Historic Cemetery

Harpold Family Cemetery

Italy, Texas
Location: Located just off I-35E at County Road (1134). Exit #384 just south of the Italy exit. Continue on side road across Derr’s Chapel road to the house on the right. The cemetery is located behind a red barn and fenced. It is located on private property and permission must be obtained to enter.
Graves: 3 (1871-1883)

Source: Ellis County Genealogical Society, Ellis County, Texas Cemetery Records XI

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