HistoricSiteMarkers
Reconstruction & Gilded Age

Hill Crest Cemetery

Fredericksburg, Gillespie County, Texas

Marker Inscription

This graveyard is closely associated with the Morris Ranch, an early international race horse breeding and training facility in Gillespie county. Charles Morris, whose Uncle Francis owned the ranch, served as its first general manager and was assisted by his brothers and sisters. Their father, william, died in 1894, and his grave bears the earliest legible tombstone here, although there may be earlier unmarked burial sites. The cemetery contains the graves of many Morris family descendants and other settlers of the Morris Ranch community.

Erected by Texas Historical Commission

The Story

This graveyard grew up alongside the Morris Ranch, an internationally known racehorse breeding and training operation in Gillespie County. Charles Morris, nephew of ranch owner Francis Morris, served as its first general manager with help from his siblings; the earliest legible stone belongs to his father William, who died in 1894. The cemetery holds generations of the Morris family and other members of the ranch community.

Why it matters

The site preserves the memory of a distinctive Hill Country enterprise—a world-class horse-breeding operation—and the community of workers and families it drew together.

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Related people

  • · Charles Morris
  • · Francis Morris
  • · William Morris

Themes & tags

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