Humphreys Cemetery
Martindale, Caldwell County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Members of the Jennings and Humphreys families settled in the Martindale area in the 1850s. They established a cemetery on land bought by Joseph Humphreys in 1855. Set aside on this raised area, the burial ground initially served family members who had settled the 2,000 acres adjoining the site. Randolph Reed Jennings (d. 1854), who reportedly died of yellow fever on his way to Martindale, was the first buried here, and the grave marker of Agnes Jennings (d. 1869) bears the earliest birth year, 1783. Joseph Humphreys (d. 1864) was the first buried in the Humphreys family plot, denoted by two obelisks. Tradition holds that a number of unmarked graves belong to former slaves of the pioneer families. Notable burials include the graves of early settler Jemima Crunk (1799-1876) and George N. Martindale (1842-1892), son of the community's founder. Today, families and descendants of those buried here meet regularly and maintain the cemetery, which was enlarged in 1946. This burial ground, a link to the area's early settlers, remains a symbol of Martindale and its rich history. Historic Texas Cemetery - 2003
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
The Jennings and Humphreys families settled around Martindale in the 1850s and established this hilltop cemetery on land Joseph Humphreys bought in 1855. Randolph Reed Jennings, said to have died of yellow fever on his way to the area, was the first buried here, and tradition holds that a number of unmarked graves belong to people once enslaved by the pioneer families. Descendants still gather to maintain the grounds, which were enlarged in 1946.
Why it matters
The cemetery preserves both the founding families of Martindale and the often-unmarked graves of the enslaved people whose labor underpinned early settlement.
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Related people
- · Joseph Humphreys
- · Randolph Reed Jennings
- · Agnes Jennings
- · George N. Martindale
Themes & tags
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