About Glendale Cemetery
Glendale Cemetery at the foot of East Magnolia lies within the industrial area of what was once the bustling city of Harrisburg, Texas. A place of quiet repose among the noise of Houston's busy ship channel, Glendale is Harris county's oldest cemetery with the first known burial dating to 1839. Restored and maintained by the Glendale Cemetery Association, it is a private, historical cemetery where you will find the graves of many of the founders of Harris County and of Texas.
The Cemetery Association
Glendale Cemetery Association, Inc. was formed in 1952 by several "oldtimers" from the Harrisburg area who were distressed about the deplorable conditions at the old cemetery.
Objectives of the organization were listed as: 1) Rescue old cemetery; 2) Maintain old cemetery; 3) Restore it to its former beauty; 4) Establish perpetual care fund; and 5) Operate as an heritage and historical society for Old Town Harrisburg
Early Harrisburg
On the 16th of August, 1824, the Mexican Government, acting through its Commissioner, Baron de Bastrop, and “Estevan F. Austin, Empresario for the establishment of a new colony in this Province”, granted a league of land to John R. Harris, “native of the United States of America”. Captain John Richardson Harris (he commanded a company of the line in the War of 1812) was a native of New York State, the great-grandson of another John Harris who founded Harrisburg, the capitol of the State of Pennsylvania.
For More Information
For assistance in locating a grave or for information on becoming a member of the association, please contact us.