The Lamar Cemetery

This burial ground originally served pioneer settlers of the Lamar community. Founded by James W. Byrne, who died in 1865, a native of Ireland and a veteran of the Texas Revolution, it was named for his friend Mirabeau B. Lamar, former President of the Republic of Texas. The earliest grave is that of Patrick O’Connor, who lived from 1822 to 1854, a bookkeeper for Byrne’s business operations in New Orleans. The town of Lamar ceased to exist by 1915, and the cemetery was neglected until the 1940s, when it was restored through efforts by the family of John Henry Kroeger, Jr., who died in 1944.

Lamar, Texas · United States