Near Honey Grove in Fannin County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

New Salem Cemetery

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 2, 2026

1. New Salem Cemetery Marker

Inscription. Pioneers began settling this area in the mid-1840s, and Philip Greenleaf Williams was among them. He arrived in 1844 and established a water-powered gristmill south of Bois D'Arc Springs. He left for Virginia to bring his wife and family to the area in 1848, but he drowned in the Red River on the return journey. Williams' family buried him here, where a young boy had reportedly already been interred. Williams' gravestone bears the earliest date. Several of his family members, including his wife, Nancy (Chaney), remained in the area and are also interred here.

The names of many of the area's pioneer families are found on the grave markers in New Salem Cemetery. These include members of the Self family, for whom the surrounding community is named. Other families represented here include Broadfoot, Craddock, Dobbs, Denison, Elam, Gilbert, Jones, Newberry, Pitts and Shipman.

Today, a cemetery association maintains the burial ground, which serves as a link to the dispersed community that formed in this area in the era when Texas transitioned from Republic to statehood.

Erected 2003 by Texas Historical Commission.

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(Marker Number 13315.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1848.

Location. 33° 42.124′ N, 95° 53.97′ W. Marker is near Honey Grove, Texas, in Fannin County. It is on County Road 2800 0.3 miles east of County Road 2801. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1200 County Road 2800, Honey Grove TX 75446, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region.

It is also in the American South.

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 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Jones' Mill Community (approx. 0.8 miles away); Shiloh Cemetery (approx. 2.7 miles away); Allen's Chapel Methodist Church and Cemetery (approx. 4.8 miles away);

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 2, 2026

2. New Salem Cemetery Marker

The Historic Persimmon Grove and Capt. Hill's Military Camp (approx. 4.9 miles away); Vineyard Grove Baptist Church (approx. 5.2 miles away); Erwin Evans Smith (approx. 7.6 miles away); Site of Oakwood Chapel (approx. 7.7 miles away); Oakwood Cemetery (approx. 7.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Honey Grove.

Also see . . . New Salem Cemetery. Find a Grave page on the historic burial ground. (Submitted on July 16, 2026, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 16, 2026, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 15 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 16, 2026, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.