Our Mission

Located in Dallas’ s Forest Hills neighborhood on the original homestead of Warren Angus Ferris, the 1847 Ferris Historic Cemetery is the final resting place of early settlers and possibly indigenous folk. It is the mission of the Friends of the Warren Ferris Cemetery to recognize those buried there and honor those who came before them, evolve an ongoing landscape restoration plan, and to beautify and maintain the landscape to the standards of a certified wildlife & monarch butterfly way station, and to promote environmental stewardship.

Cemeteries are important keys to history. They are tangible reminders of the indigenous, settlement patterns and reveal information about historic events, religion, lifestyle, and genealogy. By tying together historical, educational and native wildlife components, our ultimate goal is to support other neighborhoods across the state in revitalizing their own fallen cemeteries.

The Friends of the Warren Ferris Cemetery is now serving as the case study and has created a two-year pilot program called the The Constellation of Living Memorials (CLM).  CLM blends sustainability, historic preservation, and maintenance of historic cemeteries in our city’s many neighborhoods. Historic cemeteries hold a unique cultural and ecological significance, yet many face neglect and degradation over time. Recognizing the importance of these sacred spaces, Constellation of Living Memorials has developed a groundbreaking approach to their rehabilitation.

CLM’s Initiatives:

·      Revitalize Dallas’ extensive network of historic cemeteries

·      Create balanced and sustainable ecosystems in cemeteries, as well as vibrant wildlife sanctuaries that honor the memories of those laid to rest

·      Enrich Dallas’ natural environment and connect communities with their shared heritage

·      Create native biodiversity hubs to enhance ecology, create beauty, provide climate resiliency, and support the health of Dallas

·      Activate a robust volunteer workforce and provide a range of science, culture, and art educational experiences for all ages

·      Build opportunites for communities to connect with nature and to each other

·      Statewide expansion: revitalize historic cemeteries and their ecosystems across the state of Texas

In many instances, historic cemeteries fall into neglect due to a lack of resources and uncertainties regarding land ownership. Our flagship initiative is a two-year pilot program designed to combat common issues historic cemeteries face and transform them into thriving ecosystems. Throughout the pilot program, our partner cemeteries refrain from mowing, allowing native plant species to flourish and reclaim their natural habitats. As native species flourish, we also oversee the removal of invasive plant species and the subsequent introduction of additional native species.

Whether through volunteer efforts, donations, or partnerships, we are seeking support that will make an exceptional impact on revitalizing our sacred historic cemeteries.

With your support, we can successfully reconnect our Dallas community to its authentic sense of place.  

The Warren Angus Ferris Cemetery was established in the mid-1800s on the Ferris 640 acre homestead and was used by the Ferris family and the neighboring community. There is historical evidence that it also contained the graves of freedmen and possibly Latino residents.  The last person buried there was Rev. R.F. Taylor, 1901, an African American minister who lived nearby.

Due to vandalism over the past 100 years, all headstones have been removed, only a few names of those buried there are known. Genealogist Donald Payton has completed a one year research into finding the other people buried on the property, see list below. A marker naming all those found, including Warren Ferris, has been installed. It has been documented that Warren Ferris never enslaved African Americans.

Updated List of Those Persons Buried in the Ferris Cemetery - 2022 by Donald Payton, Susanne Starling and Marilyn Kosanke

Bell family - 2 Afro-American females, sister Lucretia and infant daughter Lizzie of William “Bill”

Bell who worked for the Tuckers and/or the Caruths. The 1870 Census shows they worked for

Abe Freeman on land near Turtle Creek.

George T. Boyette - June 10, 1843 - July 29, 1903

Boyette infant - 1886-1886

Elizabeth Hatfield Chenault - May 9, 1820 - Sept. 12, 1858 - died of typhoid fever

Chenault infant - 1858 - typhoid fever

Lucy Jane Sage Chenault - 1838-1863

Wesley Marshal Chenault - 1819 -1896. Probably buried in Ferris Cemetery

Frederick M. Dean - 1810 - Sept. 17, 1867

Benjamin Dye - 1793 - July 20. 1852

Sarah Cozear Dye - 1798 (or 1801) - May 24,1879

Emily Ferris - Aug. 16,1848 - Apr. 15, 1853

Price Ferris - 1862 - July 6, 1867 - kicked by a horse

Sarah Frances Moore Ferris - Sept. 1,1829 - Mar. 21,1869 - died after childbirth

Warren Angus Ferris - Dec. 26,1810 - Feb. 8,1873

Warren “Bud” Ferris, Jr. - Mar. 8, 1844 - Aug. 7, 1847 - 1st burial in cemetery

William Ferris - Dec. 13,1850 - July 12, 1866

Jennie Allis Herndon - July 24, 1880 - June 16, 1899

Clarence Linden Pemberton - Oct. 25, 1867 - July 26, 1869

Louisa Jane Ferris Rutledge - 1858 - 1886. Probably buried in Ferris Cemetery

Daniel Harrison Sage - Nov. 5,1802 -Feb. 10,1866

Jane Dye Sage - Jan.17,1816 -1892

Lucy Sage - year of birth? -1863

Charles T. Tabor - Nov. 10,1878 - Oct. 8, 1878. Same as infant Tabor.

Rev. Robert F. Taylor - Aug. 22, 1867 - Apr. 11, 1901

Robert T. Taylor - (1842-1906). Farmer who owned land on White Rock Creek, Father of R. F.

Questionable, possible burials in Ferris Cemetery:

Ruben Kirby - dates unknown, worked for the Caruth family.

Perhaps Sarah Sage, Mary Sage, Jeff Sage, James Henry Chenault.

Atwood children, two children, no dates

J.M. or J.W. Tucker - dates unknown

Ferris Cemetery Achievements & Ongoing Plans

Ultimate Goal

In our third year as a 501C3, we have guided four other historic cemeteries in the process of becoming non-profits and developing native landscape plans for the benefit of wildlife. We provide a template for other neighborhoods to establish wildlife habitats as a means of honoring those buried in historic cemeteries across the state.

“It is estimated that there are roughly 15,000 + cemeteries in Texas. There are have roughly 5,000 historic cemeteries locations mapped in our Texas Historic Sites Atlas. Based on feedback from our county historical commissions, we believe about one-third of these have no caretakers responsible for their care.”

Carlyn Copeland Hammons, Cemetery Preservation Program Specialist, Texas Historical Commission

Current Status

• State Historic Cemetery Designation

• State historical marker present

• No historic headstones on-site

• 1980 SMU archeological survey

• Numerous artifacts and field-stones found