Historic Cemetery

John Denson Cemetery

a.k.a. Denson #2

Grapeland, Texas
Location: From SH 19/US 287 in Grapeland, go 3.0 miles east on FM 227. Turn right at Tyer cemetery sign and go approx. 4,723 ft. south-west-south on private driveway/ranch road that leads to cemetery. Note: the driveway turns into ranch road at first gate and passes very close to the Tyer Cemetery. Continue on road through two additional gates and cross a cow pasture, an intermittent drain, and Bennett Creek. From Bennett Creek walk approx. 131 ft. to fork in road and go left on faint trail for another 331 ft. At this point the cemetery is approx. 169 ft. due west of the faint trail.

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