Old Bethel Cemetery
Canton, Van Zandt County, Texas
Marker Inscription
In 1858, William and Nancy Palmer deeded five acres of land for a Methodist church and cemetery. The oldest tombstone in the graveyard, that of six-month-old Isaac Willingham, also dates from that year. In 1895, the church building was removed from the property, leaving additional acreage for the cemetery. At that time, the burial ground acquired the name Old Bethel. Over the years, it has served the residents of Bethel and surrounding communities and is the burial site of many of the early pioneers in the area. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
In 1858, William and Nancy Palmer deeded five acres for a Methodist church and burial ground, and that same year an infant's grave became the cemetery's oldest. When the church building was moved away in 1895, the land became known simply as Old Bethel and went on serving the surrounding communities. Its rows of stones hold many of the area's earliest pioneers.
Why it matters
Frontier cemeteries like this are often the last physical trace of vanished rural settlements and the families who first broke the land.
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Related people
- · William Palmer
- · Nancy Palmer
Themes & tags
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