MILLIGAN CEMETERY - LOWRY CROSSING
Bridgefarmer Road 33.182N 96.547W
Bridgefarmer Road 33.182N 96.547W
There was once a community called Milligan here. It was named for the Milligan family that lived in the area. The school was just north of the cemetery. It is said the land for the cemetery was donated by W. S. Anderson, who is buried in the cemetery. He was born in 1832. No marker is found for him, but there is an Anderson listed, who might be a daughter or wife. The cemetery would have been donated around 1870. No deed has been found.
In COLLIN COUNTY IN PIONEER TIMES, on page 35, there is a reference to a cemetery that is "4 miles east of McKinney at the curve in the road as it turns south on the Highway to Farmersville and about ¼ mile south of the highway. Not used any more and has not been used as a grave yard for a number of years. There are possible 50 or 60 graves there." It further states, "These boys (Alred boys) were the first buried there. No tombsotne or head mark at grave to show where or when or who they were." The two Alred boys were killed in an Indian raid in 1844, about the time that the Fisher family came to Collin County. I believe the graveyard being referred to is the Milligan Cemetery. This would indicate the cemetery was in use at least 20 years before Mr. Anderson donated the land. The Farmersville Road was replaced about 1940 with SH 24, which became US 380. The old road had several turns in it that were straightened when US 380 was built. It headed northeast from about Milligan, passing north of Princeton and on through Climax.
The cemetery is unfenced and unmaintained for the most part, although there is evidence that some work has been done trimming brush. The cemetery covers about ½ acre with a creek running along the western and northern edges. The bank is very steep. The creek bank is eroding away the back portion of the cemetery and the nearest grave is within 8 feet of the embankment.
There is a persistent rumor that the creek bank has eroded to the point that coffins from this cemetery have floated down the creek. This rumor has been around for at least 20 years. I could not see any evidence that the graves were that close to the creek bank. Also, the coffins would have been wooden and would have collapsed with age. There would not have been anything to float down the creek.
A Boy Scout who lives in Lowry Crossing used the cemetery as his Eagle project in 1994. He put up a rail fence and a sign.
Cemeteries of Collin County, Texas, by Joy Gough
In COLLIN COUNTY IN PIONEER TIMES, on page 35, there is a reference to a cemetery that is "4 miles east of McKinney at the curve in the road as it turns south on the Highway to Farmersville and about ¼ mile south of the highway. Not used any more and has not been used as a grave yard for a number of years. There are possible 50 or 60 graves there." It further states, "These boys (Alred boys) were the first buried there. No tombsotne or head mark at grave to show where or when or who they were." The two Alred boys were killed in an Indian raid in 1844, about the time that the Fisher family came to Collin County. I believe the graveyard being referred to is the Milligan Cemetery. This would indicate the cemetery was in use at least 20 years before Mr. Anderson donated the land. The Farmersville Road was replaced about 1940 with SH 24, which became US 380. The old road had several turns in it that were straightened when US 380 was built. It headed northeast from about Milligan, passing north of Princeton and on through Climax.
The cemetery is unfenced and unmaintained for the most part, although there is evidence that some work has been done trimming brush. The cemetery covers about ½ acre with a creek running along the western and northern edges. The bank is very steep. The creek bank is eroding away the back portion of the cemetery and the nearest grave is within 8 feet of the embankment.
There is a persistent rumor that the creek bank has eroded to the point that coffins from this cemetery have floated down the creek. This rumor has been around for at least 20 years. I could not see any evidence that the graves were that close to the creek bank. Also, the coffins would have been wooden and would have collapsed with age. There would not have been anything to float down the creek.
A Boy Scout who lives in Lowry Crossing used the cemetery as his Eagle project in 1994. He put up a rail fence and a sign.
Cemeteries of Collin County, Texas, by Joy Gough
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