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
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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.
Wenzel and Witkowski.
View of Bushdale Cemetery from FM908
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Bushdale Community Marker
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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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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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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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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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
**************************************************************************************************************
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
**************************************************************************************************************
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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