One of Kaufman County's Oldest Burial Sites Saved From Developer's Bulldozer

TODAY a land developer was caught destroying what was left of the old Noble Family & Noble Slave Cemeteries - the Sheriff's Dept was called out to stop him and the Historical Commission sent a constable to see what damage had been done.

UPDATE!

The Noble Family Burial Ground has been saved!  Fast action by the Kaufman County Historical Commission (KCHC) sent the Sheriff and Preservationists to the site where the man and bulldozer were stopped.

As of April 3rd, work on the adjoining property has completely stopped and the developer has agreed not to make any more changes until he hears from the county.

Luckily Kaufman County has a rare (and Wonderful) law that requires all developers send a letter of intent to the County Judge & KCHC before making any changes to undeveloped land.  This man had not done this and must do so before he can do any more work.  In the meanwhile the KCHC is currently preparing an Application to the Texas Historical Commission to obtain Historical Designation on the site, which will help guarantee it's preservation.

This is the only photograph known to exist of the old Noble Family Graveyard near Kemp.  According to a notation on the back of the photo it was made in 1937 by C. R. Reasonover.  It was found in the items that had belonged to Marie Reasonover.

Today the place looks much the same - thick undergrowth and dense foliage, however the only things that remain in the cemetery are some open stone-lined tombs, pieces of slate that once marked graves and broken, illegible tombstones scattered throughout the site.

Above is a photo of one of only three remaining tombstones in the old Noble Family Cemetery near Kemp.  There are also 2 stone crypts on the site.  None of the markers are legible.

Persons thought to be Buried in the Noble Family Graveyard
Kemp, Texas

*NOTE: when Maried Reasonover died in November 2002 she left a huge database of info on early Kaufman residents.  Her family has seen that the info has been passed on to historians and genealogists in the county who will use the information to assist anyone seeking info on their Kaufman County ancestors.

If you have information on any persons who may be interred at this site, please contact Kathey Kelley Hunt.