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south corner is at E. Madison and E. 5th street and the NW corner
is at E. Madison and E 2nd street. The NE boundary is the town resaca. |
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Historical Marker:
BROWNSVILLE
CITY CEMETERY
Although this cemetery
was not formally deeded to the city of Brownsville until 1868, dates
on marked Tombstones indicate the site was being used as a Graveyard
by the late 1850’s. Buried here are some of the earliest settlers
to arrive in this part of the Rio Grande Valley, including the Rev
Hiram Chamberlain (1797-1866), who founded the Presbyterian Church
in Brownsville and whose daughter
Henrietta married noted South Texas rancher Richard King. Others buried
here include city and county government leader Joseph Webb (1850-1933),
Sheriff Santiago Brito (1851-1892), first Mayor and county judge Israel
Bigelow (1811-1869), and Mexican War surgeon Charles Macmanus (1824-1906)
The Brownsville City Cemetery reveals much of the city’s history,
victims of wars, gun fights, yellow fever and cholera are buried here
and their graves are evidence of early conditions in the border town.
The number of above ground crypts ornate monuments and ironwork fences
reflects the Spanish-French influence in the area. English-French
Spanish and German tombstone inscriptions are indicative of the city
ethnic mixture. Still in use after more than one hundred years the
Brownsville City Cemetery continues to serve as a historical reminder
of the region’s rich heritage.
Transcribed by Ken
Rudine |
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Elizabeth St. runs
the length of downtown, ending at the Old City Cemetery. For birders,
both ends (Ft. Brown and the Cemetery) abound with flocks of green
parrots, early morning and dusk. |
Flock of parrots
in flight
Photo courtesy Ken
Rudine, February 2007 |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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