|
Mount Zion Baptist
Church and Cemetery
TE photo, March 2010 |
| Going East on
FM 390 (La
Bahia Road), after a few miles, you will see a sign directing
you to the Mount Zion Baptist Church and Cemetery |
Mt. Zion Cemetery
historical marker
TE photo 2010 |
Historical Marker
Mt. Zion Cemetery
This 5-acre cemetery
is located on the league of land granted to Robert Clokey, of Stephen
F. Austin's Second Colony, in 1831. First grave here was that
of an infant, E. A. Metcalfe, who died Sept. 15, 1852. Some unmarked
graves may date from a yellow fever epidemic that struck this area
in 1867. The cemetery was probably named for the Mt. Zion Baptist
Church, located here from 1857 to 1882. Deeded to cemetery trustees
in 1881 by owner J. R. Hines, the site contains 13 marked graves,
which represent 55 families. The Burton Heritage Society now maintains
the property. |
Mt.
Zion Baptist Church historical marker
TE photo 2010 |
Historical Marker
Mt. Zion Baptist
Church
Pioneer area settlers
organized the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in 1852 on land donated by James
R. Hines. Early ministers included notable Baptist leaders from Old
Baylor College at nearby Independence.
The church building was dismantled and rebuilt in the new town of
Burton on land donated
by F. A. Rice and A. Groesbeck in 1882. At that time the congregation
was renamed Burton Baptist Church. The sanctuary was rebuilt after
being damaged in the 1900 storm and on Feb. 18, 1983, was moved here
to its original site. It now serves as a reminder of the area's rich
pioneer heritage. |
Mt. Zion Cemetery
Tombstone
TE photo, March 2010 |
Mt. Zion Cemetery
Angel
TE photo, March 2010 |
| Among the graves
in the cemetery is a large marker for Texas Ranger Captain Leander
Harvey “Lee” McNelly. |
| Captain McNelly's
tombstone in good state in 2002 |
| McNelly Tombstone
after being vandalized in 2002 |
An unusually
ornate tombstone
TE photo |
Stewart Ironworks,
Cincinnati, Ohio
TE photo 2002 |
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