Maypearl in Ellis County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Greathouse Community, Church, and Cemetery
Greathouse Community, Church, and Cemetery Archibald and Mary Greathouse, who settled in this area in 1848, gave their name to a creek and rural community that grew up here. The church, school, and cemetery that formed the focal point of community life were located on land deeded in 1881 by Ezekiel M. Brack, and on property deeded later by Martin Judy Dawson and George W. Whitefield. John Edward Dawson hauled lumber from Waxahachie by oxcart to erect the Greathouse Missionary Baptist Church building. Other early church leaders included Martin Judy Dawson, Jr., Caswell R. Tirey, and Thomas A. Tirey. The Rev. John Bailey was the first pastor. In the 1890s, a school was begun in the church building. Oldest known grave in the cemetery is that of Nancy Caroline Sims (1828-1881). When the railroad reached nearby Maypearl in 1904, many residents moved there and Greathouse began to decline. The school closed in 1912 and the church about 1927. The frame building was razed in 1958. A cemetery association, formed in 1974, maintains the burial ground. This community produced four Christian ministers: the Rev. Joseph M. Dawson (1879-1973), a prominent Baptist leader; the Rev. Everett H. Tirey; the Rev. J.W. Whitefield, Jr.; and the Rev. Austin Woodard. Another resident, Judge Jake Tirey, served on the Texas Court of Civil Appeals.
Erected 1978 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 7107.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1848.
Location. 32° 17.849′ N, 96° 56.954′ W. Marker is in Maypearl, Texas, in Ellis County. Marker is at the intersection of Greathouse Road and Ridge Creek Road, on the right when traveling west on Greathouse Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Maypearl TX 76064, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Bethel Methodist Church (approx. 2 miles away); Bethel Cemetery (approx. 2.1 miles away); Jefferson Dunaway Home (approx. 2.2 miles away); Oak Branch Cemetery (approx. 3.3 miles away); Maypearl Cemetery (approx. 4.2 miles away); McKinney-Aday Farm House (approx. 5.1 miles away); Chambers' Creek (approx. 6.1 miles away); Ozro Cemetery (approx. 6.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Maypearl.
Also see . . . Greathouse Community. Ellis Couty Tx GenWeb site entry:
Greathouse Cemetery is the only landmark left of the old Greathouse Community. The deed by G. W. Whitefield, dated Aug. 9, 1894, stipulated the metes and bounds for the cemetery and was deeded to the Greathouse Church Trustees to be used for whatever they saw fit. It wa contiguous to the portion of land deeded by Ezekiel Brack in 1883. It was safely above flood level, but on the gentle slope of the secondary banks of Greathouse Creek.(Submitted on January 30, 2022, by J Frye of Fort Worth, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 30, 2022, by J Frye of Fort Worth, Texas. This page has been viewed 262 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 30, 2022, by J Frye of Fort Worth, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.