Historical Marker
Old Union Church & Cemetery
Historical marker location:
Newton, Texas
( About 3.5 E on SH 87 from Newton to FM 1414. Then 5.6 mi. to gravel road and 2 more miles to end of loop road.)
Marker installed: 1984
This Baptist Church was organized formally in 1855 with 54 charter members, although records indicate a congregation was in existence as early as 1851. An early 1900s fire burned their log sanctuary, which was replaced by the present structure. Monthly services and summer camp meetings were held here until 1928, when the church moved to Cline's Ferry Road. The congregation's first pastor, Enoch S. S. Phelps, is buried in this cemetery, as are descendants of John Newton, for whom the county is named. Land for the "scraped style" cemetery was given in 1876 by W. A. Droddy.