2015
Bushdale Cemetery annual meeting Oct. 3, 2015
The annual meeting of the Bushdale Cemetery Association will be held in the Peace
Lutheran Church Annex, 303 Meadow Drive in Rockdale, at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3
and will include the election of officers.
A covered dish luncheon will follow the business meeting.
“We ask that you come if you have an interest in the cemetery, and please bring your
favorite dish,” said Velmalene Williams, spokesperson.
FMI: Williams, 361-293-5662.
Rockdale Reporter - 2015-09-17
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2014 -
Bushdale Cemetery Assn.
The annual meeting of the Bushdale Cemetery Association will be held at Peace Lutheran
Church fellowship hall at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4.
“Please bring your favorite dish for the luncheon following the meeting. We encourage
you to attend if you are interested in where your loved ones are buried,” said Velmalene
Von Gonten, publicist. FMI: 361-293-5662.
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2013 -
Bushdale Cemetery Meeting Set October 5, 2013
Bushdale Cemetery Association will hold their annual business meeting at Peace Lutheran
Church at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5.
“If you have loved ones buried there, we would encourage you to meet with us,” said
Velmalene Williams, spokesperson.
“A covered dish luncheon will be served following the meeting.
FMI: call 361-293-5662.
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2012 -
Bushdale Cemetery meeting, luncheon Oct. 6, 2012 at Peace Lutheran
The annual Bushdale Cemetery meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 at
Peace Lutheran Church fellowship hall in Rockdale, according to Velmalene Williams,
publicist.
“You are invited to attend if you have loved ones buried in the cemetery,” she said. “A
covered dish luncheon will follow the business meeting, so please bring your favorite
dish.”
FMI: Williams, 361-293-5662.
Rockdale Reporter - September 20, 2012
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2011 -
Bushdale Cemetery meeting set for Oct. 1, 2011
The Bushdale Cemetery Association will hold its annual meeting and election of officers
at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Peace Lutheran Church fellowship hall.
Everyone with relatives buried there is encouraged to attend and bring a favorite dish
and/or dessert for the luncheon that will follow the meeting.
For more information call Velmalene Williams, 361-293-5662.
Rockdale Reporter, September 14, 2011
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2010 -
Bushdale Cemetery annual meeting Oct. 2, 2010
Bushdale Cemetery Association will have its annual meeting at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct.
2 at Peace Lutheran Church fellowship hall. Attendees are asked to bring a favorite dish
or dessert to share at the luncheon that will follow the business meeting.
Persons unable to attend who would like to donate to the association, the mailing
address is P.O. Box 664, Rockdale TX 76567.
“Everyone with loved ones buried in the cemetery are encouraged to attend,” said
Velmalene Williams, spokesperson. For more information call her at 361-293-5662.
Rockdale Reporter - September 16, 2010
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2009 -
Bushdale Cemetery meeting set Oct. 3, 2009
Bushdale Cemetery Association will hold its annual meeting on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 10:30
a.m. At Peace Lutheran Church Annex, 303 Meadow in Rockdale. There will be an election
of officers to serve for the next two years. Everyone interested in the maintenance of
the cemetery is encouraged to attend.
Following the business meeting, a covered dish luncheon will be served. Attendees are
asked to bring a favorite dish.
For more information, call Joy Graham, secretary, 446-5563.
Rockdale Reporter, September 17, 2009
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Rockdale Reporter, October 8, 2009
Bushdale cemetery continues to replace statue destroyed by vandals in ‘74
Court-ordered restitution never made
Bushdale Cemetery Association held its annual meeting Saturday, Oct. 3 at the Peace
Lutheran Church fellowship hall.
An on-going project is the replacement of the Henniger Union Soldier Statue which was
demolished in 1974 by five young people who were supposed to replace the statue as part
of their restitution. Lack of follow up and time have left only a few pieces of the
remaining parts scattered on the grave site of Herman Henniger.
A great-great-grandson of Herman Henniger, David Doran, met with the cemetery
association two years ago and has researched and set up a website to seek funding to
replace the statue. To date, $1,595 has been collected.
To read more about this project, google Herman Henniger (1838-1908) Statue Replacement
Fund.
The cemetery is currently involved in building a small metal building that will house
information about the cemetery, hopefully to be completed in 2010.
President Velmalene Williams presided over the business meeting which included reading
the minutes from Oct. 4, 2008 meeting, a financial report and old and new business.
Bushdale Cemetery was one of Texas Historical Commission’s first recognized historic
cemeteries, with a formal dedication held at the cemetery location.
Officers elected for 2010-2011 are: President, Velmalene Williams; vice-president,
Robert Von Gonten; secretary, Nelda Hyatt; treasurer, Lynn Pounders; historian, Joy
Graham.
The executive committee of the association meets in April of each year and reports back
at the annual membership meeting
.
At the close of the meeting, a covered dish luncheon was spread for all in attendance.
-Joy Graham, historian
Rockdale Reporter, October 8, 2009
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.
Milam County Historical Commission
Milam County, Texas
Milam County, Texas
Bushdale Community & Cemetery
The community of Bushdale was founded in this area of
Milam County by German immigrants in the 1870s.
Within ten years the population of the county doubled
and the Bushdale area developed into a thriving
farming community. A community cemetery was
established on land owned by John and Johanna
Broeckl. In 1878, school trustees Herman Henniger,
John Timmerman, Sr., and Paul Pieper purchased two
acres south of the cemetery for five dollars. A
schoolhouse was erected on the site and it also
served as a church on Sundays. In 1883 the Reverend
Immanuel Glatzel organized Peace Lutheran Church. A
church and parsonage were built on a seven-acre
parcel of land donated by Herman Henniger. John and
Martha Brockenbush operated a general store in the
community, and a cotton gin and blacksmith shop were
established by Gustav Backhaus in 1883. A two-story
dance hall erected by the Herman Sons Lodge was the
site of many social activities. The Bushdale
community gradually declined. Peace Lutheran Church
moved to nearby Rockdale in 1909, and the school was
closed in 1949. The cemetery is the only remnant of
this once active community. (1997)
FM 908 4 miles NW of Rockdale
.
Bushdale Cemetery Marker
Engraved on back: Some known early families of Bushdale
community area: Backhaus, Bauer, Brockenbush, Broeckl,
Dornhoefer, Dockall, Doss, Druschke, Foehner, Gruttner,
Henniger, Hirt, Leschikar, Loehr, Mayer, Menn, Pieper,
Nieschwitz, Seelke, Seidl, Stolte, Stork, Strelsky,
Strube, Timmerman, Vogel, Von Gonten, Voss, Wanoreck,
Wenzel and Witkowski.
View of Bushdale Cemetery from FM908
Bushdale Community Marker