History of Payne-Williams Cemetery

The historic Payne-Williams Cemetery is located on the El Camino Real approximately one mile southeast of Geneva in Sabine county. This cemetery is located on one acre of the original Spanish Land Grant, granted to JuanIgnatio Pifermo on Sept. 13, 1794. The grant was later inherited by Pifermo's nephew, John Maximillian,in the early 1800s. Some historians say that Maximillian was Pifermo's son-in-law.
On July 4,1903 Binjamin Rush Payne and his wife Virginia Scurlock Payne sold 123.25 acers to J.T. Mason With one acre exempted out and was to be formed in a square and designated as a cemetery. The original track contained approximately 800 Acres and was baught for .50 cents an acre. The first known burial in the cemetery was Epperson Duke Payne in 1840.
There are nine graves in the Williams side ok the cemetery with mostly family descendants of Lewis Sullivan Williams. When Wade Hampton Williams died, Ursa Ann Roberts Payne graciously offered Lewis Sullivan Williams aplace for his young son to be buried in the Payne Cemetery.This cemerery was said to be the most beautifull in the area during that time.
The Paynes and the Williams were close friends, so in 1875 the Cemetery became known as the Payne-Williams Cemetery. As of 4-15-2008 there or 29 marked graves in this cemetery.
Added by Ray & Peggy Pace April 15,2008
DIRECTIONS
Payne - Williams Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas – From the courthouse in Hemphill take FM 83 East 1 block to State Hwy 87. Go North or Left 7 miles to Milam. At the intersection of Hwy 87 and Hwy 21 in Milam turn Left or West on Hwy 21 and go 4 miles to a faint drive that leads into a pasture. This is just past a beautifully restored older white home. Turn North or Right onto this drive and go through the gate opening. Be sure to close gate behind you so the cows won't get out of the pasture. Continue straight into the pasture near the right side, by the fence. After approximately 100 yards, you will go through an opening in a line of trees. You will then see the cemetery ahead of you, off to the left about 100 yards. There is a cyclone fence, cemetery sign and historical marker.
In the front of this cemetery there is a sign which says "Williams Cemetery" and the rest of the cemetery has a sign which says "Payne-Williams Cemetery". The Williams part is the oldest and the first burials are here. There are unmarked graves of slaves buried on the North side of the cemetery. Additional information added in parenthesis. First Marked Burial – 1840 *** Last Marked Burial – 1959