Fellowship Cemetery
Warren, Tyler County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Preacher John Dryden (1802–1878) founded the fellowship primitive Baptist Church in 1869 and in the years following, a rural farming, livestock–raising and timbering community developed. When he was thrown off his horse near his home in 1878, the location where he died and was buried became the Fellowship Cemetery. Because of the remote location of the church and cemetery, many of the earliest burials were due to disease, timber accidents and resident encounters with wild animals. Settler, John Reisinger (1890–1974) and his leg, which was lost in a bear attack, are buried in separate locations in the cemetery. Other notable graves include veterans dating back to WWI, pastors of area churches, businessmen who contributed to community growth, noteworthy teachers and members of fraternal organizations such as the Masons, the Order of the Eastern Star and the Daughters and Sons of the American Revolution. Members of prominent historic families and their descendants are buried here. Initially set on a 2.5–acre plot of land, the Fellowship Cemetery has grown and expanded over the years. Graves in the cemetery are oriented in a standard fashion, from east to west with the oldest tombstones made of sandstone. Still in use, the Fellowship Cemetery remains a testament to the pioneering men and women of the Warren area. HISTORIC TEXAS CEMETERY – 2017
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Preacher John Dryden founded the Fellowship Primitive Baptist Church in 1869, and after he was thrown from his horse and died in 1878, the spot where he was buried became the Fellowship Cemetery. The rural farming, ranching, and timber community that grew around it buried many who died young—from disease, logging accidents, and even a bear attack that cost settler John Reisinger his leg, interred separately from the rest of him. Still in use today, the grounds hold veterans, pastors, teachers, and members of fraternal orders.
Why it matters
It stands as a testament to the hardships and resilience of the pioneering families who settled the piney woods around Warren, Texas.
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Related people
- · John Dryden
- · John Reisinger
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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