HistoricSiteMarkers
Reconstruction & Gilded Age

Cornett Cemetery

Hughes Springs, Cass County, Texas

Marker Inscription

The first burials here were in the 1850s, but the oldest legible stone marks the grave of Mary Frances Hampton, who died Oct. 4, 1880. Robert Dunlap donated nine acres of land to the cemetery and to adjacent Hamell's Chapel Methodist Church. Other donors of land included G. T. Cornett and S. E. McCord, Fred and Sallie Hall, and Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Trumble. Known by several names during its history, the community burial ground was renamed "Cornett" after Cornett Post Office was established in 1901. The cemetery contains about 295 marked and 110 unmarked graves.

Erected by Texas Historical Commission

The Story

Burials began at this Cass County site in the 1850s, though the oldest legible stone marks the 1880 grave of Mary Frances Hampton. Robert Dunlap gave nine acres for the cemetery and the adjacent Hamell's Chapel Methodist Church, with other families donating land as well. Known by several names, it was renamed 'Cornett' after the Cornett Post Office opened in 1901 and now holds roughly 295 marked and 110 unmarked graves.

Why it matters

The cemetery is a lasting record of a pioneer East Texas community whose church, post office, and burying ground grew up together.

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Related people

  • ยท Mary Frances Hampton
  • ยท Robert Dunlap
  • ยท G. T. Cornett

Themes & tags

Westward ExpansionFrontier HistoryMemorial

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