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AKA the
"American" Cemetery, Tubbs Cemeteryand (Incorrectly
Identified on 1965 Maps as) Lyons Cemetery
2.8 Miles SE of Schulenburg
on Vacek Loop South
Text and photos by John Troesser
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Navidad Baptist Cemetery was deeded as such in November of 1853. The
church that had adjoined the cemetery has long since been sold and
removed to Schulenburg where it is now a residence. Had the church
remained, the cemetery would undoubtedly been maintained and wouldn't
have become overgrown and nearly lost. |
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If
you pass the bullet-ridden sign, you've gone too far. |
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A letter from
a woman in Arizona asked if we knew anything about the cemetery
receiving a historical marker. Since it's not far from the home
office, we went to investigate (and drove past the cemetery on the
first try). Rounding the curve (marked by the perforated sign) we
knew we had gone too far when we spotted the Corinth
Baptist Church. Fortunately, for us, the Reverend Johnny Moore
was working in the churchyard. We visited with him and were given
a tour of the Corinth
Baptist Cemetery and directions to the Navidad Cemetery.
Warned that
there were dogs in the area - we weren't too surprised when we heard
barking nearby. As the barking got louder and we heard the rustle
of leaves getting nearer - there was a nervous moment when we half-expected
Baskerville mastiffs to come leaping for our throat. What finally
arrived was a friendly, well-behaved daschund.
When we knelt
in greeting - he indeed went for the throat - with his tongue.
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| Fayette County
historian Norman Krischke has surveyed the cemetery and has written
a detailed booklet with locations, dates and whatever inscriptions
were on the remaining tombstones. His booklet, available in the Fayette
County Library is our source information for this article. |
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L-
One of the best preserved tombstones
R- The oversized tombstone of William Tubbs that once gave the graveyard
the name Tubbs Cemetery |
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Glass Family
Marker
Husband and
Wife
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A
horizontal slab/ marker. |
| Our first visit
revealed very little. Some tombstones were marked with orange tape
and some underbrush had been cut. After consulting Mr. Krischke's
booklet, our second visit was much more fruitful. Between our first
and second visits more work had been done. Numbered stakes had been
driven in front of each tombstone - corresponding to the key in Krischke's
book. |
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The
tombstone for Mary Antoinette May |
| The photos here
are just a sampling of the cemetery stones, No attempt is made to
make a complete record. |
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A
relic of recent visitation / infestation. |
We obtained
a contact number for the President of the Navidad Baptist Cemetery
Association but received no reply to our request for information.
Our thanks to Norman Krischke for the countless hours he has donated
to the preservation and recording of Fayette County cemeteries and
history. His self-published records have been and continue to be an
invaluable aid to those doing genealogical research.
Anyone wishing to add photos or information about the Navidad Baptist
Church Cemetery, please contact
us.
© John Troesser
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