FORBIS CEMETERY, Shelby County, Texas (AKA "Forbis-Mills") was first visited in 2006, but we were unable to enter the cemetery due to lack of
accessibility. This cemetery is abandoned and located on private property in a cattle pasture, but on out third visit on May 30, 2013, we were able to enter the fenced cemetery. The headstones
were hidden in the thick growth of underbrush and tree saplings, but we were able to clear enough space around each headstone to get a decent picture.
DIRECTIONS: : From San Augustine, go north on US96 toward Center, about 15 miles to CR1024; go left and continue straight. About a mile down the road at
Sandhill Cemetery the road makes an abrupt left turn; continue on, staying on CR1024, about 2 and a quarter miles. You will come to a bend in the road with an abandoned house on both sides of
the road. The cemetery is in the edge of the woods across the pasture behind the metal gate on the left side of the road. The entry gate to the cemetery is best reached by going around the
right side of the grove of trees.
The abbreviaton (FHM) indicates a Funeral Home Marker. The number following each name is the photograph number.
FORBIS, T.J., (32); 1863 -- 1897 (Note 4)
FORBIS, Andrew J., (33); (No dates) (Note 4)
FORBIS, Permelia, (34); (No dates) (Note 4)
FRAMPKIN, Amos, (11); (There is no further information available)
HATTON, John R., (12); b. Nov 15, 1816; d. Oct -- 1900
HATTON, Thomas S., (13, 14); b. Aug 2, 1868; d. Mar 21, 1891. (Son of Nancy & John R. Hatton)
HATTON, Nancy R., (15); b. Apr 1, 1839; d. Feb 10, 1910
HATTON, Allethia, (18); b. Oct 19, 1890; d. Nov 1, 1890. Dau of J.D. & L.J. Hatton
HOLT, Pernecia I. (Bittick), (17); 1856 -- 1888. (Note 2) (Double with Ida Smith)
HUGHES, Linnie T., (19); b. Apr 14, 1882; d. Oct 23, 1882. Dau of R.C. & E.J. Hughes
HUGHES, Mary A., (24); b. June 3, 1859; d. Apr 6, 1864
HUGHES, Tabithy J., (25); b. Feb 18, 1865; d. Sep 29, 1867
HUGHES, George T., (26); b. Mar 10, 1855; d. Aug 29, 1873
MILLS, Lorenzo Martin, (27, 28); b. Aug 28, 1812; d. Oct 28, 1893. (Grandfather of Permelia Jane Mills Stringer)
MILLS, Malisia Ann (Howard), (35); b. June 23, 1850; d. Mar 22, 1887. Wife of W.F. Mills. (Note 5)
MILLS, William Fletcher, (36); (b. May 27, 1845; d. June 17, 1919). CO. A., 28 Tex Cav, C.S.A. (Note 5)
SAMFORD, Baby of E. & N.E. Samford, (20); b&d July 27, 1882.
SAMFORD, William, (21); b. Feb 7, 1779; d. June 9, 1867. (Note 3) (Double with)
SAMFORD, Barbara Snider, (21); b. 1788; d. Mar 2, 1867. Married Sep 8, 1803
SAMFORD, D.L., (22, 23); b. Nov 11, 1847; d. Apr 14, 1883
SAMFORD, Mary Magdaline Weaver, (29); b. Feb 11, 1807; d. Dec 18, 1845.
SAMFORD, Sophroina C., (30); b. Feb 16, 1861; d. Oct 4, 1865. Dau of W.A. & S.A. Samford
SAMFORD, America, (31); b. Jan 24, 1835; d. Apr 28, 1891
SAMPLE, Asa B., (16); b. Dec 23, 1918; d. Feb 3, 1919. Son of W.D. & Necie Sample (see Note 1)
SMITH, Ida S., (17); 1878 -- 1896. (Daughter of Pernecia & Asa). (Double headstone with Pernecia Holt)
Note 1: W.D. Sample (12-4-1885 -- 6-22-1965) and Necie Holt Sample (12-18-1887 -- 11-27-1952) are both buried at Martinsville Baptist Cemetery in Martinsville,
Texas
Note 2: Spouse: Asa Burt Holt (1850--1925, buried at Martinsville Baptist); daughter, Mary Ann Holt Stanley (1874 - 1952, buried at Antioch Cemetery in Buna,
TX) Pernecia was the daughter of George Crittendon Bittick & Mary Margret Ann Samford.
Note 3: This massive granite headstone has been knocked off it's base and is lying face down on the ground. An earlier visit to the cemetery lists the pertinent
information. Engraved on the back are the names and years of birth for the children of Wm. & Barbara: Rebecca, 1806; Elkanah, 1808; Dorothy, 1810; Belinda, 1813; George, 1815; Simon Z.,
1817; Matilda, 1819; Margaret, 1821; Pernecia, 1823; Snider M., 1825; Elizabeth Ann, 1830.
Note 4: This is probably Andrew Jackson Forbis and his twin son and daughter, Thomas J. and Permelia. According to the 1880 census, Andrew and his wife Permelia
were born about 1813. In 1880, their other son William and his wife, both 20, were living with them. William and Nancy are buried at Sand Hill Cemetery.
Note 5: William F. & Melissa Ann were the parents of Permelia Jane Mills Stringer, who was my mother's mother.
The inscription on the bottom of Malisia's headstone reads: "Oh tell my wife that I miss her so much. She left me that night that the mist of the sea drifted over my
side, and hid her in shadows; so dence and so deep. Remembering the time ever more I must weep".