AREA PIONEER, MARY A. WILLIAMS, DONATED LAND FOR THIS BURIAL GROUND TO BETHEL CHURCH IN 1869. IT HAS SERVED RESIDENTS OF THE HARVEY COMMUNITY AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE THAT TIME. THE CEMETERY IS NAMED OLD BETHEL BECAUSE OF ITS CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITH THE CHURCH, WHICH MOVED FROM THIS LOCATION BY THE EARLY 1900s. THE EARLIEST DATED BURIAL, THAT OF ELIZABETH H. HUDSON, DATES TO 1870. OTHERS BURIED HERE INCLUDE EARLY AREA PIONEERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND REPUBLIC OF TEXAS, CONFEDERATE AND U.S.VETERANS. THE CEMETERY FEATURES VERTICAL STONES AND WOODMEN OF THE WORLD MONUMENTS. TODAY, THE OLD BETHEL CEMETERY ASSOCIATION MAINTAINS THE BURIAL GROUND, WHICH CONTINUES TO SERVE THE AREA. HISTORIC TEXAS CEMETERY-- 2006 MARKER IS PROPERTY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS

Two Bryan attorneys, M.J. Beale and B.K. Davis, donated four acres of land at this site in April, 1874 for the purpose of establishing the Reliance Baptist Church, School and Cemetery. The Community was originally called Little Georgia, taking its name from the State of origin of an early 1850s wagon train of settlers. More families from the southeastern United States arrived in the 1870s escaping economic hardships following the Civil War by emigrating to Texas. David Lloyd of Mississippi changed the community name to Reliance in 1873 with the organization of the Reliance Baptist Church. W.H. (Uncle Billy) Morgan established a cotton gin and general store in 1873 and also served as postmaster. In the late 19th century, Reliance included a general store, post office, gristmill, cotton gin, school, church and community center. As intensive cotton farming eroded the soil, area farms transformed into extensive cattle ranches. By the 21st century the church and cemetery remained historic fixtures in an area transitioning to rural residential development. The cemetery is sited among century-old post oak, elm and hackberry trees. The earliest marked grave dates to 1881, although several older undated graves are believed to exist here. Community members made additional donations of land in 1951 and 1995, nearly doubling the original size of the church and cemetery property. The cemetery property is held jointly by the Reliance Baptist Church and the Reliance Cemetery Association, which governs the operation and maintenance of the historical burial grounds.

In 1831, Richard Carter (1789-1863), Virginia native and War of 1812 veteran, came from Alabama and received a grant of land within the Stephen F. Austin Colony at the site of what is now the City of College Station. He became one of the area's wealthiest land and slave owners, raising cattle, corn, and cotton during the years before the Civil War. Carter was appointed to the first Board of Commissioners after Brazos County was created in 1841 and helped survey Boonville, its first county seat. Evidence of the Carter home and the family cemetery has been found in this area.

One of victors in Battle of San Jacinto. Born in Ireland; came to America, 1820, and here to Robertson's Colony, 1832. A staunch Presbyterian, kept true to faith at risk of life. In 1836 War for Texas Independence, he served in 2nd Regt., Infantry, Texas Volunteers. Prominent in public life, he held Justice of Peace Court beneath shade trees. He married Elizabeth Downing, Londonderry, Ire.; had 13 children. Their heirs include noted Texans.

German immigrant Adam Royder (d. 1894) donated one acre of land here for school purposes in 1891. A one-room schoolhouse was constructed where area students received instruction through the seventh grade. The Rock Prairie Missionary Baptist Church was organized in the schoolhouse in 1900, and church services were subsequently held there, as well. The Rock Prairie School was discontinued in 1919 after it was consolidated with the nearby Shiloh School, but the schoolhouse continued to serve area Baptists as a house of worship.