Right here, in front of you, stands the Hawkins Cemetery Plaque. This humble marker tells the story of a family who helped shape the early days of Tarrant County. The Hawkins family, pioneers who journeyed to Texas from Tennessee, settled in Rusk County before continuing their trek westward. Harvey Hawkins, the patriarch, received a land grant from Governor Sam Houston in 1860. The cemetery, originally a family plot on the center of their property, is a testament to their enduring legacy. It began with the burial of a slave named Poly Penn, though no tombstone marks her resting place. The earliest marked grave belongs to Mary Hawkins, Harvey’s wife, in 1868.
Over time, members of the community joined the Hawkins family in their final resting place. In 1890, George W. Kee, the land’s owner, sold the cemetery to the community. This generous act transformed the private plot into a public burial ground. Today, Hawkins Cemetery stands as a reminder of the families who first made their home in Tarrant County. You can see the legacy of the Hawkins family, its history etched in the very land they claimed so many years ago. Even today, the cemetery continues to serve its purpose, a final resting place for generations of families.