Location: Hope CemeteryAKA Ells Family Cem.—TxGenWeb: “1 mile NE of Friedens Church, Washington.” --Recorded WASH01—Parsons. Hope Cem-- Cemetery Records of Washington Co (1974): “301739 – 960919 – this was once a fairly large cem. Altho only 4 stones remain there is evidence of many more, NE of Frieden Church. Approx graves unknown, many unmarked, 4 marked graves, earliest dated about 1860s Index.” [area N of CR 11, at end of private drive between FM 1155 and FM 1370.] Topo Zone map in file. THC site visit MB 1-21-05 w/ A Hartstack: Washington, Tx area. From FM 1155 on FM 1370 for approx 3 miles, R into Anderson’s Horse Farm [Houston owner, raises miniature horses]. Small fenced formal site on sloping hillside about 300 ft N/NW of FM 1137. Ells family markers. Large cedar marker trees, iron bar fencing, stylized, commercial mortuary markers, red granite, and one marble obelisk. Adjacent large Cedar trees may be marker trees, unknown if site may include more than Els family graves. Verify. Approx 0.01 acre. GPS 30.17.37.30065N -96.09.11.87998WUSGS 3096-142Low risk endangermnt, not in use and not on map, but fenced, maintained by landowner and family.
Graves: 25-30; only 3 stones remain
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.