Historical Marker

Old Salem Cemetery

Historical marker location:
CR 1297, Center, Texas
( CR 1297)
Marker installed: 2012
Marker size: 27" x 42"

The first settler on this land was Tennessee immigrant A.D. Fountain. The land in which the cemetery sits originated as a school for the rural community of Old Salem. Old Salem’s settlers began arriving from Alabama and Georgia looking for new opportunities in agriculture and logging. From the 1870s to the 1880s, settlers began to congregate under an old white oak tree and buried their families in the nearby Taylor Cemetery. By 1881, a log structure used as a school and church was built near this site and the Old Salem Cemetery at this location was in use. In 1890, J.R. and M.A. Hatton sold eight acres of land in the A.D. Fountain survey to the Salem School Community. By 1923, the Salem school merged with Tabernacle Common School District and soon the school district conveyed two acres to the public for use as a cemetery. The remaining six acres, sold to the Frost Lumber Company, was gifted in 1938 to the cemetery.

The cemetery is surrounded by tall pine and hardwood trees with graves laid out in the traditional east-west pattern. Grave ornamentation includes urns of flowers, small statues and gravestone symbols, including masons and woodmen of the world. This burial ground is also one of the few remaining cemeteries filled with mounded dirt graves that are free of grass. Many unmarked graves fill the cemetery as a result of epidemics and infant mortality. One of the first known burials was an infant of Roe Battles and Emmer Fountain Battles. Many veterans from the Civil War to the present are buried here. Church and community members maintain this historic cemetery as a reminder of early settlers in East Texas and the Old Salem Community

As one of the most visible programs of the Texas Historical Commission (THC), historical markers commemorate diverse topics in Texas history, including: the history and architecture of houses, commercial and public buildings, religious congregations, and military sites; events that changed the course of local and state history; and individuals who have made lasting contributions to the state, community organizations, and businesses.

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The Johnson Space Center, located in Houston, played a crucial role in the development of the U.S. space program. It was here that NASA trained its astronauts and mission control teams, and it continues to be an important center for space research and exploration today.
Texas random facts
Shelby County, Texas, located in the eastern part of the state, has a rich and diverse history. The region was originally inhabited by several Native American tribes, including the Caddo, Atakapa, and Hasinai. The first European explorers, including Spanish and French explorers, arrived in the area in the 18th century. However, it wasn't until the early 19th century that permanent settlement began.

In 1835, the Mexican government granted land in the area to Stephen F. Austin's colony, which attracted many settlers to Shelby County. The county was officially established in 1836 and named after Isaac Shelby, who was the first governor of Kentucky. The county's population grew steadily, and by the mid-19th century, it became a major center for agriculture, with cotton being the primary crop.

During the Civil War, Shelby County, like many other parts of Texas, sided with the Confederacy. It sent many men to fight in the Confederate army, and the local economy suffered from the effects of the war. However, the county rebounded after the war, and by the late 19th century, it experienced an economic boom with the discovery of oil and gas reserves.

In the 20th century, Shelby County continued to thrive, with the oil and gas industries playing a significant role in its economy. The county also witnessed significant social and political changes, with the Civil Rights Movement bringing about integration and equal rights for African Americans. Today, Shelby County remains an important agricultural and industrial center, with a mix of rural landscapes and urban developments.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Shelby County, Texas.

  • 1823 - Shelby County is established
  • 1836 - Shelby County plays a role in the Texas Revolution
  • 1845 - Texas is admitted to the United States, including Shelby County
  • 1859 - The Texas State Legislature establishes Center as the county seat of Shelby County
  • 1861-1865 - Shelby County is deeply affected by the American Civil War
  • 1905 - The discovery of oil leads to economic growth in Shelby County
  • 1940s-1950s - Shelby County experiences a decline in population due to rural-to-urban migration
  • 1976 - Shelby County celebrates its sesquicentennial anniversary
  • 2000s - Shelby County continues to be home to a diverse and vibrant community