The historical marker recently placed in Plainview Cemetery northwest of Krum pays tribute to Denton County’s heritage, but it means much more, and we applaud the efforts of the Eagle Scout who helped bring it there.
Matthew Myers told us he decided to undertake the project after he noticed other cemeteries with historical markers and became interested in obtaining one for Plainview Cemetery, where some of his ancestors are buried.
He is a fourth-generation descendant of William Clifford Briscoe (1866-1922), who is buried in the northeast corner of the cemetery.
To earn the cemetery its marker, Myers and his mother, Patricia, had to complete requirements for the state historical designation and the marker application and a restoration project at the cemetery.
With the help of Boy Scout Troop 555, members of his church youth group and other volunteers, Myers was able to complete the restoration by erecting a kiosk to preserve the community’s history and provide a directory of the graves for visitors.
“I thought it would be a nice thing to do,” Myers told us. “It was hard to find all our relatives’ graves, so I thought about a map that people could look at when they went.”
The Plainview Cemetery Association, which manages the cemetery, helped co-sponsor Myer’s project and paid the $1,900 application fee.
Today, the cemetery and a Baptist church are about the only reminders of a once-vibrant farming community.
Beth Stribling, chairwoman of the Denton County Historical Commission, said the project means a lot to the community and praised Myers’ efforts.
“They probably wouldn’t have gotten that marker if it hadn’t been for him and his mom,” said Stribling.
Stribling and Denton County Commissioner Andy Eads were among those who attended a recent ceremony to unveil the marker. Eads said of the marker, “It’s a sense of permanence.”
History tells us that the community of Plainview began sometime around 1878 when Gideon Kimbrough and William Kimbrough and their families moved to the area from Bellville, Tennessee. The Baptist church soon followed in 1896, organized by S.G. Christal, a pastor from Decatur.
In 1898, a plot of land next to the church was purchased from the estate of James B. Walker and used as a cemetery. Walker was the first person buried, and the earliest grave recorded that same year.
The area has changed a lot since the days when the fields around Plainview produced crops of cotton and wheat, but many area families still have ties to the area and cherished memories of those who rest in the cemetery.
Now, thanks to the efforts of a young Eagle Scout with an appreciation for family, history and community, there is a lasting tribute to the cemetery and the people who once called Plainview home.