Old Independence Cemetery

Old Independence Cemetery was founded in 1823. It is located in Independence, Texas, on land donated by Medora Coles McCrocklin, a daughter of Judge J. P. Coles, one of the Old Three Hundred from the Austin Colony. The cemetery was an early community graveyard used by Anglo-American pioneers of Texas. It is commemorated by a state historical marker.[1]

Old Independence Cemetery
Details
Location
Independence, Washington County, Texas
CountryUnited States
Coordinates30°19′43″N 96°21′40″W

Numerous prominent figures of the Republic of Texas are buried here, along with founders of Baylor University, which had its first campus in Independence.

Gravestones were cut from native limestone and some are decorated with seashells. There are a number of false crypts in the cemetery.[2][3]

The nearby Liberty Cemetery was used by African-American members of this historic community.

Notable burials in Old Independence Cemetery
  • Moses Austin Bryan (1843–1895)[4]
  • Tacitus Thomas Clay (1824–1868)[5] - Built Clay Castle[6]
  • Judge John Prince Coles (1793–1847)[7] - an Old Three Hundred
  • Sam Houston, Jr. (1843–1894)[8]
  • Ira Randolph Lewis (1800–1867)[9] - Early settler[10]

Henry Lee Graves (1818-1881) First President of Baylor University

See also

References
  1. Texas Historical Commission. "Old Independence Cemetery Historical Marker".
  2. Harvey, Bill (1996). Texas Cemeteries. California: University of Texas Press. pp. 160–161. ISBN 9781860990199.
  3. Texas State Historical Association. "Handbook of Texas Online".
  4. Moses Austin Bryan at Find a Grave
  5. Tacitus Thomas Clay at Find a Grave
  6. Hailey, James. "Clay Castle". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  7. John Prince Coles at Find a Grave
  8. Sam Houston Jr at Find a Grave
  9. Ira Randolph Lewis at Find a Grave
  10. Blake, Robert Bruce. "Ira Randolph Lewis". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.