Did the name Abraham Bast ever cross your mind? Probably not. But here at the Five Mile Cemetery Plaque, his story and the story of Five Mile Cemetery intertwine with the history of Dallas. The Five Mile Cemetery Plaque, erected by the Texas Historical Commission in 2008, commemorates this historic burial ground. It stands as a testament to the pioneers who shaped this area. Five Mile Cemetery isn’t just a collection of headstones. It’s a repository of dreams, struggles, and the enduring spirit of community.
Abraham Bast and his family arrived in Texas from Kentucky as part of the Peters Colony. In 1859, he donated an acre of his land for a church and school, situated beside Five Mile Creek. This land also became the Five Mile Cemetery. While the cemetery may have been used earlier, the earliest confirmed burials date back to 1859, including Abraham Bast himself and Arthur Ledbetter. Ledbetter, a Baptist preacher, had a significant impact on the religious landscape of early Dallas County, establishing four Baptist churches during his eleven years here. The cemetery also holds the remains of other pioneers, including James Horton and David King, who also contributed land.
Five Mile Cemetery isn’t just a resting place for settlers. Two Confederate soldiers also lie buried here, their stories woven into the larger narrative of the Civil War’s impact on Texas. The original Five Mile Baptist Church eventually relocated in the 1960s. Yet, the cemetery remained, a silent witness to the changing times. Hundreds now rest within its grounds, and Five Mile Cemetery continues to serve the community. The Five Mile Cemetery Plaque offers a glimpse into the rich history embedded within this sacred ground. It serves as a poignant reminder of the lives lived and the legacies left behind by those who came before. It reminds us that even in the bustling metropolis of modern Dallas, echoes of the past still resonate.