One hundred seven years ago, Elizabeth McMahon Campbell was laid to rest in the McMillin Cemetery northeast of San Saba. Like a number of other graves in the little country cemetery, Mrs. Campbell's grave was marked with a single sandstone rock.

The wife of George W. Campbell, a Texas Ranger, Elizabeth came to Texas as a young bride and settled, supposedly on homesteaded land, in the McMillin Community about 1868. The Campbell's were parents of eight children. Five of the children were still at home at the time of her death, ranging in age from two years to twelve years.

A true pioneer mother, Elizabeth Campbell was in the process of doing the family laundry when she met her sudden death. Several buckets of water were already heating in the black wash pot when she walked to the nearby Colorado River for more water. In the process of dipping up additional water, she slipped on the slick bank and fell into the river. Being unable to swim, she drown. Her body was recovered downstream the next day. Mrs. Campbell was the only adult at home at the time of the accident.

A family member visited in San Saba in 1983 and talked with Mrs. Elmer House. Mrs. House confirmed the story and identified where the grave was located in the McMillin Cemetery. Later several of the Campbell descendents have visited the country cemetery and confirmed the location of the grave marked with a sandstone rock.

The Campbell Family came to Central Texas this past August for their family reunion. The group met in Goldthwaite for visiting and lunch followed by a drive to the McMillin Community in San Saba County.

George and Elizabeth's great grandson, Glenn Campbell of Canyon, Texas hosted the reunion. His grandfather, David Sanders Campbell, born in 1869, was the first child of the young couple. While finalizing the reunion plans, Glenn Campbell came to San Saba, met and visited with Stanley Burnham. Dr. Burnham, Vice-Chairman of the San Saba Historical Commission, is presently documenting San Saba County Cemeteries. He verified the location of the gravesite in the northeast corner of the McMillin Cemetery.

Some thirty plus Campbell Family members traveled to McMillin Cemetery, August 22, 2009, and were greeted by McMillin resident, Mrs. Dorothy Miller. Great, great grandson Doug Campbell served as Master of Ceremonies as the family placed a permanent tombstone at their grandmother's grave. Campbell's remarks expressed the family sentiments: "We are gathered here today at the burial place of our loved one and to give thanks for her acceptance into the Heavenly Kingdom. And, although none but God had known where her earthly remains lay for almost a century, we now ask God's blessings on this monument which acknowledges her time on this earth for future generations who might pass this way.

The newly laid marker reads:

Elizabeth McMahon Campbell

June 29, 1854-June 18, 1892

Mother of Eight

Frontier Wife of

George Washington Campbell

Texas Ranger