Mitte Cultural District in Brownsville in Cameron County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Brownsville City Cemetery
Photographed By James Hulse, April 19, 2023
1. Brownsville City Cemetery Marker
Inscription.
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 1850s. 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 first 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, gunfights, 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's ethnic mixture. , Still in use after more than one hundred years, the Brownsville City Cemetery continues to serve as a historic reminder of the region's rich heritage,
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 1850s. 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 first 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, gunfights, 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's ethnic mixture.
Still in use after more than one hundred years, the Brownsville City Cemetery continues to serve as a historic reminder of the region's rich heritage,
Erected 1983
Click or scan to see this page online
by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 539.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Immigration. A significant historical year for this entry is 1868.
Location. 25° 54.506′ N, 97° 30.016′ W. Marker is in Brownsville, Texas, in Cameron County. It is in the Mitte Cultural District. Marker is at the intersection of East 5th Street and East Madison Street, on the left when traveling east on East 5th Street. The marker is located at the southeastern entrance to the cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 955 E 5th St, Brownsville TX 78520, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 3, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 98 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on May 3, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.