Pelham Cemetery
Frost, Navarro County, Texas
Marker Inscription
This cemetery has served the African American community of Pelham since the late 19th century. Established in the years following the Civil War, Pelham was at first organized by free men who had recently received their freedom. Most early residents were farmers, and agriculture continues to play an important role in the community. The settlement was originally known as Fork of the Creeks, as three creeks (Ash, White Rock and Richland) came together just south of the settlement. Today, the junction is under the waters of Navarro Mills Lake. The earliest marked burial is that of Isaac Franklin (d. 1880), although there may be earlier, unmarked graves. Another early burial is of Elizabeth Allen (d. 1882). Members of early families, including the Caruthers (Carruthers), Porters and Stanfords, constitute other notable burials here. The cemetery is divided by a road into a western and an eastern portion, both of which contain graves. The Pelham Cemetery Association, established to care for the site in the late 1930s, still maintains the historical burial ground. Today, Pelham Cemetery continues to serve area residents. It is a testament to the hardships experienced by past and present Pelham residents, who continued on despite adversity ranging from slavery in the 1800s to displacements caused by the construction of nearby Navarro Mills Lake. Residents of Pelham treasure the heritage and history reflected in this community cemetery. Historic Texas Cemetery - 2006
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Pelham Cemetery has served an African American community founded in the years after the Civil War by freedpeople who had recently gained their liberty. Originally called Fork of the Creeks for the three streams that met nearby, the farming settlement buried its earliest known resident, Isaac Franklin, in 1880. Families like the Caruthers, Porters, and Stanfords rest here, and a community association has cared for the grounds since the late 1930s.
Why it matters
The cemetery testifies to the resilience of a freedmen's community that endured from the hardships of slavery to the displacement caused by a twentieth-century reservoir.
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Related people
- · Isaac Franklin
- · Elizabeth Allen
Themes & tags
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