HistoricSiteMarkers
Reconstruction & Gilded Age

Riley Cemetery

Pittsburg, Camp County, Texas

Marker Inscription

The oldest documented grave in this cemetery, that of Louise Gillum, dates to 1859. The land was acquired by John Riley, Sr., in 1875, and became known as Riley Cemetery. Early settlers buried here include John and Elizabeth Keeling Riley and their five children; Confederate Capt. George W. Keeling, a former member of the Georgia State Legislature; the family of M. H. Couch, whose name graces Couch Mountain, Camp County's highest elevation point; and many area pioneers whose descendants continue to live in the area and maintain the historic graveyard.

Erected by Texas Historical Commission

The Story

The oldest marked grave in this Camp County cemetery dates to 1859, and the surrounding land was acquired by John Riley, Sr., in 1875, giving the burial ground its name. Among those laid to rest here are the Riley family, a Confederate captain who had served in the Georgia legislature, and the family whose name marks the county's highest point. Descendants of these pioneers still live nearby and tend the historic graveyard.

Why it matters

Pioneer cemeteries like this one preserve the names and lineages of the settler families who first put down roots in the East Texas countryside.

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Related people

  • · John Riley, Sr.
  • · George W. Keeling
  • · Louise Gillum

Themes & tags

Westward ExpansionFrontier HistoryMemorial

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