St. John Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery

This site is located 4 miles Northeast of Ellinger, Texas on Kasmiersky Road. It is an open field about .25 mile from the county road. It is unfenced and covers about an acre of land. Several family lots are surrounded with intricate wrought iron fencing. Some stones have fallen over and are broken and scattered about.

On September 26, 1859 the trustees of the Evangelical Lutheran Church Communion in Ross Prairie, with the condition that a church, schoolhouse and churchyard be constructed, purchased 5 acres of land from Jacob and Elizabeth Dirr.

From a bulletin of The Ross Prairie Cemetery Committee of St. John Lutheran Church, 1971:

The St. John Lutheran Church dates back to 1852. From that time until 1859, when the church was first built at Ross Prairie, services were held in homes.

The Ross Prairie Church Cemetery probably became in use before the church was built. A reference was found where Margaretha Dorothea Meyer, who did in May of 1864, "the beloved wife of Johann Heinrich Meyer," was laid to rest beside her husband at Ross Prairie. Johann Heinrich Meyer, on of the first settlers of Ross Prairie, coming to Texas in the days of the Republic, and to Ross Prairie about 1843, died between October 1854 and August 1855. However, the earliest grave stone actually found was that of a child, George A. J. Mueller, who died in April of 1860. There may have been many more burials in the 1850's, as there are some stones badly deteriorated and difficult to read. Also, there are many graves where the stone no longer, or possibly never existed.

Although the decision to build the church in Ellinger was made on February 15, 1895, services were still held once a month at Ross Prairie, and the cemetery was still actively in use, at least until December of 1931, when Julia Hattermann was laid to rest, which appeared to be the latest date found.

This cemetery has been surveyed several times. Joe Cole surveyed it on June 10, 1959 [Joe Cole # 106E], Janice Heinsohn Sager surveyed it on April 3, 1966, Kathy Carter, Helen Muras and Paulette Urban surveyed it on March 19, 1987. Finally, Norman Krischke surveyed it on June 11, 1965 and again between May 20-28, 2000. The following list of burials is taken from St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery, Ross Prairie, Texas, © 2000 by Norman C. Krischke. A copy of this booklet can be found at the Fayette Heritage Museum & Archives in La Grange. Mr. Krischke included a map showing the position of each one of the markers, probate records and wills for select individuals, and other information about the Ross Prairie community and the cemetery.

Abbreviations for Type of Marker
B	Brick
G	Granite
M	Marble
Con	Concrete
Sand	Sandstone
CQS	Commercial Quality Sandstone. Sandstone dense enough to be shaped and polished

Site	Name	Birth	Death	Marker	Notes
1	Hotmann, Emilie	18 May 1851	20-Aug-1910	G
2	Hotmann, Fritz	9 Jun 1844	6 Jul 1900	M	O.D.H.S.
3	Wacker, Johann Dietrich	8 Aug 1824	30 Apr 1900		This and next grave within 9' X 10' cast-iron woven wire plot fence; footstone: "D.W."; No headstone, information from Janice Heinsohn Sager
4	Wacker, Dorothea	11 Jun 1828	19 Oct 1872	G	Nee Küster; Fot: "J.D.W."; wife of Johann D. Wacker
5	Gersbach, Ellen	7 Oct 1871	26 Oct 1900	G	Only grave within 4' X 9' cast-iron chicken wire plot fence; ootstone: "E.G."; wife of Arnold Gersbach, born in Ellinger, died in Bartlett
6	Heise, Luise, Wilhelmine	19 Sep 1873	23 Dec 1903	G	Nee Reinhardt;; born in Schellbrunn, Baden; died in Ellinger, TX; granite grave frame
7	Steves, Emilia J. M.	19 May 1891	15 Jan 1899	G	Only grave within 12' X 12" iron pipe plot fence; footstone: "E.J.M.S."
8	Meyer, Wilhelmine	6 Jan 1860	10 Aug 1862	B
9	Meyer, Katie A.	10 Aug 1896	8 Nov 1896	G
10	Sarrazin, Arnold S.	27 Oct 1845	1 Jan 1891	M	"Hier Ruht in Frieden."
11	Sarrazin, A. A. L.	3 Jul 1819	24 Oct 1882	M	"Hier Ruht in Gott, unser Mutter, Nee Ploeger."; Footstone: "A.A.L.S."
12	Girndt, Franziska	2 Feb 1834	1 Mar 1903	G	"Hier Ruht Unsere Mutter.'; granite grave frame; dual stone with Friedrich Girndt
13	Girndt, Friedrich	18 Dec 1830	8-Jun-1908	G	"Hier Ruht Unser Vater."; granite grave frame; dual stone with Franziska Girndt
14	Cook, Magdalena	7 Aug 1851	21 Dec 1889	M	"Hier Ruht in Frieden."; probably wife of H. G. Cook
15	Cook, H. G.	4 May 1846	14-Jan-1922	G	Dual stone "Father & Mother"; mother's inscription not on stone; foot: "H.G.C."
16	Fahrenthold, Edith L.	25 Feb 1898	21-Jun-1910	G	Only grave within 4' X 8' woven wire plot fence with wrought iron corners; foot: "E.L.F."; Angel on grave
17	Unknown				Broken stone; only legible words: "Hier Ruht in Gott."
18	Unknown				Concrete foundation for stone; no stone
19	Unknown				Concrete foundation for stone; no stone
20	Buescher, Eleonora	27 Feb 1838	6 Dec 1885	M
21	Langlotz, Friedrich Richart	30 Dec 1861	5 Sep 1881	M
22	Cook, Rubeka	20 Dec 1822	4-Feb-1910	G	This and next grave within 11' X 11' wrought-iron plot fence; footstone: "R.C."; "We have lost our Mother, She has bid adieu, She is gone to live in Heaven and her form is lost to view."; wife of Henry G. Cook
23	Cook, Henry G.	12 Mar 1824	16 Mar 1880		"Aged 56 yrs & 4 dys."; birth date not on stone; computed from death date and age as shown on tombstone; foot: "H.G.C"; "Farewell"
24	Beyer; August	8 Jan 1822	19 Dec 1897	G	This and next seven graves within 16' X 17' ornate wrought-iron plot fence; "Hier Ruht in Frieden, unser Vater"; granite grave frame
25	Beyer, Christina	32 Dec 1826	19 Jun 1901	G	"Hier Ruht Unser Mutter"; granite grave frame; wife of August Beyer
26	Beyer, J. W. Edwin	8 Dec 1880	29 May 1881	M	"Hier Ruht in Gott Unser Geliebter [Beloved] Sohn;" foot: J.W.E.B."
27	Beyer, E. A. Emma	2 Aug 1878	4 Oct 1878	M
28	Beyer, Edwin	15 Dec 1849	26 Nov 1887	M	Dual stone with George Wacker
29	Wacker, George	18 May 1858	11 Jan 1873	M	Dual stone with Edwin Beyer
30	Beyer, Albert G.	18 Oct 1855	11 Jan 1880	M	24 yrs, 4 mos, 3 dys; birth date computed from age on stone; foot: "A.G.B."
31	Beyer, Bernhard A.	20 May 1851	26 May 1876	M	Foot: "B.A.B."
32	Baumbach, Julius	20 Oct 1828	28 Apr 1898	G	Foot: "J.B."; dual stone with Elisa Baumbach
33	Baumbach, Elisa	11 Jul 1842	10 Oct 1876	G	Foot: "E.B."; dual stone with Julius Baumbach
34	Scheel, J. Heinrich	2 Jun 1832	16 May 1903	G	Foot: "J.H."
35	Hattermann, Julia	7 Apr 1871	8-Dec-1931	G	Foot: J.H."; nee Baumbach; married Otto Hattermann  8 Jan 1895
36	Baumbach, Amalie	1 Oct 1867	25-Jun-1908	G	Only grave within 4' X 8' wrought iron grave fence
37	Neumann, Florian	20 Jul 1836	8 Mar 1881	M	Foot: "F.N."
38	Krouse, August	24 Dec 1841	20 Jul 1875	M	born in Merkawetz, Posen, died in Colorado County; foot: "A.K."
39	Unknown	20 ___ 1813	7 Aug 1877	M	Broken stone; no name, but dates match that of Herman Hillmann in church records [see entry 60 below]
40	Burger, Karolina	5 Aug 1837	26 Feb 1880	M	Nee Ortmann; Foot:  "K.B."; "Ruhe Ihner Asche"
41	Meyer, John Henry, Jr.	10 Jan 1859	26 Nov 1879	M
42	Girndt, Ida Catharina	5 Aug 1864	18 Dec 1880	CQS	Foot: "I.C.G."
43	Schmidt, Luise Dor.	3 Jul 1812	25 May 1882	M	This and next grave within 9' X 12' wrought-iron plot fence
44	Schmidt, Christian F.	9 Jan 1813	10 Jun 1879	M
45	Schier, Friedrich	9 Feb 1878	27 Aug 1878	M
46	Hillmer, Friedrich	22 Mar 1825	12 Feb 1877	G	Foot: "F.H."
47	Brueckner, Emilie	18 Jun 1840	11 Feb 1906	G	Nee Schmidt; "Verw. [widow] of Friedrich Hillmer"; married (2) William Brueckner (see below*)
48	Kansteiner, Emma H. L.	8 Nov 1863	18 Apr 1894	G	Emma Hermina Louise Hillmer; she married Louis Kansteiner. After she died Louis married again. Info from Mrs. Robert Little, Rt. 2, Box 1906, Columbus, Texas 78934
49	[Frels, Anna]				No stone; possibly wife of Peter Frels based on proximity to his grave. Nee Köpke, married Peter H. Frels 28 Nov 1871
50	Frels, Peter H.	1 Nov 1847	21 Aug 1886	M	Church burial record lists death date as 21 Jun 1876. Obituary published in July 1876.—raj
51	Peters, John	16 Nov 1818	14 Dec 1887	M	This and next grave within 8' X 12' wrought-iron plot fence
52	Peters, Catherine Elizebatha	22 Oct 1836	2 Aug 1875	M	Nee Baumbach, wife of John Peters
53	Baumbach, Christiane	3 Mar 1808	30 May 1879	M	Nee Haerringen; foot: "C.B."
54	Baumbach, J. H.	3 Jan 1806	2 Feb 1882	M	Foot: "J.H.B."
55	Baumbach, Ella	0/0/1873	0/0/1902	G	"At Rest"; Foot: "E.B."
56	Baumbach, J. F.	0/0/1846	0/0/1918	G	"Father"; "At Rest"; foot: "J.F.B."
57	Baumbach, Frank	0/0/1885	0/0/1902	G	"At Rest"
58	Baumbach, Lottie	11 Dec 1875	7-Apr-22	G	Granite grave frame; wife of Ernst Baumbach
59	Baumbach, Kate	0/0/1852	0/0/1938	G	"Mother"; Foot: "K.B."
60	Hillman, Herman Gerhard	0/0/1813	0/0/1877	CQS	Duplicate entry in Norman Krischke's booklet; see site 39 above; Herman was a brother to Ludwig and Johann Hillman and Caroline (Hillman) Heller - info from Janice Heinsohn Sager; Carla Hillman Ratcliff has provided a photo of the broken marker and adds that the archives in Rastede Germany state birthdate and place as January 21, 1813, Lehmden, Rastede, Germany, died Aug 7, 1877, other siblings were Bernhard, Charles, and Metta
61	Schielack, E. G.	31 Oct 1803	14 Oct 1873	M
62	Dirr, M. Elizabeth	11 Mar 1811	30 Jan 1861	M	Foot: "M.E.D."; broken stone
63	Dirr, Jacob F.	16 May 1810	17 Feb 1878	M	"Hier Ruht in Frieden"; born in Württemberg, Deutschland, died in Fayette Co, TX' foot: "J.F.D."
64	Hribek, Johanna	1 Jan 1849	11 Nov 1867	M	Only grave in 4' X 8' wrought iron plot fence; footstone with no initials
65	Jaeggli, Anna Barbara	8 Mar 1808	13 Feb 1870	M	Nee Huerlimann; foot: "A.B.J."
66	Hieland, Joseph	25 Aug 1842	15-Oct-1911	G	Foot: "J.H."
67	Jecmenek, Joseph	17 Sep 1808	26 Aug 1871	M	Foot: "J.J."
68	Koehl, Margrotha D. N.	15 oct 1856	25 Jun 1881	G	Nee Meyer; "wife of Jacob Koehl'; there is also a marble stone with the same inscription
69	Meyer, John H., Sen.	16 Jan 1828	20 Mar 1892	M	Foot: "J.H.M." Dual stone with Dorotha Meyer. John H. Meyer came from Hanover and settled in Ross Prairie in 1850. He lived there until his death.
70	Meyer, Dorotha F.	29 Oct 1834	10-Feb-1910	M	Foot: "D.F.M."; dual stone with John H. Meyer, Sen.
71	Meyer, D. Fritz	10 Jun 1863	24-Sep-1926	M	"Thy Trials Ended, Thy Rest is Won"
72	Franke, Christian	4 Nov 1838	15-Oct-1904	G
73	Unknown				Brick grave outline; six bricks
74	Hillebrand, Hermann C.	15 Jan 1837	3 Oct 1894	M	Foot: "H.C.H."
75	Birkmann, Nancy	2 Jan 1842	23 Sep 1874	G	Dual stone with Henry Birkmann within granite grave frame; nee Ellerbusch - info from Janice Heinsohn Sager
76	Birkmann, Henry	22 Oct 1828	28 Aug 1873	G	Dual stone with Nancy Birkmann within granite grave frame
77	Birkmann, August Albert	18 Nov 1866	16 Feb 1868	CQS
78	Birkmann, Johann H. Albert	9 Oct 1857	15 Mar 1859	M
79	Unknown				Unreadable dual stone within 10' X 10' wrought iron plot fence
80	Unknown				Unreadable dual stone; see previous entry
81	Peters, John Julius	29 Dec 1863	12 Dec 1864	M
82	Jaeggli, M. M. Amalie	12 Jan 1865	11 Jul 1865	M	Foot: "M.M.A."; child of R. & Amalie Bauer Jaeggli; dual stone with B. M. Emilie Jaeggli
83	Jaeggli, B. M. Emilie	28 Apr 1867	11 Oct 1867	M	Foot: "B.M.E."; child of R. & Amalie Bauer Jaeggli; dual stone with M.M. Amalie Jaeggli
84	Hillebrand, Johanna W.L.	19 May 1862	25 Aug 1865	M	Foot: "J.W.L.H."
85	[Ellerbusch, Gescha]	14 Jan 1816	25 Dec 1865	Sand	Badly weathered sandstone headstone with unreadable inscription. The Proximity to Johannes Ellerbusch suggests site as his wife. She was the daughter of Johann Heinrich Meyer & Margaretha Anna Dorothea Glander. She was aged 49 yrs, 11 mos, 11 dys; information obtained from church record book pages 336 - 337, No. 26
86	Ellerbusch, Johannes	4 Jan 1810	1 Aug 1872	M	"Vergisine innicht zum andenken an [Forget me not. In memory of] 62 Jahren, 6 Mos. & 7 Tage"
87	Meyer, Christine	12 May 1826	9-Mar-1905	G	"Ruhe Sanft"; wife of Friedrich Meyer; dual stone;nee Zobel; married 10 Dec 1850 [FCMR: Vol B, p. 19]
88	Meyer, Friedrich	6 Dec 1823	13 Nov 1866	G	"Ruhe Sanft"; dual stone with Christine Meyer
89	Unknown				This and next two graves within 8' X 8' wrought iron plot fence; concrete foundation for double tombstone, no stone
90	Unknown				Concrete foundation for double tombstone; no stone
91	Stolle, Maria E.J.	22 Dec 1891	4 Oct 1902	M
92	Knippel, August E.	25 May 1874	6 Sep 1902	G	Foot: "A.K."
93	Wiedemann, August	3 Feb 1868	4 Mar 1869	M	Foot: "A.W."
94	Hotmann, Johan Fr.	2 Feb 1872	6 Nov 1872	M
95	Baumbach, Theodor	3 Jun 1873	23 Jul 1879	CQS
96	Baumbach, George	14 Aug 1842	2-Jun-1925	G
97	Jaeggli, William Emil	22 Jun 1875	12 Aug 1875	G	Foot: "W.E.J."
98	Ely, Friedrike M. D. Ely	26 Jun 1817	1 Apr 1903
99	Ahlgrim, Caroline	18 Jun 1867	27 Mar 1901	G
100	Lange, Wilhelmine	12 Aug 1868	25 Sep 1900	G
101	Lange, Anna W. B.	24 Dec 1841	20 Jun 1875	G	Foot: "A.W.B.L."
102	Ahlgrim, Bertha W. S.	15 Aug 1890	26 Nov 1891	M
103	Unknown			CQS	Tombstone unreadable
104	Staffeldt, Anna A.F.	26 Aug 1894	24 Oct 1894	M
105	Müller [Mueller], Helena	27 Mar 1827	18-Jun-1904	G	Foot: "H.M."; wife of H.G. Müller
106	Müller, H. G.	21 Oct 1820	12 Aug 1891	G	Foot: "H.G.M."
107	Raymond, Amalie R.	5 Dec 1860	11 Nov 1886	G	Nee Müller; foot: A.R.R."
108	Müller, Ernst C. E.	30 Sep 1882	28 Oct 1883	M	Foot: "E.C.E.M."
109	Müller, George A. J.	29 Sep 1857	10 Apr 1860	M	First grave in cemetery according to tombstone inscriptions; foot:  "G.A.L.M."
110	Müller, Anna E.	23 Mar 1865	20 Aug 1873	M	Foot: "A.E.M."
111	Burow, Lebrecht	23 Nov ___	22 Jun ___	M	Stone broken; no year of birth or death
112	Sarrazin, Annette A. E.	15 Aug 1891	8 Oct 1892	M	Foot: "A.A.E.S."
113	Sarrazin, Ophelia S.	8 Sep 1879	27 Aug 1880	M	Foot: "O.S.S."
114	Cook, Heinrich	14 Sep 1880	20 Sep 1880	M	Foot: "H.C."
115	Hotmann, W. Emilie	20 Feb 1879	13 Mar 1880	M
116	Hattermann, Emilie J. W.	28 Feb 1858	25 Oct 1889	G
117	Hattermann, Johann D.	27 Oct 1812	30 Jan 1888	M
118	[Hattermann, Carolina]	1 Jul 1834	10 Jun 1929		No tombstone; site is likely because of proximity to Johann Hattermann; Krischke determined it was the burial place of a female using divining rods
119	Doerfler, M.F. Caroline	27 Mar 1881	31 Mar 1887	M
120	Burow, Elizabeth Dora	19 Sep 1884	16 Aug 1888	G
	Birkmann, John	22 Feb 1859	27 Mar 1901		No tombstone; listed in St. John burial records; married Elisabeth Hillebrand—raj

*Death date and information on second husband from Grace Gipson

Related Links at Fayette County TXGenWeb Site

History & Records of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ross Prairie & Ellinger

Transcription of deeds from Dirr and Hillmann families donating land to trustees of Evangelical Lutheran Church at Ross Prairie for a church, school house, and church yard.

Ross Prairie, Texas

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