Commemorating the dedication of the Historic Texas Cemetery Medallion and name plaque for the McDaniel Street Cemetery in Harris County.

89(R) HR 830 - Enrolled version - Bill Text

H.R. No. 830

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, The Westcott Cemetery Association and Harris County

Historical Commission are celebrating the dedication of the

Historic Texas Cemetery Medallion and name plaque for the McDaniel

Street Cemetery on April 19, 2025; and

WHEREAS, In the 1850s, Richard Westcott, a future Harris

County commissioner, bought nearly 700 acres of land and

established a homestead; following the death of his wife, Almira,

in 1869, he began to give parcels from that property to his

children; Jennie Gammon Westcott Kendall was eventually given the

land on which the family cemetery was located, and four years later,

she made the graveyard available for community use; and

WHEREAS, Jennie Kendall eventually sold some of the land from

her parcel to a small group of neighbors, including the McDaniel,

McDonald, Cours, Farmer, and Schuller families; the remainder of

her land became part of the cemetery; John Farmer, who owned the

property just west of the cemetery, added another three quarters of

an acre of burial grounds, and McDaniel Street became the southern

boundary of the cemetery; in order to fund cemetery upkeep,

Mr. Farmer ultimately sold other land that he owned; and

WHEREAS, In the 1960s, the cemetery became inactive, but

volunteers continued to maintain it until at least 2005; Pastor

David L. Smith of New Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church led

cleanup efforts between 2013 and 2018, when the Westcott Cemetery

Association was formed by three descendants of the early settlers;

the nonprofit organization received legal conservatorship in 2021

and the name McDaniel Street Cemetery was adopted; the group has

since undertaken such conservation measures as mapping graves,

repairing markers, and installing fencing, and it has partnered

with the Texas Historical Commission and the Harris County

Historical Commission in its endeavors; and

WHEREAS, The McDaniel Street Cemetery is the final resting

place for settlers who braved many hardships while forging a

close-knit community, and this marker is a fitting tribute to the

resilience of these men and women and to the commitment of their

descendants who have worked to preserve this site; now, therefore,

be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas

Legislature hereby commemorate the dedication of the Historic Texas

Cemetery Medallion and name plaque for the McDaniel Street Cemetery

and commend all those involved in securing this designation.

Walle

______________________________

Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 830 was adopted by the House on May

23, 2025, by a non-record vote.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House