Fairy Cemetery

First called Gap for its geographic setting between two hills, this sparsely settled community became known as Martin's Gap in the 1860s after a man named Jim Martin reportedly was killed by Indians while traveling through the area. When local citizens applied for a United States Post Office in 1884, the name Fairy was chosen in honor of Fairy Fort Phelps (1865-1938), the petite daughter of pioneer settlers Battle and Sallie Fort. Fairy and her father taught area children in a school in their home for many years, and the Fort family donated land to several area churches. Although the earliest known burial occurred here about 1880, deed records show that this graveyard was not officially set aside as a community burial ground until 1890. Among those interred here are numerous pioneer settlers, dozens of victims of the 1918 influenza epidemic, at least one Texas Ranger, and veterans of the Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. Encompassing three sections, the cemetery contains many distinctive handmade gravestones and other types of grave markers. Maintained by a local association of descendants, the cemetery is a reflection of the area's pioneer heritage. Recorded--1970

Fairy Cemetery is a historical marker in Fairy, Hamilton County, dedicated in 1994. It is one of 40 historical markers documented in Hamilton County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 48 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 31.8528, -97.9845 near Fairy. The nearest cataloged historic site is United Methodist Church of Fairy (historical marker), about 0.1 miles away. Others within a short drive include Martin's Gap, Stanely Cemetery, and Brummett Cemetery.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5193001557. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.