Nacogdoches in Nacogdoches County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Old North Church Cemetery
Photographed By Steve Gustafson, April 3, 2010
1. Old North Church Cemetery Marker
Inscription.
Old North Church Cemetery. . According to legend, the first burial in this cemetery was that of a young girl whose family, traveling through the area when she died, buried her here before continuing their westward journey. Oral tradition also suggests that William Whitaker was already interred in a brick vault by the time Richard Sparks set aside land on this site for use as a community graveyard in 1838. The Union Baptist Church (later the Old North Church) was organized in the spring of that year. The oldest marked grave is that of Saletha Easter Whitaker (d. 1845). Dr. John M. Sparks and his wife formally deeded ten acres including the original five acres set aside by Richard Sparks to the Union church in 1892., The cemetery historically was divided into two sections. The east side was used for the burials of local slaves, many of whom were members of the church, and eventually became a separate cemetery., Other burials of interest include those of veterans of the American Revolution, the War of 18 12, and the Texas Revolution. Records indicate that some forty-seven Confederate Civil War soldiers are buried in the southern portion of the cemetery, and twenty-one Union soldiers are interred in unmarked graves. Most of the Union veterans were victims of an epidemic of dysentery during the Reconstruction era., The Old North Church Cemetery Association was organized in 1976. With more than 950 graves in 1998, the graveyard continues to be used by descendants of early church members. The burial ground is a chronicle of the early days of Nacogdoches County.
According to legend, the first burial in this cemetery was that of a young girl whose family, traveling through the area when she died, buried her here before continuing their westward journey. Oral tradition also suggests that William Whitaker was already interred in a brick vault by the time Richard Sparks set aside land on this site for use as a community graveyard in 1838. The Union Baptist Church (later the Old North Church) was organized in the spring of that year. The oldest marked grave is that of Saletha Easter Whitaker (d. 1845). Dr. John M. Sparks and his wife formally deeded ten acres including the original five acres set aside by Richard Sparks to the Union church in 1892.
The cemetery historically was divided into two sections. The east side was used for the burials of local slaves, many of whom were members of the church, and eventually became a separate cemetery.
Other burials of interest include those of veterans of the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Texas Revolution. Records indicate that some forty-seven Confederate Civil War soldiers are buried in the southern portion of the cemetery, and twenty-one Union soldiers are interred in unmarked graves. Most of the Union veterans were victims of an epidemic of dysentery during the Reconstruction era.
The Old North Church Cemetery
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Association was organized in 1976. With more than 950 graves in 1998, the graveyard continues to be used by descendants of early church members. The burial ground is a chronicle of the early days of Nacogdoches County.
Erected 1998 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 12103.)
Location. 31° 40.062′ N, 94° 39.45′ W. Marker is in Nacogdoches, Texas, in Nacogdoches County. Marker can be reached from County Road 205, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Nacogdoches TX 75961, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on April 14, 2010, by Steve Gustafson of Lufkin, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,304 times since then and 70 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on April 14, 2010, by Steve Gustafson of Lufkin, Texas. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.