Bandera in Bandera County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Hendrick Arnold
Survey No. 59
— Colored Burial Ground —
Freedman and soldier Hendrick Arnold (1804-1849) was awarded land following the Texas Revolution for his participation in the Siege of Bexar and the Battle of San Jacinto. He received six surveys in what was then Bexar county, including this property in Bandera County. Thinking of his family, Hendrick gave land to his father, grandmother and brother, Holly Arnold.
Holly Arnold lived on this land with his wife, Mary B. Arnold (d. 1897). Mary is buried in what was known as the Arnold Cemetery on the Holly Arnold Headright Land Grant. Holly’s death and birth records are unknown. Over the years, the cemetery on the Arnold Survey served as a burial ground for area residents. In 1922, one acre of the Hendrick Arnold Survey No. 59 was recorded in deeds as colored burial ground, used primarily by African American families.
The first burial in the cemetery was that of John Benson, born in 1885 and died on April 4, 1890. From 1884 to 1944, twelve deaths of African Americans were recorded in county records: John Benson, (unknown) Wellencrane (d. 1890), John Coats (d. 1903), Leonor Benson (d. 1905), Maria Jackson (d. 1912), Baby Cooksey (d. 1917), C.D. Cooksey (d. 1920), Jeff Cooksey, Jr. (d. 1924), Andrew Jackson (d. 1925), Mary Jackson (d. 1925), Everett Robinson (d. 1926) and D.W. Leonard (d. 1944). Many of their birth dates remain unknown.
Other burials may exist but after years of neglect, headstones were damaged and potential temporary markers were not found. Burial record research and site surveys have uncovered dozens of unmarked grave sites, a tangible reminder of the pioneers of the area and their descendants.
Historic Texas Cemetery – 2016
Marker is property of the State of Texas
Erected 2016 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 18801.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, Texas Independence. A significant historical date for this entry is April 4, 1890.
Location. 29° 44.056′ N, 99° 5.149′ W. Marker is in Bandera, Texas, in Bandera County. Marker is on Old Medina Highway, 0.1 miles west of Houston Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 390 Old Medina Highway, Bandera TX 78003, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Bandera Cemetery (approx. 0.6 miles away); Captain Jack Phillips (approx. 0.9 miles away); Old Texas Ranger Trail (approx. 0.9 miles away); Mormon Settlers in Bandera County (approx. 0.9 miles away); Amasa Clark (approx. 0.9 miles away); Bandera County Courthouse (approx. 0.9 miles away); Tribute to Valor (approx. 0.9 miles away); Bandera County War Memorial (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bandera.
Also see . . . Bandera, Texas. Cowboy Capital of Texas (Submitted on December 11, 2020, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 12, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 11, 2020, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 460 times since then and 51 times this year. Last updated on July 11, 2022, by Joe Lotz of Denton, Texas. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 11, 2020, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.