Joshua in Johnson County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Union Hill Presbyterian Church and Cemetery
Settlement in this area began in the early 1850s. By the 1870s Union Hill had developed into a small rural community of families primarily engaged in cotton farming. In 1879 a Presbyterian congregation was organized in Union Hill through the efforts of the Rev. J.S. Davenport.
The congregation erected a one-room church building at this site in 1880. In 1882 W.P. and Miley Johnson deeded five acres here to Union Hill Church trustees T.E. Wilshire, C.G. Witherspoon, and J.L. Shipley for church and cemetery purposes. The first recorded burial was that of Margaret Beatty on February 4, 1883. Among those buried here are area pioneers and their descendants and several veterans of the Civil War.
A tabernacle was built in 1925 and in 1938 the graveyard was improved with the building of a fence with an arched gateway. A cemetery association was formed in 1983 and in 1992 a new tabernacle was constructed.
Gatherings on December 24th for a Christmas Eve program and in June for a picnic are two special activities initiated by the congregation in the 1890s which have become traditional annual events. The church and cemetery continue to provide spiritual guidance and burial sites for the community.
Erected 1994 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 5594.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical date for this entry is February 4, 1883.
Location. 32° 27.433′ N, 97° 21.027′ W. Marker is in Joshua, Texas, in Johnson County. It is at the intersection of County Road 803 and Conveyor Drive (Farm to Market Road 917), on the left when traveling south on County Road 803. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 912 Conveyor Drive, Joshua TX 76058, 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, and one of the Confederate States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Marystown Cemetery (approx. 1.8 miles away); Methodism in Joshua (approx. 2.2 miles away); Oliver Perry Arnold (approx. 3.4 miles away); Mizpah Gate (approx. 4.4 miles away); Bethesda Community (approx. 4½ miles away); A.A. and Susanna Head Homestead (approx. 5.6 miles away); Bethany Rest Cemetery (approx. 5.6 miles away); First Baptist Church (approx. 6 miles away).
Credits. This page was last revised on May 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 15, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 12 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 16, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.



