Emma Louise Layfield

Notes:

(Research):
The Sabine County Reporter
May 9, 2012

Myrtle Springs receives marker

An official Texas Historic Cemetery Marker was dedicated April 28, at Geneva Myrtle Springs Cemetery. The day was also the cemetery's annual homecoming......

The newly placed marker reads:
GENEVA MYRTLE SPRINGS CEMETERY

Situated North of the small, rural community of Geneva, the Geneva Myrtle Springs Cemetery serves as the primary resting place for pioneers, settlers of the area, and their descendants. Originally granted to Juan Ignatino Pifermo in 1794, the town of Geneva grew in the 1820s when pioneers began to settle there from the east. Geneva was first known as Shawnee village and later as Jimtown, after two early settlers of the are, Jim Halbert and Jim Willis. Originally surveyed for Daniel F. Renfro in 1838, the Geneva Myrtle Springs Cemetery is comprised of land granted by Levi T. ALLEN in 1879 for use as a church and cemetery. The Geneva Baptist Church was first located on the present day cemetery site, but later moved south of the area. In addition, a school was once located near the cemtery near Myrtle Springs, organized by William Thomas Arnold.

The general landscaping of the cemetery is traditional with brick, marble, sandstone, grantie, wood, and metal grave markers. The first marked grave is that of William J. JONE from 1888, but Bible records indicate that there were earlier unmarked graves, including that of Wiley William CROW (1845-1877). Among the many pioneer families interred at this cemetery, there are veterans of the Civil War, including Wiley CROW, Seth Marion LAYFIELD (1833-1906), and James T. MEADOR (1845-1933), as well as veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Iraq War. Burials for members of the fraternal organizations such as Woodmen of the World are present. Today, the Geneva Myrtle Springs Cemetery Association maintains and cares for the cemtery, while also serving the community of Geneva. Historic Texas Cemetery -2010.

Emma married Judge Daniel Cordray about 1898. Judge (son of Daniel C. Cordray and Louisa Melvine Williams) was born on 18 Apr 1862 in Georgia; died on 20 Dec 1920; was buried in Cordray Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Zilla E. Cordray was born in Oct 1899 in Sabine County, Texas; and died.
2. Judge Sidney Cordray, Sr. was born on 16 Apr 1901 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 28 Apr 1981 in Nacogdoches County, Texas; was buried in Liberty Springs Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas.
3. Aremel Cordray was born on 25 Jul 1903 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 20 Jan 1972 in Lufkin, Angelina County, Texas; was buried in Hemphill City Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas.