What began as part of genealogical research has become an appreciation
for the art that is an aged tombstone and the quiet beauty of a cemetery.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
San Antonio's Confederate Cemetery
Just inside the Crockett Street entrance to the Confederate Cemetery is the street sign for Robert E. Lee Walk. This cemetery is part of San Antonio's Historic City Cemeteries complex just east of the downtown area.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
The Guenthers

In 1848, Carl Hilmar Guenther immigrated from Germany to the United States. After a short while spent in the midwest, he made his way to south Texas where he initially built a flour mill on Live Oak Creek in Fredericksburg, Texas. Within a few years, he moved his business to San Antonio and located it on the more powerful San Antonio River just south of the downtown area.
![]() Carl Hilmar Guenther | ![]() Dorothea Pape Guenther |

Pioneer Flour Mill has been a San Antonio landmark for over 100 years.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Monday, August 20, 2012
The Burns of Scotland and San Antonio

On three sides of this stone, there are inscriptions for a different family member - James Burns, his wife Margaret Burns and their daughter Cassie Burns McDonald who are buried in the plot. Sadly, Cassie's inscription is now unreadable.

JAMES BURNS
BORN
IN STONE HOUSE
LANARKSHIRE
SCOTLAND
NOV. 15, 1822
DIED
IN SAN ANTONIO
APRIL 5, 1888
An article from the San Antonio Light newspaper regarding James Burns' death gave his cause of death as snakebite. Mr. Burns had walked into his garden at night in his slippers and was bitten by a rattlesnake. Although he was attended by a doctor, he became progressively worse and died in the afternoon of April 5th.

MARGARET BURNS
BORN
IN KILWINNING
AYRSHIRE, SCOTLAND
JUNE 9, 1826
DIED
DEC. 6, 1910

Monday, August 13, 2012
The Derr "Faux Bois" Plot

San Antonio has several examples of the work of Mexican artist Dionicio Rodríguez in the style of "faux bois" (from the French for false wood); however, this gravestone and plot in San Antonio's Cemetery #1 date to 1904, many years before Rodriguez came to the United States from Mexico in the 1920's.

WILHEMINA DERR
BORN May 23, 1832
DIED March 23, 1904

Sadly, this unique plot is now overgrown and neglected with numerous volunteer shrubs and trees crowding the space.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Military Monday - Capt. Charles L. Hudson

Capt. Charles L. Hudson is buried in the San Antonio National Cemetery which is part of the historic San Antonio cemeteries complex founded in 1853.

BRVE. CAPTAIN
CHARLES L. HUDSON
4th U.S. Cavalry
DIED
January 5th, 1874
At Fort Clark Texas
AGED
29 Yrs. & 11 Mos.

(Reverse)
ERECTED
by the Officers
of his Regiment
1874
Monday, June 4, 2012
San Antonio's Historic City Cemeteries
Erna H. Hugo
BORN
April 7, 1880
DIED
February 13, 1897
Lina Haseloff
1852 - 1879
Living in San Antonio for much of my life, it's hard to believe that I wasn't aware this complex existed. This little blog has suffered from a lack of interesting stones and neglect since I haven't ventured off on a genealogical road trip for the last year or so. After my visit to Cemetery #1 on Sunday, I think those days are now over. There are 103 wonderful acres of tombstones and monuments to explore right here at home.



