The Riley Cemetery, Colleyville

I have always been interested in the smaller parts of history. For example, when I moved back to the City of Coppell, I was amazed to find out that the little community has a small cemetery (with only two stones) that is surrounded by modern developments, including large houses. The Historic Bethel Cemetery is a tiny piece of living history that appears to be on the edge of being engulfed by the hustle and bustle of our technological world. For this reason, one might not have been surprised that I was excited about the Riley Cemetery in Colleyville when my wife and I recently stumbled on the historic site during a house-hunting excursion.

The Riley Cemetery in Colleyville (preserved by the Carrollton Historical Society) has several graves still standing. One of these stones belongs to a Civil War veteran. Photograph by the author.

Jacob Riley (b. 1815), a resident of Indiana, moved to Texas in the 1850s for new economic opportunities. He received a land grant of 160 acres on Indian Creek in southeastern Denton County. Riley became very wealthy from cotton and other crops that grew well in Texas' warm climate. Riley's family held the land for over 100 years, and as the descendants died the bodies were buried on site. Riley's Cemetery was high enough to avoid flooding from the nearby Trinity River, and it remained undisturbed until residences were built around the site, starting in 1996. Today, Riley Cemetery remains one of the few family burial sites in the state since developers have used the lands to construct houses and office spaces to accommodate the recent influx of immigrants to Texas. I snapped a few photographs of this quaint treasure and paid respects to Mr. Riley and his family (the cemetery currently has about 8 graves). These are the living history plots that need to be saved and preserved for generations to follow us.

The Riley Cemetery is located on a hill and avoided past flooding from the neighboring Trinity River. I am really glad I stumbled on this hidden Texas treasure! Photograph by the author.