Williamson County Historical Museum will hosted a free tour of the historic Lawrence Chapel Cemetery at on Saturday, May 20, 2006 with a demonstration of tombstone rubbing techniques to follow. The workshop will run from 10-12.  

Lawrence Chapel Cemetery, the resting place of many of Williamson County's earliest settlers, is in southeastern Williamson County and lies approximately 15 miles southeast of Taylor on CR 473. Most notable among the cemetery's "residents" is Adam Lawrence and several members of the Olive family.

Adam Lawrence came to Texas in 1820 as one of Austin's colonists. A noted hunter and Indian fighter, Lawrence served with William B. Travis's scouting company as the Mexican Army converged on San Antonio. He later served with Reed's Company in the Army of the Republic of Texas. Lawrence and his wife, Sarah, established the community of Cross Roads, now Lawrence Chapel, in 1838.

Also among those resting in Lawrence Chapel Cemetery are James and Julia Olive and two of their four sons. The Olives moved to Lawrence Chapel in 1843 and established one of the most successful cattle operations in Williamson County. In the late 1860s and into the 1870s, the Olive brothers rounded-up wild longhorn cattle from the cedar thickets in southeastern Williamson County and drove them to market in Kansas and to ranches in Wyoming and Nebraska.

Unfortunately, the Olives are known less for their contributions to the county's ranching heritage than for their encounters with rustlers. Two Olive brothers, T. J. and Robert, both were killed by rustlers and are buried in Lawrence Chapel Cemetery along with their parents and numerous other relatives.

Jim Dillard, a volunteer with the Williamson County Historical Museum, will be conducting the tour. He will also be demonstrating the art of tombstone rubbing. Participants in the tour will also have an opportunity to try their hand at tombstone rubbing. and can purchase tombstone rubbing kits on site.

Williamson County Historical Museum
 716 S. Austin Avenue
Georgetown, TX 78626

For more information and driving directions to
Lawrence Chapel Cemetery,  call 512-943-1670.

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