Hidalgo County, Texas -- IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CEMETERY Lot 16, Block 103 Surveyed in 1986 by Mrs. Frances Richmond Cooper and Mrs. Colleen Dodson Ferguson and published as a Texas Sesquicentennial Project By the Mercedes Texas Sesquicentennial Committee. Fleet S. Lentz, Chairman (1986) Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Cindy Shaffer cshaffer@houston.rr.com =========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, material may be freely used by not-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of this file. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. =========================================================================== The 1986 survey was given to Cynthia Midgett Shaffer (niece of Mrs. Cooper) by Mrs. Frances Richmond Cooper, in 2001 to be typed for submission to the USGenWeb Project (cshaffer@houston.rr.com). Excerpt from Mrs. Frances Richmond Cooper's speech at the dedication of this cemetery as a Texas Historical Site: ".... I shed tears not because I was sad but because I was happy and grateful. Happy to stand beside the graves of those who endured hardships, like we will never know, so that the lives of their children, grandchildren, and future generations might be better than theirs. I guess the long of short of what I am trying to say is that cemeteries, like this one, are not a place for sadness but a place of rejoicing, a place for remembering, a place where history is recorded, and a place to give thanks for the love and contributions of the people buried here and the part they played in our lives and community. So today in addition to dedicating this historical marker, let us dedicate ourselves to help make our world and the world of others a better place to live so that we too may rest in peace." HISTORY: This cemetery is located in the 7th share of Llano Grande Land Grant, Hidalgo County, allotted to Juan Jose Hinojosa, Chief Justice and Military captain of Reynosa, by the King of Spain. He applied for the grant July 4, 1776, but it was not finally allotted until after his death. Llano Grande Grant in extreme southeast corner of Hidalgo County, Texas, was about 11 miles wide along the Rio Grande, and extended north seventeen miles. The property passed through many hands throughout the years, finally to the American Rio Grande Land and Irrigation Company on August 31, 1904. The Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, the only Lutheran Cemetery in the Valley, is located in the northwest part of the City of Mercedes, Texas. It is situated in the midst of a grove of ebony trees in the southeast corner of Lot 16, Block 103 in the Campacuas Addition to the Capisallo District of the Llano Grande Grant. The approximately three and one-third acres on which the cemetery is located was given to the German Evangelical Lutheran Church (known today as the Immanuel Lutheran Church), Mercedes, Texas by the American Rio Grande Land and Irrigation Company. A mistake was made when the deed was prepared and the property was deeded to the Ebenezer Evangelical Lutheran Church, another Lutheran church located in Mercedes at that time (Deed recorded March 7, 1914, Deed Records, Hidalgo County, Texas, Volume 38, Pages 463-464). Realizing that an error had been made and that the land "was intended for another branch of said church instead of this branch" William Drewes and Henry Kruse, Trustees of the Ebenezer Evangelical Lutheran Church, transferred the property to J. Geo. Birkham, C.A. Carlson and Wm. Buckholz, Trustees of the German Evangelical Lutheran Emanuel Church (Deed recorded August 4, 1914, Deed Records, Hidalgo County, Texas, Volume 44, Page 103). In 1913, the Rev. M. W. Pott, pastor of the German Evangelical Lutheran Emanuel Church at that time, dedicated the cemetery as "God's Acre." Today there are approximately one hundred ten persons buried in the cemetery (1986 survey). The earliest recorded death on a tombstone is that of Wilhelm Schumacher in 1911. LOCATION: To reach the cemetery in the city of Mercedes, Texas, one should go north on Vermont Street past the Retama Housing Center. Turn left on Vermont onto Anacuita Street (mile 7 north) and go west approximately one-half mile. Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Cemetery and the Cementerio Bautista are located on the left and the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery on the right. The cemetery is maintained by the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Mercedes, Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Eilers serve as the cemetery committee. Compiled in July 1986. ************************************************************************ 2001: We visited the cemetery in June 2001, and it is fenced and well kept, still a small cemetery. A Texas Historical Marker was placed at the cemetery in 1983. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Mrs. Frances Richmond Cooper and Mrs. Colleen Dodson Ferguson, long-time residents of Hidalgo County, furnished additional information when they had first-hand knowledge or could otherwise verify the information. This information is included below the Lot Number of each listing. (Furnished in 1986). ************************************************************************ BACKMAN, Requel B: 9/15/1847 D: 12/8/1924 Lot 133 BORCHELT, Anna (Mother) B: 11/15/1862 D: 7/16/1928 Lot 104 Mother of Cornelius, George, Walter, Ella and Martin; Grandmother of Loren BORCHELT, Charles C. B: 8/28/1915 D: 10/25/1975 Lot 104 Son of Emma and George BORCHELT, Ella B: 1890 D: 1970 Lot 104 Daughter of Anna and William B.; Sister of George, Cornelius, Walter and Martin BORCHELT Emma Eva B: 4/2/1892 D: 5/15/1968 Lot 104 Wife of George; Mother of Charles C.; Sister of Anna Rickert BORCHELT, George Frank B: 6/16/1887 D: 5/19/1951 Lot 104 Husband of Emma; Son of Anna and William; Brother of Cornelius, Walter, Martin and Ella BORCHELT, Lillian Drefke B: 1900 D: 1952 Lot 102 Wife of Martin A.; Daughter of Ernest & Elisa; Sister of Raymond BORCHELT, Loren B: 6/24/1924 D: 12/13/1942 Lot 104 Son of Pauline & Cornelius; Grandson of Anna & William BORCHELT, Martin A. B: 1896 D: 1974 Lot 102 Husband of Lillian Drefke; Brother of George, Cornelius, Walter and Ella; Son of Anna and William BORCHELT, Pauline B: 9/28/1898 D: 4/19/1986 Lot 104 Wife of Cornelius; Mother of Loren BORCHELT, W. G. Cornelius B: /3/1892 D: 5/21/1959 Lot 104 Husband of Pauline; Father of Loren; Son of Anna & William; Brother of George, Walter, Martin & Ella BORCHELT, Walter B: 7/24/1894 D: 1/18/1922 Lot 104 Son of Anna & William; Brother of George, Cornelius, Martin & Ella BORCHELT, William (Father) B: 3/21/1857 D: 9/17/1928 Lot 104 Husband of Anna; Father of Cornelius, George, Martin, Walter & Ella; Grandfather of Loren BURCH, Johanna Ohls B: 1/4/1940 D: 1/4/1940 Lot 136 Granddaughter of Johanna & Reinhold Ohls CARBIN, Bessie A. B: 1896 D: 1978 Lot 147 Wife of Loyd CARBIN, Loyd G. B: 1882 D: 1963 Lot 147 Husband of Bessie A. DREFKE, Elisa B: 1877 D: 1964 Lot 102 Wife of Ernest D.; Mother of Raymond & Lillian DREFKE, Ernest B: 1873 D: 1958 Lot 102 Husband of Elisa D.; Father of Raymond & Lillian DREFKE, Gladys B. 1902 D: 1978 Lot 102 DREFKE, Raymond B: 1906 D: 1928 Lot 102 Son of Elisa and Ernest; Brother of Lillian ENGELBRECHT, Herman B: 8/20/1868 D: 10/12/1934 Lot 92 Husband of Louisa ENGLBRECHT, Louisa B: 12/15/1873 D: 10/27/1923 Lot 92 Wife of Herman ERCHINGER, Andrew B: 1898 D: 1938 Lot 100 Husband of Rosina ERCHINGER, Rosina B: 1899 D: 1978 Lot 100 Wife of Andrew; Daugher of Heinricke & Frederick G. Karle; Sister of Ben F. H. ERMEL, Anna (no headstone) B: UNK D: UNK Lot 184 FOSSLER, Christine B: 6/8/1878 D: 2/4/1959 Lot 99 Wife of Jacob F., Sr. FOSSLER, Jacob Sr. B: 1/23/1878 D: 8/12/1966 Lot 99 Husband of Christine FRANKE, F. B: 1/28/1859 D: 10/28/1921 Lot 183 Husband of Marie FRANKE, Marie B: /28/1859 D: 10/2/1920 Lot 183 Wife of F. Franke GARCIA, Mary R. B: 1/22/1920 D: 6/30/1970 Lot 144 GREEN, Selma B: 10/30/1911 D: 12/4/1938 Lot 138 Daughter of Emma Lankop Ohls; Sister of Lydia Perkins HAHN, Clara B: 1897 D: 1920 Lot 132 HARKOWEN, John (Child) (no headstone) B: UNK D: UNK Lot 134 HERZOG, Ruth E. B: 1913 D: 1963 Lot 146 HOHMEIER, Emilie E. B: 7/8/1861 D: 7/17/1941 Lot 135 Mother of Anna Schroeder HOPPE, Lydia (no headstone) B: 3/2/1897 D: 4/5/1969 Lot 142 Sister of Elinor Johnson JOHNSON, Elinor B: 1910 D: 1984 Lot 98 Sister of Lydia Hoppe JOHNSON, Esther Rickert B: 1924 D: 1955 Lot 103 Mother of Jimmie; Daughter of Anna & Henry Rickert JOHNSON, Jimmie B: 1941 D: 1951 Lot 103 Son of Esther Rickert Johnson; Grndson of Anna & Henry Rickert KARLE, Ben F. H. B; 11/2/1904 D: 4/2/1958 Lot 100 Son of Frederick & Henricke; Brother of Rosina Erchinger KARLE, Frederick G. B: 1873 D: 1952 Lot 99 Husband of Henricke; Father of Ben F. H. & Rosina Erchinger; Grandfather of John C. & Robert W. KARLE, Henricke B; 1874 D: 1948 Lot 99 Wife of Frederick G.; Mother of Ben F. H. & Rosina Erchinger; Grandmother of John C. & Robert W. KARLE, John Charles B: 7/10/1929 D: 8/14/1951 Lot 98 Brother of Robert W., Grandson of Frederick G. & Henricke KARLE, Robert W. B: 6/12/1934 D: 4/22/1958 Lot 98 Brother of John Charles; Grandson of Frederick G. & Heinricke; (Killed in Service) KEPPLER, (Unknown) (Mother) (no headstone) B: UNK D: UNK Lot 185 KALLIO, Aina B: 1890 D: 1982 Lot 143 Wife of John KALLIO, John B: 1885 D: 1964 Lot 143 Husband of Aina KLEIN, Bruce B: 3/10/1945 D: 7/6/1971 Lot 140 Son of Clara & Wm. Henry KLEIN, Clara Alice B: 8/8/1911 D: 3/30/1978 Lot 140 Mother of Bruce KLEIN, Helena Matilda B: 10/5/1880 D: 8/30/1963 Lot 139 Wife of Wm. Henry KLEIN, Wm. Henry B: 9/16/1877 D: 12/9/1969 Lot 139 Husband of Helena Matilda McMILLIN, Esther B: 1906 D: 1966 Lot 147 Wife of Henry G. McMILLIN, Henry G. B: 1903 D: 1982 Lot 147 Husband of Esther MALOY, Ruth A. B: 1922 D: 1947 Lot 138 Daughter of Ed Ziebarth MEIER, Mabel B: 1905 D: 1983 Lot 96 MEYER, Henry W. B: 1869 D: 1951 Lot 149 Husband of Ida D. MEYER, Ida D. B: 1878 D: 1927 Lot 149 Wife of Henry W. NEWMANN, Willie Jean B: 4/19/1921 D: 7/7/1978 Lot 187 OHLS, Emma Langkop B: 10/26/1873 D: 6/27/1941 Lot 137 Mother of Selma Green & Lydia Perkins OHLS, Johanna B: 1872 D: 1930 Lot 136 Wife of Reinhold OHLS, Reinhold B: 1875 D: 1959 Lot 136 Husband of Johanna & Emma Langkop PAUL, Dorothy Mae (infant) B: 1923 D: 1923 Lot 130 PERKINS, Lydia B: 2/17/1904 D: 9/23/1933 Lot 138 Daughter of Emma Langkop Ohls; Sister of Selma Green PEYNADO, Bobbie (no headstone) B: 12/14/1970 D: 12/14/1970 Lot 145 Brother of Ray PEYNADO, Ray B: 2/26/1951 D: 12/28/1961 Lot 145 Brother of Bobbie RESITERER, Henry John B: 1866 D: 1943 Lot 101 Husband of Margaret D. REISTERER, Margaret D. B. 1881 D: 1921 Lot 101 Wife of Henry John RICKERT, Anna B: 1894 D: 1976 Lot 103 Wife of Henry; Mother of Edna, Max & Esther Johnson; Grandmother of Jimmie Johnson; Sister of Emma Borchelt RICKERT, Christina B: 1861 D: 1927 Lot 103 Mother of Henry J. RICKERT, Edna (infant) (no headstone) B: UNK D: UNK Lot 129 Daughter of Anna & Henry RICKERT, Henry J. B: 1889 D: 1971 Lot 103 Husband of Anna; Son of Christina; Father of Edna, Max, Esther Johnson; Grandfather of Jimmie Johnson RICKERT, Max E. B: 1936 D: 1951 Lot 103 Son of Anna & Henry; Broher of Edna & Esther Johnson RISSANEN, K. G. (Rev.) B: 1872 D: 1924 Lot 133 Husband of Ida RISSANEN, Ida B: 1894 D: 1921 Lot 133 Wife of Rev. K. G. RISSANEN, Paul B: 1908 D: 1925 Lot 133 Son of Ida & Rev. K. G. SCHRANK, Sophia W. B: 7/12/1895 D: 8/9/915 Lot 128 Sister of Paul; Daughter of John J. SCHROEDER, Ana E. B: 12/16/1889 D: 9/1/1979 Lot 135 Wife of Bernard; Daughter of Emilie Hohmeir S CHROEDER, Bernard W. B: 9/18/1892 D: 9/26/1960 Lot 135 Husband of Ana; Son of Dorathea & Conrad; Brother of Ferdinand & Elda Timken SCHROEDER, Conrad B: 7/10/1865 D: 10/11/1918 Lot 104 Husband of Dorathea; Father of Bernard, Ferdinand and Elda Timken SCHROEDER, Dorathea B: 8/19/1867 D: 4/20/1943 Lot 105 Wife of Conrad; Mother of Bernard, Ferdinand & Elda Timken SCHROEDER, Ferdinand B: 2/6/1897 D: 6/14/1936 Lot 105 Son of Dorathea & Conrad; Brother of Bernard & Elda Timken SCHUMACKER, Bertha B: 12/10/1883 D: 10/24/1965 Lot 127 Wife of Wilhelm; Mother of Walter SCHUMACHER, Carolina B: 12/30/1833 D: 9/17/1917 Lot 127 Mother of Wilhelm; Grandmother of Walter SCHUMACHER, Walter B: 11/2/1903 D: 11/24/1967 Lot 127 Son of Bertha & Wilhelm SCHUMACHER, Wilhelm B: 1871 D: 1911 Lot 127 Husband of Bertha; Father of Walter; Son of Carolina SCHUPP, Julius Albert B: 5/16/1899 D: 10/22/1945 Lot 101 SEGOVIA, Elizabeth Cordelia B: 6/1/1979 D: 6/10/1979 Lot 143 STUGARD, Tusten E. B: 8/10/1925 D: 4/9/1971 Lot 101 THIEME, Alvin Gustav B: 1880 D: 1921 Lot 131 Husband of Lena C.; Father of Edna Martha and Ella Maria THIEME, Edna Martha B: 3/2/1919 D: 6/2/1919 Lot 131 Daughter of Lena & Alvin THIEME, Ella Maria B: 3/2/1919 D: 6/2/1919 Lot 131 Daughter of Lena & Alvin THIEME, Lena C. B: 1879 D: 1957 Lot 131 Wife of Alvin; Mother of Edna Martha & Ella Maria TIMKEN, Edna B: 1/26/1931 D: 11/15/1934 Lot 104 Daughter of Elda & Fred; Sister of Harold TIMKEN, Elda B: 3/22/1895 D: 3/29/1940 Lot 105 Wife of Fred W.; Mother of Edna & Harold; Daughter of Dorothea & Conrad Schroeder TIMKEN, Fred W. B: 12/17/1883 D: 11/12/1963 Lot 105 Husband of Elda; Father of Edna & Harold TIMKEN, Harold B: 6/9/1923 D: 10/19/1925 Lot 105 Son of Elda & Fred W.; Brother of Edna VOGEL, Adolph G. B: 1/15/1889 D: 4/1/1981 Lot 139 Husband of Mathilda A. VOGEL, Mathilda A. B: 3/3/1888 D: 6/2/1971 Lot 139 Wife of Adolph WEBER, Emma C. Hamm B: 5a/7/1902 D: 9/25/1982 Lot 151 Mother of Lucille Augusta WEBER, Genevieve B: 9/10/1907 D: 1/7/1982 Lot 151 Mother of Joyce WEBER, Joyce Natilia B: 2/16/1929 D: 4/28/1931 Lot 150 Daughter of Genevieve WEBER, Lucille Augusta B: 8/18/1924 D: 8/20/1924 Lot 130 Daughter of Emma C. Hamm WEISS, Anna M. B: 1870 D: 1951 Lot 154 Wife of John Benjamin; Mother of Katie & Viola WEISS, John Benjamin B: 1868 D: 1950 Lot 154 Husband of Anna M.; Father of Katie & Viola WEISS, Katie E. B: 12/19/1900 D: 12/4/1943 Lot 154 Daughter of Anna & John Benjamin; Sister of Viola WEISS, Viola Caroline B: 9/1/1915 D: 4/10/1918 Lot 130 Daughter of Anna & John Benjamin, Sister of Katie WESTFALL, Donley B: 1909 D: 1977 Lot 146 WOLTERS, Edger B: 12/8/1913 D: 10/23/1915 Lot 129 WOODWARD, Timmy B: 5/4/1962 D: 5/4/1962 Lot 143 Son of Faye Mitchell & Tommy Woodward ZIEBARTH, Edward B: 1892 D: 1982 Lot 138 Father of Ruth A. Maloy