Timeless tales sleep beneath the Ford Cemetery Plaque. This unassuming marker stands as a silent sentinel. It guards the history of a small rural community. It’s located in Grand Prairie Texas. Ford Cemetery itself has a rich past. Its origins trace back to Pinkney Harold Ford. He generously designated the land for his family and neighbors. This act of kindness laid the foundation for a century of burials. The cemetery reflects the lives of pioneer families in north Arlington and Grand Prairie.
Approximately fifty legibly marked graves remain. Countless illegible sandstone markers hint at many more. The oldest marked grave belongs to Maria Trayler. She was born in Kentucky in 1799. She arrived in Texas in 1854 and passed away in 1858. The most recent marked grave is that of Eliza C Lasater. She was born in 1876 and died in 1942.
Pinkney Ford himself rests in the cemetery’s northeast corner. His wife Elizabeth is buried beside him. Pinkney Ford wasn’t just a farmer. He was a resourceful man. He used ox-drawn wagons to transport goods. He carried supplies from Galveston to the military outpost at Fort Worth. He also served as a mounted volunteer in the Johnson Station Rangers during the Civil War. After the war he played a significant role in developing the Watson Community. He even served as an elder of the Good Hope Cumberland Sabbath School. This was the only religious congregation in the area.
Ford Cemetery’s land has a fascinating history. Pinkney Ford received the property from Dr W A Jackson’s estate. Dr Jackson purchased it in 1873 from John J Goodwin. Goodwin was originally from Georgia. The 320 acres were part of Peter’s Colony in 1850.
The Ford Cemetery Plaque stands as a testament. It represents a small community’s enduring spirit. It stands amid a changing landscape. The surrounding industrial district serves as a reminder of time’s passage. The plaque itself preserves the memory of those laid to rest here. It ensures their stories live on. It allows visitors to connect with the past. Take a moment to reflect on the lives lived and the legacy left behind at Ford Cemetery. The plaque is a small but vital part of a larger story. The story of resilience. The story of community. The story of Ford Cemetery in Dallas.