Blue Ridge Baptist Church & Cemetery
Blue Ridge, Falls County, Texas

Submitted by Carol Couch

FM 1771

GPS Coordinates  31.269881, -96.739849

   Blue Ridge Baptist Church is located just off of State Highway 7, approximately 11 miles east of Marlin, Texas, midway between the cities of Kosse and Reagan.

From Marlin, go east on Highway 7 for 8.5 miles

Turn right on FM 3144.  Go one mile to the intersection of FM 1771

Turn right and stay on FM 1771 for about 2.5 miles

Blue Ridge Baptist Church will be the left

Historical Marker

Year Erected: 1970

     Organized 1859 by 11 charter members; worship held regularly since. Z. N. Morrell and Judge R. E. B. Baylor were among early missionaries holding services in the settlers' log cabins. George Harlan deeded 28 acres for church, school, and cemetery in 1873. Land is part of grant given by Mexico in 1835 to his father, Doctor Isaiah Harlan. The first church building also housed an early school. Church has sponsored annual "May Day Singing" since 1887. Descendants still attend. The third (present) sanctuary was built here in 1908.

  Dr. and Mrs. Isaiah Harlan and son, James Harlan
Parents of George Harlan
George is buried here in Blue Ridge Cemetery
George’s parents are buried on land that they once owed in Willis, Montgomery Co., Texas
It is now the City of Willis Cemetery
Dr. Isaiah Harlan b May 4, 1798 d January 29, 1847
Nancy (Henry) Harlan b 1800 at sea - Atlantic Ocean d April 10, 1852
James Harlan b 1831 d 1844
Isaiah and Nancy (Henry) Harlan were married on December 12, 1817
Submitted by Kay Cunningham
GGG Granddaughter of George and Pauline Jane (McCaleb) Harlan
GGGG Granddaughter of Dr. Isaiah and Nancy (Henry) Harlan

Old Mausoleum of the Harlan Family now in ruins
The new headstone picture above now sits in front of this
Submitted by Kay Cunningham
GGG Granddaughter of George W. and Pauline (McCaleb) Harlan
GGGG Granddaughter of Dr. Isaiah and Nancy (Henry) Harlan

     The first church building also housed an early school. The Church has sponsored annual "May Day Singing" since 1887 that descendants still attend. The third (present) sanctuary was built in 1908.

Harlan Family Reunion
July 27, 1950
Submitted by Kay Cunningham

This inventory was done by Marion Garrett Gibbs in 1988
Some names and dates are not recorded as they appear on the tombstones
Complete names and maiden names were added by Marion Garrett Gibbs

Pictures taken and submitted by Carol Couch

            There are many tombstones here that are broken or damaged and one day there will be nothing

.