Did you know that the land where the Albert Carver Cemetery stands was once traded for a fine horse and saddle? Albert Carver, the man behind this serene final resting place, acquired 320 acres in this way. The Albert Carver Cemetery is more than just a burial ground. It’s a testament to family, community, and perseverance.
This cemetery is located at the corner of Masters Drive and Bruton Road. It sits about nine miles southeast of the Dallas County Courthouse. Albert Carver donated the land for this family cemetery.
Albert Carver’s story began far from Texas. His mother died when he was young. His father, George, moved Albert and his siblings to Newton County, Missouri. They lived with Moses Carver and his wife Susan Blue Carver. Moses owned the Diamond Plantation. After George Carver died, Moses and Susan raised the children.
The Diamond Plantation later became the George Washington Carver National Monument. This was in honor of the renowned scientist George Washington Carver. George Washington Carver was born on this plantation. His mother was a slave owned by Moses Carver.
Albert Carver eventually left the plantation. He came to Texas at twenty-one. He joined his uncles, Abraham and Solomon Carver. They had been in Texas since 1844. Albert worked on their farm in southeast Dallas County.
In 1852, Albert returned to Missouri to marry Mary Markham. They came back to Dallas. That’s when he traded his horse and saddle for the farm.
Albert and Mary had five sons. Their names were George, John, James, Thomas, and Edward. All of them stayed in the area and raised their families nearby. Albert Carver was known as a breeder of Durham cattle. This breed was used to improve herds in south and west Texas.
John A. Carver, one of Albert’s sons, became a ginner. In 1914, he was elected as a Dallas County Commissioner. Sadly, he died before taking office. He is buried in the Albert Carver Cemetery.
The first marked gravesite belongs to the infant son of James B. and Ophelia Carver. They married in 1885. They buried three infants here between 1885 and 1889. Ophelia herself was the last person buried here in 1958.
Tragedy struck the Carver family in 1933. Mace Carver, son of Edward and Nancy Carver, was murdered. He identified his killers before he died. Catherine Prince, who was with Mace, died instantly. The community was outraged. The murderers were quickly caught and sent to prison. Mace is buried in this cemetery.
Veronika Precechtil, born in Moravia, Austria, also rests here. He worked on local farms. His burial was the first with Catholic Rites spoken in Latin. He may have been one of the only non-family members buried here.
Albert Carver also donated land for a school across the trail from the cemetery. It was named Greenwood School after the first teacher, Miss Greenwood. The school was a central gathering place.
In the 1980s, the cemetery was enclosed with a curb and wrought iron fence. This happened when the land along Masters was developed. Sherwood Blount, the developer, ensured the cemetery’s protection. The fence is similar to the one at the Abraham Carver Cemetery.
Tonya Bickham, a sixth-generation Carver, unveiled the Texas State Historical Marker in 1985. Albert Carver was buried here in 1911.
Today, the Albert Carver Cemetery stands as a reminder of the past. It tells a story of family, hard work, and community spirit. It also serves as a tribute to a man who left a lasting impact on this land.