Historic Cemetery

Davis Family Cemetery

a.k.a. Wingate

Grapeland, Texas 75844
Location: Driving Directions:From FM 227 in Grapeland, go 6.0 miles west on FM 1272. Turn right at CR 2312 and go 0.9 mile to end of road. From end of county road, turn left and follow dim private road 0.4 mile to gate. Go through gate and continue for approx. 0.4 mile, staying to left. Just past small hunting cabin on left, the road will enter an open field. The cemetery is in wooded grove on left side of road, just as road enters field. Several very large cedars mark the spot. Subject Marker:1) Bradford Davis Family1936 Centennial Marker:1) Mrs. Isabella WingateThe cemetery is highly endangered. It is not a map feature, and is it located in a very remote area on private property. The cemetery is not fully fenced or maintained. Two ruinous masonry cairns, a 1936 Centennial marker, and a THC subject marker are located within a small fenced enclosure that measures approx. 5 ft. X 15 ft. There are several very large cedar marker trees and numerous fieldstones outside the fenced enclosure. There are probably many unmarked graves as well.

Source: RIP Fields Table

To address the problem of cemetery destruction and to record as many cemeteries as possible, the Texas Historical Commission offers the Historic Texas Cemetery designation.

The Historic Texas Cemetery designation was developed in 1998 to help protect historic cemeteries by recording cemetery boundaries in county deed records to alert present and future owners of land adjacent to the cemetery of its existence. Every county in Texas has at least one cemetery designated as a Historic Texas Cemetery through this program. The HTC designation is the first step toward preservation of a historic cemetery.

A cemetery is eligible for designation if it is at least 50 years old and is deemed worthy of recognition for its historical associations. The very nature of a cemetery being a landmark of a family’s or community’s presence is considered to validate the criteria of historical associations. Any individual, organization, or agency may submit a request for designation.

gravesites