Near Cut in Houston County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Rockland Cemetery, Church and School
According to oral history, Benjamin Ellis, Jr. (d. 1843) and his wife, Hannah (McHenry) Ellis (d. 1861), parents of John I. Ellis, were among the first people buried on this site. The earliest marked grave is that of their daughter, Nancy M. (Ellis) Milliken, who died in 1862 after the birth of her sixth child. Her husband, John C. Milliken, who was a member of the Texas militia during the Civil War, died in 1868 and is buried next to her. Benjamin T. Ellis, who also served in the Texas militia during the Confederacy, is buried nearby.
Rockland Cemetery was deeded to the trustees of the newly organized Rockland Church by J.S. and Ellen L. (Ellis) Burton in 1890. The congregation established a church and school building in front of the cemetery in 1892, and the site became a community social center. It served until about 1900, when it was moved two miles west to be closer to students' homes. Rockland Common School District #13 was created in 1911 and operated until 1939 when students were transferred to Lovelady schools. Official consolidation with Lovelady schools occurred in 1947. The Union church continued to hold services in the building until 1942. The cemetery, enlarged in 1992 with a two-acre land donation, continues in use and remains a chronicle of early pioneers.
Erected 2000 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 12375.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion • Education • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1839.
Location. 31° 11.946′ N, 95° 28.093′ W. Marker is near Cut, Texas, in Houston County. Marker is on Rockland Cemetery Road (County Highway 4035) 0.6 miles east of State Highway 19, on the right when traveling east. The marker is located about 300 feet down (southeast) the cemetery road and directly in front of the entrance gate to the cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Crockett TX 75835, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Center Hill Cemetery (approx. 1.6 miles away); Houston-Leon County Coal Company (approx. 2.2 miles away); Lovelady Evergreen Cemetery (approx. 4˝ miles away); The Rev. Thomas Nelms Mainer (approx. 4˝ miles away); First United Methodist Church (approx. 5 miles away); Town of Lovelady (approx. 5.2 miles away); C.R. Rich Building (approx. 5.2 miles away); First Baptist Church of Lovelady (approx. 5.3 miles away).
Credits. This page was last revised on September 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 4, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 51 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 4, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.