Cleburne Times-Review (Cleburne, Tex.), Ed. 1 Sunday, September 12, 2004 Page: 12 of 96
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Johnson County and Cleburne Area Newspapers and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Johnson County Historical Commission.
- Highlighting
- Highlighting On/Off
- Color:
- Adjust Image
- Rotate Left
- Rotate Right
- Brightness, Contrast, etc. (Experimental)
- Cropping Tool
- Download Sizes
- Preview all sizes/dimensions or...
- Download Thumbnail
- Download Small
- Download Medium
- Download Large
- High Resolution Files
- IIIF Image JSON
- IIIF Image URL
- Accessibility
- View Extracted Text
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
10 Sunday, September 12, 2004, Johnson County Sesquicentennial
Johnson County Sesquicentennial 1854-2004
Wardville historical marker unveiled
■ :.l
u
■
&
cere-
I j
321
1
Carolyn
Groves, vice
president of
the Bethany
Rest Ceme-
tery Associa-
tion, reads
the inscrip-
tion on the
Texas Histori-
cal Commis-
sion marker
unveiled
March 27.
Staff photo/Rob
Fraser
I
0
u
g
fe
By Cayla Smith
Staff Writer
By Rob Fraser
Staff Writer
March 27, 2004
the time, in 1903. In 1908, the trustees set it
aside as a burial ground. Many of the earliest
area settlers were buried in the nearby Buel and
Jones cemeteries.
At the church’s burial ground, known as
Bethany Rest Cemetery, on County Road 810,
the first marker grave for 15-year-old Marcy
Thompson dates to 1908. Earlier unmarked
graves may exist. A cemetery association was
formed in 1917 and added a fence to protect
the property from grazing cattle. The church
congregation disbanded in 1960 and donated
an additional acre to the cemetery.
Lawrence Head opened the dedication
mony.
“This is a special occasion for many of us
who grew up in this community, and you hon-
See BETHANY, Page 88
iSI
jpvS
MB
ALVARADO — A Texas Historical Com-
mission marker honoring Bethany Rest Ceme-
tery as part of local history was unveiled
March 27 in front of dozens of descendants of
thoseburied in the cemetery and people inter-
ested in the history of Johnson County.
The marker states a small group of settlers
from Alabama arrived in the Alvarado area
near Chambers Creek in 1857. Among them
were the Frost, Newby, Murphree and Head
families.
A.A. “Ben” Head donated 2 acres to the
Bethany Church, known as Head’s Chapel at
'"'■J
TV esidents congregated at the
1^ original seat of Johnson
±V County on Aug. 14 to wit-
ness history in the making.
Nearly 200 people gathered at the
Chisholm Trail campsite, on Lake Pat
Cleburne on U.S. 67W, to watch the
unveiling of a Texas historical marker
for the old Wardville courthouse.
The dedication ceremony was part
of the 150th anniversary celebration
of the county’s founding. Historians
believe the county was instrumental
in making the cowboy legend
famous.
The dedication paid respect to the
founders of the county, historian Jack
Carlton said.
Johnson County Historical Com-
mission Chairman Billy Cate said he
hoped the dedication would motivate
residents to become active in the
Chisholm Trail Project, which
includes the renovation of the 16-by-
16-foot log courthouse and the cre-
ation of an exhibit.
“They realize what we are doing,
and I think it will spread,” Cate said.
“We hope people will get behind the
project and make it go.”
I
g
■ J
ir
A SJW. OSfillF »
ASWW M W AtWOS
« W. 1
AT©
<* MKR
saw most x ® »
W W U. W .WMS %
,KSg$ TO CM ORW
as w. n »
St? I? «>S£: AS A
**** HAS W (MffifeS.
a? ffit wai. skw.
WSJ. WES. UMW&iS :
A IWIEW ASSiXWfe TS8
W £Ss® ,s
I
■ tf
▼ •
f WmBL..,................ ..... ,
I! » ’*
I Bl-
I
__1
Staff photo/Cayla Smith
Johnson County resident Charles Dee Kirkham unveils the Texas historical marker at the Wardville courthouse
during a dedication ceremony Aug. 14 at the Chisholm Trail campsite at Lake Pat Cleburne.
hb
I
I
1
I
I 1
I
I I
I
I ‘
I i
1
I I
I
Marker displayed at Bethany Rest Cemetery
First marked grave
dates back to 1908
' I
Ml:
I
II
I
T,
OF
Iw
W 1 ■
T
1..
■H k
..... .
August 14, 2004
A stage coach, chuck wagon, his-
toric re-enactors, Indian teepees and
Texas longhorns were part of the
event. Cate and the Chisholm Trail
Cowboys performed songs, cowboy
comedian John Buttram told jokes
and Cleburne ISD Assistant Superin-
tendent Joe Ripple emceed the event.
Area city council members, coun-
ty commissioners and other elected
officials attended the ceremony. Cle-
burne Mayor Ted Reynolds and state
Rep. Arlene Wohlgemuth, R-
Burleson, spoke to the crowd.
Reynolds praised the spirit of Cle-
burne and volunteers that made the
dedication possible.
“This is a prime example, if there
ever was one, of positive attitude,”
Reynolds said.
Wohlgemuth said the possibility
of attracting tourists with the
Chisholm Trail project was bright.
“This is such an important part of
the Johnson County heritage,”
Wohlgemuth said, adding the project
was “a big niche that needs to be
developed.”
Johnson County was founded on
the principles of faith, family and
freedom, she said.
fr
Be
I
KNAa.. •' A
....
. | I
s
v.W *4
» ,V7 I
If____
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Matching Search Results
View one place within this issue that match your search.Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Gosser, Dale. Cleburne Times-Review (Cleburne, Tex.), Ed. 1 Sunday, September 12, 2004, newspaper, September 12, 2004; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1223492/m1/12/?q=%22charles+dee+kirkham%22: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Johnson County Historical Commission.