Cope Cemetery

Johnson Co Cemeteries of TX

Submitted By: Margaret Bates  Apr 2001

Iddo Anderson Cope owned considerable land south of Retta, just inside Johnson County, Texas. It was here just northeast of his log cabin that he gave a portion of land for the Cope Cemetery. The first graves there are of two small children (no one remembers their names now). The little ones had eaten pokeberries became ill and died. Iddo Cope decided at once to give a plot of ground where family and community folk could be laid to rest. This was around 1850. Only brown sand rocks identify those first graves, as is also the way Tom and Betty Cope’s graves, their baby, Bessie, and son, Charles graves are marked.

The first marked headstone lies in the southwest portion of the large place, being marked 1859. Dr. Roy Feemster replaced Iddo Cope’s broken marker with a new one a few years ago.

Just a week before his death, Iddo "stepped off" the large plot in order to provide an abstract for the land. The rock, which marked the northeast corner, was still there until the county road-grader dislocated it in the 1970’s.

A nice chain link fence surrounds the cemetery. Ada (Cope) Garner was so happy to see the enclosure. She and her husband worked with others in the community to keep the place clean and pretty. Their daughter, Pearl Timmons, is largely responsible for the erection of the fence. She worked tirelessly for the betterment of this place.

It was and still is, strictly understood that no burial plot is to be sold, Iddo Cope expressed plainly that it was to be for family and community burials. It is adhered to today as he specified.

Twice yearly, the first Saturday in June and the first Saturday in October, old-timers and community folk meet and give generously to the upkeep of this beautiful place. Officers are elected yearly (usually same ones serve faithfully for years). Some donations go into "General Funds" at F & M Bank at Burleson for immediate use: to pay caretakers, water and electric bills and other miscellaneous needs.

The greater portion allotted is for "Perpetual Care" fund. At present, the association is working toward a second $10,000 Certificate of Deposit. Young folk are dedicated to the work and we are confident that Iddo Cope’s generous gift will be kept up beautifully.

Just outside the entrance gate is a dedication marker honoring Iddo Anderson Cope for making this place possible. Inside the grounds ‘neath massive mesquite shades is a tabernacle used as a meeting place. A lovely spot to sit and look at the peaceful surrounding. (Copied from a handwritten account by Mrs. Edwin Keys (Maurine Garner) of Burleson, Texas.)

Dedicated to the memory of Iddo Anderson Cope (1810-1880). Iddo Cope came to Texas from Illinois in 1845 in a covered wagon.

Inscriptions copied by Maree Blizard Sheffield, Pearl Blizard Hembree and Joy Holley, July 1981 as a project of the Mansfield Historical Society. Originally published by the Mansfield Historical Society, P.O. Box 304, Mansfield, Texas 76063. Used with permission.

Angel

D.N.

 June 11,1858 April 10,1886 Father
Angel N.E. August 12,1862 August 2,1937 Mother
Angel Martha J. March 6,1858 May 21,1877 D/O E.W.& M.C.
Angel Liza February 1,1878 March 7,1878 D/O E.W.& M.C.
Angel Maggie February 25,1860 April 19,1877 D/O E.W.& M.C.
Angel James February 22,1867 December 23,1886 S/O E.W.& M.C.
Brown David R. 1886 1968 Father
Brown Eula L. 1891 No Date Mother
Brown Infants No Dates I/O D.M.& E.H.
Brown Lotty May 10,1872 February 14,1879 D/O D.M.& E.H.
Brown D.R. October 6,1837 December 10,1915 ----
Brown Mary S. July 8,1843 April 9,1924 ----
Brown Billy P. November 12,1878 July 14,1879 S/O D.R.& Mary
Brown Donna 1874 1929 ----
Brown Marble H. 1890 1891 ----
Brown Infant Daughter 1881 Only Date D/O T.L.& E.J.
Brown Mark 1877 1877 ----
Brown Infant Son 1876 Only Date S/O T.L.& E.J.
Brown T.L. 1853 1937 Father
Brown M.E.J. 1899 1928 Mother
Brown Durwood 1901 1914 ----
Brown Lois 1899 1910 ----
Brown Willie T. 1895 1958 ----
Boydston Elvin 1889 1910 ----
Blanton Gradison L. June 25,1844 November 13,1869 ----
Cope Iddo Anderson February 10,1810 March 14,1880 ----
Cope Nancy October 23,1809 September 20,1880 ----
Cope Thomas L. No Dates ----
Cope Elizabeth N. No Dates Nee Grimsley
Cope Bessie No Dates D/O T.L.& Elizabeth
Cope Charles No Dates S/O T.L.& Elizabeth
Cornelius Mary J. November 20,1886 November 7,1955 Mother
Drury G.W. November 20,1864 March 27,1865 ----
Drury Cordelia A. July 14,1866 August 8,1869 ----
Drury John L. February 13,1869 November 1,1873 ----
Drury J.H. September 18,1875 September 19,1875 ----
Drury Louis A. November 25,1873 November 27,1873 ----
Drury Lewis C. January 30,1872 February 11,1872 ----
Drury Nancy J. September 18,1875 October 12,1875 ----
Drury Cynthaett June 4,1862 June 21,1862 ----
Drury Sarah C. April 6,1860 August 28,1869 ----
Drury Infant Daughter September 12,1863 September 14,1863 D/O J.H.& S.
Day Joseph Willis 1892 1969 Father
Day Mae Etta 1893 No Date Mother
Esters Elvin Lansford November 23,1903 July 18,1933 ----
Esters John Cornelius September 1,1879 August 1,1942 ----
Esters Mary E. January 6,1886 May 16,1964 ----
Eades M.A. 1836 1889 Mother
Eades U.R. 1831 1914 Father
Edwards Earl 1913 1966 Father
Edwards Marcie 1917 1962 Mother
Edwards William L. 1881 1949 ----
Edwards Mary M. 1859 1934 ----
Edwards Amos A. 1858 1950 ----
Edwards Katherine 1936 1942 ----
Edwards Edgar 1892 1952 ----
Edwards Thomas O. 1883 1954 Father
Edwards Lillie C. 1897 No Date Mother
Fisher W.L. 1899 1918 ----
Garner Herman 1924 1924 ----
Garner Omega 1923 1923 ----
Garner Martin 1913 1935 ----
Garner William C. 1871 1941 ----
Garner Ada A. 1881 1969 ----
Gregory Vera Mae 1917 1940 ----
Gilstrap William 1881 1882 ----
Hallmark Eva Ruth September 15,1922 January 6,1930 ----
Hallmark Billy Ray July 29,1930 November 29,1932 ----
Hallmark Edgar O. 1898 1950 Father
Hallmark George T. 1877 1967 Father
Hallmark Nancy E. 1878 1963 Mother
Helm Anna E. 1889 1961 ----
Hollox Eliza (Miss) 1823 1900 ----
Hoffman Penelope March 4,1847 September, 1863 ----
Hoffman M.S. March 6,1907 March 3,1877 ----
Hoffman Pheraba May 16,1818 February 9,1886 ----
Hoffman Sarah (Mrs.) 1850 1916 ----
Hoffman William E. (Rev) 1852 1928 ----
Hunt William W. 1863 1882 ----
Hunt A.J. 1830 1909 ----
Hunt M.A. 1833 1911 ----
Haynie Vernon T. 1870 1950 ----
Haynie Josephine L. 1871 1947 ----
Johnson Reuben 1850 No Date ----
Johnson Kindred October, 1819 No Date ----
Johnson Nancy No Dates ----
Johnson J.A. February 5,1838 April 30,1892 ----
Johnson Sarah July 25,1830 June 22,1870 W/O J.A.
Johnson Samuel L. July 6,1868 February 11,1887 ----
Johnson J.A. January 1,1846 April 15,1875 ----
Johnson Nancy E. April 30,1874 July 7,1889 D/O J.A.& M.S.
Johnson Henry E. April 11,1863 October 5,1865 S/O F.E.& M.
Johnson James M. January 4,1872 March 22,1875 S/O J.A.& M.
Johnson Tobe Lee 1882 1942 ----
Johnson William Claude December 29,1969 Age: 78 Years 4 Mos.15 Days
Johnson William Kimbell 1853 1930 ----
Johnson Wilda May August 19,1968 Age: 68 Years 7 Mos.16 Days
Jackson Marshall Lee 1892 1950 ----
James J.P. November 29,1852 March 21,1877 ----
James Martha E. February 12,1877 Age: 13 Years
James R.F. March 23,1834 June 3,1925 ----
James Susa Jane January 15,1840 March 5,1904 W/O R.F.
James J.T. July 21,1859 January 25,1880 S/O R.F.& S.J.
James Sarah July 1,1865 December 18,1878 D/O R.F.& S.J.
Long William Vernia 1901 1923 ----
Long Cora Jane 1898 1900 ----
Langston William December 2,1787 August 20,1859 71 Years 8 mos.18 Days
Langston Hester May 2,1809 June 2,1884 75 Years 3 Mos.
Lankford Edward E. 1873 1917 ----
Lankford Margaret Ann 1876 1934 ----
Lockett Little Pearl October 13,1881 June 13,1883 D/O G.A.& M.A.
Lynch John E. 1891 1956 ----
Lynch Infant Daughter 1889 Only Date
Lynch Infant Daughter 1921 Only Date ----
Lynch J.E. 1861 1891 ----
Lowry 1892 1900 D/O C. & L.F.
Lewis Goldie Clifton 1907 1953 ----
Lough Tom No Dates ----
Matthews William T. 1851 1926 Father
Matthews Sally H. 1858 1899 Mother
Matthews Eddie Lynn 1932 1932 ----
Matthews Margaret Ann 1934 1937 ----
Matthews William Horace 1895 1957 ----
Matthews Annie L. (Pope) March 14,1901 September, 1973 ----
Matthews Olin O. 1882 1938 Father
Matthews Artie A. 1893 1963 Mother
Martin Joseph Franklin 1898 1956 ----
Misenhimer Samuel A. March 1,1850 June 27,1873 23 Years 3 Mos. 27 Days
McDuff Eliza Jane 1835 1912 ----
McDuff Francis 1912 Only Date ----
McDuff Florence Huffman 1877 1939 Mother
McDuff John Thomas 1874 1959 Father
McGuire Frank J. 1859 1947 Father
McGuire Sarah M. 1868 1928 ----
Oakley Simmie 1926 1967 ----
Oakley Eulene 1913 1913 ----
O’Harrow S.M. 1825 1898 ----
Patrick Thomas J. 1892 ? Father
Patrick Nancy Elnora 1889 1958 Mother
Patrick Lewis Temple 1951 1951 ----
Panick Mary A.E. January 29,1840 October 16,1863 ----
Reed M.E. June 1,1874 August 16,1895 W/O H.W.
Robinson Thomas W. November 7,1858 August 2,1888 ----
Robinson Lonnie Hoffman 1882 1928 ----
Rogers N.E. December 31,1838 March 13,1906 ----
Rogers George L. 1868 1958 ----
Smith Eliza A. 1870 1960 W/O G.L.
Ross C. 1852 1925 73 Years
Richeson Angie 1830 1890 Mother
Richeson Jacob R. 1823 1871 Father
Richeson Lucinda F. 1848 1915 Mother of Joe Richeson
Richeson A.E. 1843 1922 Father of Joe Richeson
Richeson J. Everett 1864 1948 Father
Richeson Nancy C. 1878 1913 Mother
Richeson J.B. 1870 1878 ----
Richeson Janie E. 1872 1872 ----
Richeson Matilda E. 1873 1878 ----
Richeson William F. 1875 1875 ----
Richeson Mary J. 1876 1889 ----
Richeson Twin Daughters 1877 Only Date ----
Richeson Joseph A. 1879 1933 Father
Richeson Emma R. 1880 1946 Mother
Richeson Martha M. 1881 1881 ----
Richeson Jiles O. 1895 1951 ----
Richeson Willie Belle 1900 1903 ----
Richeson Lena Irene 1901 1903 ----
Richeson Infant Daughter 1908 Only Date ----
Richeson J.D. 1908 1942 ----
Ryan Oscar No Dates ----
Ryan Willie No Dates ----
Selman Oliver Greene 1853 1910 Father
Selman Susie A. 1861 1941 Mother
Selman R.W. (Bob) 1895 1934 ----
Selman Infant Daughter 1915 Only Date D/O Ben & Myrtis
Stell W.N. 1872 1913 ----
Teague John A. 1897 1960 ----
Teague E.L. June 22,1830 ? ----
Teague N.I. January 21,1910 1 Year 9 Mos.
Teague E.T. May 21,1878 Age: 9 mos.
Teague Angeline March 25,1862 January 12,1934 Mother
Teague William May 1,1858 October 1,1938 Father
Taylor Willie Roy 1904 1941 ----
Taylor Mamie 1910 1937 ----
Taylor Codie L. 1882 1948 ----
Taylor Arra B. 1880 1932 ----
Turnage Tom C. 1902 1967 ----
Turnage Mrs. Tom C. (Deceased)
Thurman F.L. 1858 1948 ----
Timmons Pearl 1899 Only Date ----
Timmons Wilburn C. 1920 Only Date ----
Thornton Elmer C. 1880 1952 Father
Thornton Minnie A. 1890 1962 Mother
Thornton Clovelle B. 1911 1919 ----
Wiggins Amanda Victor 1843 1910 ----
Weatherby C.M. March 10,1873 February 18,1915 ----
Weatherby Sallie August 30,1876 November 30,1911 W/O C.M.
Wagner Otis No Dates ----
Williams Ledford No Dates ----
Williams Mrs. Ledford No Dates ----
Williams Sue Jane No Dates D/O M/M L.
Wood Virginia May January 30,1905 February 23,1952 ----
Wood Leure Herbert February 29,1928 April 6,1928 ----

Coordinator: Dolores I. Bishop