Quihi, Texas
Compiled 1979 by Linda Gilliam Vereen
Updated January 1997Texas State Historical Marker (erected 1977): Bethlehem Lutheran Church. The Reverend Christian Oefinger, serving as pastor of the Castroville Lutheran Church, led in founding this congregation in March, 1852. The first church building was dedicated in 1854, coincidental with a synod convention held in Castroville. Bethlehem Lutheran Church hosted synod meetings in 1869, 1875 and 1894. The present brick structure, dedicated in 1914, was built largely by parishioners, St. John's Lutheran Church of New Fountain, founded in the late 1850s by the Rev. A. Kitterer and served by Bethlehem's pastors, merged with this congregation in 1949. Rev. Stephen M. Schur, Pastor [in 1996], Quihi, Texas. Notes from Linda Gilliam Vereen:
The cemetery inscriptions listed below have not been compared with the church's records. This is simply a record of those burials with tombstones or some marker. There may be other unmarked graves in the cemetery. This cemetery is not laid out in family plots, but rather follows the European custom of chronological burials. The earliest marked burials start in the middle of Row 1, with later ones at the beginning of the row. There are six plots or enclosures. I have indicated those graves that are grouped together with an asterisk(*). This cemetery is characterized by beautiful ornate wrought iron grave enclosure fences, interesting carved tombstones (many in German) and some beautiful wooden carved slabs. There is one very unusual burial, that of August Mumme, my ggguncle (Row 7, No. 87). He is buried across a road that runs through the far side of the cemetery, and his grave is situated on a north-south axis, rather than the traditional east-west orientation. There are several stories regarding his death. The one handed down in my family is something to the effect that as a young man August got involved with a band of local cattle rustlers. After some time, he became apprehensive of his involvement, and resolved to turn his cohorts in to the authorities. Before he could do so, he was murdered by his colleagues. An inscription in German on his tombstone says he was murdered at the hands of his acquaintances, and three sets of initials are inscribed. Other versions of the story are that August turned outlaw and was killed in the act of cattle rustling by his more upright neighbors. My grandfather told me that regardless of the circumstances of his death, his murder caused very hard feelings in his home community of New Fountain and that the then minister of the church there refused to bury him. The family then applied to Bethlehem Lutheran Church, whose minister agreed to bury him, but only set apart from the main body of the church cemetery. This story fascinates me. If anyone knows of this story and its variations, I would love to hear from them. Row: 1
No.: 1*
Surname: L.L.
Given Name(s): Bohle
Birth Date: May 27, 1810
Death Date: March 26, 1895
Row: 1
No.: 2*
Surname: Bohle
Given Name(s): Schmidt
Birth Date: December 2, 1824
Death Date: January 16, 1882
Row: 1
No.: 3*
Surname: Lübben
Given Name(s): Betha
Birth Date: No Date
Death Date: No Date
Remarks by Copyist: Stone Broken
Row: 1
No.: 4
Surname: Eckhart
Given Name(s): Regina
Birth Date: June 22, 1829
Death Date: August 14. 1873
Addl. Information: Born in Wurrtenburg
Row: 1
No.: 5
Surname: Boehle
Given Name(s): Friedrich
Birth Date: March 20, 1785
Death Date: August 24, 1867
Addl. Information: Born in Ohsen, Hannover
Row: 1
No.: 6
Surname: Saathoff
Given Name(s): Luebbe
Birth Date: July 9, 1851
Death Date: October 24, 1867
Row: 1
No.: 7
Surname: Balzen
Given Name(s): Mimke
Birth Date: November 22, 1853
Death Date: November 25, 1877
Row: 2
No.: 8
Surname: Breiten
Given Name(s): Emil
Birth Date: September 13, 1884
Death Date: September 14, 1884
Row: 2
No.: 9
Surname: Breiten
Given Name(s): Robert
Birth Date: October 25, 1885
Death Date: October 28, 1885
Row: 2
No.: 10
Surname: App
Given Name(s): Katherine
Birth Date: March 11, 1874
Death Date: June 22, 1874
Row: 2
No.: 11
Surname: Oefinger
Given Name(s): Anna
Birth Date: September 25, 1871
Death Date: November 14, 1879
Row: 2
No.: 12
Surname: Riff
Given Name(s): Ida
Birth Date: June 15, 1881
Death Date: June 23, 1881
Row: 2
No.: 13
Surname: Gehen
Given Name(s): H.
Birth Date: December 12, 1880
Death Date: August 19, 1881
Addl. Information: Daughter of Louise O. & T. Gehen
Row: 2
No.: 14
Surname: Unknown
Given Name(s):
Birth Date:
Death Date:
Remarks by Copyist: Tombstone crumbled to bits.
Row: 2
No.: 15
Surname: de Grodt
Given Name(s): Fritz Heinrich
Birth Date: March 18, 1880
Death Date: November 25, 1883
Row: 2
No.: 16
Surname: Balzen
Given Name(s): Ernest E.
Birth Date: October 3, 1887
Death Date: November 13, 1887
Row: 3
No.: 17*
Surname: Oefinger
Given Name(s): Ursula
Birth Date: October 16, 1803
Death Date: October 18, 1885
Row: 3
No.: 18*
Surname: Oefinger
Given Name(s): Katharina
Birth Date: August 1, 1866
Death Date: January 21, 1891
Row: 3
No.: 19*
Surname: Hauser
Given Name(s): Anna Maria
Birth Date: March 28, 1810
Death Date: September 9, 1880
Row: 3
No.: 20
Surname: Bohlen
Given Name(s): Friederika
Birth Date: October 7, 1868
Death Date: December 10, 1880
Row: 3
No.: 21
Surname: Aden
Given Name(s): Gretje J.
Birth Date: May 12, 1820
Death Date: December 29, 1886
Addl. Information: Nee Saathoff
Row: 3
No.: 22
Surname: Oefinger
Given Name(s): Andreas
Birth Date: March 19, 1819
Death Date: January 4, 1887
Row: 3
No.: 23
Surname: Neumann
Given Name(s): Trintje
Birth Date: January 25, 1813
Death Date: October 9, 1888
Remarks by Copyist: Wife of Friedrich Oldmann Neumann, who died in Helena, Texas
while freighting November 24, 1866. He is buried in an unmarked
grave there. Friedrich brought his family to Texas in 1852.
Row:
No.: 3
Surname: 24
Given Name(s): Balzen
Birth Date: Heinrich H.
Death Date: June 11, 1825
Addl. Information: December 7, 1888
Row: 3
No.: 25*
Surname: Saathoff
Given Name(s): Martin J.
Birth Date: January 30, 1815
Death Date: March 20, 1864
Row: 3
No.: 26*
Surname: Saathoff
Given Name(s): Jans M.
Birth Date: March 12, 1850
Death Date: September 5, 1889
Row: 3
No.: 27
Surname: de Grodt
Given Name(s): Weke
Birth Date: August 9, 1807
Death Date: July 8, 1890
Addl. Information: Nee Onnen
Row: 3
No.: 28
Surname: Boehle
Given Name(s): Heinrich F.
Birth Date: No Date
Death Date: July 22, 1890
Row: 3
No.: 29
Surname: Schuele
Given Name(s): Elisabetha
Birth Date: October 4, 1821
Death Date: July 7, 1890
Addl. Information: Nee Keim, wife of M. Schuele
Row: 4
No.: 30
Surname: Balzen
Given Name(s): Mimke Herman
Birth Date: January 2, 1879
Death Date: June 25, 1900
Row: 4
No.: 31
Surname: Borchers
Given Name(s): Alfred Henry
Birth Date: 1890
Death Date: 1892
Row: 4
No.: 32
Surname: Heyen
Given Name(s): Bertha J.
Birth Date: July 15, 1889
Death Date: January 5, 1894
Row: 4
No.: 33
Surname: Unknown
Given Name(s):
Birth Date:
Death Date:
Remarks by Copyist: Iron fence; no marker.
Row: 4
No.: 34
Surname: Boehle
Given Name(s): Frieda C.
Birth Date: September 22, 1893
Death Date: March 7, 1895
Row: 4
No.: 35
Surname: Hartung
Given Name(s): Edlin Mary
Birth Date: February 13, 1900
Death Date: November 3, 1900
Row: 4
No.: 36
Surname: Bohlen
Given Name(s): Ewald
Birth Date: October 22, 1897
Death Date: December 2, 1900
Row: 4
No.: 37
Surname: Gerdes
Given Name(s): Maria
Birth Date: September 11, 1901
Death Date: June 2, 1902
Row: 4
No.: 38*
Surname: Borchers
Given Name(s): Harry Fritz
Birth Date: May 18, 1905
Death Date: November 15, 1905
Row: 4
No.: 39*
Surname: Borchers
Given Name(s): Henry Alfred
Birth Date: 1892
Death Date: 1906
Row: 4
No.: 40
Surname: Haller
Given Name(s): Corrine Henrietta
Birth Date: October 3, 1907
Death Date: April 1, 1908
Row: 4
No.: 41
Surname: Balzen
Given Name(s): Roland G.
Birth Date: May 9, 1906
Death Date: August 28, 1909
Row: 4
No.: 42
Surname: Balzen
Given Name(s): Herman Fritz
Birth Date: September 29, 1905
Death Date: December 7, 1910
Row: 4
No.: 43*
Surname: Rohlf
Given Name(s): Herbert
Birth Date: October 1, 1905
Death Date: May 30, 1911
Row: 4
No.: 44*
Surname: Breiten
Given Name(s): Ester M.
Birth Date: December 21, 1905
Death Date: August 16, 1912
Row: 4
No.: 45
Surname: Mumme
Given Name(s): Meta Emma
Birth Date: September 8, 1912
Death Date: February 24, 1913
Row: 4
No.: 46
Surname: Grell
Given Name(s): J.O.
Birth Date: February 20, 1830
Death Date: August 12, 1914
Row: 4
No.: 47
Surname: Fuos
Given Name(s): Jakob
Birth Date: December 25, 1834
Death Date: October 4, 1914
Row: 4
No.: 48
Surname: Bohlen
Given Name(s): E.A.
Birth Date: November 17, 1842
Death Date: January 6, 1915
Row: 4
No.: 49
Surname: Lindeburg
Given Name(s): Talke Margrete
Birth Date: January 8, 1827
Death Date: January 15, 1915
Addl. Information: Nee Faseler
Row: 4
No.: 50
Surname: Oefinger
Given Name(s): Paul
Birth Date: February 5, 1826
Death Date: October 17, 1915
Row: 4
No.: 51*
Surname: Neumann
Given Name(s): Oldmann Friedrich
Birth Date: August 29, 1835
Death Date: March 29, 1916
Remarks by Copyist: Son of Friedrich Oldmann Neumann and Trintje Eilert Neumann.
Born in Ost Friesland.
Row: 4
No.: 52*
Surname: Neumann
Given Name(s): Anna
Birth Date: April 27, 1849
Death Date: September 25, 1936
Remarks by Copyist: Wife of Oldmann Friedrich Neumann, No. 51.
Daughter of Dietrich Heickmann, No. 62.
Row: 4
No.: 53
Surname: Oefinger
Given Name(s): Anna Maria
Birth Date: January 19, 1837
Death Date: July 1, 1923
Row: 5
No.: 54
Surname: Gerdes
Given Name(s): Anna
Birth Date: December 16, 1869
Death Date: August 13, 1890
Row: 5
No.: 55
Surname: Oefinger
Given Name(s): Johann
Birth Date: December 18, 1830
Death Date: May 1, 1891
Row: 5
No.: 56
Surname: Balzen
Given Name(s): Harm Hinrich
Birth Date: February 20, 1810
Death Date: May 11, 1891
Addl. Information: Born in Ost Friesland.
Remarks by Copyist: Metal plaque reads this is the possible grave of Harm Hinrich Balzen.
Contact R.W. Balzen, 528 Gettysburg Road, San Antonio, Texas 78228 (8/1982).
Row: 5
No.: 57
Surname: Boehle
Given Name(s): Mary
Birth Date: October 12, 1829
Death Date: January 13, 1892
Row: 5
No.: 58
Surname: Lindeburg
Given Name(s): Jann J.
Birth Date: March 12, 1811
Death Date: April 3, 1892
Addl. Information: Born in Ost Friesland.
Row: 5
No.: 59
Surname: Heyen
Given Name(s): Johann
Birth Date: January 23, 1831
Death Date: July 3, 1892
Row: 5
No.: 60
Surname: Oefinger
Given Name(s): Ursula
Birth Date: May 25, 1825
Death Date: July 18, 1896
Row: 5
No.: 61
Surname: Balzen
Given Name(s): Heinrich
Birth Date: February 21, 1821
Death Date: February 10, 1897
Row: 5
No.: 62
Surname: Heickmann
Given Name(s): D.
Birth Date: August 1819
Death Date: February 10, 1899
Addl. Information: Born in Ost Friesland
Remarks by Copyist: Wooden slab; today inscription is virtually unreadable.
Row: 5
No.: 63
Surname: Vogel
Given Name(s): Christine
Birth Date: September 22, 1824
Death Date: April 3, 1899
Row: 5
No.: 64
Surname: Oefinger
Given Name(s): Louise
Birth Date: January 17, 1871
Death Date: May 2, 1899
Row: 5
No.: 65
Surname: Aden
Given Name(s): Ehme Lübben
Birth Date: May 31, 1826
Death Date: June 2, 1899
Row: 5
No.: 66
Surname: Grodt
Given Name(s): Henry D.
Birth Date: October 5, 1835
Death Date: June 13, 1901
Row: 5
No.: 67
Surname: Balzen
Given Name(s): August J.
Birth Date: No Date
Death Date: No Date
Row: 5
No.: 68
Surname: Boehle
Given Name(s): Louisa Kurka
Birth Date: March 6, 1876
Death Date: October 11, 1903
Row: 5
No.: 69
Surname: Boehle
Given Name(s): Friedrich L.
Birth Date: March 27, 1849
Death Date: September 5, 1924
Row: 6
No.: 70
Surname: Kappner
Given Name(s): Emma
Birth Date: February 7, 1866
Death Date: August 31, 1904
Addl. Information: Nee Oefinger
Row: 6
No.: 71
Surname: Eckhart
Given Name(s): Theresa
Birth Date: December 25, 1853
Death Date: June 2, 1905
Row: 6
No.: 72
Surname: Schulte
Given Name(s): Hilke
Birth Date: September 4, 1840
Death Date: April 11, 1906
Row: 6
No.: 73
Surname: Burkett
Given Name(s): Ida Mary
Birth Date: May 4, 1882
Death Date: December 22, 1906
Addl. Information: Wife of H.S. Burkett
Row: 6
No.: 74
Surname: Nietenhoffer
Given Name(s): Louisa
Birth Date: June 6, 1882
Death Date: April 26, 1907
Row: 6
No.: 75
Surname: Fuos
Given Name(s): Anna
Birth Date: June 14, 1838
Death Date: November 26,, 1906
Addl. Information: Born in Alchingen, Wurttemburg
Row: 6
No.: 76
Surname: Nietenhoffer
Given Name(s): Johanna A.
Birth Date: July 14, 1886
Death Date: February 8, 1908
Row: 6
No.: 77
Surname: Nietenhoffer
Given Name(s): August
Birth Date: January 27, 1889
Death Date: January 2, 1909
Row: 6
No.: 78
Surname: Bohlen
Given Name(s): Emil
Birth Date: January 16, 1882
Death Date: September 24, 1910
Row: 6
No.: 79
Surname: Neumann
Given Name(s): Albert
Birth Date: April 6, 1838
Death Date: October 30, 1910
Remarks by Copyist: Son of Friedrich Oldmann Neumann & Trintje Eilert Neumann.
Born in Ost Friesland. Husband of Catherine Heickmann, No. 86.
Row: 6
No.: 80
Surname: Bohlen:
Given Name(s): Folke
Birth Date: June 22, 1847
Death Date: June 17, 1911
Row: 6
No.: 81
Surname: Nietenhoffer
Given Name(s): Johann
Birth Date: October 27, 1829
Death Date: December 14, 1911
Row: 6
No.: 82
Surname: Heyen
Given Name(s): Maria E.
Birth Date: March 9, 1834
Death Date: July 28, 1912
Addl. Information: Born in Loesburg.
Row: 6
No.: 83
Surname: Grell
Given Name(s): Alke
Birth Date: June 11, 1840
Death Date: December 24, 1912
Row: 6
No.: 84
Surname: Pauss
Given Name(s): B.
Birth Date: No Date
Death Date: No date
Row: 6
No.: 85
Surname: Fuos
Given Name(s): Lina
Birth Date: May 7, 1884
Death Date: September 10, 1913
Row: 6
No.: 86
Surname: Neumann
Given Name(s): Katharine
Birth Date: June 16, 1851
Death Date: March 3, 1929
Remarks by Copyist: Wife of Albert Neumann, No. 79.
Row: 7
No.: 87
Surname: Mumme
Given Name(s): August
Birth Date: September 9, 1851
Death Date: March 19, 1878
Addl. Information: Ermordet bei bekannter hand, J.M., M.G., & C.W.
Remarks by Copyist: Son of Fritz Mumme & Philemine Tampke Mumme. Fritz Mumme
arrived in Texas in 1846.
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TXGenWeb, Medina County - Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery updated on 01/12/2012 |
