Brownsville in Cameron County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Estéfana Goseascochea Cemetery
Photographed By James Hulse, April 18, 2023
1. Estéfana Goseascochea Cemetery Marker
Inscription.
Estéfana Goseascochea Cemetery. . María Estéfana Goseascochea de Cavazos y de Cortina established this burial ground on her property by the mid-1800s. Doña Estéfana, as she was known, was a large landowner and matriarch of noted pioneer families in south Texas. Born in Ciudad Camargo, Nuevo Santander, Mexico in 1792 to an affluent family, she married José María Francisco Cavazos in 1815. The couple had three children before José died. In 1823, Estéfana remarried; with attorney and Alcalde Trinidad Cortinas she would have three more children. Cortinas died during the Mexican-American War (1846-48)., In 1848, Doña Estéfana moved her family from Camargo, Mexico to her allotted portion of the Espíritu Santo grant, located here. She established a ranching community that she named Rancho el Carmen (El Carmen Ranch), building a house and chapel. While here, Doña Estéfana lost a portion of her land to robber barons, despite a court ruling in her favor. One of Estéfana's sons, Juan N. Cortina, was a noted general and notorious figure who championed her cause in south Texas., Doña Estéfana died on Nov. 10, 1867, and was buried at the cemetery on Rancho el Carmen. Due to damage from weather and vandalism, and obstruction from the building of a levee, the burial ground has diminished. However, it remains a monument to the residents of this area and to Doña Estéfana who was praised after her death by the Brownsville Daily Ranchero which stated, "Many are living who owe their lives to the noble exertions of Doña Estéfana. Her sympathies were ever aroused in behalf of those whose lives were endangered, her philanthropy knew no bounds."
Historic Texas Cemetery 2007
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María Estéfana Goseascochea de Cavazos y de Cortina established this burial ground on her property by the mid-1800s. Doña Estéfana, as she was known, was a large landowner and matriarch of noted pioneer families in south Texas. Born in Ciudad Camargo, Nuevo Santander, Mexico in 1792 to an affluent family, she married José María Francisco Cavazos in 1815. The couple had three children before José died. In 1823, Estéfana remarried; with attorney and Alcalde Trinidad Cortinas she would have three more children. Cortinas died during the Mexican-American War (1846-48).
In 1848, Doña Estéfana moved her family from Camargo, Mexico to her allotted portion of the Espíritu Santo grant, located here. She established a ranching community that she named Rancho el Carmen (El Carmen Ranch), building a house and chapel. While here, Doña Estéfana lost a portion of her land to robber barons, despite a court ruling in her favor. One of Estéfana's sons, Juan N. Cortina, was a noted general and notorious figure who championed her cause in south Texas.
Doña Estéfana died on Nov. 10, 1867, and was buried at the cemetery on Rancho el Carmen. Due to damage from weather and vandalism, and obstruction from the building of a levee, the burial ground has diminished. However, it remains a monument to the residents of this
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area and to Doña Estéfana who was praised after her death by the Brownsville Daily Ranchero which stated, "Many are living who owe their lives to the noble exertions of Doña Estéfana. Her sympathies were ever aroused in behalf of those whose lives were endangered, her philanthropy knew no bounds."
Historic Texas Cemetery 2007
Erected 2007 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 15454.)
Location. 25° 57.726′ N, 97° 34.704′ W. Marker is in Brownsville, Texas, in Cameron County. Marker is on Military Road (U.S. 281) ¼ mile River Oak Circle, on the left when traveling west. The marker is located along the south side of the highway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Brownsville TX 78520, United States of America. Touch for directions.
3. The view of the Estéfana Goseascochea Cemetery Marker along the highway
Credits. This page was last revised on April 24, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 23, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 157 times since then and 72 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on April 24, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.