In Memory of Harriet Elizabeth (Lewis) Lindsey (1853-1899)
Written by her son, Walter Gray Lindsey (1875-1952)

Mother was a quiet, unassuming lady, and I mean lady. She typified everything that goes into being a lady, viz, a perfect Mother and housewife, a good housekeeper, a good cook, a seamstress, a model of cleanliness, and never did an injustice. She never spoke ill of anyone. She was the housekeeper, the field boss of eight boys and four girls when Dad was away, which he was much of the time.
Mother had a way of just appearing out of nowhere just when she ought not to be around. That is- judging by the ideas or yard stick of eight lazy boys who thought it was more fun to play mumble-peg than chop cotton or anything else that was that she thought we should do. But somehow in some mysterious way when the mumble peg game was going good and the weeds were growing good she would appear just standing there looking on with that ever-to-be-remembered witch hanging loosely at her side. Well, you know the rest. We forgot the mumble-peg and for several days and make faithful and energetic war on the weeds. Then somehow the weeds would lose their glamour and the mumble-peg fires burn bright again and we were at it again and the whole thing done over again. I dare she hasn't a child living who does not revere her memory with all their zeal and honor their hearts can bestow.
I take me back fifty or sixty years ago, and see her going about in her black dress and white apron- a living, walking picture of cleanliness, virtue, motherhood, and womanhood, humming some religious song or sitting at the machine making one of her beloved children a shirt, a dress never disturbed or perturbed, always calm, never nagging or scolding, but the supreme confident overseer of four girls and eight boys. I can't recall ever seeing her wear a hat, always a white bonnet. She took pneumonia in March 1899 and died in four or five days thus departing this life just as it seemed she could enjoy life. The girls were large enough to do the housework and they did taking a large load off her shoulders. Me-thinks the Lord who does everything well said, "You have done enough, your life's work is finished, you have fought a good fight- come up higher."
She now lives in the China Creek Cemetery about six or seven miles north of San Saba.
She was orphaned at the age of five , was adopted and became cook and housekeeper for her foster parents, married at a young age, bore and cared for twelve children and in my estimation, there are few mothers who deserve more honor. All honor and glory to her memory!