Hogan Cemetery

The Colonization Law of the state of Coahuila and Texas, of March 24, 1825 gave Mexican citizens the right to buy, up to eleven leagues (48,708 acres) of land. On March 31, 1830 Mariana Riva Palacios, a prominent, liberal, political figure, from the Federal District, bought eleven leagues of Texas land. He later transferred this land to Colonel Mexia, the father of his godson, Enrique Antonio (E.A.) Mexia.

The Hogan Cemetery is located on the Palacios land, 5.5 miles southeast of Groesbeck, Texas, in Limestone County, off FM 937, to the left, on LCR 792.

Enrique Guillermo Antonio (E.A.) Mexia died on September 19, 1896 in Mexico City, Mexico. On April 8, 1910 Adele (Adelaide) A. Mexia, daughter of E.A., sold a tract of land to B.H. Marks, included in the deed is this statement, " saving and excepting therefore a three acre tract, heretofore conveyed, by General E.A. Mexia for graveyard purposes."

This is the original land, now referred to as "The Hogan Cemetery". On October 26, 1910, B. H. Marks sold part of the same land to J.D. McLelland. That same year, on November 28, 1910 J.D. and his wife, Fannie McLelland, sold a two acre tract to the Hogan Cemetery Association; the membership consisting of: A. F. Wright, L.B. Clancy, H. H. Oates, P. F. Slaughter, and Dave Bates.  On May 17, 1993 Elaine I. Cochran conveyed to the Hogan Cemetery Association 1.73 acres.  These are the lands contained in the Hogan Cemetery (more or less).  In fact, the first tract from General E.A. Mexia was larger than three acres (approx.3.86 acres). There are 2.48 acres of the Cemetery land contained inside a chain link fence. There are 1.73 acres in the front open area, and the remaining land is a wooded area, behind the fenced in area.  Note: The fenced area includes part of both the original tract and the 1910 tract.

When E. A. Mexia set aside the three acres, for graveyard purposes, in the 1850's, it may not have had a name as such. Sometime later, James D. Hogan in 1865 bought land near the Cemetery.

Mr. Hogan was born about 1800 in Tennessee and came to Texas by way of Arkansas. He was alive in 1865, but not in 1870. On a deed dated October 5, 1866, is mentioned the James Hogan Estate, and he is deceased.  There are four of his children, buried in the same lot with him (no dates). Mr. Hogan's grave was not the first one in the Cemetery. The oldest marked graves are dated July 13, 1860, August 16, 1860, and March 1, 1861. There may be older graves that have been lost or marked by a stone (with no names).

The "Old Hogan Place" was known to have been down this old road and behind the Cemetery.  The research has confirmed that no land of the Cemetery was donated or bought from the Hogans. On a deed of land that joins this road, it is referred to as the" Thornton and Hogan Cemetery Road".  The name of the Cemetery may have come from the fact that the "Old Hogan Place" was down this road.

There are four known Confederate Veterans, buried in the "Hogan Cemetery".  E.A. Maiden, Co. C, 40th ALA Inf., CSA (on his stone). Edward Alonzo Maiden was from Sumter County, Alabama. He filed a Confederate Pension Application, which was approved September 25, 1906. Mr. Maiden states "I served in the Confederate States of America, from 1862 until the war ended, either in service or in prison, all the while". He lived in Thornton, Texas and in Limestone County, Texas since 1877. Mr. Maiden was born October 15.1835 and died May 9.1928. G. I. Herod, CO. K, 12th Texas Cavalry, CSA, Parson's Reg. (on his stone) George Ira Herod was born in Mississippi, August 20, 1835 and died May 11, 1910.  He enlisted March 11, 1862 and in his own words "served continuously until the close of the war, when we disbanded, in May 1865." Mr. Herod made application for a Confederate Pension, but was rejected, due to too much property. He lived around Thornton, Texas since 1852.  J .J. E. McLelland, CO K, 7th Reg., Inf. N.C. has a nice marker, but not a CSA one. Jacob Joseph Ezekiel McLelland was born December 12, 1839, at Stoney Point, in Iredell County, North Carolina. He enrolled for CSA service July 11, 1861 in Taylorsville, North Carolina, at Camp Mason.  He was a Teamster, in the service. J. W. Ferril, llth Inf., CO.K, Sgt. CSA, has a nice marker, but not a CSA one. James Ward Ferril was born July 9, 1840, near Paris, Texas and died June 6, 1906 in Limestone County, Texas. He enlisted February 22, 1862, at Sulphur Springs, Hopkins County, Texas. In 1867 his signature appears in the index to the 1867 Voter's Registration of Texas, in Limestone County, Texas.

There are two known World War I. Veterans buried in the "Hogan Cemetery". Thomas Ray McLelland, CO. A, 29th MS BN 10th DIV- CPL WWI.  He was born February 4, 1899 and died March 13, 1954. Joseph Albert Slaughter, 360th Inf. 90th DIV.-PVT WWI. He was born March 10, 1887 and died January 31, 1951. There is one known Deputy Sheriff, of Limestone County, Texas, R.N. "Bob" Clendennen, born in 1850. and serving under Sheriff Peyton Parker. Mr. Clendennen was killed by an outlaw, in the 1870's and buried in the Hogan Cemetery.  There are also Veteran's of WWII, Korean, and Vietnam Wars that are buried here.  In years past, the Cemetery was worked by family members and many volunteers. There is now a Perpetual Fund, that was established several years ago, which continues to grow. A Memorial Service, to honor all buried here, is held every year, on the first Saturday in July.  It includes songs and prayers.   "Dinner on the Ground" is provided by those attending, young and old alike!

There are over 500 graves in the "Hogan Cemetery". In a note, in an old Cemetery Record book, this statement is made, "In 1929 there were 347 graves, and only 50 markers". Since 1929 there have been 152 marked graves. There are at this time 306 marked graves, and at least 90 marked with stones etc., only]   Research has identified ten additional names, from death certificates; Many of the Early Settlers of Limestone County are buried here.