Iddo Anderson Cope owned considerable land south of Retta, just inside Johnson County, Texas. It was here just northeast of his log cabin that he gave a portion of land for the Cope Cemetery. The first graves there are of two small children (no one remembers their name now). The little ones had eaten poke berries, became ill and died. Iddo Cope decided at once to give a.plot of ground where family and community folk could be laid to rest. This was around 1850. Only brown sand rocks identify those first graves, as is also the way Tom and Betty Cope's graves, their baby, Bessie, and son, Charles, graves are marked.

The first marked headstone lies in the southwest portion of the large place, being marked 1859. Dr. Roy Feemster replaced Iddo Cope's broken marker with a new one a -few years ago.

Just a week before his death, Iddo "stepped off" the large plot in order to provide an abstract for the land. The rock which marked the northeast corner was still there until the county road-grader dislocated it in the 1970s.

The cemetery is surrounded by a nice chain-link fence. Ada (Cope) Garner was so happy to see the enclosure. She and her husband worked with others in the community to keep the place clean and pretty. Their daughter, Pearl Timmons, is largely responsible for the erection of the fence. She worked tirelessly for the betterment of this place.

It was, and still is, strictly understood that no burial plot is to be sold, Iddo Cope expressed plainly that it was to be for family and community burials. It is adhered to today as he specified.

Twice yearly, the first Saturday in June and the first Saturday in October, old-timers and community folk meet and give generously to the upkeep of this beautiful place. Officers are elected yearly (usually same ones serve faithfully for years). Some donations go into "General Funds" at F.& M. Bank at Burleson for immediate use: to pay care-takers, water and electric bills and other miscellaneous needs.

The greater portion allotted is for "Perpetual Care" fund. At present, the association is working toward a second $10,000 Certificate of Deposit. Young folk are dedicated to the work and we are confident that Iddo Cope's generous gift will be kept up beautifully.

Just outside the entrance gate is a dedication marker honoring Iddo Anderson Cope for making this place possible. Inside the grounds 'neath massive mesquite shades is a tabernacle used as a meeting place. A lovely spot to sit and look at the peaceful surrounding. (Copied from a handwritten account by Mrs. Edwin Keys(Maurine Garner) of Burleson, Texas.)

Dedicated to the memory of Iddo Anderson Cope (1810 -1880). Iddo Cope came to Texas from Illinois in 1845 in a covered wagon.

Inscriptions copied by Maree Blizard Sheffield, Pearl Blizard Hembree and Joy Holley, July 1981 as a project of the Mansfield Historical Society. Originally published by the Mansfield Historical Society P.O. Box 304, Mansfield, TX 76063. Used with permission.

ANGEL, D. N. - Father, June 11, 1858 Apr.10, 1886
ANGEL, N. E. - Mother, Aug. 12, 1862 Aug. 2, 1937
ANGEL, Martha J., dau of E. W. & M. C., March 6, 1858 May 21, 1877
ANGEL, Liza, dau of E. W. & M. C., Feb. 1, 1878 March 7, 1878
ANGEL, Maggie, dau of E. W. & M. C., Feb. 25, 1860 April 19, 1877
ANGEL, James, son of E. W. & M. C., Feb. 22, 1867 - Dec. 23, 1886
BROWN, David R. - Father, 1886 - 1968
BROWN, Eula L. - Mother, 1891 - No date
BROWN, Infants of D. M. & E. H. No dates
BROWN, Lotty, dau of D. M. & E. H., May 10, 1872 - February 14, 1879
BROWN, D. R.., Oct. 6, 1837 - Dec. 10, 1915
BROWN, Mary S., July 8, 1843 - April 9, 1924
BROWN, Billy P., son of D. R. & Mary, Nov. 12, 1878 - July 14, 1879
BROWN, Donna, 1874 - 1929
BROWN, Marble H., 1890 - 1891
BROWN, Inf. Dau (T. L. & E. J.), 1881 (Only Date)
BROWN, Mark , 1877 - 1877
BROWN, Inf. Son (T. L. & E. J.), 1876 (Only Date)
BROWN, T. L. - Father, 1853 - 1937
BROWN, M. E. J. - Mother,- 1899 - 1928
BROWN, Durwood, 1901 - 1914
BROWN, Lois, 1899 - 1910
BROWN, Willie T., 1895 - 1958
BOYDSTON, Elvin, 1889 - 1910
BLANTON, Gradison L., June 25, 1844 - Nov. 13, 1869
COPE, Iddo Anderson, Feb. 10, 1810 - Mar.14, 1880
COPE, Nancy, Oct. 23, 1809 - Sept. 20, 1880
COPE, Thomas L., No Dates
COPE, Elizabeth N., nee GRIMSLEY, No Dates
COPE, Bessie, dau of T. L. & Elizabeth, No Dates
COPE, Charles, son of T. L. & Elizabeth No Dates
CORNELIUS, Mary J. - Mother, Nov. 20, 1886 - Nov. 7, 1955
DRURY, G. W., Nov. 20, 1864 - Mar.27, 1865
DRURY, Cordelia A., July 13, 1866 - Aug. 8, 1869
DRURY, John L., Feb. 13, 1869 - Nov. 1, 1873
DRURY, J. H., Sept. 18, 1875 - Sept. 19, 1875
DRURY, Louis A., Nov. 25, 1873 - Nov. 27, 1873
DRURY, Lewis C., Jan. 30, 1872 - Feb. 11, 1872
DRURY, Nancy J., Sept. 18, 1875 - Oct. 12, 1875
DRURY, Cynthaett, June 4, 1862 - June 21, 1862
DRURY, Sarah C., Apr.6, 1860 - Aug. 28, 1869
DRURY, Inf. Dau of J. H. & S., Sept. 12, 1863 - Sept. 14, 1863
DAY, Joseph Willis - Father, - 1892 - 1969
DAY, Mae Etta - Mother, - 1893, - No Date
ESTERS, Elvin Lansford, Nov. 23, 1903 - July 18, 1933
ESTERS, John Cornelius, Sept. 1, 1879 - Aug. 1, 1942
ESTERS, Mary E., Jan. 6, 1886 - May 16, 1964
EADES, M.A. - Mother, 1836 - 1889
EADES, U.R. - Father, 1831 - 1914
EDWARDS, Earl - Father, - 1913 - 1966
EDWARDS, Marcie - Mother, 1917 - 1962
EDWARDS, Wm. L., 1881 - 1949
EDWARDS, Mary M., 1859 - 1934
EDWARDS, Amos A., 1858 - 1950
EDWARDS, Katherine, 1936 - 1942
EDWARDS, Edgar, 1892 - 1952
EDWARDS, Thos. O. - Father, 1883 - 1954
EDWARDS, Lillie C. - Mother, 1897 - No Date
FISHER, W. L., 1899 - 1918
GARNER, Herman, 1924 - 1924
GARNER Omega, 1923 - 1923
GARNER: Martin, 1913 - 1935
GARNER, Wm. C., 1871 - 1941
GARNER, Ada A., 1881 - 1969
GREGORY, Vera Mae, 1917 - 1940
GILSTRAP, Wm., 1881 - 1882
HALLMARK, Eva Ruth, Sept. 15, 1922 - Jan. 6, 1930
HALLMARK, Billy Ray, July 29, 1930 - Nov. 29, 1932
HALLMARK, Edgar O., - Father, 1898 - 1950
HALLMARK, Geo. T., - Father, 1877 - 1967
HALLMARK, Nancy E. - Mother, 1878 - 1963
HELM, Anna E., 1889 - 1961
HOLLOX, Eliza (Miss), 1823 - 1900
HOFFMAN, Penelope, Mar.4, 1847 - Sept. 1863
HOFFMAN, M. S., March 6, 1907 - March 3, 1877
HOFFMAN, Pheraba, May 16, 1818 - Feb. 9, 1886
HOFFMAN, Sarah (Mrs), 1850 - 1916
HOFFMAN, Wm. E. (Rev), 1852 - 1928
HUNT, Wm. W., 1863 - 1882
HUNT, A. J., 1830 - 1909
HUNT, M. A., 1833 - 1911
HAYNIE, Vernon T., 1870 - 1950
HAYNIE, Josephine L., 1871 - 1947
JOHNSON, Reuben, 1850 - No Date
JOHNSON, Kindred, - Oct. 1819 - No Date
JOHNSON, Nancy, No Dates
JOHNSON, J. A., Feb. 5, 1838 - Apr.30, 1892
JOHNSON, Sarah, wife of J. A., July, 25, 1830 - June 22, 1870
JOHNSON, Samuel L., July 6, 1868 - Feb. 11, 1887
JOHNSON, J. A., Jan. 1, 1846 - Apr.15, 1875
JOHNSON, Nancy E., dau of J. A. & M. S., Apr.30, 1874 - July 7, 1889
JOHNSON, Henry E., son of F. E. & M., Apr.11, 1863 - Oct. 5, 1865
JOHNSON, James M., son of J. A. & M. Jan. 4, 1872 - Mar.22, 1875
JOHNSON, Tobe Lee, 1882- - 1942
JOHNSON, Wm. Claude, died Dec. 29, 1969, Age 78 years, 4 months, 15 days
JOHNSON, Wm. Kimbell, 1853 - 1930
JOHNSON, Wilda May, died Aug. 19, 1968 Age 68 years, 7 months, 16 days
JACKSON, Marshall Lee, 1892 - 1950
JAMES, J. P., Nov. 29, 1852 - Mar.21, 1877
JAMES, Martha E., died Feb. 12, 1877, Aged 13 Years
JAMES, R. F., Mar.23, 1834 - June 3, 1925
JAMES, Susa Jane, wife of R. F, Jan. 15, 1840 - Mar.5, 1904
JAMES, J. T., son of R. F. & S. J., July 21, 1859 - Jan. 25, 1880
JAMES, Sarah, dau of R. F. & S. J., July 1, 1865 - Dec. 18, 1878
LONG, Wm. Vernia, 1901 - 1923
LONG, Cora Jane, 1898 - 1900
LANGSTON, Wm, Dec. 2, 1787 - Aug. 20, 1859, 71 years, 8 months, 18 days
LANGSTON, Hester, May 2, 1809 - June 2, 1884, 75 years, 3 months
LANKFORD, Edward E., 1873 - 1917
LANKFORD, Margaret Ann, 1876 - 1934
LOCKETT, Little Pearl, dau of G. A. & M. A., Oct. 13, 1881 - June 13, 1883
LYNCH, John E., 1891 - 1956
LYNCH, Infant Daughter 1889 (Only Date)
LYNCH, Infant Daughter 1921 (Only Date)
LYNCH, J.E., 1861 - 1891
LOWRY, Dau of C. & L. F., 1892 - 1900
LEWIS, Goldie Clifton, 1907 - 1953
LOUGH, Tom, No Dates
MATTHEWS, Wm. T. - Father, 1851 - 1926
MATTHEWS, Sally H. - Mother, 1858 - 1899
MATTHEWS, Eddie Lynn, 1932 - 1932
MATTHEWS, Margaret Ann, 1934 - 1937
MATTHEWS, Wm. Horace, 1895 - 1957
MATTHEWS, Annie L.(Pope), Mar.14, 1901 - Sept. 1973
MATTHEWS, Olin O. Father, 1882 - 1938
MATTHEWS, Artie A. Mother, 1893 - 1963
MARTIN, Joseph Franklin, 1898 - 1956
MISENHIMER, Samuel A., Mar.1, 1850 - June 27, 1873, 23 years, 3 months, 27 days
McDUFF, Eliza Jane, 1835 - 1912
McDUFF, Francis, 1912 (Only Date)
McDUFF, Florence Huffman - Mother, 1877 - 1939
McDUFF, John Thomas - Father, 1874 - 1959
McGUIRE, Frank J. - Father, 1859 - 1947
McGUIRE, Sarah M., 1868 - 1928
OAKLEY, Simmie, 1926 - 1967
OAKLEY, Eulene, 1913 - 1913
O'HARROW, S. M., 1825 - 1898
PATRICK, Thos. J.-Father, 1892 - ?
PATRICK, Nancy Elnora-Mother, 1889 - 1958
PATRICK, Lewis Temple, 1951 - 1951
PANICK, Mary A. E., Jan. 29, 1840 - Oct. 16, 1863
REED, M. E., wife of H. W. June 1, 1874 - Aug. 16, 1895
ROBINSON, Thomas W., Nov. 7, 1858 - Aug. 2, 1888
ROBINSON, Lonnie Hoffman, 1882 - 1928
ROGERS, N. E., Dec. 31, 1838 - Mar.13, 1906
ROGERS, Geo. L., 1868 - 1958
SMITH, Eliza A., wife of G. L. 1870 - 1960
ROSS, C., 1852 - 1925, 73 Years
RICHESON, Angie - Mother, 1830 - 1890
RICHESON, Jacob R. - Father, 1823 - 1871
RICHESON, Lucinda F., mother of Joe Richeson 1848 - 1915
RICHESON, A. E., father of Joe Richeson 1843 - 1922
RICHESON, J. Everett-Father, 1864 - 1948
RICHESON, Nancy C. - Mother, 1878 - 1913
RICHESON, J. B., 1870 - 1878
RICHESON, Janie E., 1872 - 1872
RICHESON, Matilda E., 1873 - 1878
RICHESON, Wm. F., 1875 - 1875
RICHESON, Mary J., 1876 - 1889
RICHESON, Twin Daughters, 1877 (Only Date)
RICHESON, Jos. A.-Father, 1879 - 1933
RICHESON, Emma R.-Mother, 1880 - 1946
RICHESON, Martha M., 1881 - 1881
RICHESON, Jiles O., 1895 - 1951
RICHESON, Willie Belle, 1900 - 1903
RICHESON, Lena Irene, 1901 - 1903
RICHESON, Infant Daughter 1908 (Only Date)
RICHESON, J. D., 1908 - 1942
RYAN, Oscar, No Dates
RYAN, Willie, No Dates
SELMAN, Oliver Greene-Father, 1853 - 1910
SELMAN, Susie A. - Mother, - 1861 - 1941
SELMAN, R. W.(Bob), 1895 - 1934
SELMAN, Inf.Dau-Ben & Myrtis, 1915 (Only Date)
STELL, W. N., 1872 - 1913
TEAGUE, John A., 1897 - 1960
TEAGUE, E. L., June 22, 1830 - ?
TEAGUE, N. I., Died Jan. 21, 1910 1 Year 9 Months
TEAGUE, E. T., Died May 21, 1878, Aged 9 Months
TEAGUE, Angeline - Mother, Mar.25, 1862 - Jan. 12, 1934
TEAGUE, William - Father, May 1, 1858 - Oct. 1, 1938
TAYLOR, Willie Roy, 1904 - 1941
TAYLOR, Mamie, 1910 - 1937
TAYLOR, Codie L., 1882 - 1948
TAYLOR, Arra B., 1880 - 1932
TURNAGE, Tom C., 1902 - 1967
TURNAGE, Mrs. Tom C., (Deceased)
THURMAN, F. L., 1858 - 1948
TIMMONS, Pearl, 1899 - (Only Date)
TIMMONS, Wilburn C., 1920 - (Only Date)
THORNTON, Elmer C. - Father, 1880 - 1952
THORNTON, Minnie A.-Mother, 1890 - 1962
THORNTON, Clovelle B., 1911 - 1919
WIGGINS, Amanda Victor, 1843 - 1910
WEATHERBY, C. M., Mar.10, 1873 - Feb. 18, 1915
WEATHERBY, Sallie, wife of C. M. Aug. 30, 1876 - Nov. 30, 1911
WAGNER, Otis, No Dates
WILLIAMS, Ledford, No Dates
WILLIAMS, Mrs. Ledford, No Dates
WILLIAMS, Sue Jane, dau of Mr. & Mrs. L., No Dates
WOOD, Virginia May, Jan. 30, 1905 - Feb. 23, 1952
WOOD, Leure Herbert, Feb. 29, 1928 - April 6, 1928

In addition to the above known burials, the following burials with no stones are reported
by Bob Weddell bweddell@prodigy.net in January 2002:

TEAGUE, Raymond Townsend Teague - 2 Nov 1886 - 4 June 1943