Old High Hill Cemetery

A Footprints of Fayette article first published in May 2022:

The Old High Hill Cemetery

By Darlene Graf Quiring
President, Old High Hill Cemetery Association, Inc.

Old High Hill Cemetery, one of the oldest cemeteries in Fayette County, is located approximately three miles northwest of Schulenburg on FM2672 in Fayette County, Texas.  Majestic centuries-old oak trees enhance the natural, serene beauty of this cemetery.

The High Hill Post Office, established in 1860, united the three adjacent villages of Blum Hill, Oldenburg, and Wursten and gave the community cemetery its name. The original village on the south was Blum Hill, named for Robert Blum (1803-1848), a German political activist who was a tragic victim of Germany’s Revolution of 1848.  Oldenburg, named for the German province, was about 1.5 miles north of Blum Hill, and Wursten, apparently named after delicious sausage purchased there, was between the two other villages. The Old High Hill Cemetery is located in what was previously the Blum Hill community.

The cemetery is on a six-acre tract of land which was once the property of George Herder (1818-1887), a German immigrant and veteran of the Battle of San Jacinto.  In 1858 two acres were conveyed by N. W. Faison and in 1859 an adjoining additional four acres were conveyed by Henry Ebeling “for the purpose of erecting a school house or college.” When plans for the school did not materialize, families who cherished the rolling hills of the High Hill countryside expressed the wish that it be their final resting place.

The cemetery contains about 400 graves. The oldest stones mark the graves of August Wolters and Friedrich Eicholt who both died in the spring of 1861.

Following the American Civil War, High Hill grew into a thriving community including six stores, a cotton gin and gristmill, the first oil mill in Texas, two schools, three blacksmith and wheelwright shops, two saloons, a hotel and stage stop, as well as a community of dramatic players, a Turnverein, an orchestra and Männerchor who competed at state Sängerfests. In the late 1870s the High Hill area began a decline when the railroad was built in Schulenburg.

Old High Hill Cemetery is the final resting place of many early German pioneers who made substantial contributions to Fayette County.   It is a community of family and friends who worked together, worshipped together, and faced life’s joys, challenges, and sorrows together.  Now they rest together in peace.

A few of the notable early pioneers who rest in Old High Hill Cemetery include Louis and Johanna (Meyer) Schulenburg, John Christian and Ernestine (Pannewitz) Baumgarten, Paul and Louise (Engel) Stuercke, Friedrich Gustav and Auguste (Fiebiger) Seydler, Edmund and Eliesabeth (Wellhausen) Creuzbaur, George and Minna (Wolters) Herder, Heinrich and Marie (Eschenburg) Graf, Dr. Henry Overbay, and Dr. E. Heinrich and Agnes (Neumann) Fahnert. John Christian Baumgarten (1836-1912) is recognized as the Father of Schulenburg.  The town of Schulenburg was named after Louis Schulenburg (1810-1887).  Dr. Henry Overbay (1822-1880) and Dr. E. Heinrich Fahnert (1834-1899) were early physicians in Fayette County. There are 28 stones marked with the name Seydler, 21 Nordhausen, 17 Baumgarten, 15 Seidel, 14 Hahnke, 11 Graf, and 11 Herder.

Tombstones often have intricately engraved symbols of flowers and curtains, inscriptions that indicate interests, professions, and fraternal organizations. There are grand tall monuments and simple small tombstones, beautiful cement angels, and tiny stone lambs.  Some graves have rocks lovingly placed.  Artistic wrought-iron fences surround some family plots.

Some inscriptions are in German while others are in English. “Auch er war ein Kämpfer für Wahrheit und Recht.  Friede seiner Asche.” (He too was a Fighter for Truth and Justice.  Peace to his ashes.) “Sanft ruhe ihre Asche.” (Gently rest her ashes.) There are tombstones with hands holding each other in a gesture of togetherness with an inscription “Auf Wiedersehen.”  (Goodbye)

Old High Hill Cemetery is the final resting place for many courageous veterans dating as far back as the Texas Revolution and the American Civil War.  The American flag proudly waves at the cemetery’s entrance.

In January 1976 an official Texas Historical Marker for the Old High Hill Cemetery was erected and dedicated.  The marking of local historic sites is part of the Texas Historical Commission’s program to preserve history, arouse interest in historical places, and acquaint people in the community with their unique heritage.

The Old High Hill Cemetery Association, Inc. was incorporated in the State of Texas in 1965 as a non-profit, tax exempt organization under IRS Code Section 501(c)(13), which makes contributions tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

The Old High Hill Cemetery is a perpetual care cemetery with a Board of Directors and Trustees who monitor activities and focus on environmental stewardship and historic preservation of this beautiful country cemetery.  Meetings and Decoration Day are held annually in the month of May.

From the Historic Texas Cemetery Marker:

HIGH HILL CEMETERY

High Hill Post Office, established about 1858, united three adjacent villages, Blum Hill, Wursten and Oldenburg, and gave this community cemetery its name. This six-acre tract was once the property of George Herder (1818-87), a German immigrant and a veteran of the Battle of San Jacinto. The oldest stones mark the graves of August Wolters, who died April 6, 1861, and Friedrich Eicholt, who died May 18, 1861. Two other prominent area citizens buried in the cemetery are Louis Schulenburg, born June 3, 1810, died Dec. 18, 1887; and J. Christian Baumgarten, born March 13, 1836, died Sept. 29, 1912. The cemetery contains about 241 graves, primarily those of German settlers in the area. Family members cared for the site until 1963, when the Old High Hill Cemetery Association, Inc., was organized. [1975]

The Old High Hill Cemetery Association, Inc. provides for the care and maintenance of this cemetery. Please visit their Facebook Page for more information about the cemetery and those who lie at rest there.

Many thanks to Darlene Graf Quiring, President of the Old High Hill Cemetery Association, Inc., for this list of burials as of January 15, 2024.

According to her obituary, Anna Sachtleben Ahrens Vornsand was married first to Henry Ahrens and then second to Henry Vornsand.

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