Gladewater in Gregg County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Rosedale Cemetery

Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 1, 2019

1. Rosedale Cemetery Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

When John Kettle Armstrong and his wife Sarah bought 160 acres here in 1844, they were among the first settlers. Sarah died in 1856 and Armstrong set aside this tract for a cemetery. Tradition says the Armstrong slaves were interred outside the grounds. After Armstrong's death in 1860, his second wife Margaret Fisher married a Mr. Stewart. For years the Armstrongs and Stewarts allowed everyone to use the graveyard which was called "Stewart Cemetery."

After the railroad started the town of Gladewater, a cemetery association organized in 1911 and changed the name of the graveyard to "Rosedale." An additional five acres were purchased from J. K. Armstrong and his wife. "Permits" for burial were sold instead of lots. When the East Texas oil boom began, this policy allowed all surface and mineral rights to remain with the association. In 1932 two oil wells were drilled on the burial ground. The association used the profits to build a caretaker's cottage, roads, a rock fence and to landscape the grounds.

In 1973, after 41 years, the wells were plugged. Still in use, the burial ground has about 265 unmarked and 750 marked graves. Many

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of the older plots are covered with large red rocks.

Erected 1978 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 9993.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Natural Resources. A significant historical year for this entry is 1844.

Location. 32° 32.055′ N, 94° 55.682′ W. Marker is in Gladewater, Texas, in Gregg County. Marker is on Armstrong Street west of Shell Camp Road, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Armstrong Street, Gladewater TX 75647, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Foshee Family Homestead (approx. 0.8 miles away); James Clifton Hawkins (approx. 0.9 miles away); Dr. E. L. and Nannie Lewis Walker House (approx. 0.9 miles away); The City of Gladewater (approx. 0.9 miles away); Gladewater Lodge No. 852, A.F. & A.M. (approx. one mile away); The Notorious Bonnie & Clyde (approx. one mile away); Gladewater (approx. one mile away); Development of Gladewater (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gladewater.

Regarding Rosedale Cemetery. Circle Oil Company of Houston drilled two producing oil wells on Rosedale's "permitted" land, with the income to the cemetery so substantial, an endowment was established. Since the oil income was used for the cemetery's

Rosedale Cemetery Marker at entrance gate. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 1, 2019

2. Rosedale Cemetery Marker at entrance gate.

upkeep, Rosedale became the only self-supporting cemetery in the United States, and at one time boasted of being the richest graveyard in the U.S., even in the world.

The Rosedale oil wells were plugged in 1973, and though the royalty checks still arrive, they are substantially reduced.

Inside the Rosedale Cemetery entrance. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 1, 2019

3. Inside the Rosedale Cemetery entrance.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 6, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 6, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 210 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 6, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.