Wright Cemetery

Nestled in the woods within Chandler city limits are four acres of forgotten history.

Half a mile down the train tracks, through a barbed wire fence and down a small beaten path, is the Wright Cemetery, home to genealogist Cheryl Johnson’s great great grandfather, Lars Johnson.

“I’m the first person to visit this grave in our family since he was buried,” she said.

Lars was buried in 1898. Johnson began visiting the cemetery in the ‘90s when she discovered her ancestor rested there. As the years went by, Johnson saw the slow decline of the cemetery and decided that something needed to be done.

“I love cemeteries,” she said. “I’ve loved cemeteries since I was a child. I thought ‘I’ll do something with my ancestors. Preserve it,’ then I thought: no. If I can, I’m going to do more and it’s turned out pretty good so far.”

Johnson formed the Cemetery Preservation Society of Lincoln County.

The goal of this society is to help cemeteries that are abandoned and endangered that are not receiving help from local municipalities.

Johnson said once the Wright Cemetery is cleaned up they will turn to the next cemetery that is in need.

“Until we get this one done, we’ll be coming here,” she said. “I’m asking people to submit cemeteries they think are endangered and abandoned.”

Every third Saturday of the month, a clean-up crew of volunteers will head out to the cemeteries to clean them up. “I’m all for coming out and working,” she said.

According to the Warranty Deed, on October 27, 1892 Albert D. Wright sold four acres of his property to the Chandler Cemetery Association for the sole purpose of a burial ground.

This was the first cemetery in Chandler and was known as the Chandler Cemetery.

According to undated newspaper clippings, burials in this cemetery began to cease when the City of Chandler purchased the Oak Park Cemetery in 1906.

Throughout the days spent at the Wright Cemetery, Johnson and her team have discovered more forgotten history.

For example, while cleaning the cemetery on Saturday, they found the plot where Civil War veteran David Johnson was buried after being killed in the March 30, 1897 cyclone that tore through Chandler.

Johnson is currently raising $275 needed to file the non-profit paperwork.

To contribute, make donations to “Lincoln County Historical Society c/o Wright Cemetery” at 719 Manvel Chandler , Ok 74834.

Or contact Cheryl Johnson at cher1john@aol.com.