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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Bryan Yellow Fever Cemetery is located south of the intersection of The Bryan Yellow Fever Cemetery is located south of the intersection of Highway 21 East and Highway 6, on the west frontage road. This land lies within Stephen F. Austin league number 10. Due to the destruction of the records of the City of Bryan when the city hall burned in 1888, much of the history of this cemetery is shrouded in mystery. The date of the earliest burials in this cemetery has not been established. The fact that city documents later refer to this as the “old” cemetery suggests that this land was set aside prior to 13 June 1868, when J.C. Hubert deeded 20 acres of land to Bryan for use as a city cemetery. However, no documentation confirming that belief has been found. At any rate, it seems likely that the Yellow Fever Cemetery was the first Bryan City Cemetery, and for many years was the oldest cemetery in that city. That status changed, of course, when the City of Bryan annexed the land containing the Boonville cemetery. The first time the Yellow Fever Cemetery is mentioned in county records (found so far) is in Brazos County Deed Book L, p.439 (3 January 1871). That book contains a deed from William Joel Bryan to David McIntosh, in which Bryan notes that the land he sold was “less the five acres heretofore laid off as a grave yard.” That deed is dated 18 October 1886. Brazos County Deed Book 2, p.585, records the deeding of that five acres of land to the city for cemetery purposes, for a token price of one dollar. Obviously, the land had been in use as a cemetery for close to twenty years by that time, so it seems possible that an earlier deed or public dedication may have existed at one time, which was lost before it was recorded in the county records. This cemetery is referred to in the Bryan city ordinances published in 1908 (Charter and Ordinances Civil and Criminal of the City of Bryan, 1908, pp.94-95). Those ordinances state: “The plot of ground originally set apart by Guy M. Bryan as a public burial ground, located about one and one-half mile north east of Bryan, may hereafter be used used for said purpose, said plot containing about five acres. The same is hereby set apart and dedicated as a public burial ground for the city of Bryan, but no burial is to be made in same except on application to the city sexton.” If a copy of the Bryan city ordinances published in 1877 could be found, they might provide additional insight into the history of this cemetery. The name “Yellow Fever Cemetery” suggests this public cemetery was established by the time of the great yellow fever epidemic in the fall of 1867. While Millican suffered more than Bryan in the 1867 epidemic, the disease did kill a few Bryan residents. Consider the following newspaper accounts: Bryan, Oct. 6, 1867: Eds. News: ... Miss Ella Yates and two Miss Sawyers died here. They contracted the fever at Millican. No original cases here, and we greatly hope we will escape. The town is nearly deserted. Galveston Daily News, 11 October 1867, page 3, col.2 Bryan ... No cases of yellow fever have occurred at Bryan since the 5th of October. The following are deaths from fever previous to that time: H.C. Swift, Ben Hubert, D. Sanger, J. Sanger, Miss Ella Yates. Galveston Daily News, 24 October 1867, page 2, col.5 There may have been other deaths in Bryan not mentioned in newspaper accounts, and it is possible that some folks who lived outside of Bryan were also buried there. Ben Hubert is buried at Boonville (as shown by his tombstone there). The burial locations of the other known victims have not been identified; if they are buried in Brazos County, they evidently lie in unmarked graves. Ella Yates was the daughter of Dr. Lafayette Yates and his wife Susan (listed on the 1860 Lamar County, Texas, Census, page 119). Dr. Yates died from yellow fever in September 1867 in Millican (Galveston Daily News, 2 Oct. 1867, p.2). So, it is possible that the Yates were buried in unmarked graves in Millican, or perhaps the father was buried there and the daughter in Bryan. The 1867 yellow fever epidemic is not the only possible source for this cemetery’s name. In the fall of 1873, Bryan experienced a second yellow fever outbreak. Given the small number of deaths that occurred, it seems unlikely that the Yellow Fever Cemetery acquired its name at that time. However, since little has been written about this outbreak (as opposed to the 1867 epidemic), here is more information about it. In 1873, eleven Bryan residents contracted yellow fever, and four died from it. One of the fatalities was Margaret, the wife of Bryan physician Francis M. Hall. (Anderson, Frank G., Jr., The History of Medicine in Brazos County, p.20). Margaret died on 24 October 1873 and is buried in Bryan City Cemetery. Another victim was Miss Alice Jones, who died on 29 October 1873 and was also buried in Bryan City Cemetery. Alice was 15 years old and the only child of Harrison H. and Mary J. Jones. Even if a few more Bryan residents than Anderson’s estimated four victims died of the disease, and even if all of of those persons (except Hall and Jones) were buried in the Yellow Fever Cemetery, this simply does not seem like a dramatic enough event to have led to the naming – or renaming – of this cemetery. For more about the 1873 epidemic, see: Bryan, Sept. 29 – Excitement is heavy here to-day, as there were five deaths and five new cases of yellow fever reported at Calvert. Strict quarantine has been declared here since 11 o’clock to-day, and a heavy guard has been put out on all the roads to prevent people from coming inside of the corporation. Many persons are fixing up to leave. Galveston Daily News, 30 Sept. 1873, page 2 Bryan, Oct. 20, 1873 – Yellow fever is reported in this city this morning. One death from black vomit since 8 o’clock this morning and four more cases. The disease is believed to have originated by a Mrs. Morse coming down from Calvert, who took sick at this place. The sick are near around the house where she lay sick. The people are perfectly panic stricken and are moving out in one solid army. A little frost this morning, and it is thought that it will be confined to a certain limit. Will report further news this evening. Galveston Daily News, 21 October 1873, page 2 Bryan, Oct. 22, 1873. Your correspondent having reached here this evening, was welcomed by a blowing norther, cold and cutting, deserted streets and a general appearance of a city closed for a funeral ... Up to this hour there has been only one death from fever. Miss Alice Jones died yesterday morning. Rumor says there are fifteen cases now under treatment, but diligent inquiry has only shown eight, confined mostly to the northwestern part of town, a locality, I am told, not noted for cleanliness ... The norther of this evening has developed into a cold, drizzling rain, and if there are no bad symptoms to-morrow, we may look for an early disappearance of Bronze John. Mrs. Dr. Hall is in a very critical condition. Perhaps she will not recover. Will advise you regularly. Galveston Daily News, 23 October 1873, page 2 Bryan, Oct. 23, 1873. The fever dealt gently with us last night, notwithstanding the unfavorable weather. No new names have been added to the sick list, and those already down, with an exceptional exceptional case or two, are doing as well, bad weather considered, as could be expected. Business is not entirely suspended, as some few of the stores remain open, driving their local trade. The sun is shining warm, but the weather is cool and blustering. Second Dispatch – Bryan, October 23. Three of the afflicted, Mrs. Hall, Lem Hall and Miss Minnie Smothers, are very sick, and I fear the destroyer will not be as merciful as last night. All the others are doing well. The plague has assumed no appearance of epidemic. No never fevers within the past twenty-four hours, and the white faces I remarked yesterday are beginning to wear their habitual red. Galveston Daily News, 24 October 1873, page 2 Bryan, Oct. 24. Miss Minnie Smothers died last night. Mrs. Hall and three others are not expected to live till night. There are three new cases, making nine in all. The weather prognosticators talk of all manner of inclemencies, some even hinting of sleet or snow. A fire is comfortable and necessary. Second Dispatch – Bryan, October 24. I can only inform you that there are two persons who will probably die to-night. No change or death since my noon report. Galveston Daily News, 25 October 1873, page 2 Bryan, Oct. 25. The out look this evening is still encouraging. No deaths since yesterday at noon, and but one new case of sickness to-day, and that of a doubtful nature. Some of the sick reported hopeless yesterday are better to-day. It is thought that Mrs. Walker can not recover. This is the only critical case. The rural districts are active in keeping up their quarantines, and the writer, who has a weakness for pastoral freshness of a Sunday, must needs defer his visit. The week ends with a good showing, yet some will shake their heads and talk of a warm sun to-morrow and a hot sun the day after. Galveston Daily News, 26 October 1873, page 2 The Galveston Daily News issue dated 27 October 1873 was not on the microfilm. Bryan, Oct. 27. Five new cases reported yesterday. No new cases to-day. No deaths since last report. Weather cold and rainy. Second Dispatch – Bryan, October 27. No deaths since Saturday. Two new fever cases yesterday and one to-day. The older patients are convalescing, and those of a more recent date are not considered in immediate danger. If our runaways are not too hasty in leaving their castles in the woods, I feel inclined to hazard the opinion that we have had our last fever funerals. Galveston Daily News, 28 October 1873, page 2. Bryan, Oct. 28. There are no new cases and no deaths. Cold norther blowing. We hope to be free of fever in a day or two. [Second Dispatch]. Bryan, Oct. 28. There were no deaths last night, and no new cases of yellow fever reported. It is said, however, that several of those now ill are not doing well. The strong wind last night prevented frost. A cold norther is now blowing. Galveston Daily News, 29 October 1873, page 2 Bryan, Oct. 29. 9 a.m. – Have not heard of any new cases of yellow fever as yet. The weather is cold and wind prevented frost. Galveston Daily News, 30 October 1873, page 2. Bryan, October 30. Mrs. Eichenbaum and daughter were taken with fever yesterday. These are the only cases since Monday. A warm sun to-day after a frosty night causes some apprehension. It is particularly urged that all who have left town remain away until a return is sanctioned by the physicians. With the visitation of unhappy Calvert fresh in our minds, it would be the height of imprudence to add fresh material as a fever tempter. Among others who are assiduous in attention to the sick, it is well to note Dr. G.S. West, late health officer of Palestine, and an experienced physician of New Orleans. Dr. West came among us immediately after the fever originated and tendered his professional services gratuitously. Such acts bring their own reward and will be remembered when the plagued is reckoned in the far past. Galveston Daily News, 1 November 1873, page 2 Bryan, Nov. 3, 1873. The Howard Association, of Bryan, adjourned to-day sine die, as no further necessity existed for their serving, but subject to the call of the president when needed. No new cases having occurred during the past week, and as all those who have had the fever are doing well and out of danger, it is the unanimous opinion of the Board of Health that our town is entirely free from the fever, and that persons may come and go out as usual, without the least risk. (Signed) J.W. Boyle, Secretary; Dr. J.C. Farley, Pres’t. We had a heavy rain here all day yesterday. The weather is now cool, the wind from the north, and frost is expected. Galveston Daily News, 4 November 1873, page 2 Bryan ... The dispatch of yesterday, reporting a case of yellow fever, was incorrect. There is no case here, nor has there been for three weeks. James B. McLelland, Mayor of Bryan, Galveston Daily News, 8 Nov. 1873, p. 2. Bryan, Texas, Nov. 6, 1873. G.S. West, M.D., Palestine, Texas: Dear Sir – In behalf of the members of the Hebrew Benevolent Society, permit me to express to you our sincere gratitude and high appreciation for your valuable and gratuitous services rendered to members of our society and the citizens of our town in general during the late epidemic. You have left a comfortable home and hastened to our relief, and under circumstances not very enviable. The trains on the Central not stopping at this place during the panic, you had to walk some ten or twelve miles to reach our town, and all of this without expecting a cent of remuneration, and thereby have proved to us a true philanthropist in the full sense of the word. In parting with us to-day our best wishes and sincere prayers are with you wherever you may go, and hope and pray that should it be our pleasure to meet with you again, it may be under more favorable auspices. Wishing you a long and prosperous life, I remain, gratefully yours, L. Sanger. Pres’t Hebrew Benevolent Society. Galveston Daily News, 12 November 1873, p.4. There is only one marked grave in the Yellow Fever Cemetery: James P. King, born 18 February 1835, died 24 October 1868, a Mason. Masonic records might provide additional information about him. The list of additional burials in this cemetery are taken from loose pages inserted at the beginning of volume 4 of the Bryan Cemetery Registers (available on microfilm at the Texas A&M University Library). The loose pages are numbered pages 63-67 and are a different size than the pages pages bound in that volume. The entries are all in the same handwriting; no date or source of the information is given. The pages are labeled “Names & dates etc. of persons buried in the Old or Public Cemetery.” The only explanatory note on the sheets reads: “see sec.475 p.129 1918 ord. book.” That refers to the Charter and Revised Ordinances of the City of Bryan Codified, published in 1918. That document repeats what the 1908 book said. Only one of these people – Rosa Dross – is listed in the actual Bryan cemetery registers, so those registers clearly were not the source of this information. Even if the Bryan city sexton were responsible for overseeing burials in the Yellow Fever Cemetery in the 1870s, it is possible that he did not keep a list of those internments. He did not, for example, begin recording burials in the Bryan City Cemetery’s “freedmen’s section” or the “Hebrew inclosure” until 1881. I have annotated the following sexton’s records with additional information when possible. Dross, Rosa (Bohemian); born in Burleson Co., Tx.; residence Bryan; aged 2 years; cause of death croup; buried 5 Sept. 1884. //Rosa Drozds baptized on 22 January 1882, page 23 of transcription, page 102 of original, Baptism Book 1, listed in St. Joseph Catholic Church, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, 1876-1909, Index to Birth Marriage and Death Records, 1991, page 20. Viedo, Lunado; born in Italy; residence near Bryan; age 40 years; cause of death congestion; buried 12 September 1885 Steeman, Jack; born in Ireland; residence near Bryan, Tx. H & T.C. R.R.; cause of death malarial fever; aged 35 years; buried 24 November 1885 Smiley, Jack (tanner); born in Ireland; residence Bryan; aged 45 years; cause of death typho malarial fever; buried 11 December 1885 Tarantino, Ercole; born Italy; residence near Bryan; age 26 years; cause of death killed by cotton gin; buried 10 November 1886 Neschke, Alois; born in Pilesia German Empire; residence at “Rance Smith’s” near Bryan; age 65 years; cause of death “thrown from a horse”; buried 14 Dec. 1886 //This is perhaps the same man as described in the following article, but notice that the names are quite different: Bryan, Dec. 13 – A German by the name of A. Reisenboyner while riding out of town this evening was thrown against a post and instantly killed. He was about 60 years old and a carpenter by trade. Dallas Morning News, 14 December 1886, page 5 Sedestha, Gessepa, Miss; born in Italy; residence near Bryan “north east”; age 18 years; cause of death congestion; buried 1 January 1887 Treadway, Mollie E., Mrs.; born in Lee Co., Tx.; residence Bryan; age 27 years; cause of death “abortion”; buried 12 June 1888 Foley, Mike; born in Ireland; residence section no. 16 H.& T.C. Rail Road; case of death “sun stroke”; buried 28 August 1888 Williams, James “colored”; born in Texas; residence near Bryan; age 18 years; cause of death “scrofula”; buried 9 November 1888 Applegate, Little Noah Theophulus; born in Jacksonville, Cherokee Co., Tx.; residence Bryan; age 1 year; cause of death cholera infantum; buried 18 May 1889 “unknown cripple man”; buried 26 November 1889, aged about 40 years; cause of death, killed by Rail Road cars //“An unknown man was killed by the southbound 6 o’clock freight on the Central Railroad in Bryan ... He was of medium size, about 38 or 40 years old, had dark hair and sandy mustache, was crippled and in walking used a stick in either hand ...” (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 28 November 1889, page 4, col.2 //“Where is the Fault ... The tramp who was killed on the track of the Central Railroad ... was buried by private subscription in the pottersfield ...” (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 28 November 1889, page 5, col.3 Skues, John; born in England; residence Bryan; age 48 years; cause of death sun stroke; buried 15 Aug. 1890 “near South Gate” //John Skues was listed on the 1890 Civil War veterans census as living in Bryan, having served from January through July 1865 as a private in Company E of the 40th New Jersey infantry regiment; Malloy, Pat; born in Ireland; residence Section No. 15, H. & T.C. Road; age 45 years; cause of death killed by pistol shot by Jim Conway; buried 16 Oct. 1890 in Public Cemetery, near South Gate //A special from Bryan, Tex., says: John Conroy, section boss at section 15 on the Houston and Texas Central railway, about four miles from Bryan, shot and killed a section hand, Pat Malloy, who was violently abusing and cursing Conroy’s wife. An inquest was held today, and defendant gave $1000 bond. Temple Weekly Times, 24 October 1890, page 1, col.4 Moore, Gilbert; “colored”; born in Brazos County; residence Woodville, near Bryan; age 18 years; cause of death “small pox”; buried 25 Jan. 1891 //Bryan, Tex., Jan. 18 – A well defined case of small-pox in confluent form was discovered here this morning. The patient is a Negro boy about 18 years of age who came up from Houston about fifteen days ago. Dr. Hall, county health officer, ordered the house in which he is strictly quarantined. The case is outside the city and well isolated and ever precaution is exercised to prevent (illegible). Dallas Morning News, 19 January 1891, page 4 //Bryan, Tex., Jan. 21 – No new cases of small-pox have been found. The Negro found on the 18th instant is doing very well under the care of a local nurse. A pesthouse has been built and things are arranged to take care of any cases that may be found. Dallas Morning News, 22 January 1891, page 4 //Bryan, Tex., Jan. 25 – The Negro confined at the pesthouse outside this city died last night. This is the only case of small-pox that Bryan has had. The News correspondent saw Dr. F.M. Hall, city health officer, this morning and was informed by that gentleman that there was no more small-pox in or near Bryan; never had been any except the case mentioned above, and that he had no fear of there being any more. He added: “Though we are now free from the disease, yet I am not going to let upon a strict quarantine until matters assume a different aspect over the state. Dallas Morning News, 26 January 1891, page 8 //Gilbert Moore is listed in the 1880 Brazos County Census, ED 17, page 254d, as the son of Harriet Moore, a 25 year old widow. She was a laundress. Gilbert was 9 when the census was taken; he had a number of younger siblings Farlow, Wm.; nativity unknown; residence unknown; age about 30 years; cause of death overdose of morphine found dead near A. and M. College; buried 20 May 1891 //“Bryan ... A man was found dead about one mile south of College in this county ... about 5 feet 9 inches high, dark complexion, high forehead ... apparently about 32 years old ... “William Farlow, Wharton Co.” was dimly written on a slip of paper in his coat pocket ... The remain were brought to Bryan for burial ....” Galveston Daily News, 20 May 1891, page 6, col.3 Infant son of Mary Wolter “a Bohemian”; residence unknown; nativity unknown; age about 10 days; cause of death unknown “found dead in lumber yard”; buried 22 September 1891 //Bryan, Tex., Sept. 22 – This morning while a Negro laborer was walking on the Houston and Texas Central Railroad track in the south part of Bryan, he saw a white infant lying near a lumber pile. The Negro notified the city authorities who investigated the affair and found a boy babe about two weeks old which appeared to have been dead some hours. It was examined by the county health officer, Dr. F.M. Hall, who found no marks of violence on its body. The physician states that though he had as yet made no regular postmortem examination of the child’s body, yet he was satisfied that it had been given an overdose of morphine. The remains will be buried this evening by the county. It now appears that a strange woman had been for a day or so about town carrying an infant about the age of the one found and that this woman was seen last night at the depot at a late hour with her child. child. This same woman, it is reported, bought a ticket to Hempstead last night. She is not in town to-day. Officers are making efforts to learn her whereabouts as she is thought to be the murderer of the babe. Dallas Morning News, 23 September 1891, page 3 //Brenham, Tex., Sept. 28 – The woman wanted in Bryan for the murder of a 2-weeks old baby was found in Chappell Hill by Sheriffs Teague and Faulkner on arriving yesterday evening. She gave her name as Mrs. Mary Walter and is a Polish woman. Mrs. Walter answered the description of the woman wanted in every particular, but Sheriff Teague, after locating and putting several parties to watch her movements, so she could not escape, telegraphed to Sheriff T.C. Nunn of Brazos County to bring some one who saw her with the baby at Bryan to identify her. Last night Sheriff Nunn and a party who knew the woman arrived at Chappell Hill and this morning made the arrest. At first she was greatly surprised, but finally admitted that she took the baby to Bryan and that it died and she hid the body in the lumber and left it there. She bitterly denies killing it. Sheriff Nunn left with Mrs. Walter on the east-bound Central this evening for Bryan, where she will be tried for infanticide. Dallas Morning News, 29 September 1891, page 1 //Also see Brenham Weekly Banner, 1 October 1891, page 5, col.3; 8 October 1891, page 7, col.7; Galveston Daily News, 29 September 1891, page 1, col.1; 1 October 1891, page 3, col.2 Dolcemoscola, Gasparrio “Italian”; nativity Italy; residence 3 miles north of Bryan; age 45 years; cause of death pernicious fever; buried 12 March 1897 //Brazos County Deed Book 12, p.103: W.J. Brogdon and his wife L.H. Brogdon sold land to Gaspore Dolcinoscolo and Frank Dolcinoscola (“two brothers”), 12 Oct. 1893 Cannatillo, Leane “Italian”; nativity Italy; residence Mudville, Brazos Co.; age 45 years; cause of death pneumonia; buried 16 March 1897 Palmeri, Samuel “Italian”; born in Italy; residence Bryan; age 30 years; cause of death remitting fever; 24 May 1897 (date is not labeled, but is assumed to be date of burial, not date of death) Fuerre, Ed.; nativity New York state; residence traveling horse trader; age 45 years; cause of death dengue fever; buried 17 November 1897 //Ed. Feury, New York St., died 16 Nov. 1897, buried 17th, denge Fever, Bryan’s Public Cemety (p.38); Ed. Feury, 14 Jan. 1899 body buried in Public Cemetery; died 17 Nov. 1897; exhumed and buried Calvary Cemetery, block 4, N.E. ¼, lot 15 (p.40); see Joanne Dominik Glowski’s St. Joseph Catholic Church Bryan, Brazos County, Texas. Marriage and Death Records 1877-1909 //Ed. Feury, died in Bryan, from Michigan; had lived in Texas about 10 years. Bryan Daily Eagle, 17 November 1897, page 4, col.1 One other likely burial is listed in the Bryan city sexton’s records as being “buried in Old cemetery,” which apparently refers to the Yellow Fever Cemetery. Name of deceased: Miss Della Chandler Age: 30 years Nativity: Missouri Date of burial: Nov. 8th, 1884 Cause of death: consumption “buried in old Cemetery” (As published in: Collie-Cooper, Mary, Bryan City Cemetery Brazos County, Texas, Books 1, 2, 3, & 4, pp.52-53) Few details are known about Miss Chandler, but she may have been poor and /or without relatives in the area. On 8 December 1884, the Brazos County Commissioners paid Mrs. ---Gregory for taking care of Miss ---Chandler “up to her death.” (Brazos County Commissioners Minutes, vol.C, p.411). The rationale behind who was buried in the Yellow Fever Cemetery is not clear. Shortly after its organization in 1868, the city of Bryan became responsible for seeing that paupers who died inside its city limits were properly buried. On 17 August 1868, the Brazos County Commissioners Court declared: It is indorsed and adjudged by the Court that in the future from this date, this Court will affirm no claim against the county for the burial of any pauper who may have died within the corporation of the Town of Bryan, and that the sum of six dollars is the maximum that will be allowed for the burial of any pauper within the limits of the county outside of the Corporation of Bryan. (Brazos County Commissioners Minutes, Book A, p.173) Research has not disclosed where such paupers were buried, at least during the earliest years. While it appears that some paupers may have been buried in the Yellow Fever Cemetery, it is equally clear that others were buried in the Bryan City Cemetery. The Bryan sexton’s records list over 30 people buried in the “pottersfield” (sometimes designated as pottersfield 1 or pottersfield 2). While the sexton’s records fail to specify precisely where the potters’ field was located, several of the people noted as being buried in the potters’ field have markers in the Bryan City Cemetery. Thus, those entries cannot refer to burials in the Yellow Fever Cemetery. The Bryan City Council minutes, which survive from 1889 onward, may contain additional references to the Yellow Fever Cemetery. (An earlier version of this article appeared in the Brazos Genealogist, vol.17, no.4, pp.136-137, Winter 1996).