Dated 2019 and placed by Trinity Metro, the sign is fairly comprehensive, and it reads:
Mitchell Cemetery is located near the southwest corner of NE 28th Street and Decatur Avenue between the BNSF Railway Company and the DART-owned Cotton Belt Tracks. This cemetery is one of the oldest known cemeteries in Fort Worth and was named after Eli Mitchell who once owned the property that included the burial ground. Although this small burial ground contains the remains of some of Fort Worth's earliest settlers, it was actively used for only a short period of time. The first burial occurred in 1848 and by 1911 the cemetery was considered abandoned.
Efforts to preserve Mitchell Cemetery began in the 1930s when several articles were published in the Fort Worth Star Telegram describing its history and appealing to local and state agencies for preservation. These early efforts were unsuccessful, and the cemetery was left unattended. In 1983, a state historical marker was placed in the cemetery only to be later stolen. Since 2010, numerous memorials have been introduced into Mitchell Cemetery.
Pioneer Families
[Image captioned "1850 census identifying the York family as residents in Navarro District, Tarrant County.]
The York Family
John and Julia York arrived in Tarrant County in 1848. The Yorks traveled from Missouri and built a small cabin north of the Trinity River not far from Mrs. York's parents, Seburn and Celia Gilmore. Shortly after their arrival, York's infant son died and became the first interment in the common burial ground that would become known as Mitchell Cemetery. In 1852, York was elected sheriff in Tarrant County. He served multiple terms and built the first county jail.
The Gilmore Family
Seburn and Celia (Dean) Gilmore traveled to Texas in 1848. Prior to arriving in Texas, Seburn Gilmore served in the Mexican-American War with the 4th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment and had been active in Illinois politics. Mr. Gilmore became the first elected Chief Justice for Tarrant County. During his 2nd term as Chief Justice, he presided over a bitter dispute between Birdville and Fort Worth over which town should hold the county seat. Although hotly contested, Fort Worth was named county seat. Celia Gilmore died in 1864 followed by her husband three years later. The Gilmores were buried in Mitchell Cemetery.
[Snippet from "The South-Western, a newspaper published weekly from 1852-1870, by L. Dillard & Co., Shreveport, Louisiana." It relates an account of a shooting that took place here in 1861 between John York and A.Y. Fowler. Both died, York is buried in the Mitchell Cemetery.]
[1911 map of Niles City, long since absorbed by Fort Worth, and encompassing most of what people call "The Fort Worth Stockyards", with a red circle showing Mitchell Cemetery as the "lost cemetery." The caption reads, "Niles City was known as "the richest little city in the world" due to the worth of corporations such as Swift Co. and Armour and Co. that existed within its boundaries. 1911 Map of Niles City courtesy of the Fort Worth Public Library.]
The Anderson Family
Abraham and Catherine Tucker Anderson came to Tarrant County in 1852 from Casey County, Kentucky. Mr. Anderson made a successful living as a cattle farmer and accumulated land extending from Jarvis Heights to the Trinity River. During the 1860s, "Old Abe" Anderson built a large two-story house that, at the time, was considered "pretentious" by early settlers. The Anderson home became a social center for the nearby community that included the Yorks, Gilmores, Daggetts, and Mitchells.
[Photo, "The Anderson Home on Jarvis Heights. Photo courtesy of the Fort Worth Public Library."]
Fort Worth Stockyards and Niles City
By 1890, railroad tracks surrounded Mitchell Cemetery on three sides. In 1893, the Fort Worth Stockyards incorporated and eventually acquired the land that includes Mitchell Cemetery. With the development of the stockyards and meat packing plants, additional residential and commercial structures were built. During the early 1900s, rows of employee residences for the meat packing plants popped up along Decatur Avenue. In 1911, the area surrounding and including the Mitchell Cemetery was incorporated as Niles City. A map of the city from this time shows Mitchell Cemetery referred to as the 'Lost' Cemetery.
[Photo captioned, "Niles City Courthouse ca. 1911. When Niles City was established, it included a little over one-half square mile and included Mitchell Cemetery. City Hall photo courtesy of Fort Worth Public Library."]
[Photo captioned, "The only original remaining tombstone in Mitchell cemetery belongs to Mrs. E.C. Anderson who died on October 1, 1868. The tombstone was removed from the cemetery ca. 1975. Although the tombstone has since been returned to the cemetery, its original location within the cemetery is unknown. Photo credit: Larry Williamson, 1961.]
[Photo of Charles Turner, captioned "Charles Turner is considered on of the founding fathers of Fort Worth. In 1860, he purchased the 640 acres known as the Little Survey which included Mitchell Cemetery. Photo courtesy of the Tarrant County Library.]