Dedication Ceremony

Historical Marker Dedication for a Texas Cemetery

Texas state historical markers are found in all 254 counties.

I attended a dedication ceremony at the Williams Ranch Cemetery, near the little town of Mullin, where some of my Williams ancestors are buried. The ceremony was well attended by about 100 family, friends and local neighbors. This beautiful little cemetery is full of history, and I enjoyed visiting with people who have ancestors buried there. The actual town site of Williams Ranch is now on private property, but as we looked across the field where a bustling  Main Street once stood, childhood memories and family stories were retold.

Members of the local historical committee, Williams Ranch Cemetery marker ceremony.

The process for historical marker designation begins at the county level where local historical committees work to preserve and honor special locations or people in their area. These committee members, usually volunteers, research and prepare the required application for consideration by the State Historical Commission. The research and submission process can take years, and in this particular case according to my Uncle who serves on the Committee, they worked close to two years.

Members of the local historical committee provided information of interest for visitors. Williams Ranch Cemetery.

In 1856 the first historical marker was set to mark graves at the San Jacinto battleground. The first woman to be memorialized was Elizabeth Crockett, wife of David Crockett, in 1911 at her grave in Hood County.

Many fascinating people who contributed to the rich heritage of Texas have been honored with a marker, including Lorenzo da Zavala, first ad interim Vice President of the Republic. A good friend of Stephen F. Austin, Zavala denounced the dictatorial regime of his homeland and resigned his commission under Santa Anna, and then helped draft the Constitution of the Republic of Texas. His legislative, executive and diplomatic experience made him invaluable to the new Republic and he was obviously well respected by his fellow delegates. The monument is located at his grave in Channelview, Texas.

Luther Williams explains the ancestory of the W. W. Williams family, founders of the town Williams Ranch.

The Texas Historical Commission officially inaugurated the Texas Historical marker program in 1962, and since then markers and monuments have been placed on historic sites, houses, graves to commemorate historic events and significant people.

Williams Ranch Cemetery