In 1835, Joseph Jordan and William S. McDonald donated about 500 acres of land in this area for the town of Houston, later known as Fort Houston. An early map of the townsite shows a section designated as a "public burying ground." The infant child of the Rev. Peter Fullinwider, an early Protestant minister in Anderson County, is said to have been the first to be interred here. The oldest marked grave, that of Dr. James Hunter, is dated 1840.

The Fort Houston Cemetery is the only remaining physical evidence of the early frontier town, which was abandoned after Palestine was made Anderson County seat in 1846. Victims of diseases, Indian massacres, and other hardships that faced early Texas settlers are buried here. A special soldiers' plot, marked with a large boulder, contains the graves of soldiers of the Republic of Texas. Two veterans of the Battle of San Jacinto, John W. Carpenter and James Wilson, are buried in unmarked graves. The burial site of General Nathaniel Smith, a War of 1812 veteran, is also located in the soldiers' plot. The Fort Houston Cemetery remains in use as a public burial ground and as a reminder of the early history of the area.

A central figure in the early days of Texas Methodism, Virginia native Francis Wilson was the son of a Scot-Irish immigrant and a native Marylander. After a brief period of military service in the War of 1812, he became a Methodist minister, preaching his first sermon on Dec. 25, 1815. He rode the circuits in West Virginia and Ohio until 1839, when he moved to the Republic of Texas over the objections of family, friends, and his bishop.

Stationed first at Shelbyville and then at San Augustine, Wilson traveled over all of East Texas, holding camp meetings and organizing churches. Noted for his lectures and stirring sermons, he was respected throughout the area. In 1846 Wilson was appointed as a delegate to the first convention of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He was instrumental in the establishment of Wesleyan Male and Female College in San Augustine. In 1847 Wilson and wife Elizabeth settled near Belgrade on the Sabine River.

Francis Wilson's last official service was in 1851 as a missionary to the black communities on the Austin circuit. Shortly after, he retired in poor health to his home in Newton County, but continued to preach locally until 1864. He died three years later and is buried in the Old Belgrade Cemetery (2 mi.SE).

The community of Franklin was originally established in 1872, and named Morgan for an official of the International Railway Company. By 1879 the town had 200 residents. When the community applied for its post office, another Texas post office was named Morgan, so residents changed the name to Franklin after the name of the original county seat.

A five-acre plot of land for a graveyard was deeded to Robertson County in 1880 as part of an incentive to persuade officials to locate the county courthouse in Franklin. However, six tombstones on this site predate its official designation as a graveyard. The first recorded burial is that of Elizabeth Calvert in 1869. Among the more than 1,300 graves are members of fraternal organizations, and veterans of the Civil War, Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. C.N. Brignance, veteran of the War of 1812, also is buried here. Interments also include those of former city and county officials, state legislators, E.A. Decherd and J.L. Goodman, and four local musicians who achieved national fame.

The Franklin Cemetery continues to serve the citizens of Franklin and Robertson counties as it has for more than 100 years.

Veteran of the War of 1812, member of the Texas Congress and a courageous Indian fighter. Born in North Carolina, 1796, died in Parker County, Texas, August 2, 1858. Reburied in Ellis County near his former plantation, 1859. His remains removed to the county named in his honor in 1928 and reinterred in Fort Worth.

Born Va., July 17, 1790. As U.S. Army officer in War of 1812, was in Battle of New Orleans, married Anne Eliza Hill, of N.C. Had 7 children. Came to Texas in 1834. Served Republic of Texas on staff of Gen. Sam Houston, 1836; adjutant-general, 1842; member of Congress, 1843-1844; member of Constitutional Convention 1845. Gave site, 1848, for Laurel Hill Baptist Church (now First Baptist Church of Coldspring). D. Feb. 10, 1859.

On this hill, as he wished for burial in sight of courthouse is grave of General James Smith, co-founder of Henderson. A south Carolina native, he fought for the U.S. in War of 1812. Moved to Texas 1835. Returned to U.S. to raise troops for Texas War of Independence. Later he fought in Republic's Indian Wars; regulator-moderator uprising in 1840s in East Texas; and in Mexican War.

He was first Judge, East Texas District; a legislator; honored in naming of nearby Smith County.

His wife, Hannah Parker Smith, is buried beside him in this park. They had ten children.

(1981 text):
During the War of 1812, William Jenkins Worth, a native of Hudson, New York, was Aide-de-Camp to Generals Morgan Lewis and Winfield Scott. Severely wounded at Lundy's Lane, Worth remained in the Army after the war and later served as Commandant of Cadets at West Point, 1820-28. In 1832 he fought in Illinois against the Sac and Fox Indians, led by Black Hawk. Involved in defenses along the Canadian border in the 1830s, Worth also participated in the removal of Cherokee Indians from the Southeastern United States.

In 1842 Worth led an expedition against Florida Seminole Indians, defeating the last hostile band at Palaklakha Hammock. During the Mexican War, 1846-48, he fought with Zachary Taylor's forces at the Battle of Monterrey and received a Sword of Honor from Congress and a promotion to Major General. He was also a leader in the 1847 conquest of Mexico City.

Worth died of cholera at San Antonio while serving as Commander of the Texas and New Mexico Military Districts. Although he never visited this area, a frontier post named in his honor, Fort Worth, was established here after his death. His grave in New York City is marked by a granite monument, fifty feet tall, at Broadway and Fifth Avenue.

1987 Text:
William Jenkins Worth, a native of Hudson, New York, was severely wounded at Lundy's Lane during the War of 1812. In 1820 he became Instructor of Infantry Tactics and Soldierly Discipline at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He Was appointed the First Commandant of Cadets in 1825. When Worth was reassigned in 1828, Robert E. Lee was serving as Cadet Adjutant.

Worth was involved in defenses along the Canadian border in the 1830s, and in 1841 - 1842 led an expedition against the Florida Seminole Indians. He was awarded a commendation from the Florida Territorial Legislature and was promoted to Brigadier General.

During the Mexican War Worth fought at the battle of Monterrey. He received a Sword of Honor from the U.S. Congress and a promotion to Major General.

While serving as Commander of the Texas and New Mexico military districts, Worth died of cholera in San Antonio in 1849. Fort Worth, a frontier post established after his death, was named in his honor. Worth was buried in New York City. His grave, at Broadway and Fifth Avenue is marked by a fifty-foot monument and is surrounded by a fence of cast iron swords, copies of his New York State Sword of Honor.

A veteran of the War of 1812, Georgia native George Alexander Pattillo (1796-1871) migrated to this area in the early 1830s. He served on the local Committee of Correspondence created by the Convention of 1832 and on the General Council of the provisional government established by the Consultation of 1835.

During the Texas Revolution of 1836, Pattillo, who had earlier received a Mexican land grant, joined with other area settlers to aid the Texas Army. Arriving at San Jacinto the day after the decisive battle, he was commissioned by Texas President David G. Burnet to direct the formation of Jefferson County, which included this area. He also became an associate justice for the new county and was a postmaster for the settlement of Pattillo's station, later the Terry community of central Orange County.

In the early 1840s Pattillo served this area as a Representative and a Senator in the Republic of Texas Congress, where he actively supported annexation to the United States. In 1852 he was elected the first judge of the newly-formed Orange County. An active Masonic leader in southeast Texas, Pattillo died in 1871 and was buried in a family plot at Bunn's Bluff on the Neches River, where he had lived since 1844.

New York native George G. Alford, an officer in the War of 1812, came to Texas from Missouri in 1836. During the Texas Revolution he served as Gen. Sam Houston's Quartermaster General. Captured by Mexican forces after the was while on a supply trip for the Republic of Texas, he was released by Mexican forces through intervention by the U.S. President, Andrew Jackson. Alford later owned a Houston County plantation and served as Justice of the Peace and County Judge.

A veteran of the War of 1812, Virginia native George W. Stell, Sr. came to Texas in the late 1830s. A farmer, surveyor, and builder, he constructed the first courthouse in Paris after it was named the Lamar County Seat in 1844. Stell, who was deaf, also surveyed the route of the Central National Road for the Republic of Texas Congress. Stretching for 130 miles from the Trinity River to the Red River, it helped open the area for settlement.