Welch Cemetery in Henderson, Texas - Find a Grave Cemetery

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Get directions CR 368
Henderson, Texas 75654 United States

Coordinates: 32.06140, -94.67000
Cemetery ID:

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The Welch Cemetery was established in 1877 on land owned by Andrew Jackson Welch, who with his wife Nancy Ann, brought their family to Texas from Georgia in the mid 1850's. The first grave at this site was for AJ's mother, Georgia native Anna Welch, wife of John Welch. Anna selected a hilltop site for her burial, and she and AJ staked it off. Anna died May 12, 1877, and was laid to rest in her chosen place. In their will, AJ and Nancy set aside the two acres surrounding Anna's grave to serve as the family cemetery. Anna's grave is in the center of the cemetery, marked with a small, upright headstone.

The second burial was that of Mrs. Ann Mary (Pellam) Fears, who died May 20, 1884. Mrs. Fears was to be buried in Zion Hill Cemetery, but several weeks of bad weather rendered roads in such bad condition that her funeral's wagons bogged down. Because they couldn't continue on to Zion Hill, Mrs. Fears was instead interred in the Welch Cemetery, which happened to be nearer their disabled wagons.

In 1969, the cemetery ground was enlarged by AJ and Nancy's grandson, Vernon Welch, who contributed another half-acre. Descendants of AJ and Nancy continue to care for the cemetery, and have worked together throughout the years to secure and improve the site with updated fencing and gathering space, along with perpetual maintenance. A pavilion at the site hosts the family's annual reunion. The Welch Cemetery is the resting place for local pioneers and veterans of war.