Shell Graves of the Texas Hill Country

There seems to be no factual explanation for the shell graves found in various cemeteries primarily in the south Texas communities which were settled by German immigrants in the 19th century.

FRANZ & EMMA

Kindor von

GUSTAV & LOUISE
BIERMANN

Buried in the Comfort Cemetery,
Comfort, Texas

Hier Ruht in Gott Unsere Liebe Tochter (Here Rests in God Our Dear Daughter) IDA KUTZER GEB 28 Nov 1864 Gest 5 Sept 1885 Buried in the Boerne City Cemetery Boerne, Texas

Charlotte Henriette LEEDER GEB Mai 29, 1821 GEST Jan 12, 1898 RUHE SANFT (Rest Gently) Buried in the Comfort Cemetery Comfort, Texas

Wednesdays Child - Thomas Botters Dantzler

OUR BABE

THOMAS BOTTERS
Died January 29th
1855

For of such is the
kingdom of Heaven

A. F. and S. A. Dantzler

Thomas Botters Dantzler is buried in the Paulding Cemetery in Jasper County, Mississippi. The names of his parents are difficult to read due to the shadows and debris on the stone but appear to be A. F. and S. A. Dantzler.

Some research of the Dantzlers of Jasper County confirms that his parents were Absolum Fredrik Dantzler and Susanna Millsaps. He is listed as their son Thomas in the family bible of Uriah Millsaps, Susanna's father, but the bible lists no birth or death dates for him.

Thomas' father, Capt. Absolum F. Dantzler who served in Company K, 37th Mississippi Infantry of the CSA was killed at Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi on 3 Oct 1863 according to his gravestone in the Heidelberg City Cemetery in Jasper County.

Tombstone Tuesday - Henry Bascom Hicks

The Civil War left wounds still raw in many parts of the country even after 150 years. In countless areas, civilians were preyed upon by military forces of one army or the other, while in others helpless civilians were robbed and violated by "bushwackers" or lawless elements who merely pretended an allegiance to a particular army.

In Graves County, Kentucky the wounds still run deep from what is referred to as the "reign of terror" of Union Gen. Eleazar Paine. In Maplewood Cemetery of Mayfield, Kentucky there is a monument in the form of a slab over the grave of young Henry Bascom Hicks. He was killed by order of General Paine on the streets of Mayfield in August of 1864. The 18 year old student was accused of being a spy. Paine had been removed from his post in Gallatin, Tennessee in April of 1864 by the order of Major General William T. Sherman after Paine and his men were found guilty of "extreme cruelty and extortion". He was subsequently posted to western Kentucky.

Hopefully there will never be another time when the people of this country turn against each other with such intolerance and cruelty.






A heavy morning dew on the fall day I photographed Henry's grave accentuates the inscription making it more visible and easily readible.

Another Visit to Hortontown

A Google search of "shell graves" produces many sites and numerous theories regarding the practice but in the end, there really is no credible explanation for them. In south Texas, the shell graves are most often found in communities settled by German immigrants, such as these graves in New Braunfels' Hortontown Cemetery.

Hier Ruht
(Here Rests)

MARIE
SOPHIE
KAROLINE
KRETZMEIER
Geb. Stolle
(nee Stolle)

GEB. IN
(Born in)
Bodenwerder
HANOVER
Nov. 27, 1823

GEST.
(Died)
Mai 6, 1897

In Dankbarer
und liebevoller
Erinnerung.
gewidmet von
den treuen gatten.

English Translation -

Thankfully and in loving memory.
Dedicated to the loyal spouse.

The Ferrells of Paulding

WM. B. FERRELL

BORN
at Republican Grove, Va.
June 5, 1828

DIED
at Paulding, Miss.
Oct. 2, 1890

AGED
63 Ys 3 Ms 27 Ds

William Bolivar Ferrell was the son of Elizabeth Tucker Reeves and William C. Ferrell of Halifax County, Virginia. After Elizabeth's early death around 1830, W. C. Ferrell took his sons and relocated to Paulding in Jasper County, Mississippi. A daughter, Elizabeth, remained in Virginia, marrying and raising her family there.

OUR MOTHER JULIA Wife of W. B. FERRELL DIED Oct. 10, 1874 AGED 37 Yrs 2 Mos

W. C. FERRELL born May 20th A.D. 1798 and died August 14th A.D. 1842 Erected by his son, W. B. FERRELL

Julia, the wife of William Bolivar Ferrell, was the daughter of Capt. Jesse Hyde and Lucinda Overstreet. Although her gravestone gives her age at death as 37 years and 2 months, that does not agree with her accepted date of birth, 12 April 1839.

In Memory
of
Capt. JESSE HYDE

Born in Wilkes Co., Ga.
June 1799

Died in Jasper Co., Miss.
10 July 1876
(Date Illegible in Photo)