Is it possible for a place to hold so much history in just one acre? You might not think so, but here at the Harrison Cemetery Plaque, the weight of the past is almost tangible. The Harrison Cemetery Plaque marks a small, unassuming graveyard, yet it represents a pivotal piece of early Fort Worth history.
Originally, this cemetery belonged to D.C. Harrison, a prominent Tarrant County pioneer. The oldest grave we know of belongs to Mary E. Harrison, who was laid to rest here in 1871. But the story of Harrison Cemetery doesn’t end there. In 1895, R.A. Randol, a man who made his mark on this land as the operator of Randol Mill, purchased the cemetery. He had a deep connection to this place. He ensured its preservation by deeding it to the community as a permanent burial ground. Randol himself chose to spend eternity here, alongside his first wife, Ronda, who was laid to rest in 1882. Tragedy struck the Randol family when John C., R.A.’s brother, died in a mill accident in 1894 and was buried here. Nancy Cannon Harrison, R.A.’s mother-in-law, also rests here, having passed away in 1833.
The Harrison Cemetery may seem unassuming at first glance. But take a moment to reflect on the lives lived and the history etched into these grounds. It serves as a poignant reminder that even in the quietest corners, echoes of the past still resonate.