History of White Rose Cemetery

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The White Rose Cemetery has not always been known by "White Rose". Since it had its beginning in the days when what we now know as Wills Point, was in fact considered a part of the Canton area. Inhabitants of the Wills Point area were listed on the 1860 census with a Canton Post Office. Families were few and far between during those days.

William Wills and his family left Tennessee in 1849 and settled in Kaufman County. They were listed on the 1850 Census in Kaufman County. Shortly after 1850, they purchased a log cabin from Mr. Sullivan and settled in Van Zandt County on the "Old Dallas-Shreveport Road." The log cabin was the home of the Wills family for the first few years they lived in Van Zandt County. The log cabin has been moved to 335 E. N. Commerce and is kept in repair by the Business and Professiona (sic) Women's Club of Wills Point.

According to folklore, the Wills family bought and sold supplies to travelers, and because of the family name and shape of the land where the cabin was located, their place became known as Wills' Point or Wills' Stand. This was a short distance east of what was later to become the town of Wills Point.

On September 28, 1864, the elder William Wills died and was laid to rest on the Wills' land a short distance from the homeplace. Mr. Wills was 60 years one month and 18 days old at the time of his death.

Mary ann Phillips Wills, widow of William Wills, never remarried. She remained on the homeplace and apparently was very active up to the time of her death just two days before her 82nd birthday. She was laid to rest beside her husband on June 6, 1892 - nearly 28 years after his death.

Eight acres of the Wills' land had been set aside for a Graveyard. Mrs. Wills laid out the land by blocks and lots. The family lots were laid out with enough space for twelve burials. They are approximately 20 x 25 feet per lot.

She left space for a walkway between each lot. The number of lots per block varies. Roadways divide the blocks. In the old part of the cemetery any lot can be reached without crossing over another person's gravesite.

Mrs. Wills evidently put much thought and consideration into her planning. The eight acres that was referred to as the "First Cemetery" had a wide fifty foot roadway crossing near the center. The entrance to the first cemetery was on the west side between what we know now as blocks 8 and 9.

The Wills' Burying Place consists of fourt family lots and is enclosed with an iron fence. It is on the south side of Block 1.

After Mrs. Wills laid out the cemetery, she began selling lots to others in need of a burying place. This was continued until 1886. On March 27, 1886, this "First Cemetery" was deeded to trustees for the "The Wills Point Cemetery."

The Wills' Burying Place and all lots theretofore sold, were excluded from this dale; therefore, any lot with a burial prior to March 1886 has never been a part of "The Wills Point Cemetery" or the White Rose Cemetery" as it was later called.

(Transcriber's note: Our sincere appreciation is extended to Ruth McGee and Lavona Blackwell for permission to transcribe Van Zandt County Texas Cemeteries Books 3 and 4. This includes White Rose Cemetery as well as many more. Without the use of these books this work could not have been accomplished within this time frame. I would also like to thank Paulette Flym for transcribing the actual survey of White Rose for me. She is an invaluable asset to our team.)

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