Oakwood Glen in Plano in Collin County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Bethany Cemetery
(1877-Present)
Photographed by James Hulse, December 26, 2024
1. Bethany Cemetery Marker
Inscription.
Bethany Cemetery is historically associated with the Bethany Christian Church and public school. The church supported Add Ran College, now Texas Christian University, for several years. R.W. Carpenter (1832-1898), an early Plano settler and Confederate Civil War veteran, founded the church, school, and cemetery. The first burial here was for an infant named Walter Clark who died January 4, 1877. Carpenter's own young daughter, Mary Katie, died. March 14, 1878, and was the second burial. Several other members of the Carpenter family, including R.W. Carpenter himself, are interred in this cemetery, as are many early area residents., The northern one-third of the property contains several marked burials. Elaborate marble spire or scroll monuments, some with decorative curbing, mark many graves, particularly those of early members of the Carpenter family. Others are marked by more modest marble or granite monuments, although a few are marked only by cinder blocks mounted in the ground. The church, school, and a teacher's dormitory once stood in the southern portion of the cemetery, and evidence of these structures is still visible on the ground. Although this part of the cemetery exhibits no markers, unmarked burials are reported to be present in this area., The church was founded in 1876 and enjoyed a sizable membership at the turn of the twentieth century. However, as later improvements to roads provided better access to town, membership dwindled. The church disbanded ca. 1933, and the abandoned church building, school, and neighboring structures were eventually razed., Captions , (Photo #1) Bethany Christian Church 1916. Gravestones are visible in the background. , (Photo #2) 1880 photograph of the home and family of Bethany Cemetery founder R.W. Carpenter. , (Photo #3) Early photograph of students of Bethany School, that once stood along with the Bethany Christian Church, on property shared with Bethany Cemetery. , (Photo #4) E.A. Carpenter Pharmacy. In addition to founding Bethany Christian Church, school and cemetery, members of the Carpenter family owned some of Plano's early businesses., Funded by a grant from the City of Plano, TX , Photographs courtesy of Plano Public Library, Plano, TX
Bethany Cemetery is historically associated with the Bethany Christian Church and public school. The church supported Add Ran College, now Texas Christian University, for several years. R.W. Carpenter (1832-1898), an early Plano settler and Confederate Civil War veteran, founded the church, school, and cemetery. The first burial here was for an infant named Walter Clark who died January 4, 1877. Carpenter's own young daughter, Mary Katie, died. March 14, 1878, and was the second burial. Several other members of the Carpenter family, including R.W. Carpenter himself, are interred in this cemetery, as are many early area residents.
The northern one-third of the property contains several marked burials. Elaborate marble spire or scroll monuments, some with decorative curbing, mark many graves, particularly those of early members of the Carpenter family. Others are marked by more modest marble or granite monuments, although a few are marked only by cinder blocks mounted in the ground. The church, school, and a teacher's dormitory once stood in the southern portion of the cemetery, and evidence of these structures is still
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visible on the ground. Although this part of the cemetery exhibits no markers, unmarked burials are reported to be present in this area.
The church was founded in 1876 and enjoyed a sizable membership at the turn of the twentieth century. However, as later improvements to roads provided better access to town, membership dwindled. The church disbanded ca. 1933, and the abandoned church building, school, and neighboring structures were eventually razed.
Captions (Photo #1) Bethany Christian Church 1916. Gravestones are visible in the background. (Photo #2) 1880 photograph of the home and family of Bethany Cemetery founder R.W. Carpenter. (Photo #3) Early photograph of students of Bethany School, that once stood along with the Bethany Christian Church, on property shared with Bethany Cemetery. (Photo #4) E.A. Carpenter Pharmacy. In addition to founding Bethany Christian Church, school and cemetery, members of the Carpenter family owned some of Plano's early businesses.
Funded by a grant from the City of Plano, TX Photographs courtesy of Plano Public Library, Plano, TX
Erected by City of Plano.
Topics. This
Photographed by James Hulse, December 26, 2024
2. The Bethany Cemetery and Marker
historical marker is listed in this topic list: Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical date for this entry is January 4, 1877.
Location. 33° 4.574′ N, 96° 44.217′ W. Marker is in Plano, Texas, in Collin County. It is in Oakwood Glen. It is on Custer Road south of Cannes Drive. The marker is located in the Bethany Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1313 Custer Road, Plano TX 75025, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Bethany Cemetery (here, next to this marker); Bethany Church and School (a few steps from this marker); On a Mission (within shouting distance of this marker);
Photographed by James Hulse, December 26, 2024
3. The view of the entrance to the Bethany Cemetery
Credits. This page was last revised on December 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 27, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 141 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on December 28, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
