HR830 - Commemorating the dedication of the Historic Texas Cemetery Medallion and name plaque for the McDaniel Street Cemetery in Harris County.

      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