Keenan Cemetery

Farmers Branch Keenan Cemetery Awarded National GrantNEH-Preferred-Seal820

The Historical Park thanks The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) for selecting the Farmers Branch Keenan Cemetery’s monument assessment project as the recipient of a $7,500 NEH Preservation Assistance grant.

Keenan Cemetery was established in November 1843, is the oldest cemetery in Dallas County and contains three State of Texas Historical Markers: John Keenan's grave was designated in 1971, Keenan Cemetery was designated in 1994 and David Myers' grave was designated in 1993. We formed a subcommittee in 2020 to create and implement a plan to retain the historical integrity of the cemetery while navigating the need for a perpetual care fund. 

The first step was a ground-penetrating radar survey to establish the location of each grave. The results confirmed that there were 114 unmarked graves within the historic cemetery. Next, the subcommittee set two goals, place “Name Unknown” markers on the 114 undocumented graves and repair damaged monuments and headstones while staying true to the historical integrity of the cemetery.

We purchased 114 “Name Unknown” headstones, and as time allows, they will be installed on each unmarked grave. As we do more research and as identities of specific individuals become available, the headstones will be changed. To repair damaged headstones, a monument assessment needed to take place to inspect all monument headstones and provide a conservation plan for each. 

It was the NEH’s Preservation Assistance grant that funded this very important step. Texas Cemetery Restoration, LLC conducted the inspection and provided a priority list for the preservation and conservation plan for each monument, as well as an estimated cost for completing the repair work. Texas Cemetery Restoration, LLC was selected as the vendor because they offer exceptional tombstone, monument and gravestone conservation, preservation and restoration services including cemetery assessments, leveling, cleaning and repair of damaged or broken monuments.

There have been 73 “Name Unknown” headstones placed to date, thanks to the following Eagle Scouts:  Aidan Willson with BSA Troop 713, Bryan Nichols with BSA Troop 734, Skylar Green with BSA Troop 713, Andy Amos with BSA Troop 713, Oliver Nemec with BSA Troop 713, Roman Soranio with BSA Troop 412, Zachary Fernandes with BSA Troop 412, Will Roppolo with BSA Troop 412, and Carson Monnot with Troop 713.

There have been seven “Name Unknown” headstones placed to date, thanks to the following Girl Scout Troops:  Junior Girl Scout Northeast Troop 912 as part of their Junior Bronze Award. 

Cemetery History

The Farmers Branch Keenan Cemetery was established November 1843 when Thomas (1808-1879) and Sarah McCallister (1807-1872) Keenan buried their infant son, John, in a section of their own land. In the spring of 1842, the Keenan family moved to Peters Colony and were the first settlers in the present-day Farmers Branch area. Peters Colony was the name of a north Texas empresario grant made in 1841 by the Republic of Texas to twenty American and English investors led by William Peters. As deaths in neighboring families occurred, they were buried at the Keenan site. One of these pioneers was David Myers (1797-1853) who moved with his family from Illinois in 1845 and settled on a land grant 12 miles northwest of the present-day City of Dallas. Myers established himself as the religious leader of the pioneer families in the area and on May 10, 1846, organized the Union Baptist Church, the earliest continuing Baptist congregation in Dallas County. The Keenan Cemetery is the oldest in Dallas County and contains three State of Texas Historical Markers: (1) grave of John Keenan was designated in 1971; (2) Keenan Cemetery was designated in 1994; and (3) David Myers grave was designated in 1993.  

Cemetery Contact Information

The cemetery is located at 2570 Valley View Lane, Farmers Branch, TX 75234 and is open from dawn to dusk.  For information about cemetery tours please contact the Historical Park at 972-406-0184 or by email.

If you have historical research questions or information about someone buried at the Keenan Cemetery, please email the Historical Park.

If you have questions about interring your loved one at the Keenan Cemetery, please contact the City Secretary.

Scavenger Hunt

If you plan on visiting the Farmers Branch Keenan Cemetery with your class or children, you might enjoy using this Cemetery Symbolism Scavenger Hunt (PDF) to explore the artwork and icons on many of the graves at the cemetery.

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