Historic Cemetery

Clay-Bell Cemetery

a.k.a. Clay Cemetery

Italy (v), Texas
Location: Located at Bell Branch near Italy; to reach the cemetery, take I-35 south to the Italy exit, turn right on L. R. Campbell Road that has an arrow pointing to the cemetery. Take the lane to the right .25 miles. It is not visible form the road but three large crosses have been erected part way down the hill and can be seen from the road. Located in a grove of trees near Bell Branch Creek.
Graves: 50 (1870-2004)

Source: Ellis County Genealogical Society, Ellis County, Texas Cemetery Records 1A; Parsons, Kim, Ref. to Texas Cemeteries, 1988

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