Milam County Historical Commission
Milam County, Texas
Milam County, Texas
Jewish Cemetery
Jewish Cemetery
The International & Great Northern Railroad
reached the new town of Rockdale in January
1874. Among the early residents were brothers
Benjamin and Joseph Loewenstein, who opened a
mercantile from a tent before the railroad
arrived. The and their families were part of a
larger contingent of Jewish settlers in the
area. By 1879, a reported 100 Jewish
residents lived in Rockdale, which boasted an
active B'nai B'rith Lodge.
In August, 1877, Benjamin and Carrie
Loewenstein's son Arthur died and was buried at
this site. The following November, the Hebrew
Benevolent Association bought the land for use
as a dedicated Jewish Burial Ground. Among
those interrred here are Henry Goldsticker, a
Confederate veteran and Isaac Crown, who died
in a disastrous fire in 1888 at Rockdale's
Mundine Hotel. One grave, that of Isaac
Ensheimer. Was placed in a separate part of the
cemetery; Ensheimer committed suicide in 1884.
The final burial occurred in 1939 and is that of
Morris Cohn.
The site is a reminder of Rockdale's diverse history.
The International & Great Northern Railroad
reached the new town of Rockdale in January
1874. Among the early residents were brothers
Benjamin and Joseph Loewenstein, who opened a
mercantile from a tent before the railroad
arrived. The and their families were part of a
larger contingent of Jewish settlers in the
area. By 1879, a reported 100 Jewish
residents lived in Rockdale, which boasted an
active B'nai B'rith Lodge.
In August, 1877, Benjamin and Carrie
Loewenstein's son Arthur died and was buried at
this site. The following November, the Hebrew
Benevolent Association bought the land for use
as a dedicated Jewish Burial Ground. Among
those interrred here are Henry Goldsticker, a
Confederate veteran and Isaac Crown, who died
in a disastrous fire in 1888 at Rockdale's
Mundine Hotel. One grave, that of Isaac
Ensheimer. Was placed in a separate part of the
cemetery; Ensheimer committed suicide in 1884.
The final burial occurred in 1939 and is that of
Morris Cohn.
The site is a reminder of Rockdale's diverse history.
South Main Street (FM 908)
Rockdale, TX 76567
Rockdale, TX 76567
South on Main Street until you cross the railroad tracks. The Old City Cemetery will be on your left. Go past the Old City Cemetery and immediately past it is the Jewish Cemetery. Main gate is approximately 200 feet off the paved road.
Jewish Cemetery will get medallion, plaque
by Mike Brown, Reporter Editor
Rockdale Reporter - October 5, 2006
Rockdale's Jewish Cemetery will receive a Texas Cemetery Association marker and interpretive plaque in a brief ceremony at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15 hosted by the Milam County Genealogical Society and historian Lynna Kay Shuffield.
Didn't know Rockdalde had a Jewish Cemetery? It does, although there hasn't been a burial recorded there for 75 years. There at 19 marked graves and two unmarked graves.
It's in the far northeast corner of the hilltop which contains Rockdale's Old City Cemetery, south of the railroad tracks off Main. (the Jewish Cemetery is actually at the corner of White and Mulberry.)
"Association"
Shuffield said Rockdalde's hebrew Benevolent Association, referred to simply as "The Association" by 19th-Century Rockdale's Jewish communithy, purchased land for the cemetery on Nov. 11, 1878.
Earliest documented burial was that of 10-month-old Arthur Loewenstein, second son of Rockdale pioneers Benjamin and Carrie (MInlsch) Loewenstein.
In 1879 Charles Wessolowsky documented visits to Jewish communities in Austin-area towns. Wessolowsky reported "100 Jews and a B'Nai B'rith lodge in Rockdale".
Wessolowsky said Rockdale's Jewish community disagreed over rituals, noting "some of them still cling and hold fast to the doctrines and dead forms of the so-called chasid (pietist), while others require and ask for 'progress'."
Bar Mitzvah, Suicide
In 1884 a Jewish school was established. It was in existence until formation of Rockdale's public school system.
The Galveston Daily News reported on the Bar Mitzvah (traditional "becoming a man" ceremony for 13-year old Jewish boys) of Henry Kaiser in Rockdale in March, 1884.
Shuffield said there is one known suicide in the cemetery.
"Isaac Ensheimer, 36, took chloroform and morphine and in the note he left said, 'a disappointment in man has brought me to this long sleep. Please bury me decently', Shuffield said. "Ensheimer was buried in a separate part of the cemetery, along the fence line."
Mundine Fire
Isaac Crown, one of 11 victims of the era-defining Mundine Hotel fire, is also buried in the cemetery.
The June 8, 1888 blaze was Rockdale's worst fire ever, in terms of life lost.
The bottom story did not burn and survives to this day as McVoy Seed and Fertilizer.
Final burial in the cemetery was that of Morris Cohn on April 30, 1939.
by Mike Brown, Reporter Editor
Rockdale Reporter - October 5, 2006
Rockdale's Jewish Cemetery will receive a Texas Cemetery Association marker and interpretive plaque in a brief ceremony at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15 hosted by the Milam County Genealogical Society and historian Lynna Kay Shuffield.
Didn't know Rockdalde had a Jewish Cemetery? It does, although there hasn't been a burial recorded there for 75 years. There at 19 marked graves and two unmarked graves.
It's in the far northeast corner of the hilltop which contains Rockdale's Old City Cemetery, south of the railroad tracks off Main. (the Jewish Cemetery is actually at the corner of White and Mulberry.)
"Association"
Shuffield said Rockdalde's hebrew Benevolent Association, referred to simply as "The Association" by 19th-Century Rockdale's Jewish communithy, purchased land for the cemetery on Nov. 11, 1878.
Earliest documented burial was that of 10-month-old Arthur Loewenstein, second son of Rockdale pioneers Benjamin and Carrie (MInlsch) Loewenstein.
In 1879 Charles Wessolowsky documented visits to Jewish communities in Austin-area towns. Wessolowsky reported "100 Jews and a B'Nai B'rith lodge in Rockdale".
Wessolowsky said Rockdale's Jewish community disagreed over rituals, noting "some of them still cling and hold fast to the doctrines and dead forms of the so-called chasid (pietist), while others require and ask for 'progress'."
Bar Mitzvah, Suicide
In 1884 a Jewish school was established. It was in existence until formation of Rockdale's public school system.
The Galveston Daily News reported on the Bar Mitzvah (traditional "becoming a man" ceremony for 13-year old Jewish boys) of Henry Kaiser in Rockdale in March, 1884.
Shuffield said there is one known suicide in the cemetery.
"Isaac Ensheimer, 36, took chloroform and morphine and in the note he left said, 'a disappointment in man has brought me to this long sleep. Please bury me decently', Shuffield said. "Ensheimer was buried in a separate part of the cemetery, along the fence line."
Mundine Fire
Isaac Crown, one of 11 victims of the era-defining Mundine Hotel fire, is also buried in the cemetery.
The June 8, 1888 blaze was Rockdale's worst fire ever, in terms of life lost.
The bottom story did not burn and survives to this day as McVoy Seed and Fertilizer.
Final burial in the cemetery was that of Morris Cohn on April 30, 1939.
.