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Johnson City Masonic Cemetery

Johnson City, Blanco County, Texas

Marker Inscription

In 1892, local masons Joseph Bird, W.H. Withers and G.M. Nash, on behalf of Johnson City Masonic Lodge No. 561, purchased land at this site from Julia Ann Moore Jjohnson, widow of town founder James Polk Johnson. Early marked graves date from the 1890s and include many community leaders, as well as veterans of military conflicts from the War of 1812 to Vietnam. Also Interred here is the celebrated Texas Ranger Cicero Rufus Perry (d. 1898). With over 250 graves, the historic Johnson City Masonic Cemetery is an important reminder of early settlers. Historic Texas Cemetery - 2002

Erected by Texas Historical Commission

The Story

In 1892 local Masons bought this land from Julia Ann Moore Johnson, widow of town founder James Polk Johnson, for a lodge cemetery. Its earliest marked graves date from the 1890s and include community leaders and veterans of conflicts from the War of 1812 to Vietnam. Among more than 250 burials is the celebrated Texas Ranger Cicero Rufus Perry, who died in 1898.

Why it matters

The cemetery preserves the founders and defenders of a Hill Country town, linking frontier Texas Rangers to generations of American soldiers.

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Related people

  • ยท James Polk Johnson
  • ยท Julia Ann Moore Johnson
  • ยท Cicero Rufus Perry

Themes & tags

Westward ExpansionMilitary & WartimeFrontier HistoryLandmark

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