Cemeteries of Lavaca County

- S -

Most of the following information comes from Sammy Tise's Lavaca County Texas Cemetery Records, Volumes 1-VI. Several people have volunteered to do lookups in his cemetery surveys for you. The books are also available for purchase.

Please contact Regena if you have done a cemetery survey or have information or cemetery photos to share.

Sacred Heart Cemetery #1

Hallettsville

There are well over 1600 markers in this cemetery, the oldest being for J. W. Elstner who died 21 March 1884. Go out of Hallettsville on 90-A and turn left at the Vsetin Road, FM 2314. Turn left at the first road and drive about 1/2 mile. The cemetery is on the right just past the City Cemetery and before Sacred Heart Cemetery #2.

Go to the Victoria Diocese searchable database which includes Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery at Hallettsville (#1, #2 and Old Sacred Heart Cemetery).

Sacred Heart Cemetery #2

Hallettsville

This is an extension to Sacred Heart Cemetery #1 that is located next to it. There are over 400 markers. The oldest is for Elizabeth Mary Grafe who died 7 Feb 1935.

Old Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery

Hallettsville

See a description and list of graves in the Old Sacred Heart Cemetery.

St. Mary's

Salem Cemetery

See a description and photos of some grave markers in the Salem Cemetery.

Read a History of the Salem Baptist Church.

San Pedro Cemetery

Shiner

This Mexican cemetery is fenced and well kept. There are over fifty markers with the oldest being for Marcela Lopez who died January 24, 1910. To visit the cemetery, go west on Hwy 90A, cross Hwy 95 at Shiner, then turn left on 6th Street. The cemetery will be on the right about three miles down 6th Street which turns into a gravel road..

Scarborough Branch Cemetery

Hope

Also known as the Meeks Cemetery

See photos and list of burials in the Scarborough Branch Cemetery.

New Shiloh Cemetery

Also known as Shiloh Lutheran Cemetery

The Shiloh Cemetery is in two sections and both are fenced. The New Shiloh (or Shiloh Lutheran) Cemetery has over 110 markers with the oldest being for Friedrike Schmiedt Muller, who died on 26 February 1897.

See photo of the old Shiloh school now the Shiloh Community Center, as well as the text of the Historical Marker at Shiloh.

Photograph by Rox Ann Johnson

Old Shiloh Cemetery

Also known as Shiloh Methodist Cemetery

The Old Shiloh (or Shiloh Methodist) Cemetery is between the New Shiloh Cemetery and the Community Hall, but it is farther back from the road. It has 61 markers, the oldest for John Griffith, who died 23 Nov 1867.

To get to the Old Shiloh Cemetery take US 77 north about 6 miles, then go east about 4 miles on CR 214 to CR 216.

Photograph by Rox Ann Johnson

Shiner Brethren Cemetery

Historic Texas Cemetery

Sammy Tise referred to this cemetery as the Czech Moravian Brethren Cemetery and wrote that he also found it listed four other ways in death certificates: Vlastanec, Czech- Moravian, Moravian Brethren, and Cesco-Moravsky. There are more than 160 markers, with the oldest being for Katharina Elisabeth Koofman who died February 27, 1890. To visit the cemetery drive south from Shiner on Hwy 95, turn right on FM 966, then turn at the fourth road on the left. The cemetery and church are on the right.

Shiner City Cemetery

Historic Texas Cemetery

There are over 2500 graves in the Shiner City Cemetery. The oldest grave is that of John Welhausen who died April 21, 1879. To visit the cemetery drive one mile west of the Shiner city limits on Highway 90A and turn right on CR 348. The cemetery lies on both sides of CR 348 just beyond Ss. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Cemetery.

The Historic Texas Cemetery marker in the cemetery says simply: "Shiner Cemetery Established 1891 Historic Texas Cemetery - 2002"

Shiner Gazette, 8 Jun 1911 The Shiner Cemetery – A Brief History. About twenty years ago, the little town of Shiner, then in its infancy, realized the fact that it was necessary to provide a resting place for loved ones passing away instead of taking them to other cemeteries for burial. The K. of P. and O. D. H. S. lodges bought a tract of land and had it fenced for a burial place for those passing from earth’s life to the great beyond. In looking over an old copy of the Gazette, published in 1893, I find the editor speaks of having visited the cemetery that week. He describes it as being divided into three parts, K. of P., O. D. H. S. and Catholic. He mentions the grass having been mowed and some beautiful monument erected. Continuing he says: “The first tomb as you enter the enclosure is Mrs. Pfeil. Near the middle of the K. of P. part stands a marble shaft to the memory of Ernst Meitzen. A little further up from this grave is a mound covered with flowers where rests the remains of beloved Stella Flato, the flowers speaks so eloquently of love and sacred regard accorded her by parents, friends and school mates.

The part owned by the K. of P. lodge is next to the road has eleven graves. Further on is the O. D. H. S. part. Here is buried little Max Wolters, son of Mr. and Mrs. M.E. Wolters. Nearby is buried Edwin Otto Koehler. There are eight graves in this part of the cemetery. The third part is the Catholic cemetery, enclosed to itself. There are twenty graves here, side by side, but only one marked by a stone. This is the grave of Barbora Bartek.” This is what the cemetery was eighteen years ago. Let us compare it with the cemetery of today. Not only is the grass kept mowed but blooming flowers and shrubs greet the eye in every part and many stately trees furnish shade and seem to invite you to stop beneath their branches to rest and meditate in that quiet, peaceful place so sacred to all who have loved ones there. That silent city of the dead seems to have kept pace with the living city, for beautiful monuments are to be seen in every part of the grounds and the lots have almost all been taken until it has become necessary to buy more land to be laid off in lots when needed.

In 1900, all persons interested in the cemetery were requested, through the local paper, to meet at the opera house the first Friday in June. A number of ladies came together that day and organized the Union Cemetery Association with fifty members. Mrs. Eliza Welhausen was chosen president, Mrs. Annie Habermacher vice president, Mrs. C. H. Flato treasurer and Mrs. Henrietta Welhausen secretary. The office of both vice president and secretary has changed hands several times, but there has been but one president. The first president has served so faithfully that all recognized her executive ability and would never consent to a change. Mrs. Flato has served the society almost as faithfully, she having been in the treasurer’s office all the time except one year. Today the Union Cemetery Association of Shiner is an established institution with a good financial standing. Both lodges have often helped the society financially. A MEMBER. Article contributed by Matt Cross

People mentioned in the article are buried in several of the cemeteries in the Shiner cemetery complex:

Shiner City Cemetery
PFEIL, Laura, 13 Dec 1869 – 11 Dec 189
MEITZEN, E. A., 28 Jun 1857 – 25 Apr 1892; Shiner Lodge No. 111, A.O.U.W
FLATO, Stella, 24 Dec 1879 – 2 Jun 1893

Shiner Sons of Hermann Cemetery
WOLTERS, Max, 30 Sep 1890 – 3 Jul 1892;son of Max E. and Anna

SS. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Cemetery, Shiner
BARTEK, Barbora, 1830-4 Mar 1893; a baby also named Barbora Bartek is buried next to her.

Shiner Sons of Herman Cemetery

This cemetery is on the east side of the Shiner City Cemetery. Go into the cemetery complex on CR 348, take the last road to the right and follow it to the back side. It is not separated from the Shiner City Cemetery by a fence. There are over 800 markers, the oldest being that of Johann H. Thermohlen who died December 2, 1885.

See article above

Shiner S.P.J.S.T. Cemetery

The cemetery is the first cemetery on the right of CR 348 in the complex of four Shiner cemeteries. There is no fence separating it and the Catholic Cemetery just beyond it. It ends where the fence along the road makes a small jog. There are over 200 markers. The oldest grave was for Frank Welfl who died October 29, 1908.

Simpson Cemetery

There are only four makers in this small family cemetery, the oldest for Arabelle E. Simpson who died in 1867. Go north from Hallettsville on Hwy 77, turn right on FM 532, and turn left at Hackberry. Turn left at the T in the road, turn right at the crossroads, and go past Andrews Chapel Cemetery 1.3 miles, turn left and the cemetery is on the right about .5 miles.

Known Burials:
Simpson, Mrs. A. B., 7 Mar 1823 - 5 Mar 1904
Simpson, Arabelle E., 1 Jul 1856 - 26 Aug 1867, P - D. B. & A. B.
Simpson, David B., 7 Dec 1817 - 19 May 1900, TKSHT WSS ??
Parker, Henry, 15 Dec 1858 - 20 Sep 1869, P- L. & N.

Smoothing Iron Cemetery

See a description and list of burials in the Smoothing Iron Cemetery.

Speaks Cemetery

There are over 130 markers in this cemetery which is still in use. The oldest marker is for Robert W. Speake, who died 13 Dec 1882. From Hallettsville take FM 530 south about twenty miles. The cemetery is just past the Speaks Community Center on the left.

Stacy Cemetery

The Stacy School was once near this cemetery on Mrs. Rosalie Tobola's property, about a quarter of a mile out in a pasture behind her home. To get to the cemetery go west from Hallettsville on 90-A to FM 340. The cemetery is unfenced and in very bad shape with trees, underbrush, vines and weeds. Bobby Joe Davis, a Stacy descendant, visited the cemetery in 1997 and 2000 and found six grave markers. He feels that there are several other graves there that may not have ever been marked. The oldest known burial is for Keziah Stacy who died 23 February 1867.

The cemetery contains the following marked graves:
1. David Davis, 10 Aug 1822 - 31 Aug 1884, white marble stone, broken from it's base and laying flat on the ground
2. Adolph Gustav Shendel, 19 Apr 1881 - 10 Nov 1882
3. Nancy Stacy, died June 23, 1887, 76 years old, mother of J. M. Stacy
4. Josephus Stacy, 11 Jul 1851 - 16 Aug 1870, son of J. B. & N. C. Stacy
5. Still Born Infant Daughter of W. D. and Clemmie Watson, 16 Aug 1880
6. Keziah Stacy, 8 March 1776 - 23 February 1867, mother-in-law of David Davis

Stratmann Cemetery

See a description, list of burials and photos of this small family cemetery.

Strauss Cemetery

This is a family plot where Karl August Strauss (12 Oct 1859 - 20 Aug 1942) and his wife Ida (19 Apr 1856 - 29 Nov 1950) were buried on their farm. Take FM 2314 from Hallettsville toward Vsetin. From the church take the first road to the left. The graves are about 100 feet off the road on the left side.

Stroman Grave

In October 1899, J. J. Stroman was to be buried in the Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery located behind his home, but the Lavaca River was at flood stage. It was decided to try for the Harless Cemetery, but it was also cut off by flood waters. They elected to do the burial at the Hardy School Grounds, as described in his obituary. His grave has never been found on the school property. Information provided by Wayne J. Stroman

Sturm Cemetery

Breslau

Supposedly there were twenty or more graves in this cemetery, but only one marker is left. For lack of a better name, Sammy Tise called it the Sturm Cemetery because the remaining marker is for Frank Sturm (1845 - 9 Feb 1905). The cemetery is not fenced and, therefore, was unprotected from cattle or machinery.

To get to the cemetery go west out of Breslau and cross the Lavaca River. The road makes a sharp right and just before it turns back to the left, the cemetery is on the right. St. Anthony's Cemetery is on the left at this same location.

Supplejack Cemetery

Also Known as First Yoakum Catholic Church Cemetery

See photos and a list of burials in the Supplejack Cemetery.