Gainesville in Cooke County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Fairview Cemetery

Photographed By Jack Frye,Fort Worth,TX 12/9/2021

1. Fairview Cemetery Marker

Inscription. Originally the Howeth family cemetery, this site traces its history to 1854, when a tornado struck the Howeth family cabin near Gainesville. First buried here were Thomas and Louisa Howeth, young children of William and Harriet Bell Howeth. William Howeth deeded the ten-acre cemetery to Cooke County in 1868. In 1878 the Cooke County commissioners turned over the site to the City of Gainesville in a 999-year lease. A city ordinance reserved a section for Freedmen.

The cemetery's name was changed in 1897 to East Hill, and in 1904 the name was changed again to Fairview. A separate Jewish cemetery adjoined this site from 1881 until 1964 when the two graveyards were combined.

Among the estimated 18,000 graves are those of Civil War Veterans; Preston Conlee, a San Jacinto battle veteran and Bastrop County sheriff who lies in an unmarked grave; 34 victims of the 1918 influenza epidemic; Bob Scott, ex-slave and centenarian; and former U.S. Senator Joseph Weldon Bailey.

A chapel and sexton's office, designed by Dallas architect Will Scott Richter, was constructed in 1938 at a cost of $6,296. The arched gate dates to 1964. This Victorian-era cemetery continues to serve the city. (1997)

Erected 1997 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 6253.)

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historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1854.

Location. 33° 37.897′ N, 97° 7.556′ W. Marker is in Gainesville, Texas, in Cooke County. Marker can be reached from Fair Avenue south of Elizabeth Street, on the left when traveling south. Marker located inside the cemetery grounds next to the rock chapel. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 710 Fair Avenue, Gainesville TX 76240, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. William Owen Davis (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); F.M. Dougherty (about 400 feet away); Joseph Weldon Bailey (approx. 0.2 miles away); Butterfield Overland Stage Line (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Great Hanging at Gainesville, 1862 (approx. 0.9 miles away); Santa Fe Passenger Depot (approx. one mile away); Gainesville-Fort Sill Road (approx. one mile away); Saint Paul's Church (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gainesville.

Photographed By Jack Frye -Ft Worth-12/9/2021

2. Fairview Cemetery Marker

Photographed By Jack Frye-Ft Worth-12/9/21

3. Fairview Cemetery Marker

Photographed By Jack Frye - FtWorth-12/9/21

4. Fairview Cemetery Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 13, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 11, 2021, by J Frye of Fort Worth, Texas. This page has been viewed 465 times since then and 105 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 11, 2021, by J Frye of Fort Worth, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.