Historic Cemetery

Wortham Family Cemetery

a.k.a. John Wortham Family Graves

Latexo, Texas
Location: Driving Directions:From Loop 304 in Crockett, go 1.7 miles north on US 287. From US 287 in Latexo, go 1.7 miles west on FM 2160. Turn left onto private road directly across from Spring Creek Dr. (Entrance to Spring Creek Country Club). Follow private road for approx. 0.6 mile south. Cemetery is located behind house and directly behind a barn. Not fenced. The cemetery has a 1936 centennial marker dedicated to Major John Wortham. The inscription reads:Major John WorthamCommissioned a Major in the Texas Army, March 29, 1939Born May 10, 1800Died November 10, 1867The cemetery is highly endangered. It is not a map feature, and it is located on private property. There are no cemetery signs posted. The cemetery is not fenced or maintained and is hidden behind farm outbuildings. One grave marker has fallen and some markers appear to be missing. A portion of the cemetery may be under an adjacent barn. Wood fence posts mark the approximate boundaries of the cemetery.

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