Greathouse Cemetery - Ellis County, TX
N 32° 17.882 W 096° 56.888
14S E 693197 N 3575319
With one 21st century burial, the Greathouse Cemetery is a virtually inactive historical cemetery of around 50 burials, perhaps more. It is all that remains of the Greathouse Community, which went away when the railroad came to nearby Maypearl, TX.
Waymark Code: WMMBW3
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 08/28/2014
Views: 3
A Texas Historical Marker here provides some background. Note that while the Greathouses and Nancy Sims are buried here, there are no obvious markers for their graves. This cemetery has been badly vandalized, and the irresponsible use the historical marker for target practice.
Archibald and Mary Greathouse, who settled in this area in 1848, gave their name to a creek and rural community that grew up here. The church, school, and cemetery that formed the focal point of community life were located on land deeded in 1881 by Ezekiel M. Brack, and on property deeded later by Martin Judy Dawson and George W Whitefield. John Edward Dawson hauled lumber from Waxahachie by oxcart to erect the Greathouse Missionary Baptist Church building. Other early church leaders included Martin Judy Dawson, Jr., Caswell R. Tirey, and Thomas A. Tirey. The Rev. John Bailey was the first pastor. In the 1890s, a school was begun in the church building. Oldest known grave in the cemetery is that of Nancy Caroline Sims (1828-1881).
When the railroad reached nearby Maypearl in 1904, many residents moved there and Greathouse began to decline. The school closed in 1912 and the church about 1927. The frame building was razed in 1958. A cemetery association, formed in 1974, maintains the burial ground.
This community produced four Christian ministers: the Rev. Joseph M Dawson (1879-1973), a prominent Baptist leader; the Rev. Everett H. Tirey; the Rev. J.W. Whitefield, Jr.; and the Rev. Austin Woodard. Another resident, Judge Jake Tirey, served on the Texas Court of Civil Appeals.
City, Town, or Parish / State / Country: Not listed
Approximate number of graves: Not listed
Cemetery Status: Not listed
Cemetery Website: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
Post an original, un-copywrited picture of the Cemetery into this Waymark gallery, along with any observations about the cemetery.