gourley-18b.jpg
18 Chisholm, Susan Linch Additional Picture     Gourley-18c.jpg
18 Chisholm, Susan Linch Additional Picture     Gourley-18d.jpg
18 Chisholm, Susan Linch Additional Picture     Gourley-18e.jpg
18 Chisholm, Susan Linch Additional Picture     Gourley-18f.jpg
18 Chisholm, Susan Linch Additional Picture     Gourley-18g.jpg
18 Chisholm, Susan Linch Additional Picture     Gourley-18h.jpg
18 Chisholm, Susan Linch Additional Picture     Gourley-18i.jpg
18 Chisholm, Susan Linch Additional Picture     Gourley-18j.jpg
1 Gipson or Gibson, Jessy H. Oct 8, 1846 Feb 8, 1888 Name is Gipson on headstone and Gibson on footstone Gourley-01.jpg
1 Gipson or Gibson, Jessy H. Additional Picture     Gourley-01a.jpg
1 Gipson or Gibson, Jessy H. Additional Picture     Gourley-01b.jpg
1 Gipson or Gibson, Jessy H. Additional Picture     Gourley-01c.jpg
1 Gipson or Gibson, Jessy H. Additional Picture     Gourley-01d.jpg
1 Gipson or Gibson, Jessy H. Additional Picture     Gourley-01e.jpg
1 Gipson or Gibson, Jessy H. Additional Picture     Gourley-01f.jpg
26 Goforth, C.W. Oct 18, ?(1860) Feb 1, 1880   Gourley-26.jpg
26 Goforth, C.W. Additional Picture     Gourley-26a.jpg
26 Goforth, C.W. Additional Picture     Gourley-26b.jpg
26 Goforth, C.W. Additional Picture     Gourley-26c.jpg
26 Goforth, C.W. Additional Picture     Gourley-26d.jpg
26 Goforth, C.W. Additional Picture     Gourley-26e.jpg
26 Goforth, C.W. Additional Picture     Gourley-26f.jpg
17 Grimes, J.L. Apr 28, 1915 Apr 29, 1915 Infant son of Mr & Mrs J.H. Gourley-17.jpg
17 Grimes, J.L. Additional Picture     Gourley-17a.jpg
17 Grimes, J.L. Additional Picture     Gourley-17b.jpg
17 Grimes, J.L. Additional Picture     Gourley-17c.jpg
17 Grimes, J.L. Additional Picture     Gourley-17d.jpg
17 Grimes, J.L. Additional Picture     Gourley-17e.jpg
20 Hulcy, Willie (1854) (Feb 24, 1925)   Gourley-20.jpg
20 Hulcy, Willie Additional Picture     Gourley-20a.jpg
20 Hulcy, Willie Additional Picture     Gourley-20b.jpg
20 Hulcy, Willie Additional Picture     Gourley-20c.jpg
20 Hulcy, Willie Additional Picture     Gourley-20d.jpg
20 Hulcy, Willie Additional Picture     Gourley-20e.jpg
20 Hulcy, Willie Additional Picture     Gourley-20f.jpg
Not Found Knox, ?       Gourley-No Picture.jpg
10 Lewis, An?son (Woodson D.) (Aug 11, 1868) Aug 1868   Gourley-10.jpg
10 Lewis, An?son (Woodson D.) Additional Picture     Gourley-10a.jpg
10 Lewis, An?son (Woodson D.) Additional Picture     Gourley-10b.jpg
10 Lewis, An?son (Woodson D.) Additional Picture     Gourley-10c.jpg
10 Lewis, An?son (Woodson D.) Additional Picture     Gourley-10d.jpg
10 Lewis, An?son (Woodson D.) Additional Picture     Gourley-10e.jpg
10 Lewis, An?son (Woodson D.) Additional Picture     Gourley-10f.jpg
4 Lewis, Anderson July 18, 1826 Feb 16, 1897 (Came from Ohio - Married 6 times after 1st wife Nancy Manda - Married to Alpha Ross in 1880) Gourley-04.jpg
4 Lewis, Anderson Additional Picture     Gourley-04a.jpg
4 Lewis, Anderson Additional Picture     Gourley-04b.jpg
4 Lewis, Anderson Additional Picture     Gourley-04c.jpg
4 Lewis, Anderson Additional Picture     Gourley-04d.jpg
11 Lewis, David   Dec ?   Gourley-11.jpg
11 Lewis, David Additional Picture     Gourley-11a.jpg
11 Lewis, David Additional Picture     Gourley-11b.jpg
11 Lewis, David Additional Picture     Gourley-11c.jpg
8 Lewis, David (D.) June ? (1855) Apr 16, 1873   Gourley-08.jpg
8 Lewis, David (D.) Additional Picture     Gourley-08a.jpg
8 Lewis, David (D.) Additional Picture     Gourley-08b.jpg
8 Lewis, David (D.) Additional Picture     Gourley-08c.jpg
8 Lewis, David (D.) Additional Picture     Gourley-08d.jpg
13 Lewis, Elizabeth no dates     Gourley-13.jpg
13 Lewis, Elizabeth Additional Picture     Gourley-13a.jpg
13 Lewis, Elizabeth Additional Picture     Gourley-13b.jpg
13 Lewis, Elizabeth Additional Picture     Gourley-13c.jpg
5 Lewis, Martha J. July 5, 1843 Mar 26, 1882   Gourley-05.jpg
5 Lewis, Martha J. Additional Picture     Gourley-05a.jpg
5 Lewis, Martha J. Additional Picture     Gourley-05b.jpg
5 Lewis, Martha J. Additional Picture     Gourley-05c.jpg
5 Lewis, Martha J. Additional Picture     Gourley-05d.jpg
6 Lewis, Nancy M. ? (Feb 7, 1871) rock marker Gourley-06.jpg
6 Lewis, Nancy M. Additional Picture     Gourley-06a.jpg
6 Lewis, Nancy M. Additional Picture     Gourley-06b.jpg
6 Lewis, Nancy M. Additional Picture     Gourley-06c.jpg
6 Lewis, Nancy M. Additional Picture     Gourley-06d.jpg
6 Lewis, Nancy M. Additional Picture     Gourley-06e.jpg
9 Lewis, Nancy M. (Nancy Manda) June 18, 1833 Feb 27, 1872 cement marker with black fence (Wife of Anderson - Came from MO - Mother of Rebecca Jane Lewis Tanner) Gourley-09.jpg
9 Lewis, Nancy M. (Nancy Manda) Additional Picture     Gourley-09a.jpg
9 Lewis, Nancy M. (Nancy Manda) Additional Picture     Gourley-09b.jpg
9 Lewis, Nancy M. (Nancy Manda) Additional Picture     Gourley-09c.jpg
9 Lewis, Nancy M. (Nancy Manda) Additional Picture     Gourley-09d.jpg
9 Lewis, Nancy M. (Nancy Manda) Additional Picture     Gourley-09e.jpg
12 Lewis, Richard May 1, 1833 (1839) 18?5 (Mar 10, 1855)   Gourley-12.jpg
12 Lewis, Richard Additional Picture     Gourley-12a.jpg
12 Lewis, Richard Additional Picture     Gourley-12b.jpg
12 Lewis, Richard Additional Picture     Gourley-12c.jpg
12 Lewis, Richard Additional Picture     Gourley-12d.jpg
12 Lewis, Richard Additional Picture     Gourley-12e.jpg
12 Lewis, Richard Additional Picture     Gourley-12f.jpg
12 Lewis, Richard Additional Picture     Gourley-12g.jpg
7 Lewis, William H. (M.)   Jan 8, 1878 (1879)   Gourley-07.jpg
7 Lewis, William H. (M.) Additional Picture     Gourley-07a.jpg
7 Lewis, William H. (M.) Additional Picture     Gourley-07b.jpg
7 Lewis, William H. (M.) Additional Picture     Gourley-07c.jpg
7 Lewis, William H. (M.) Additional Picture     Gourley-07d.jpg
7 Lewis, William H. (M.) Additional Picture     Gourley-07e.jpg
15 Marlett, Abigail Apr 18, 1852 Mar 29, 1868   Gourley-15.jpg
15 Marlett, Abigail Additional Picture     Gourley-15a.jpg
15 Marlett, Abigail Additional Picture     Gourley-15b.jpg
15 Marlett, Abigail Additional Picture     Gourley-15c.jpg
15 Marlett, Abigail Additional Picture     Gourley-15d.jpg
15 Marlett, Abigail Additional Picture     Gourley-15e.jpg
15 Marlett, Abigail Additional Picture     Gourley-15f.jpg
15 Marlett, Abigail Additional Picture     Gourley-15g.jpg
Not Found Marlett, Nancy Apr 13, 1855 Mar 26, 1868   Gourley-No Picture.jpg
22 McDaniel, (Eligah)   Nov ?, 1862   Gourley-22.jpg
22 McDaniel, (Eligah) Additional Picture     Gourley-22a.jpg
22 McDaniel, (Eligah) Additional Picture     Gourley-22b.jpg
22 McDaniel, (Eligah) Additional Picture     Gourley-22c.jpg
22 McDaniel, (Eligah) Additional Picture     Gourley-22d.jpg
22 McDaniel, (Eligah) Additional Picture     Gourley-22e.jpg
22 McDaniel, (Eligah) Additional Picture     Gourley-22f.jpg
2 McDaniel, E.T.A. (E.J.A.)   Oct 20, 1862 Age 46 Gourley-02.jpg
2 McDaniel, E.T.A. (E.J.A.) Additional Picture     Gourley-02a.jpg
2 McDaniel, E.T.A. (E.J.A.) Additional Picture     Gourley-02b.jpg
2 McDaniel, E.T.A. (E.J.A.) Additional Picture     Gourley-02c.jpg
2 McDaniel, E.T.A. (E.J.A.) Additional Picture     Gourley-02d.jpg
2 McDaniel, E.T.A. (E.J.A.) Additional Picture     Gourley-02e.jpg
21 McSpadden, Nettie Bell July 25, 1888 Oct 9, 1889 Daughter of G.T. (C.T.) & E.L. Gourley-21.jpg
21 McSpadden, Nettie Bell Additional Picture     Gourley-21a.jpg
21 McSpadden, Nettie Bell Additional Picture     Gourley-21b.jpg
21 McSpadden, Nettie Bell Additional Picture     Gourley-21c.jpg
21 McSpadden, Nettie Bell Additional Picture     Gourley-21d.jpg
16 McSpadden, T.S.J. Aug 4, 1875 July 9, 1883 Son of J.T. & C.P. Gourley-16.jpg
16 McSpadden, T.S.J. Additional Picture     Gourley-16a.jpg
16 McSpadden, T.S.J. Additional Picture     Gourley-16b.jpg
16 McSpadden, T.S.J. Additional Picture     Gourley-16c.jpg
16 McSpadden, T.S.J. Additional Picture     Gourley-16d.jpg
16 McSpadden, T.S.J. Additional Picture     Gourley-16e.jpg
16 McSpadden, T.S.J. Additional Picture     Gourley-16f.jpg
19 Prigmore, Leonidas Nov 23, 1835 Sept 9, 1884 Arkansas PVT Clark's REGT MO INF Civil War Gourley-19.jpg
19 Prigmore, Leonidas Additional Picture     Gourley-19a.jpg
19 Prigmore, Leonidas Additional Picture     Gourley-19b.jpg
19 Prigmore, Leonidas Additional Picture     Gourley-19c.jpg
3 Richards, George W. May 14, 1844 Oct 25, 1876   Gourley-03.jpg
3 Richards, George W. Additional Picture     Gourley-03a.jpg
3 Richards, George W. Additional Picture     Gourley-03b.jpg
3 Richards, George W. Additional Picture     Gourley-03c.jpg
3 Richards, George W. Additional Picture     Gourley-03d.jpg
Not Found Saling, Emit Mar 4, 1831 May 4, 1946   Gourley-No Picture.jpg
25 Saling, Henry P. July 27, 1877 Oct 17, 1879 Son of J.H. & S.A. Gourley-25.jpg
25 Saling, Henry P. Additional Picture     Gourley-25a.jpg
25 Saling, Henry P. Additional Picture     Gourley-25b.jpg
Not Found Saling, Matilda Oct 24, 1809 Jan 15, 1883   Gourley-No Picture.jpg
27 Saling, Rumsey Jan 19, 1806 Jan 15, 1883   Gourley-27.jpg
27 Saling, Rumsey Additional Picture     Gourley-27a.jpg
27 Saling, Rumsey Additional Picture     Gourley-27b.jpg
27 Saling, Rumsey Additional Picture     Gourley-27c.jpg
27 Saling, Rumsey Additional Picture     Gourley-27d.jpg
24 Saling, Sarah Ann Nov 26, 1847 Jan 21, 1896   Gourley-24.jpg
24 Saling, Sarah Ann Additional Picture     Gourley-24a.jpg
24 Saling, Sarah Ann Additional Picture     Gourley-24b.jpg
24 Saling, Sarah Ann Additional Picture     Gourley-24c.jpg
           
  Listings by Mr. & Mrs. Homer L. Roper and Mr. & Mrs. Cletus Johnston - Jan 9, 1967        
  Lewis info. Sent by Chinka Pace Tjchinka@aol.com <Tjchinka@aol.com>