An Application for an Official Harris County Historical Marker for HARRIS COUNTY CEMETERY AND THE COUNTY HOME By Ellen Seaton, LMSW with the assistance of Sarah Canby Jackson, CA and presented to the Harris County Historical Commission
I. CONTEXT
In order to understand the history of the Harris County Cemetery and the Harris County Home, it is important to know the history of Poor Farm beginning in 1882. Since the earliest days of the Republic of Texas all counties have had the statutory obligation to care for paupers which includes the proper care and interment of deceased paupers. In 1876, the Texas State Constitution mandated that each county, “…may provide…a manual labor poor house and farm, for taking care of … indigent and poor inhabitants.”1 Initially, in Harris County, paupers were awarded a small monthly stipend. However, members of the Harris County Commissioners Court sought a more efficient and economical way to assist paupers. Therefore in1882 Harris County Commissioners Court ordered an assessment of the feasibility of a Poor Farm2 and by November 1882 the first Harris County Poor Farm and County Hospital was opened on land located near White Oak Bayou.3(See Appendix A-1.) Throughout the State of Texas, “…at least 65 of Texas’ 254 present day counties (almost 26 percent) had some type of county-operated poor farm.”4 As the County grew, the Poor Farm was relocated to property that is now part of West University. It was at this location that Harris County opened the first cemetery designated for paupers.5 Then, in the early 1920’s, as land development began to grow around this location, the Harris County Cemetery was moved to a site at a location now known as Oates Road.6 By the time the cemetery was moved, the Harris County Poor Farm had been renamed the County Home. This home was also moved and located on the same parcel of land as the Cemetery. As more paupers and older adults began to receive assistance from Social Security, the County Home closed permanently in 1958.7 However, the Harris County Cemetery continued to receive burials until 2014. While this cemetery no longer receives burials, it continues to be maintained by Harris County. (Appendix A-5.)
Harris County Cemetery and Home for the Aged -1- Harris County Historical Commission Ellen Seaton June 26, 2017
II. OVERVIEW
According to the minutes of the Harris County Commissioners Court dated October 21, 1882, the County agreed to purchase two parcels of land. One parcel was 33 4/10 acres and the second parcel consisted of 4 acres. Both parcels sold for $9000.00. A group of doctors had previously operated a hospital on the 4 acre site. The land was adjacent to White Oak Bayou and approximately 200 yards from Glenwood street car line.8In the Directory of the City of Houston, 1892 – 1893, the location of the Poor Farm was listed as, “NW cor Railroad, Oliver.”9 (See Appendix A-1 – A-3.) At the time of purchase the property consisted of a hospital and four to five additional buildings as well as a stable, buggy house and a wind mill. The buildings were turned into a County Hospital, a Poor House and Farm. This Poor Farm and Hospital, which opened in October 1882, continued to assist and treat County paupers for the next 12 years. The doctors who originally owned the land and buildings were hired by the County to care for the patients in the hospital. It was also reported at this time that all stipends being paid to paupers out of the County Treasury, with one exception, would cease with care for this cohort to be transferred to the Poor Farm. Recipients of these stipends were given a one month notice of this change. The one exception to stopping the payment of stipends was explained in the Minutes of the Harris County Commissioners Court on November 13, 1882, “No exception shall be made to this order further than as applies to Mr. Ellis Benson. It is expressly understood that this exception is only made because the Court acknowledges the obligation of the people to Mr. Benson as one of the veterans of the Texas Revolution and the heroes of the Battle of San Jacinto. The small pension heretofore allow to him is therefore continued, as a feeble mark of appreciation for services rendered.”10 It should be noted that the payment of stipends never completely stopped. Many times throughout the Commissioner Court Minutes one can find a stipend being awarded. However, it is rarely noted whether the pauper is a single mother, a disabled adult or a senior citizen. There is also no explanation as to why one pauper received a stipend and another was sent to live at the Poor Farm. Both before and during the time of the Poor Farm, the County contracted with local vendors to bury paupers. For example, on May 9, 1882, the minutes of the Harris County Commissioners
Harris County Cemetery and Home for the Aged -2- Harris County Historical Commission Ellen Seaton June 26, 2017 Court reflect a contract with, “…Mr. A. J. Pannell for the burial of Paupers…”11 It is thought that there are several locations for the burials of these deceased persons including the, “Potters Field (New City Cemetery) on Buffalo Bayou, n. end Timpson.”12 Another possible location for pauper burials could have been on the grounds of the Poor Farm itself.13 By August 18, 1888 the Minutes of the Harris County Commissioners Court reflected that at least one of the buildings that were a part of the County Hospital was in disrepair. The roof and walls were in such a condition that they would, “…readily admit wind and water.” Additionally, Commissioners were not pleased with the way the hospital was being run and determined that more visits would have to be made to this institution.14In April of 1894, Harris County Commissioners Court approved the purchase of 200 acres on Old Richmond Road near what today is the intersection of Bissonnet Street with Edloe and Buffalo Speedway in West University.15(see Appendix A-4) The County Poor Farm was relocated to this property. However, the County Hospital was not relocated to this new property. In August 1904, Harris County Commissioners set aside ten acres of the County Poor Farm for the use of burying deceased paupers.16 Then in October 1904, the Minutes of the Commissioners Court specified in some detail that paupers were to be buried at a depth of four feet from the level ground and that not more than one body was to be placed in the same grave. At that time the Judge authorized Mr. William Hauck, Superintendent of the Poor Farm, to ensure that this order was carried out.17 However, when Mr. Hauck’s contract as Superintendent was renewed a few weeks later and the contract was recorded in the Minutes of the Commissioners Court, responsibility for the County Cemetery is not mentioned.18 While pauper burials began on the County Poor Farm property, this was not the only location used for this purpose. This fact was demonstrated on February 12, 1909, in the Minutes of the Harris County Commissioners Court, which reads, “…it is ordered by the Court that no burials be permitted in the Potter’s Field or County Poor Farm except under the direction of the County undertakers.”19 In 1917 Commissioners Court decided to change the name of the Harris County Poor Farm to the Harris County Home.20 However, the name change did not catch on and this location continued to be referred to as the Poor Farm.
Harris County Cemetery and Home for the Aged -3- Harris County Historical Commission Ellen Seaton June 26, 2017 It was during 1919 that Harris County Commissioners began to consider moving the Harris County Home and Cemetery to a new location. The County purchased 100 acres on Beaumont Highway and Oates Road in July 1921 (the Beaumont Highway was then known as Crosby Road) from E. R. and Alice Jones.21When the new location opened the name of The Harris County Home was changed to The Harris County Home for the Aged. Throughout Commissioner Court Minutes and other documents from the early 1920’s the Home for the Aged would still be referred to by such
Location of reburials from Poor Farm. Harris County Cemetery, Oates names as the County Home, the Road, Houston Texas. July 30. 2014. County Old Folks Home and other variations. However, for the purposes of clarification the term “Harris County Home for the Aged” is used for this marker application so this home will not be confused with any other home or institution run by Harris County during the same time frame. By the early 1920s a scrapbook that was maintained about the Home for the Aged contained the following inscription:
“This home institution, one of the finest of its kind in the South, safeguards the future of 77 aged persons, who in the declining years of their life otherwise would have no means of support. The home is brand new, located eight and one-half miles from Houston, on the Crosby road, and is equipped with electric lights, steam heat, hot and cold water.”22
Late in 1923, Mr. Charles Wood purchased the property that had housed the old Poor Farm and Cemetery, which is now part of West University. One condition of this sale required that the County would remove all of the deceased paupers from the 1904 County Cemetery. In December 1923 Commissioners Court approved the removal of all of the decedents from the old
Harris County Cemetery and Home for the Aged -4- Harris County Historical Commission Ellen Seaton June 26, 2017 cemetery with reinterment at the new County Cemetery on Oates Road. It was reported in newspapers that local undertaking firms moved more than 1000 bodies of, “…white, Mexican and negro paupers…” All were placed in an unmarked mass grave in the County Cemetery on Oates Road.23 In 1928, a publication entitled, Civics For Houston, published an article called, “Progress in Philanthropy and Welfare Work.” This article described the Harris County Home for the Aged as follows: “Among the benevolent agencies of Houston and Harris County stands out The Old Folks Home on the Crosby Road, where the day of life may draw to a tranquil close for old men and women who have no other home…..an average of 110 old people enjoy the many acres of beautiful wooded land and the well-built rooms and dormitories….the County Home contributes largely to its own support. Garden truck, milk, eggs, chickens, meat and fuel are produced within the grounds and consumed within the home. A laundry takes care of the clothes and repairs and sewing are done largely by the women…..the grounds which now are ablaze with roses and zinnias, backed by beautiful shrubs and young oak trees…..24
Up until this time all matters pertaining to the Poor Farm, the Harris County Home for the Aged, and the County Cemetery were determined by Commissioners Court. However, as the County continued to grow, so did Harris County government. In June of 1929 Commissioners Court determined that the Harris County Home for the Aged would be administered by the Juvenile Probation Department.25 It might be assumed that oversight for the Cemetery went with this delegation of responsibility, but that is not addressed in Commissioner Court Minutes. The County Home, 1930 Also, while a Home for the Aged may not Harris County Archives, Houston, TX seem like a good fit for a department that dealt with juveniles, this department handled the social services for the County during this period in County history.
Harris County Cemetery and Home for the Aged -5- Harris County Historical Commission Ellen Seaton June 26, 2017 There were two events that took place in the mid-1930s that had significant effects on the Home for the Aged and the Cemetery. To begin with, according to newspapers in 1937, there was a great deal of discussion pertaining to the future of the Home for the Aged in light of the Social Security Act of 1935. It was thought that all inmates of the Home could qualify for a pension and then obtain placement in local residential establishments. However, one stipulation of the Social Security Act was that anyone who was already residing in a governmental institution would not qualify for a pension. Therefore the Home for the Aged stayed open for approximately 20 more years. Also, Charles B. Green was appointed as the Superintendent of the Home for the Aged.26 It should be noted that beginning at least as far back as the 1920s, there were other homes for elderly residents opening in Harris County. St. Anthony’s was located on Almeda Road and run by Sisters of the Incarnate Word. By 1928, The Sheltering Arms was a home for old and indigent women that had been established for approximately 30 years.27The county home was a place for those who may not have identified with one of the religious groups that sponsored such a home. The idea is reinforced that the Harris County Home for the Aged was for those older adults who had no family, no money, and no other resources whatsoever. It was truly an option of last resort for those with nowhere else to go. Also, early in 1937, it came to the attention of County Judge Roy Hofheinz that out at the County Cemetery, bodies were not always completely buried and that locations of the burials were not being properly recorded. Based on newspaper articles during this time, when the Cemetery was originally opened in 1924, the County Engineer platted grave spaces. (See Appendix A-6and A-7.) At some time between 1924 and 1937 all of the platted grave spaces became filled and in 1937 funeral vendors began burying the deceased paupers randomly on the Cemetery property without marking the graves. Many graves were too shallow and close together. When Judge Hofheinz found out about the improper burials, he determined that all funeral vendors that had contracts with the County would have to rebury all of the decedents who had been improperly buried.28 It was noted that 25 to 30 deceased paupers were reinterred and the graves marked.29 Also at that time the County Engineer platted an additional 1008 grave spaces and left room for approximately 500 more spaces when needed. (See Appendix A-8and A-9.) It was at this time that the County began using metal grave markers on all grave sites with identifying paperwork for the decedent inside each marker. Once again the Superintendent for
Harris County Cemetery and Home for the Aged -6- Harris County Historical Commission Ellen Seaton June 26, 2017 the Harris County Home for the Aged was appointed by Commissioners Court as, “Custodian for the Harris County Home Cemetery” to ensure that all future burials were carried out properly and recorded.30 While this situation was played out in the newspapers of the day it was noted that previously there had been a problem in the first County Cemetery with funeral vendors not burying the deceased paupers correctly, burying more than one decedent in a grave and not dressing the deceased properly. It was noted that Commissioners Court wanted to avoid a repeat of that earlier situation.31 In June of 1937, Commissioners Court authorized the following specifications for the burial of paupers: “No burial shall occur before sunrise or after sundown. The top of the coffin shall not be less than 36 inches from the natural surface of the earth. The burial shall be performed and attended by not less than two men. The body shall have a clean suit or dress and a grave, and the mound shall be properly and systemically smoothed off with the surface of the ground. The box must be in good quality yellow pine or cypress. The grave shall be marked with a permanent metal head-stick which shall be given an identification serial number which shall be recorded in the permanent record kept as mentioned above. The body shall be buried in any location within Harris County desired by the family. Nobody shall be accepted for burial unless a burial permit, properly approved by the County Health Officer, is presented at the time of interment. No burial shall be performed unless the caretaker or person assigned is present during the time of the burial.”32
Those who worked together to correct this Cemetery situation in 1937 were: County Judge Roy Hofheinz, C. B. Green, Superintendent of the Harris County Home for the Aged and Custodian for the Harris County Home Cemetery, W. E. Robertson, Chief Probation Officer and Superintendent of Welfare Institutions, and H. L. Washburn, County Auditor.
Harris County Cemetery and Home for the Aged -7- Harris County Historical Commission Ellen Seaton June 26, 2017 From 1937 until 1958 Mr. Charles B. Green supervised the Harris County Home for the Aged and the adjacent cemetery. He lived on the property with his family, including a toddler grandson named Jim Green. The Harris County Home consisted of a main house where white inmates and some staff resided. The main house also included a hospital ward with approximately twenty beds and a convalescent ward with several more beds. While the hospital convalescent wards were located in the main house, they were separated from the regular living quarters. There was a separate building for African American inmates. There was also a separate building for staff that lived on the premises. There were approximately 15 – 20 staff at all times including nursing staff and even a cemetery keeper. The head nurse had her own bedroom in the employees’ residential building while everyone else lived in dormitory style rooms. There was one building that served as a large laundry facility and at least one maintenance shed. The Superintendent and his family lived in their own house on the premises. (See Appendix A-10.) All of the buildings took up approximately 9 acres of the property and an additional 15 acres were used for the Cemetery. There C. B. Holden and Jim Green, December 31, 1946. was a 50-acre farm where inmates C.B. Green Papers, Harris County Archives, Houston, Texas. would assist with the farming
Harris County Cemetery and Home for the Aged -8- Harris County Historical Commission Ellen Seaton June 26, 2017 depending on each individual’s abilities. Some inmates had their own small plots to farm and the Home would provide the seeds. As stated earlier, it was originally intended that the Home should be self-sufficient and all products were utilized and consumed by inmates and staff. Over time, the Home was less self-sustaining and the County had to spend more money supplying food. Beginning in the late 1940s the farm was being phased out. There were a couple of ponds on the property in addition to Greens Bayou that still runs next to the Cemetery today. Both inmates and staff would fish in these bodies of water. The property was adjacent to large swaths of overgrown areas where both inmates and staff would hunt. According to Mr. Jim Green, grandson of Superintendent Mr. C. B. Green, at least one inmate lived in the woods returning to the home from time to time for meals and bathing.33 While the front of the Main House for the Home faced the Beaumont Highway, there were three driveways on Oates Road that were used to access the property. The first
Harris County Home, rear, n.d. driveway accessed the Main House Harris County Archives, Houston, Texas. and the second driveway accessed a maintenance shed. The third driveway accessed the County Cemetery and continues to be the main entrance for the Cemetery to this day. According to Mr. Jim Green, whenever a deceased pauper was approved for burial in the County Cemetery, the Superintendent would prepare a metallic grave marker with the decedent’s identifying information. Then the decedent would be placed in a casket and transported to the Cemetery. The Superintendent would say a few words and then the casket would be buried and the grave marker put in place. Unfortunately the grass surrounding the grave spaces was never mowed or landscaped so eventually the markers were lost.34 In 1958, administration of the Harris County Home for the Aged along with the Harris County Cemetery was turned over to the newly designated Harris County Welfare Department.
Harris County Cemetery and Home for the Aged -9- Harris County Historical Commission Ellen Seaton June 26, 2017 The Home was closed and other housing arrangements were found for all inmates. Once the Home was closed, a total of 18 acres were set aside for the Cemetery.35 On February 9, 1959, administration for the Cemetery was left with the Harris County Welfare Department.36 The remaining land where the Home for the Aged, farm and adjacent buildings were located was all eventually sold. Finally, in 1965 the Harris County Welfare Department obtained permission from Commissioners Court to spend $24,000 to beautify the County Cemetery which included placing a fence around the property. On October 3, 1965, Houston Chronicle reporter Dick Raycraft described the inhabitants of the County Cemetery by writing, “More than 2000 persons – abandoned children, once wealthy men who died destitute, unclaimed indigents, prostitutes and many unidentified sleep there. The graveyard is a special service of the county welfare department.”37 By August 2014 more than 15,000 deceased paupers had been buried at the Cemetery on Oates Road.38 Mr. Gary R. Mason was the last person buried at the Oates Road Cemetery on July 21, 2014. Even though this cemetery no longer receives burials, it is still maintained by Harris County.39 Brenda L. Cawood was the first decedent to be buried at the new County Cemetery, also operated by Harris County, located in Crosby, Texas.40
III. SIGNIFICANCE
As long as Harris County, Texas has been in existence, local leaders and lawmakers have been responsible for caring for the poor, the infirm and the aged who have not been able to adequately care for themselves. Two of the ways that members of the Harris County Commissioners Court have done this was to provide for a County Poor Farm and a County Cemetery. The Poor Farm ensured that paupers had a place to live that would provide food, basic needs and work according to one’s abilities. The history of the Poor Farm follows the historical trail that demonstrates the ways poverty was treated in both this country and the Harris County community from 1882 until 1958. As other programs came along, like Social Security, the County Home became outmoded and was replaced. While the County has throughout its history made arrangements for the final disposition for deceased paupers, it has set aside dedicated space for pauper graves since 1904. Throughout
Harris County Cemetery and Home for the Aged -10- Harris County Historical Commission Ellen Seaton June 26, 2017 this history Commissioners Court has set out guidelines and rules for showing dignity and respect to all of the deceased paupers. While there are no famous names to be found in the County Cemetery that are known about at this time, the County has demonstrated intent to ensure that all inhabitants are buried properly, respectfully and the graves marked appropriately for future generations.
Harris County Cemetery and Home for the Aged -11- Harris County Historical Commission Ellen Seaton June 26, 2017 ENDNOTES 1 Constitution of the State of Texas, 1876, Article XVI, Section 8. 2 Harris County Commissioners Court Minutes, October 21, 1882, County Clerk Archives, Houston, Texas. 3 Harris County Commissioners Court Minutes, November 13, 1882, County Clerk Archives, Houston, Texas. 4 Debbie Mauldin Cottrell, “The County Poor Farm System in Texas,” The Southwestern Historical Quarterly 93 (1989): 173.Also see map on p. 174, which does not include Harris as one of the 65 counties with a Poor Farm. 5 Harris County Commissioners Court Minutes, August 12, 1904, County Clerk Archives, Houston, Texas. 6Email from Paul Scott to Jessica Deculus, Sarah Jackson and others dated February 1, 2010. 7Charles W. Leavens, “Historical Development of the Harris County Welfare Department in Houston,” A thesis presented to the Faculty of the Department of Sociology and the Institute of Contemporary Corrections and Behavioral Sciences, Sam Houston State University, August 1971, 85-86. 8 Harris County Commissioners Court Minutes, October 21, 1882, County Clerk Archives, Houston, Texas. 9Directory of the City of Houston, 1892-93, xiv and xv, Harris County Archives, Houston, Texas. 10 Harris County Commissioners Court Minutes, November 13, 1882, County Clerk Archives, Houston, Texas. 11Harris County Commissioners Court Minutes, May 9, 1882, County Clerk Archives, Houston, Texas. 12Directory of the City of Houston, 1892-93, xiv and xv, Harris County Archives, Houston, Texas. 13 Janet Wagner, personal conversation, August 19, 2015, conversation took place at the Harris County Archives, Houston, TX. 14 Harris County Commissioners Court Minutes, August 18, 1888, County Clerk Archives, Houston, Texas. 15 Harris County Commissioners Court Minutes, April 16, 1894, County Clerk Archives, Houston, Texas. 16 Harris County Commissioners Court Minutes, August 12, 1904, County Clerk Archives, Houston, Texas. 17 Harris County Commissioners Court Minutes, October 11, 1904, County Clerk Archives, Houston, Texas. 18 Harris County Commissioners Court Minutes, November 23, 1904, County Clerk Archives, Houston, Texas. 19 Harris County Commissioners Court Minutes, February 12, 1909, County Clerk Archives, Houston, Texas. 20 Harris County Commissioners Court Minutes, October 15, 1917, County Clerk Archives, Houston, Texas. 21 July 11, 1921 Deed conveying a 100-acre tract to Harris County by Alice L. Jones and husband, E. R. Jones. Harris County Deed Records, volume 481, page 146, County Clerk Archives, Houston, Texas. 22Old Folks Home Scrapbook, Harris County Archives, Houston, Texas. 23 “County Will Move Bodies to Sell Farm,” Newspaper Article dated 1923, H. L. Washburn Scrapbooks, Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston, Texas. 24 Dorothy M. Hoskins, “Progress in Philanthropy and Welfare Work, “Civics For Houston, volume 1, number 5, (May 1928), 5 and 18. 25 Harris County Commissioners Court Minutes, June 10, 1929, County Clerk Archives, Houston, Texas. 26 “Home for Aged Will Continue,” Newspaper Article dated, May 15, 1937, H. L. Washburn Scrapbooks, Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston, Texas. 27Dorothy M. Hoskins, “Progress in Philanthropy and Welfare Work, “Civics For Houston, volume 1, number 5, (May 1928), 5 and 18. 28 Harris County Commissioners Court Minutes, June 11, 1937, County Clerk Archives, Houston, Texas. 29 “Reburial for Potters Field Bodies Slated,” Newspaper Article dated 1937, H. L. Washburn Scrapbooks, Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston, Texas. Harris County Cemetery and Home for the Aged -12- Harris County Historical Commission Ellen Seaton June 26, 2017
30 Harris County Commissioners Court Minutes, June 11, 1937, County Clerk Archives, Houston, Texas. 31 “Reburial for Potters Field Bodies Slated,” Newspaper Article dated 1937, H. L. Washburn Scrapbooks, Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston, Texas. 32Harris County Commissioners Court Minutes, June 11, 1937, County Clerk Archives, Houston, Texas. 33 Jim Green, personal conversations, August 20, 2014 and September 4, 2014. 34 Ibid. 35 Charles W. Leavens, “Historical Development of the Harris County Welfare Department in Houston,” A thesis presented to the Faculty of the Department of Sociology and the Institute of Contemporary Corrections and Behavioral Sciences, Sam Houston State University, August 1971, 85-86. 36 Harris County Commissioners Court Minutes, February 9, 1959, County Clerk Archives, Houston, Texas. 37 Dick Raycraft, “County to Beautify Graveyard For Paupers; Fewer Buried Now, “Houston Chronicle, October 3, 1965, E. A. “Squatty” Lyons Scrapbooks, Harris County Archives, Houston, Texas. 38 Lillian Ventura, Administrative Assistant, Bereavement Program, emails and conversations, July 27, 2015, at the offices of the Harris County Community Services Department, Houston, Texas. 39 Troy Cummins, Facility Assistant, Harris County Cemetery, Harris County Community Services Department emails, April 26, 2017. 40 Ibid.
Harris County Cemetery and Home for the Aged -13- Harris County Historical Commission Ellen Seaton June 26, 2017 HARRIS COUNTY CEMETERY AND HOME FOR THE AGED APPENDIX A-1
Houston 1890 Sheet 31, Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps – Texas (1877 – 1922), accessed August 31, 2016, http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/sanborn/g-i/txu-sanborn-houston-1890-31.jpg.
Harris County Cemetery and Home for the Aged -1- Harris County Historical Commission Ellen Seaton September 2, 2016 A-2
Houston 1890, Sheet 1, Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps – Texas (1877 – 1922), accessed August 31, 2016, http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/sanborn/g-i/txu-sanborn-houston-1890-01.jpg.
Harris County Cemetery and Home for the Aged -2- Harris County Historical Commission Ellen Seaton September 2, 2016
A-3
Houston, Street Guide (detail), 1904, Harris County Archives, Houston, Texas. Accessed http://www.cclerk.hctx.net/harriscountyarchives/img1.aspx?img=img1 , September 1, 2016.
Harris County Cemetery and Home for the Aged -3- Harris County Historical Commission Ellen Seaton September 2, 2016
A-4
Harris County Poor Farm (indicated by arrow). East Harris County Soils Map, U. S. Geological Survey based on a 1916 topographical map of Harris County. 1922. Accessed Harris County Archives, Map Collection, http://www.cclerk.hctx.net/harriscountyarchives/img1.aspx?img=img14
Harris County Cemetery and Home for the Aged -4- Harris County Historical Commission Ellen Seaton September 2, 2016 A-5
Harris County Cemetery, 2005, Harris County Community Services Department, Bereavement Program, Houston, Texas.
Harris County Cemetery and Home for the Aged -5- Harris County Historical Commission Ellen Seaton September 2, 2016 A-6
Letter from Harris County Engineer to Superintendent of the Harris County Home for the Aged, November 26, 1924, Social Services, 0400-X-08, Harris County Archives, Houston, Texas.
Harris County Cemetery and Home for the Aged -6- Harris County Historical Commission Ellen Seaton September 2, 2016 A-7
Plat of Harris County Cemetery, November 17, 1924, Social Services, 0400-X-08, Harris County Archives, Houston, Texas.
Harris County Cemetery and Home for the Aged -7- Harris County Historical Commission Ellen Seaton September 2, 2016 A-8
Harris County Cemetery Plat, 1937, Harris County Social Services, Harris County Archives, Houston, Texas.
Harris County Cemetery and Home for the Aged -8- Harris County Historical Commission Ellen Seaton September 2, 2016 A-9
Harris County Cemetery Plat, 1937, Harris County Social Services, Harris County Archives, Houston, Texas.
Harris County Cemetery and Home for the Aged -9- Harris County Historical Commission Ellen Seaton September 2, 2016 A-10
Plat of the Harris County Home for the Aged drawn from memory by Mr. Jim Green, September 4, 2014. In the possession of Ellen Seaton.
Harris County Cemetery and Home for the Aged -10- Harris County Historical Commission Ellen Seaton September 2, 2016