Texas Historical Marker #14926
Wortham Bend Cemetery. Tennessee native William Green Duke Wortham came to Texas around 1854. His wife, Charlotte Coke, whom he wed in 1841, was sister to Texas Governor Richard Coke. The couple settled in this area, and the community that developed here was named for Wortham. This site was in use as a cemetery as early as 1864, when Sarah Bird was interred here. Several graves are marked only with rocks and may pre-date 1864. Another early grave is that of J.B.M. Howard (d. 1865), whose tombstone indicates he was killed by "The Quantrel Men," referring to the Civil War vigilante W.C. Quantrill. James W. and William N. Wortham, descendants of the original settlers, formally donated the land to the community for use as a burial ground in 1874. Over the years, various individuals cared for the burial ground. Carrie Crump Hanna oversaw the mainenance for approximately 40 years, and her daughter Mary Hanna Bryant later did much to protect and expand the cemetery. Family members, as well as the cemetery association, continue to care for the burial ground and the more than 300 graves. Historic Texas Cemetery - 2004 #14926
?, China Spring, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #14109
Erath. This locale is one of the early settlements of Mclennan County. Erath was one of the first voting precincts in the county in 1850, with settlers attracted by fertile agricultural lands between the Brazos and Bosque rivers. The community was named for George B. Erath, a soldier and legislator who surveyed Waco in 1849. At its peak the rural community had two churches, a school, two cotton gins, a gristmill, stores and a blacksmith shop. Erath post office operated from 1896 to 1907, and the Erath School was active until consolidating with China Spring in the 1920s. The area was sparsely populated through most of the 20th century; by the time the City of Waco annexed the area in the 1980s, only the baptist church remained from historic Erath. (2008) #14109
?, China Spring, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #00832
China Spring Cemetery. The China Spring community was originally settled about 1870. It was named for a large grove of chinaberry trees and nearby spring. Burials were first held in family cemeteries. An association was formed by local citizens in 1902 to establish a community burial ground. They purchased the initial tract of five acres. At one time, sheep were used to keep grass trimmed but the experiment failed when they began to stray. An unsual grave is that of Isaac Brock (1787-1909) who lived in three centuries. Many of the area pioneers are buried here. #832
?, China Spring, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #00465
Bosque River Crossing of the 1841 Texas Santa Fe Expediton. Sent by Republic of Texas president Mirabeau B. Lamar to establish trade and expand Texas legal boundaries, the members of the 1841 Texas Santa Fe Expedition met with a number of hardships endeavoring to carry out their mission. On July 6, 1841, the expedition crossed the Bosque River near this site with great difficulty due to the steep river banks. Finally reaching New Mexico in September after enduring Indian attacks and lack of food and supplies, the travelers were captured by Mexican troops and marched to prison in Mexico City. #465
?, China Spring, TX, United States