During the Civil War, a Confederate training camp was built on Colonel Leonard W. Groce's Liendo Plantation, north of the railroad and east of Clear Creek. It was later converted to a prisoners of war camp for Union officers, soldiers, sailors, and teamsters captured at the battles of Galveston, Sabine Pass in Texas, Calcasiue Pass in Louisiana, and Marks Mill in Arkansas. Disease and logistics required moving prisoners from camp to camp from 1863 through 1865. Harsh conditions and bad weather caused many deaths, and Camp Groce became the joint burial location for both Union and Confederate soldiers. One memorable interment was the Masonic funeral for Surgeon Ariel Cummings of the 42nd Mass., an overworked noncombatant aiding the sick and wounded, who died of deprivation and disease. Free Masons, both Union and Confederate, gave him a ceremony of honor on September 10, 1863.