Old Hebbronville Cemetery

Old Hebbronville Cemetery. . , This burial ground has served Hebbronville since the early 20th century. The cemetery began as part of a rural community known as Peña Station on land owned by the Peña family. The area was once part of the Noriecitas Simon de Ynijosa Grant and the first settlers here were families from northeastern Mexico. In 1877, Faustina Peña and her family came to this area from Ciudad Mier, Tamaulipas, Mexico; the settlers opened a general store called La Estrella (The Star), which served residents of the new community, named Peña Station. In 1883, the Mexican Railroad Company laid tracks west of Peña Station on property owned by James Hebron, who agreed to lay plans for a new townsite. Residents and businesses soon moved to the town. , Maria Peña donated the property for this cemetery in memory of her husband, Donicio Peña. In 1907, this land was officially deeded; this became the first public burial ground for area settlers. The earliest marked grave is for Gregorio Salinas Garcia (1886-1900). Others buried here include vaqueros (cowboys), farmers, merchants, ranchers and Veterans of military conflicts. Ascension Martinez (d. 1928), noted cattleman and co-founder of Hebbronville’s first school, El Colegio Altamirano, is interred here, as is Severo Peña, noted agriculturalist and owner of La Florida Ranch. Cemetery features include vertical stones, interior fencing, iconography, grave slabs and Spanish-language markers. Family members and area residents maintain the property. In 1967, the cemetery land was donated to the Diocese of Corpus Christi in 2000, ownership transferred to the newly-established Diocese of Laredo. Today, old Hebbronville cemetery continues to serve as a reminder of the generations of men and women who fostered the growth of the Hebbronville community. Historic Texas Cemetery - 2008.