Near Ratcliff in Houston County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Mt. Vernon Church and Cemetery

Photographed by James Hulse, March 14, 2025

1. Mt. Vernon Church and Cemetery Marker

Inscription. Henry Warren Payne (1833-1898) and W.M. Conner gave this land for a church and cemetery. In 1871 a church house used as a school was erected. The custom of fencing cemetery plots began in 1872 with the burial in the first marked grave of the son of James E. and Ann Payne Ashby. After a fire, Payne rode door-to-door raising money for a new church house which was built in 1884. The Mt. Vernon Baptist Church officially organized in 1888. Land from Louisiana and Texas Lumber Co. enlarged the cemetery. In 1960 this building was erected.

Erected 1979 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 10965.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Education • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1871.

Location. 31° 24.519′ N, 95° 5.212′ W. Marker is near Ratcliff, Texas, in Houston County. It is on County Road 1155 3.2 miles east of State Road 7, on the right when traveling east. The marker location; from Ratcliff take CR 1155 east about 3 miles. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5314 County Rd 1155, Kennard TX 75847, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Piney Woods.

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 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ratcliff CCC Camp (approx. 3.3 miles away); Ratcliff

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(approx. 3.3 miles away); Antioch Cemetery (approx. 3.6 miles away); Four C Mill (approx. 3.9 miles away); Allen Chapel Community (approx. 4 miles away); Pioneer Settlers of Coltharp (approx. 4½ miles away); Hagerville Community (approx. 5.3 miles away); Community of Coltharp (approx. 5.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ratcliff.

Mt. Vernon Cemetery and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, March 14, 2025

2. Mt. Vernon Cemetery and Marker

Mt. Vernon Church, Cemetery and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, March 14, 2025

3. Mt. Vernon Church, Cemetery and Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 15, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 220 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 16, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.