Duke Cemetery

Dr. John Duke (1827-1884), his wife Martha (1836-1888), and their family moved to Johnson County in 1854. They established a farm in the area later called the Willow Springs Community. When their ten-year-old daughter Zilla died in 1870, they buried her on the family farm. Zilla was soon joined by siblings Orson and Lucy. Emma Griffin, a relative's child, was buried beside the Duke children in 1878. Dr. Duke deeded the burial ground to the community in 1879; four more Duke children had died by 1882. Other Willow Springs residents interred here include ranchers and farmers, teachers, merchants, ministers, and soldiers. (1998)

Duke Cemetery is a historical marker in Alvarado, Johnson County, dedicated in 1997. It is one of 70 historical markers documented in Johnson County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 133 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 32.3817, -97.1841 near Alvarado. The nearest cataloged historic site is First Methodist Church (historical marker), about 2.3 miles away. Others within a short drive include Alvarado Masonic Lodge No. 314 A.F. & A.M., Outlaws Benjamin Bickerstaff and Josiah Thompson, and Alvarado.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5251011959. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.