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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRector Chapel CemeteryRector's Chapel, a Methodist meeting house, was established in 1870. It later part of the College Station city cemetery, which thus is one of the oldest institutions in College Station. No record has been found that a Methodist minister was ever assigned there full time; most likely preaching occurred only ministers assigned to a circuit containing multiple churches or when ministers from other churches visited. Weddings and funeral services were also held at the chapel. Rector Chapel was sometimes used as an election site and as a place for holding political meetings. A cemetery was established at Rector's Chapel shortly after the founding of the church. The cemetery contains an unknown number of unmarked graves. Rector Chapel Cemetery was also sometimes called Shiloh Cemetery or the Bohemian Cemetery. Wiley H. Pearce, administrator of Jacob Pearce deceased, sold 715.5 acres of land in the Crawford Burnett league to Josephine E. Rector; 17 February 1868. (Brazos County Deeds, Book H, pages 704-705). This included the future site of Rector Chapel Cemetery. On 28 March 1870, William G. Rector and his wife Josephine E. Rector sold four acres of land in the Crawford Burnett league for $1 to an unnamed Methodist Church, Church trustees were Francis D. James, N.F. Carson, and H. Mitchell. (Brazos County Deed Book M, p.196). The oldest known grave in Rector's Chapel Cemetery (now College Station cemetery) is that of Thomas L. Cooper, born 14 February 1822, died 3 November 1872. On 27 May 1873, Brazos County commissioners designated Rector's Chapel as the election site in precinct two. (Brazos County Commissioners Minutes, Book A, page 383). On 17 August 1873, Robert Watson married Mrs. Mattie Ford at ~~Rector Chapell." Rev. E.H. Holbrook performed the service. (Brazos County Marriage Records, Book D, page 476). Rev. Holbrook was a Methodist minister assigned to the Bryan circuit, which apparently included Rector Chapel. See: Appointments for 1873 ... Bryan Circuit, E.H. Holbrook ... Galveston Tri-Weekly News, 16 December 1872, page 1 Methodist minister W.S. South preached Isaac R. Vannoy's funeral at Rector's Chapel on 11 October 1874. South was not stationed at Rector Chapel at that time. (W.S. South Diary). Vannoy's grave is not marked. (Rev. South's diaries may contain additional references to Rector's Chapel; when I read them several years ago, I only abstracted references to deaths). On 10 June 1879, Elizabeth Andrews Shirley died and was buried at Rector's Chapel. See: Mr. Davis Shirley, died; he was born in Lawrence District, SC, on 9 August 1825; moved to Alabama at age 3; married Miss Elizabeth J. Andrews in Ala.; they had 9 children, 7 of whom survived him: Rev. J.W. & Rev. E.D. Shirley of Burnet Co., H.M. Shirley of Burnet Co., E.A. Shirley of Robertson Co., Mrs. Anna Sherod of Llano Co., Mrs. Fannie Parker of Liberty Co. & Mrs. Melvina Kirk of Brazos Co.; he moved to Leon Co., TX in 1874 and to Brazos Co. in 1875; his wife died 10 June 1879 and was buried at Rector's chapel; he moved to Reliance neighborhood and married Mrs. E.C. Riley on 17 Sept.1884; they had 6 children, 5 of whom survived him; Methodist until he moved to Reliance where he joined Missionary Baptist Church; left wife and 12 children and 2 step-sons and 2 step- daughters. (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 8 Disencumber 1898, page 3, cols. 3 4. Mrs. Shirley's grave is not marked. Democratic mass meetings in the various precincts for the purpose of selecting delegates to the county nominating convention, will be held on Saturday, September 9th, 1882, at the following places ... No. 2 - At Rector's chapel, W.E. Fletcher, Chairman. Weekly Brazos Pilot, 1 September 1882, page 3. Research has not disclosed when the church building was torn down. Sometime in the 1880s, Czech and other eastern European immigrants began burying their dead in the Rector Chapel Cemetery. As a result, it became known as the Bohemian Cemetery, or the Shiloh Cemetery (after a local Czech social club). However, the name Rector Chapel Cemetery also continued to be used for many more years. Based on tombstones, early burials of Czechs include: Helen J. Blazek -born 1885, died 1885, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Blazek, Jr. Patricia Sramek -born 1830, died 1885 Kornelie Markova -born 5 Inc. (?) 1872, died 4 Lis. 1887 (Lis. stands for Listopadu, that is, November) B.D. Marek -born 5 Led. 1863, died 18 Led. 1888 (Led. stands for Ledna, that is, January) Most likely there are also early, unmarked graves belonging to members of Czech families. Many of the tombstones for the immigrant families have inscriptions in Czech. In February 1888, Czech settlers began a surprisingly difficult quest to get a road built from the ~~Bohemian school house" to Rector's Chapel. February 1888: Brazos County commissioners referred a petition asking for a new road from the Bohemian school house to Rector Chapel to a jury of view, including John Tauber, Joe Hrdlicka, J.C. Bolton, W.J. Moon, and Jim Adams. (Brazos County Commissioners Minutes, Book D, page 196) . May term, 1888: The Brazos County Commissioners rejected a request to establish a road from ~~the Bohemian School house to Rector Chappell." (Brazos County Commissioners Minutes, Book D, page 202). February 1889: Frank Stasney and others (not named) asked that a road be established from Rector's Chappell Grave Yard to the Bohemian School House & then to the corner of Joe Hrdlicka's land; the court appointed a road jury of A.J. Tabor, W.C. Boyett, John Tauber, Frank Stasney, and John Sebesta to review the matter. (Brazos County Commissioners Minutes, Book D, page 264). 16 May 1889: Brazos County commissioners again rejected the request for a road between Rector Chapel Grave Yard and the Bohemian School house. (Brazos County Commissioners Minutes, Book D, page 283). 9 February 1891: John Borisky and 9 others (not named) petitioned the commissioners for a road from Rector Chappell Church to pass the property of Frank Uher, John Boreskie, Mike Fitzgerald, --- Pantlik, --- Rosprim, & --- Kopchinski; the court appointed A.J. Tabor, Frank Stasney, W.C. Boyett, A.D. White, & Joe Hrdlicski as a jury of view. (Brazos County Commissioners Minutes, Book D, page 419). 11 May 1891: Report on road -Began at Rector's Chapel grave yard; passed property owned by John Boresky, Frank Uher, Stephen Pontlick, Ablert Elbrich, Joseph Hrdlicka, Ik Rosprim, Anton Dobrovolny; report was given by W.C. Boyett, Frank Stasney, A.J. Tabor, Joseph Grezinski; the road was finally approved.. (Brazos County Commissioners Minutes, Book D, pp.445-446). The earliest use of the words ~~College" or ~~College Station" to describe this cemetery come from the 1890s. While the Catholic Priest at St. Joseph's Church in Bryan used this terminology, I have not seen it used elsewhere that early. Notice that Latinized forms of the names of the deceased were often used in the following church records. Borucki, Joannes, aged 7; died 27 Sept.1894, buried 28 Sept.1894, College precinct cemetery; native Brazos Co.; died from diphtheria. St. Joseph Catholic Church Death Records. Hrdlicka, Tekla, Mrs., aged 65; died 18 Mar.1895, buried 19 March 1895, College Station cemetery; native of Moravia. St. Joseph Catholic Church Death Records. Rosprim, Ignis, aged 47; died 20 March 1895, buried 22 March 1895, College Station cemetery; native of Moravia; died from pneumonia. St. Joseph Catholic Church Death Records. Borucki, Joannes, aged 52; died 23 Mar.1895, buried 24 March 1895, College Station Cemetery; native of Poland; died from black jaundice. St. Joseph Catholic Church Death Records. Holik, Hedwiga Clara, aged 1 year, 1 month; died 28 Nov.1898; buried 28 Nov.1898, College Station cemetery; native of College Station. St. Joseph Catholic Church Death Records. Erblich, Adalbertus, aged 18 months; died 19 July 1900, dipteritis; buried 20 July 1900, College Station cemetery. St. Joseph Catholic Church Death Records. The priest's reason for using this name for the cemetery is not know, but perhaps he was reluctant to use the name of a Protestant church when referring to the burial site of members of his congregation. By 1895, the cemetery was sometimes being referred to as the ~~Bohemian cemetery" or the ~~Bohemian graveyard." Mrs. Tekla Hrdlicka, wife of Joseph Hrdlicka, and aged 66 years died Monday at 7:05 a.m., at the home of her son, Adolph Hrdlicka, in this city, and was buried Tuesday at the Bohemian graveyard near College. She leaves a husband and two children, the other being Mrs. Blazek of near Wellborn. (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 21 March 1895, page 3, col.3 Ignis Rosprim, aged about 45 years, died at his home near College, Thursday of last week, and was buried Friday at the Bohemian graveyard in that community under the auspices of Hvzeda Jihu C.S.P.S., No.158, of Bryan, of which he was a member. He was a prosperous Bohemian farmer and leaves a family. (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 28 March 1895, page 6, col.3. There are few developments in the Adolph Hrdlicka suicide case today. It is learned that he bought the pistol, a Harrington & Richardson 38, at J.A. Myers' store only a few minutes before the tragedy and stated that he wanted to keep it at his saloon. He had threatened to kill himself, it is stated, in the presence of his wife the night previous to the tragedy. The funeral took place this afternoon at the Bohemian cemetery, below College, and was largely attended. Relatives from Brenham were present. Bryan Daily Eagle, 10 December 1895, page 4, col.3. Mrs. Tauber died Tuesday afternoon at the house of her son, John Tauber, in the College community. She was 84 years old, and was buried in the Bohemian cemetery in that vicinity yesterday afternoon. Bryan Morning Eagle, 30 March 1905, page 5 The name ~~Shiloh" to designate this area was in common use by 1896. On 13 February 1896, John Tauber, was appointed to oversee the election held in precinct 6 at Shiloh. (Brazos County Commissioners Minutes, Book E, pages 545-546). Varying forms of the name Rector Chapel Cemetery continued in use through the 1930s. Mr. John Sebesta, a well known Bohemian citizen of the county, died at 11 o'clock yesterday morning at his home in the country after an illness of several days. Mr. Sebesta was in his 56th year and was a native of Moravia, but had lived in Brazos County many years. He leaves a wife and seven children, one of his sons being Jno. Sebesta Jr., a merchant of this city. Mr. Sebesta was a Mason and a member of A.O.U.W. and C.S.P.S. lodges of Bryan. He was an industrious farmer and his death is deplored by many friends. The funeral will be held at Rector Chapel this afternoon at 2 o'clock, under the auspices of the Wellborn Masonic Lodge. Bryan Weekly Eagle, 22 November 1906, page 2 Mrs. Mary Dobrovolny, wife of Mr. Antone Dobrovolny, died at the family home near College Station, Monday night at 11:30 o'clock after having been in failing health for some months. She and her husband recently spent some time at Marlin in the hope of benefiting her and recuperating her health and strength. Mrs. Dobrovolny was a native of Moravia and her age was 67 years, 9 months and 12 days. She was married to Mr. Antone Dobrovolny in Moravia in 1866. Ten years later they came to the United States and have been residents of Brazos County many years. Mrs. Dobrovolny leaves her husband and three children, all grown, Messrs. J.V. and Frank Dobrovolny and Mrs. Joe Barto. She was a member of the Catholic Church, a good wife and mother and held in high esteem by neighbors and friends. The funeral will be held this morning from the family home at 9:30, with interment at Rector Chapel cemetery, Rev. Father Gleissner of St. Joseph's Church, will conduct the service. (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 10 January 1907, page 3. Mrs. A.J. Tabor died Monday morning, Dec. 16, 1907, at her home on Rock Prairie, and was laid to rest at Rector cemetery at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Rev. Bullock of Bryan conducted the funeral services. Mrs. Tabor was 67 years old and had lived in Brazos County for over thirty years. She was a member of the Baptist Church and one of the best, purest and most devoted women who ever lived in the county, her life being a blessing to all with whom she was associated. She was the mother of A.J. Tabor Jr. and Mrs. W.S. Johnson of Bryan. Her husband and many other relatives and a host of friends live to cherish her memory. Bryan Weekly Eagle, 26 December 1907, page 7, col.i As briefly mentioned in the Eagle yesterday morning, Mrs. Frank Dobrovolny died Thursday at the family home in the College community. She leaves her husband and two sons, the latter being five and two years old respectively. Mrs. Dobrovolny was a daughter of Joe Wasatke, formerly of this city, but now of Houston, and was born and reared in the College community. She had been in ill health about a year. She was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church and leaves besides her sorrowing relatives, a large circle of friends. Her remains were laid to rest yesterday afternoon at Rector burying ground, Rev. Father Gleissner conducting the service. Bryan Weekly Eagle, 21 May 1908, page 5, col. 5 Miss Victoria Tauber died at the home of her parents near College this morning about 2 o'clock. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Tauber, one of the best known and highly respected Bohemian families in the county. She was twenty-five years of age, and was born and reared in their home near College. The young lady has many friends who realize that death has taken from them a noble friend, and that a true and good woman has passed away. She was an inspiration to the home and a blessing to her parents. She will be buried this afternoon at 5 o'clock in the old Rector Chapel Cemetery. Bryan Daily Eagle, 24 April 1913, page 7 Frank Stasny, aged 80 years, 3 months and 26 days, died at his farm home seven miles south of Bryan, on Highway No.6, Monday at midnight, following a long illness, coupled with the feebleness of age. The funeral was held this afternoon at 5 o'clock at the family home, with Rev. J.B. Gleissner of St. Joseph's Church conducting the service. Interment was made in Rector Chapel cemetery, under direction of the McCulloch-Dansby company. Frank Stasny was born March 31, 1857, in Moravia, Europe. When he was 16 years of age, he came with his relatives to the United States and in 1878, he moved to Brazos County and at the time of his death had been a resident here for 59 consecutive years. Mr. and Mrs. Stasny were among the early farm settlers in Brazos County, and they reared a large family now all married and living in their own homes. In 1930 they celebrated their golden wedding and with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren together, it was an occasion long to be remembered. Mr. Stasny was a member of the Sons of Herman, and was also the last living charter member of the C.S.H.D.S. Lodge, organized in this county in 1881. Surviving him are his widow, Mrs. Josephine Stasny; one son, Hugo F. Stasny of Bryan; seven daughters, Mrs. Joe M. Boriski, Mrs. Lawrence Krenek, and Mrs. Hy T. Schovajsa, all of Bryan; Mrs. J.J. Krenek of Los Angeles, Calif.; Mrs. Thomas Murray, Mrs. P.H. Krenek and Mrs. Emma Barta, all of Bryan. Twenty-two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren also survive. Bryan Daily Eagle, 27 July 1937, page 1 Of course, sometimes obituaries failed to use any name for the cemetery. Mr. Josef Tauber died Tuesday, February 27, at the home of his son, Mr. John Tauber, near College Station. Mr. Tauber was born February 25, 1820, at Tutlek, on the river Orlice, Bohemia, and was 80 years old. He came to the United States and settled in Austin County, Texas, in 1853, being a pioneer citizen of the state. He moved to Brazos County in 1890. Mr. Tauber was a good citizen and enjoyed the respect and esteem of all who knew him. He was buried at the chapel below College Wednesday. (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 1 March 1900, page 6, col.2 At some point the Czech families in the area took over the care and maintenance of this cemetery, working through the Shiloh club. (Balliew, Deborah Lynn, College Station, Texas, 1938-1988, 1987, page 16) There will be eats a plenty for all, said V.J. Boriskie, chairman of the committee for the barbecue to be held on July 15th at Shiloh Hall, north of College, on a good gravel road and which promises to attract large crowds from all parts of the county and perhaps from without the county limits. There will be a plenty of good ice water and a world of shade. Music will be provided and a baseball game will be a part of the amusement program. A big dance will close the day's fun. All proceeds of the barbecue will go into the treasury of Rector Cemetery of Shiloh community. Everyone is invited to attend. Candidates will be on hand to make speeches in their interests for election. Others on the committee on arrangements are: Tom Sebesta and W.F. Tauber. Bryan Weekly Eagle, 10 July 1924, page 1 Though the only donations to the Shiloh Barbecue were: $7.20 worth of ice by The Stephen Bottling Works and fives cases of soda water for $2.75 by the Brazos Bottling Works, all else including meats, being purchased, the net profits of the occasion, after deducting all expenses, were $112, which, it is stated, will go for the improvement of Rector Cemetery in Shiloh community. The profits were made from the sale of the barbecued meats and picnic dinner, together with the revenues derived from the sale of ice cream and cold drinks at the stands operated on the grounds. The report on the figures was furnished by the Eagle by V.J. Boriskie, chairman of the committee on arrangements. His associates on the committee were: Tom Sebesta and Will Tauber. Mr. Boriskie expressed the appreciation of Shiloh community to the candidates and all attendance and liberality in the purchase of good things to eat and drink made the day a success and the cemetery improvement possible. Anew fence, barbed wire type, with posts of the best on the market, will soon be built around the cemetery with money derived from the barbecue. Bryan Daily Eagle, 5 Aug. 1924, page 1, col.3. The City of College Station was incorporated in 1938, but it did not take any action regarding establishing a city cemetery at that time. It is not known when the name ~~Shiloh Cemetery" began being used, but it was certainly in use by 1944. Funeral services for Mrs. Victoria Sramek, 79, who died at the family residence, Route 5, Saturday at 5 a.m., following a long illness, will be conducted from the St. Joseph Catholic Church Sunday at 4 p.m., with Rt. Rev. J.B. Gleissner officiating. Burial will be in the Shiloh cemetery and Hillier Funeral Home will be in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Sramek was born in Czechoslovakia, Dec. 16, 1864, and came to the United States as a child. She had been a residence of Brazos County 71 years. Survivors include the husband, Jacob Sramek, one daughter, Mrs. L.J. Putz, two sons, J.N. and F.M. Sramek, all of Bryan; one sister, Mrs. Mary Tauber, and one brother, John Stasny, both of College Station. Seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren also survive. Pallbearers will be John Stasny, Will Stasny, Adolph Stasny, Henry Schovajsa, Will Putz and W.F. Tauber. Bryan Daily Eagle, 15 April 1944, page 1 ~~Luke Patronella Funeral Services Friday Morning," Bryan Daily Eagle, 20 June 1946, page 1. ~~Interment will be made in the Shiloh-College cemetery under the direction of Hillier Funeral Home. It is not known exactly when this cemetery began being referred to as the College Station cemetery. Mrs. Marie Tauber, aged 87 years, 9 months and 29 days, passed away at the family home in College Station on Saturday afternoon. Born in Czechoslovakia on August 15, 1859, Mrs. Tauber had been a resident of this community for 65 years. Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Lottie Petrasek, College Station, and Mrs. Mary Nowlin of Austin; three sons, L.J. and W.F. Tauber of Port Arthur. One brother, John Stasney of College Station, also survives as do 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held on Sunday afternoon at 4 o'clock at the family residence with Rev. R.C. Terry, pastor of the A.& M. Methodist Church officiating. Interment under the direction of Hillier Funeral Home was in the City of College Station cemetery. The following served as pallbearers, Sgt. Ernest Seeger, Guy Boyett, Morgan Smith, Lawrence Krenek, Victor J. Boriskie, and Henry Schovajsa. Bryan Daily Eagle, 16 June 1947, page 1 In 1947, the Methodist Conference turned over the four acres constituting the original Rector Chapel to College Station to be incorporated into the city cemetery. (Balliew, Deborah Lynn, College Station, Texas, 1938-1988, 1987, page 16; perhaps also: City of College Station, Minutes of the Meeting of City Council, vol.3, 15 October 1947, page 242). The College Station Cemetery was dedicated on 1 February 1948, with land bought near what had been the Shiloh community. The tract surrounded the old Rector Chapel cemetery. (Balliew, Deborah Lynn, College Station, Texas, 1938-1988, 1987, page 16; Brazos County History - Rich Past, Bright Future, page 36).