San Saba County Historical Commission

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Davidson (Barnett) Cemetery

LOCATION:  In west central San Saba County on the property of Billy R. Davidson. The Davidson (Barnett) Cemetery and the Harkeyville Cemetery are at the same location; separated only by a wire fence and a twenty yard-wide strip of mesquite trees, cacti, and a dense growth of bee-brush.

 GPS:  Latitude:   31.1953o N     Longitude:  98.8015o W

 

DIRECTIONS: 

 • From San Saba City limit (west) on U. S. Highway 190, go west 2.3 miles to FM 2732 (the Sloan Road).
• Turn left onto FM 2732. Go 0.9 miles to CR 306.
• Turn left onto CR 306. Go 0.3 mile to a cattle guard.
• Cross over cattle guard and turn left through a double gate that opens into the Billy Davidson property. The gate is of heavy metal pipe and painted red. It is not locked.
• Follow pasture road for about 60 yards to the gate of the Harkeyville Cemetery.
• Go past Harkeyville Cemetery gate and continue (slightly up-hill) on pasture road another 40 to 50 yards, slowly.
• Look closely for tombstone on the left just off the pasture road. This is the Davidson (Barnett) Cemetery.
• The cemetery is not fenced. However, two widely separated family plots are fenced. The remainder of the 27 gravesites are unevenly spaced over a one-acre area. 

CONDITION:
This old cemetery has been abandoned for many years. It is not fenced and has been open pasture to cattle and other livestock. Tombstones have been broken from the base and concrete vaults (sarcophagi or concrete coffins) have been unearthed and broken open. The entire area has been consumed by years of dense growth of mesquite trees, several species of cactus and a dense growth of bee-brush mixed in with other thorn-brush. Most of the graves were hidden from view until some of the brush and trees were cut away.