Historic Cemetery

B. Haire Cemetery

a.k.a. Haire Grave, Mash Farm Grave

Hillsboro, Texas
Location: From Hillsboro, north on I-35 to HCR 4282. NE .5 miles to gate on north side (Bill Mash Farm). Follow pasture road, cross creek, and continue a total of .5 miles. Just before going down hill, enter woods on trail to west. Grave is 30 yards through woods in small clearing.This site was maintained in the past because the trail and clearing to the site are still accessible. The only grave at the site is B. Haire, born York Dist. S.C. Mar 2, 1788, d. Apr. 25, 1861. Haire was killed at this spot.The obelisk has been broken in the past but was set back up by Bill Mash. The obelisk is marked by a Masonic Seal (SHTWSSTE). The actual grave is enclosed in an iron fenced, but the gravestone and footstone are outside. Cattle have been in and around the site, but the marker is currently standing.

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