Old Bayview Cemetery in Corpus Christi

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  C. M.

  :: 04 March 2018 14:10:29

  This is a great cemetery and is the oldest in Texas. Some soldiers from the Texas Revolution war are buried here. Here’s a reference: Originally a military cemetery, Old Bayview is the final resting place of about eighty veterans of five wars who hail from fourteen different countries and twenty-six U. S. states. There are veterans of the War of 1812, the Texas Revolution, the Mexican-American War, both sides of the American Civil War, and the Spanish American War as well as of conflicts between the settlers and Indians. Texas Revolutionary soldiers include George W. Hockley, who was Inspector General of the Texas Army during the Battle of San Jacinto and Texas Secretary of War in 1838, and William Gamble (or Gambel) (1808–1877), who was in Sam Houston's army before becoming a rancher and judge in Live Oak County. Some who were with Taylor's army returned to live in Corpus Christi and are buried there. Texans who fought on both sides of the Civil War are buried there and so are Henry Chapman and William Warfield, black Union soldiers who arrived with the Federal occupation. During the time of the cemetery's greatest usage most people in Corpus Christi could be described as pioneers. Alejo Hernandez (1842–1875) was born in Aguascalientes, Mexico and became the first Methodist minister to preach in that country. Tito P. Rivera (1843–1894), who was captured by Comanches at age nine and forced to be an interpreter till released at age twelve, fought in the Civil War and became a leading merchant. Captain Henry W. Berry (1818–1888) came with Taylor's army and became the first Nueces County sheriff before being Tax Collector-Assessor, then Mayor from 1857 to 1862. Matthew Nolan was orphaned in childhood, fought in the Mexican-American War, and then became sheriff in which job he was shot to death in 1864. Mrs. Matilda Roscher Darby (1880–1911) is described as a "member of pioneer families". Mary Guilmenot is described as a "negro woman" who was born in Matagorda, Texas and moved to Indianola then Corpus Christi. There she married George Guilmenot, Jr., had a large family, and died at age 80 in 1938. Of black persons during that time when racial segregation was being legislated, some of the earliest buried having been slaves of white cemetery occupants, about forty are thought to lie there, the last interred in the 1980s. Many individuals prominent in the little-known history of south Texas are buried there. Captain John W. Fitch (1832–1910) was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and came to Texas in 1850. He was the first sheriff in Bee County before moving to Nueces County, and worked for Richard King of King Ranch fame. He was a captain in the Confederate forces under John Salmon Ford ("Rip" Ford) and a Texas Ranger. In 1877 he bought a ranch in Nueces County, moved to San Antonio in 1899 where he lived until 1905 when he sold his business to live in Boerne. In 1868 he married Avaline Byington of Banquette, Texas and raised a large family. Dr. T. Somervell Burke (1836–1891) was a Confederate veteran born in Mississippi who for many years ran the quarantine station at Port Aransas. His "funeral cortage was one of the largest ever seen in Corpus Christi" says his obituary, and businesses closed for the service. Felix Anton von Blucher (1819–1878) is the great-nephew of the Field Marshal von Blũcher who led German forces at the Battle of Waterloo. (In Texas records the spelling is usually anglicized.) He was born in Poglow, Mechlenburg, Germany, studied engineering, learned four modern languages plus Latin in addition to his native German, and served in the Prussian army before immigrating. In 1845 he was at New Braunfels, Texas where he helped draft a treaty.

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  chris marin

  :: 12 June 2017 17:17:52

  Was amazed . Great history. Many hero's there.

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  Jamie Peal

  :: 04 August 2016 11:32:41

  The cemetery is great, for the most part undisturbed, we went last year in the wintertime as the Voices of South Texas did a great informational display for all to see for free, what is really cool is all the history of this place that most dont know about, i have lived here my entire life and never knew it was even here, we explored the whole place and look forward to this years event.

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  Ricky Zipprian

  :: 29 February 2016 10:03:50

  This historical landmark NEEDS TO BE BETTER MAINTAINED BY THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI!!!!!!

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  Danica Garza

  :: 19 May 2014 15:57:36

  It is very sad that the city does not keep up with this historical landmark. I went there this weekend and was very disappointed in its appearance. I loved it for the history but I would love to see this maintained and respected.