Cunningham Cemetery
The cemetery takes its name from the Cunningham family, who were among the early settlers in the Smithville area. The land for the cemetery was donated by the Cunningham family, and it became the final resting place for not only their family members but also many other early pioneers and residents of the region.
As a historic cemetery, the Cunningham Cemetery holds the graves of individuals from various backgrounds and walks of life. From early settlers and prominent community members to veterans of wars and local families, the cemetery represents a diverse range of people who contributed to the growth and development of Smithville.
Source: TxHistCems website; TxGenWeb
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.