Have you ever walked through a place where time seems to whisper secrets from generations past? That’s precisely the feeling you get standing here before the Bennett Family Gardens Plaque.
This isn’t just any marker. It’s a portal into the lives of the Bennett family. Their story began 172 years ago in 1847. The first year after Texas joined the Union.
Hiram Bennett was the patriarch. He came from Franklin County Georgia. He secured a land grant as part of the Peters Colony in the mid 1840s.
Living here before 1846 made the Bennett family citizens of the Republic of Texas. All their descendants can call themselves sons and daughters of the Republic.
Records from the family Bible tell a sad story. Terniece C. Bennett was Hiram’s grandchild. She was the daughter of William Hardy and Sydney Bennett. Terniece died at birth in 1847.
Some of the earliest graves with readable markers belong to Sarah S. Futrell and Arcadia M. Futrell. Both passed away in 1878.
Hiram Bennett lived a long full life. He was admired by all. The Dallas Morning News wrote about him on July 22 1888. The day after he died.
The headline read Mr. Hiram Bennett the oldest man in this county died this afternoon about 130 o’clock aged 93 years. His mind was clear and bright until his very last days.
Over the years more Bennetts joined Hiram. So did their relatives and friends. There are Citizens of the Republic. Civil War veterans rest here. Woodmen of the World found their final place. Some old markers are hard to read now. A few stones are even hand carved. They make the Bennett Family Gardens special.
The Bennett Family Gardens became a Texas Historical Site in 2020. On November 4 2022 there was a dedication ceremony. Dignitaries attended. A high school ROTC presented flags. The local high school band played music. Many Bennett family heirs were present.
The Laurel Land Corporation bought the land in 1905. The Hugh Bearden family purchased it in 1958. The Bearden family expanded the cemetery. It became Laurel Oaks Memorial Park.
Now in its second generation the family continues to lead. Laurel Oaks Funeral Home was added. The beautiful facility serves families in Mesquite and nearby Dallas counties.
So next time you pass by remember the Bennett Family Gardens Plaque. It represents a family’s legacy. It also represents the enduring spirit of Texas pioneers. It’s a place where history and memory intertwine.