Heroes, Scoundrels and Angels

Local historian Ron Melugin has roamed this frontier Texas cemetery for over a decade, collecting fascinating stories about the “residents” laid to rest there. Spanning the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, these tales of extraordinary people with ordinary causes of death and ordinary people who died in extraordinary ways illustrate the uncertainties of life on the edge of the Confederacy and next door to Oklahoma Indian Territory. From the former slave who died of old age to the chemistry student who accidentally poisoned his own apple, each account provides a fascinating glimpse into the history of Gainesville. A full map and legend is included to guide readers to each of the sites.