Felps Cemetery
Saratoga, Hardin County, Texas
Marker Inscription
This cemetery developed on land granted to Christian Hopfield by Mirabeau B. Lamar and the Republic of Texas in 1841. Hopfield sold the land to A. J. McMillan in 1873. Though there probably are earlier burials, the earliest known grave is that of Nancy (Griffin) Hall (1855-1878), who died at age 23. Other 19th century burials include those of 9-year-old Mittie Roberts (1876-1885), 2-year-old Ellen Hall (1882-1884), and 4-year-old Selern Hall (1895-1899). William Felps acquired the land around this site in 1918 and the cemetery gradually took on his name. Other graves of interest are those of Confederate veteran Henry Patterson and several other military veterans, including Lance Rosier (1886-1970), a World War I veteran known as "Mr. Big Thicket" for his efforts to conserve east Texas' Big Thicket National Preserve. (2000)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
This cemetery lies on land granted to Christian Hopfield by Mirabeau B. Lamar and the Republic of Texas in 1841. Its earliest known grave dates to 1878, and the burials trace the hard toll of frontier life through several young children's graves. William Felps acquired the surrounding land in 1918, lending it his name; among those interred is Lance Rosier, a World War I veteran known as 'Mr. Big Thicket' for his fight to conserve the Big Thicket National Preserve.
Why it matters
It ties a Republic-of-Texas land grant to the modern conservation of East Texas's Big Thicket, through the naturalist buried here.
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Related people
- · Christian Hopfield
- · William Felps
- · Lance Rosier
Themes & tags
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