Was it fate or mere chance that led to the establishment of Bethel Cemetery? This hallowed ground holds stories of early settlers. It whispers tales of a community’s resilience. We’re standing at the Bethel Cemetery Plaque. It marks a place of rest and remembrance.
Bethel Cemetery’s story began long before Coppell was established in 1955. The first settlements arrived in the 1860s. James Parrish donated the land for the cemetery before his death in 1853. Initially, it was known as Sands Cemetery. The soil was sandy making digging easy. By 1885, the name changed to Bethel Cemetery.
The Bethel Cemetery plaque reminds us of those early days. It speaks of a time when this land offered solace to travelers. A young traveler died in a wagon train. He was buried here. This act established the cemetery. It became a community graveyard for friends and neighbors.
Among the first to be buried here was Joshua Hill. He came to Texas from Pennsylvania in 1853. He died of smallpox in 1859.
James Pinson Howell a Kentucky native also rests here. He freed his slaves before moving to Texas. Two of them chose to stay with his family. They worked for the Howells until their deaths. They are buried in Bethel Cemetery.
The Bethel School once stood across the road. Mrs. Sarah A. Moore sold the land for the school in 1858. It was to be a public church and a school.
Over time, Bethel Cemetery faced neglect. By the 1980s, only two headstones remained. Ada Kirby born and died on the same day and Ervin Wickersham were the only visible graves.
Development in the 1960s and 70s threatened the cemetery. A developer built houses on top of grave sites. He was unaware of the cemetery’s full extent. An archeological study revealed more graves near the creek. These may be the resting places of African-American slaves.
The community rallied to preserve Bethel Cemetery. The City of Coppell hired an archaeologist. He established the cemetery boundaries. The developer had to relinquish some lots. A Historic Bethel Cemetery Association formed. They raised funds for a fence and entrance arch.
The Bethel Cemetery plaque stands as a testament. It honors the lives of those buried here. It recognizes the efforts to preserve this historic site. The last known burial was in 1925. In 1989, Bethel Cemetery received a Texas State Historical Marker.
Some say the grave of Oda Kirby is haunted. Her tombstone appears overexposed in photos. Orbs of light surround the grave. The secretary of the Coppell Historical Society doesn’t believe in the ghost stories.
As you stand here consider the stories beneath your feet. The Bethel Cemetery Plaque marks a place of history. It is a place of community. It is a place of remembrance. Take a moment to reflect on the lives that shaped this land.