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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 TextMt. Zion
CemeteryThis 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 TextMt. Zion
Baptist ChurchPioneer
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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