Schulenburg City Cemetery

The Schulenburg City Cemetery started as the Lyons Family Cemetery upon the burial of Clarissa C. Lyons who died Nov. 7, 1834, age 15 years, 6 months and 6 days. She was a daughter of James and Martha Lyons who had purchased 500 acres of land from E. Anderson the previous October for $100.00.

The family had moved from Jackson County to what was then the Municipality of Colorado: Fayette County was created in 1838. John L. Lyons, son of James and Martha, who died June 5, 1835 at age 25 years, 9 months and 23 days was the second burial in the cemetery. James Lyons, the father, was killed by Comanche Indians in his cowpen about 500 yards northeast of the Lyons Cemetery on October 15, 1837 at age 59 years, 6 months and 5 days, and buried in the family cemetery. The last to be buried there was Seymour C. Lyons, son of James and Martha, who died Feb. 13, 1848, age 40 years, 10 months and 29 days.

Martha Lyons sold 238 acres and the double log cabin to Franz Russek Dec. 18, 1869 for $1695.00 and as the deed stated, "reserved one-quarter acre from the sale which is being used as the family cemetery."

Carl Hillmann's Grave Marker

Carl Hillman, probably a ginner, and Sally Henderson, wife of Alfred Henderson, first mayor of Schulenburg, were buried near the Lyons Cemetery in 1872 even though the area had not been designated as a public cemetery. Rosina Havran and Rosina Russek were buried in 1873, the first burials after Schulenburg was founded, in the plot just east of the Lyons Cemetery designated by Franz Russek as the Russek Family Cemetery. Johanna Mesegas[?] was buried there in 1874.

. . . A citizen wrote the following letter to the Argus published Nov. 9, 1877: "Editor Argus: Please tell us what has become of the grave yard that a committee of citizens were appointed to buy six months ago. The recent death in our dist, and the necessity of a place to put our dead ought surely to teach that committee that 'procrastination is the thief of time.' - Citizen." The recent death referred to that of Henry G. Metzger who was murdered on Main Street and buried in the Old High Hill Cemetery.

An article in the Nov. 30, 1877 Argus stated "City Cemetery. The question has been propounded to us by several parties as to what has been done by the committee to select and procure a suitable location for a cemetery. Some of these parties say if nothing is going to be accomplished, they would like to have their subscriptions refunded. Let us hear from you, gentlemen of the committee! Should you fail to do your duty, some fellow may get on a 'high lonesome' (get drunk) and start a grave yard on his own account (shoot someone), and then you will feel bad."

Christian Baumgarten's advertisement in the Dec. 14, 1877 Argus: "Gentlemen, see Chr. Baumgarten if you want lumber for a coffin or for a grave fence. He will sell you some which will turn rain and hook[?] and preserve your mortality with alcoholic propensity."

Another Argust article: "We presume the City Cemetery question will never be revived again. Those dying will be buried upon their private premises. Every householder will have a graveyard of his won. Thes seems as though it would become a very grave matter for all."

The Schulenburg City Cemetery was established Dec. 5, 1879 when . . . including the Lyons and Russek Family Cemeteries, and a road 20 feet wide by 2194 feet long, the present Russek Street from West Avenue to the cemetery. The Western Start Lodge No. 174, International Order of Odd Fellows, represented by M. Mookwald, August Sengelmann, H. F. Brown, and Charles Marsch, purchased a 3.04 acre plot of land. ??? feet X ??? feet from John H. and Sophia G. Wittbecker on Feb. 16, 1884 for $100.00. The deed referenced a large survey live oak tree near the center of the plat, which is still standing: is is the large live oak nearest the grave of Dr. W. W. Walker Jr.

John Matula sold about an acre of land, 210 feet X ?? feet to the Colored Cemetery Association (now the Schulenburg Community Cemetery) represented by Andrew Beverley and Ben Upton for $75.00 on Oct. 2, 1888.

From 1879 to early 1894 the cemetery was ot kept clean, it was somewhat of a thicket with vines, saplings and tall weeds and it was feared that graves would be opened in a haphazard manner, all of which necessitated a cemetery association.

The Schulenburg Cemetery Association was organized Feb. 26, 1894 with Mrs. Fred Ebeling as president, Mrs. R. A. Wolters vice president and Mrs. Gus Crane secretary. The association started with 36 charter members.

The Neuhaus Family Plot purchased directly from John H. Wittbecker of his heirs, was established south of the Hillman-Misegas Plot and outside the City and I.O.O.F. Cemeteries, in 1901 upon burial of Ludwig Edward Neuhaus, Nov. 17, 18?? to March 1?. 1901.

A few years after 1901, the City, I.O.O.F., Hillman-Mesegas. Meuhas Cemeteries and Plots and the Community Cemetery were consolidated into the present-day Schulenburg City Cemetery. The objective of the Cemetery Association was to "put the cemetery in order and keep it in repair." The association raised funds by selling plots, promoting children's theatricals and masquerade balls at Sengelmann's Hall, . . . .the sale of lemonade, soda and a fish pond at Cedar Park and raffles, besides membership dues. They spent money for destruction of ants, clearing brush, cutting weeds, building a fence and stile on the south side along with hitching racks, planting cedar trees, shrubs, wisteria and coleus. They dug a well and put up a summerhouse to cover it at the intersection of Russek Street and Schulz Avenue (named after Emile Schulz Jr.) at the center-front of the cemetery. There were six benches in the summerhouse and decorative rocks against the outside of the house.

The present cemetery encompasses about 5 acres of land, the amount the editor of the Schulenburg . . . hundred graves without gravestones.

Weimar Mercury, May 23, 1896, page 4

Last week the remains of the mothers of Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Walker, were taken up and removed to the city cemetery and placed by the side of their husbands. Mrs. Henderson, mother of Mrs. Walker, was buried at Oso 25 years ago and Mrs. Walker, mother of the doctor, was buried at La Grange 32 years ago. Although there many years have passed the skeleton of each was found to be intact.—Schulenburg Sticker.

Schulenburg Sticker, 23 Sep 1921, page 1

City Cemetery Is In Need Of Funds And Will Petition

We are taking the liberty of enlisting the columns of The Sticker to call to the attention of the general public to one of the noblest and laudable undertakings in our little city, a matter which should appeal and be of sincere interest to everyone.

The Schulenburg Cemetery Association in charge of the good ladies of the City has for many years maintained an active and energetic organization in looking after the affairs and management of the City Cemetery. It is a fact universally recognized that The Schulenburg City Cemetery is a credit to this community, being at all times kept in clean and tidy condition, free of weeds and trash and fences and hedges kept in first class condition.

All these activities entail the expenditure of considerable money, much more than the meagre membership dues afford, and matters have come to a stage where the financial support of our citizens is imperative to the end that the work of this Association may continue and assuring to our “Beautiful City of the Dead” the tribute which we owe to those dear ones who repose there in eternal rest.

A soliciting Committee shall in course of next few days call on all of our citizens, men, ladies and children, and we trust and hope that all will respond in keeping with their means and ability, thus lending a helping hand in this sacred cause.

Remember that every penny collected will go to the direct benefit of the City Cemetery; not a cent goes for any other purpose.

Schulenburg Cemetery Ass’n.

Contributed by Matt Cross