Lott in Falls County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

St. Mary's Cemetery

Photographed by QuesterMark, September 3, 2018

1. St. Mary's Cemetery Historic Texas Cemetery Marker

Inscription. St. Mary's Cemetery was founded in 1883 by German families who had recently settled in the area and named their community "Westphalia," after their German home province. Casper Hoelscher, Frank Wunsch, Theodore Rabroker, J.G. Bockholt and Frank Glass each contributed to the purchase of 100 acres, which were then donated for the establishment of a community school, church, priest's residence and cemetery.

The oldest grave in the cemetery is the 1884 burial of five-year-old Heinrich Bernard Lenz, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fritz Lenz. As with many of the early grave markers in the cemetery, Lenz's is inscribed in German. The oldest graves in the cemetery are located in the northern section of the site. A large metal cross i the north section of the cemetery marks the grave of Theodore Rabroker, Westphalia's first settler, and one of the donors of the cemetery property. Veterans of the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf War are interred at the site.

A cemetery association was formed prior to 1922, and early association members were required to pay dues for cemetery upkeep. Although the practice has been discontinued, the cemetery remains open for the burial of parishioners of the Church of the Visitation. Today, the Association Board consists of four church parishioners and the presiding priest. As the primary resting palce for the earliest settlers of Westphalia, St. Mary's Cemetery remains today as a symbol of these early pioneers.

Historic Texas Cemtery - 2008
Marker is Property of the State of Texas

Erected 2008

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by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 16234.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical year for this entry is 1883.

Location. 31° 7.386′ N, 97° 7.014′ W. Marker is in Lott, Texas, in Falls County. It is on County Highway 3000, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lott TX 76656, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Westphalia Little School (a few steps from this marker); Church of the Visitation (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Frank and Julia Bockholt Home (approx. ¾ mile away); Homesite of Theodore Rabroker (approx. 1.4 miles away); Barclay Cemetery

St. Mary's Cemetery with Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by QuesterMark, September 3, 2018

2. St. Mary's Cemetery with Marker

(approx. 3½ miles away); Farmers Mutual Protective Association of Texas (RVOS) (approx. 3.9 miles away); Live Oak Cemetery (approx. 4.3 miles away); Salem Lutheran Church (approx. 5 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lott.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 1, 2018. It was originally submitted on October 25, 2018, by QuesterMark of Fort Worth, Texas. This page has been viewed 641 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 25, 2018, by QuesterMark of Fort Worth, Texas. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.