Vinson Cemetery, located in Limestone County, Texas carries the name of its donors, Wiley and Phebe Spurlin Vinson, who designated one-half acre of their land for a cemetery in 1870(1).  The cemetery is southeast of Thornton.  To visit the Vinson Cemetery, take FM 2749 south from Thornton turning left on LCR 728 and go 1.6 miles.  The cemetery is located on the right side of the road approximately .3 miles past the King Cemetery.  The Vinson Cemetery gate is 1/20 mile from the road(2).  The cemetery is in a large pasture and was located here because related families lived in the vicinity(3).
    Wiley Vinson was born in Georgia and married Phebe Spurlin on September 12, 1826, in Jones County, George.  Phebe, born in 1805, was a Georgia native.  They had ten children.  Sarah Ann, Mary, John, Henry, and James Madison were born in Georgia.  Barbara Ellen, Wiley, Jr., Thomas, Robert and C. Francis were born in Alabama(4).
    The Wiley Vinson family came on a flat boat to Corpus Christi, Texas about 1851 and briefly lived in the counties of LaVaca, DeWitt, and Falls, before settling in Limestone County, Texas(5).  Wiley Vinson filed on 160 acres of land and had a patent issued to him on September 20, 1859.  This tract is still known as the "Wiley Vinson Survey(6)."  He and his sons were farmers, operated a grist mill, and had a tan yard(7).  The father, Wiley, was listed as a wagon maker in the 1860 census(8).
    All of the sons served in the War Between the States and returned home after the conflict(9).  As the land then owned by the parents was too limited to support this family of farmers, Wiley Vinson bought 525 additional acres on August 12, 1870, which he purchased from Joseph Copeland in the Joseph Copeland Survey.  One-half acre of this purchase was designated as a cemetery by Vinson.  The surrounding land was later owned by Vinson's son, Thomas(10,11).
    The individuals buried in the Vinson Cemetery were members of the Vinson family and neighbors living nearby, most of whom were related by marriage.  No known epidemic or disaster was responsible for the deaths(12).  There are 38 marked graves.  The first person buried in the cemetery was Wiley Vinson who died in 1871.  His wife, Phebe, was buried there in 1873.  The last burial was of Martha I. Morris in 1927.  Other members of the Vinson family buried in the cemetery include four of the children of Wiley and Phebe:  Sarah Vinson Baker Booth, 1827-1903; Robert Vinson, 1845-1876; Wiley Vinson, Jr. 1840-1869; and C. Fances Vinson, 1848-after 1860.  They have nine grand-chlildren buried in the cemetery:  Wiley Vinson, Jr. 1872-1877; two infant sons of Barbara Ellen Vinson Fox; Mary E. Fox, 1866-1873; Prudence A. Vinson, 1865; Addie M. Vinson; Robert Carlton Vinson, 1899-1900; William Rupert Vinson, 1901-1901; and Melissa A. Baker Reed Smith, 1846-1877(13). 
    Vinson Cemetery is the burial place for three veterans of the Confederate States Army:  Wiley Vinson, jr., 2nd Serg. Co H 20 Texas Cavalry; Robert Vinson, Pvt Co 1 Texas Cavalry; and William G. Gum, Pvt Co D 20 Texas Infantry(14). 
    In 1962, the Fox-Darden Family Association began to assume responsibility for the cemetery.  It was fenced, cleaned, and broken markers mended or replaced.  Shrubs were planted and a marker was placed at the entrance which reads: Vinson Cemetery, Established by Wiley Vinson, 1870, Reclaimed by the Fox-Darden Association, 1962.  Those responsible for this work included J. C. Mox of Mart,Wilburn W. Fox, Raymond Fox, and Mrs. Rubye Carpenter, all of Prairie Hill, and L. I. Tilly Bounds.  the family name of Darden was later dropped from the organizational name as no Dardens are known to be buried there.  The Fox Family Association continues to care for the cemetery and meets annually(15).

(1) Limestone County Deed Records, Volume F, p. 227.
(2) Bruce Jordan, Survey of Vinson Cemetery (unpublished, 2003), p. 1.
(3) Lorena Hillyer Fox. Interview with Calvin Fox, 1961.
(4) Ezelle Fox, The Wiley Vinson Family (Dumas, Texas:  unpublished, nd), p. 15.
(5) Limestone County Historical Museum, A Family History of Limestone County, Volume 2.  (Taylor Publishing, 1993), p. 17.
(6) Limestone County Deed Records, Volume A, p. 614.
(7) Ezelle Fox, The Wiley Vinson Family (Dumas, Texas:  unpublished, nd), p. 15.
(8) 1860 United States Census, Limestone County, Texas, Steele's Creek District, p. 25, line 35.
(9) Ezelle Fox, The Wiley Vinson Family (Dumas, Texas:  unpublished, nd), p. 15.
(10) Lorena Hillyer Fox, 1961.
(11) Limestone County Deed Records, Volume F, p. 27.
(12) Lorena Hillyer Fox, 1961.
(13) Jordan, p. 2-3
(14) Jordan, p. 2-3.
(15) Lorena Hillyer Fox, Fox Family Association Reunions (1952-1974) Volume 1.

While a very young lad, William was apprenticed to a gentleman who operated a cobbler's shop in Montreal, Canada. Evidently, this apprenticeship was broken, for one day while at work, he observed a regiment of Canadian soldiers marching down the street and his attention was drawn to the band as it played. He expressed a desire to learn to beat the drum and arrangements were soon made to place him in the band. When the time for his departure came, the family he was living with accompanied him to the port, where he was transported with a regiment of Canadian soldiers to take part in the War of 1812. In a battle at Detroit, Michigan, he was captured by the American forces. In all probability, this was the second battle of Detroit, which occurred in September 1813, as the American forces were thoroughly defeated in the first battle. After the conflict had ended, he was accorded the privilege of returning to his homeland or of remaining in the U.S., and he elected to remain in the U.S. He never returned to Canada, and as far as anyone knows, never communicated with anyone (his family or otherwise) there again. His position with the Canadian Army band is assumed to have been of civilian nature, as no record of his service can be found. After his release, he made his way through the country to a salt mine on a navigable river where boats would dock and load salt. The Captain of the boat offered to take him down the river to see the country and he stopped in Carroll County, Tennessee. He evidently worked on some boats on the Mississippi River during these days- once he leaned over the side of the boat too far and his money pouch slipped out of his coat pocket and fell into the river. There is a difference of opinion among members of the family about this direct route to Tennessee. Some say he went to Virginia, and then to Tennessee. We find in our study of history of this war that the members of the American forces engaged in the section of the conflict were from Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and probably other states. We can readily assume that he became acquainted with some member of the American forces who took him to his home.  Here he grew to manhood in the state of his adopted parents. He then married Jane and, sometime prior to Martha Jane's birth, they moved from Carroll County, Tennessee, which is located in the west central part of the state, to Robertson County, Tennessee, which lies north of Nashville.  The question immediately arises as to why he moved east when the migration of the time was to the West. On examination of history we find the settlers of Western Tennessee being attacked by marauding bands of Indians who were being driven from their lands in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama. In the face of that situation, it would be only natural for him to move to a more densely populated area and where relatives resided, for the safety of his family. The Darden’s were among the earliest settlers of Robertson County, Tennessee where a number of descendants still reside. During this time, he attained his citizenship. Soon, there was a lot of talk amongst his neighbors about Texas, which had been admitted to the Union, and many of them were making plans to move there. He, too, began preparations for moving to Texas, so in the year 1847, he and his family and other Tennesseans, including some of the Darden’s, arrived in Harrison County, Texas, having traveled most of the way by boat. He settled in the North central part of Harrison County, near the Marion County line, where he engaged in farming. He evidently rented land for the first few years in Texas, as a search of the records of Harrison County, reveals that on September 21, 1855, he purchased 640 acres of the Joseph Dial survey, being "all that tract of land on which the said William Fox now  lives"  for the  sum  of  Eight  Hundred  Fifty Dollars".  It was not long after their arrival that their children began to marry and make homes of their own, in most instances in different parts of Texas. Before many more years had passed, the War Between the States began.  He and his wife saw their three sons and two sons-in-law enter and fight for the Southern cause. After hostilities ceased, all returned except one son-in-law, George H. Cabiness, who lost his life in the conflict. William Fox relied completely on gold as his medium of exchange, and during the war or soon after, he was approached on the idea of trading his gold for paper money and after much thought and meditation he traded, which resulted in severe economic loss to him. ** A few records from Harrison County have been found which are of interest: 05/02/1850 Bill of Sale - "Know all men by these presents, that we Jacob Womack and Ann Womack, wife of the said Jacob, by our attorney in fact, N. H. Wilson, all of the County of Harrison, in the State of Texas, for the purpose of securing the payment of the note hereinafter described, have sold, transferred and delivered, and by these presents do hereby sell, transfer and deliver unto William Fox, of the County aforesaid the following described property, goods and chattels to-wit; One negro woman, slave for life, of a black complexion, about 38 years old and called Mama, and also our way going crops now growing on our plantation in the County aforesaid, to him, the said William Fox, his heirs, executors and administrators, to have and to hold the same forever, and we the said Jacob and Ann, by our Attorney as aforesaid do hereby agree to warrant and forever defend the title to the above described property against the claim or claims of all persons whomsoever lawfully claiming or to claimed he same. Jacob and Ann Womack by their Attorney-in-fact, executed a note to the said William Fox, for the sum of Two Hundred Ninety One and 66/100 Dollars, which was dated the second day of May, 1850" Note: It is known, from records found, that William Fox never owned slaves, yet as shown by the instrument above, he made a loan to Mr. Jacob Womack, and one slave was included as part of the collateral to secure payment of the note. ** On 06/25/1875, William Fox purchased a tract of land south of Thornton, Limestone Co., Texas, being 640 acres of B. Gillespie survey. The story is told that, after making a thorough inspection of the land, he and the owners or agents met at the railroad station where they completed the deal. As they sat on the platform at the station, he took from the saddle bags which he carried a sufficient amount of gold for the down payment on the land. He then took the train to return to his home in Harrison County, going by way of Houston. After arriving home he made preparation to move to his new home in Limestone County. There were 2 or3 log houses located on the land at the time he purchased it, and one of the houses consisted of a large room on the South and one on the North, with a covered porch or hall between them. He and Jane moved into the South room and, later in 1876, when Martha Jane Fox Hogue and family moved to Limestone County, they occupied the North room. In the same year, John Wesley Fox and family moved there and occupied the other log house which was located a short distance SW from the one above described. A short time later, his son, Henry acquired a portion of the East side of the survey, and in due time, with all of the men working together, had built a home for each of the families. I am told the relationship that existed among the families was of sincere love and devotion and that, whenever one was in need of assistance, all were ready and willing to help. ** During all the years William Fox had maintained a home he had been very active, but at the end of his years, not being physically able to work, he would read his Bible and sing or hum tunes out of his hymn book (in the possession of Ezelle Fox). When he tired of reading, he derived a lot of pleasure in playing his drum, and would play it for hours. He was very efficient in playing it and knew exactly how to adjust the skin covering to play certain music and could play any tune that was suggested, but was especially proficient in playing a military march.   It is said that, when he played a military march, one could not resist keeping step and time to the music. He was very particular about the care given the drum, and kept it under his bed not allowing his grandchildren to touch it. It is not know whether or not the drum he kept as long as he lived was the one originally issued to him by the Canadian Army. He had a lot of time to meditate and think and would often relate to the children of Henry Green Fox and others that happened to be about the many interesting  event of  his life.   He talked of  the good times he  had playing  with his  brothers  and sisters, of  his  father and mother;  however,  by that time he had forgotten the  names of his parents. He would weep because he had lost contact with his family. It is not known if he ever tried to find or contact them at this point in his life. He remembered his brothers' names as John and Henry and his sisters' names as Mary and Martha and he named his children accordingly.

Naturalization - "State of Tennessee - At a circuit court begun and held for the County of Robertson at the Courthouse in the Town of Springfield on the first Monday in June 1845 present the Hon M A Martin Esq. Judge elect of the 7th Judicial Circuit of said State presiding, when on the 4th day of said term, amongst other things the following proceedings were had to wit: Exparte: The petition of Wm Fox for Naturalization. Be it remembered that on this he 6th day of June 1845 this cause came on to be heard and was heard, before the Hon. M. A. Martin one of the Judges of the Circuit Court of the State of Tennessee, and it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court by proof, that the said William Fox came to the United States, while he was an infant under the age of Twenty-one years, that he came to the United States in the year 1812 or 1813, and that he has remained in America ever since the time of his first coming, and that he is a man of good morals and character and having made the declaration required by law in writing, sworn to as directed by law. It is therefore ordered adjudged and decreed by said Court, that said Wm. Fox be, and he is hereby admitted to all the rights and privileges of an American Citizen in all things, Whereupon the said Wm. Fox came into open Court and took the several oaths prescribed by law and it is further ordered a Copy of this Decree by furnished him the said Fox, on his application for the same, and that he pay the costs in this cause. State of Tennessee, Robertson County - I, Jesse Davis, Clerk of the Circuit Court for said County do certify, that the foregoing is a true and perfect copy of the decree made by said Court in said Cause, as appears of record in my Office. S.S. Given under my hand and private seal, having no seal of office, at Office in the Town of Springfield, this 30 day of July, 1845 of our Independence the 70th year. Jesse Davis Clk"

Fox-Bro. Wm. Fox was born in Montreal, Canada, in the year 1800. He went out as a drummer boy in the war of 1812; was captured by the United State's forces, and brought as a prisoner to the United States. When the war closed he became a citizen of the United States. He was married to Miss Jane Darden, of Tennessee, on the 3rd of March, 1825. He moved from Robinson Co., Tenn., to Harrison Co., TX, in the year 1847, and in 1875 he came to Limestone Co., TX, where, on the12th day of June, 1889, at the house of his son, H. G. Fox, he passed away. He embraced religion in early life, and lived a consistent Christian life until death. The married life of these two saints, were blessed with five children, four of whom still live -- Henry G. Fox and Mattie J. Hogue of Thornton, TX; Mary E. Cobb, of Wayne, Cass Co., TX; Wm. Fox, of Reilly Springs, Hopkins Co., TX; besides a host of grand and great-grandchildren. A good citizen and a Christian gentleman has gone, but we weep not as those who have no hope. His was a triumphant death. THORNTON, TEXAS J.O. Jordan"