CROSSROAD CEMETERY - CELINA
CR94 and CR07
Latitude 33 18 37N
Longitude 96 42 37W
Cemeteries of Collin County, Texas, by Joy
Gough
This was once the location of Cross Roads Baptist Church of Christ. In 1902 the
church building was moved to Celina and the name was changed to First Baptist
Church of Celina. According to REMINISCENCES OF CELINA, the Cross Roads Baptist
Church was north of the cemetery in 1882 on land jointly owned by A. D. Stelzer
and Edmond Stelzer, who were sons of Christian Stelzer. A. D. Stelzer gave his
half of the proerty to the church and Edmond Stelzer was paid $12.50 for his
half. The deed for the cemetery, listed in Vol 277, p 547, mentions that it is
east of the Ed Stelzer survey. The cemetery was sold to the Cross Roads Cemetery
Association in 1930.
The cemetery covers about 1 ½ acres of land. It is surrounded by a wire fence
and has a double gate on the north side. It shows a good bit of vandalism. The
grass is cut about once a year. The fencing needs some attention. First Baptist
Church of Celina filed a quit claim deed in 1930 for the cemetery. They have had
the Sheriff's Department clean the cemetery in the past. At the time, the
prisoners had trouble with bees chasing them. I have heard of a recent burial in
the cemetery, although I do not believe that the cemetery is supposed to be
active.
There is a story that in 1862 Christian Stelzer was the last person to be
scalped by the Indians in this county. The story is repeated in Elder Horn's
book and in several others. According to REMINISCENCES OF CELINA, Christian
Stelzer and his son Abiel were building a fence when two men on horseback went
by. The men made fun of the fence and Abiel threw a rock at them. In the ensuing
argument, Christian Stelzer was stabbed several times in the stomach. Abiel
managed to get him back to the house where he died. He was buried where he was
wounded, under a tree, which was ½ mile south of the Cross Roads Cemetery.
Because of the unsettled times around the Civil War, the murderers were never
caught. The book also says that only his stone was moved to the Old Union
Cemetery in Celina, which is about 1 mile due west. COLLIN COUNTY CEMETERY
INSCRIPTIONS II lists Christian Stelzer's grave as the Stelzer Family Cemetery.
I have heard of another Stelzer Family Cemetery. It supposedly contains the
grave of Abiel Stelzer. Abiel D. and three other Stelzers are buried here in the
Cross Roads Cemetery. I believe that the Cross Roads Cemetery and the Stelzer
Family Cemetery are the same ones. Edmond Stelzer, his brother, and Christian,
his father, are in Old Union Cemetery.
CEMETERY INDEX
Recommended citation:
Crossroads Cemetery - Celina,
"CEMETERIES OF COLLIN COUNTY." Collin County,
Texas History and Genealogy Webpage by Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries,
Inc., <http://www.geocities/genfriendsghl>
[Accessed Fri February 13, 2004 ].
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