Customized cache host by SockMonkey69.
As always with hides at this type location if there is a service underway move along and come back to search for the geocache another day. We must always be respectful and reverant toward those who have suffered the loss of a loved one.
There is alot of history here. I have provided what I found if you care to take the time to read it:
.Green H. Coleman applied to be a part of the Stephen F. Austin Colony in October 1832. A month later, he was granted 1 ½ leagues of land by the State of Coahuila and Texas; it is presumed that he was here by the time he was granted the land. He and his wife, Sarah Henderson, had a child born here in 1832, further substantiating the family presence in Texas in that year. When Green was granted a labor of land by the Board of Land Commissioners for the County of Washington in 1838, he stated that he was in Texas before May 1835. This labor of land was south of the La Bahia Road in what later became the La Bahia Community. On January 12, 1854, Green H. Coleman sold to B. S.Pullen “my headright labor of land except one acre....The said one acre of land that I herein reserve out of said labor is expressly for a burying ground, said acre of ground to border on the southwest boundary line of said labor two of the lines bounding said acre to run at right angles from said labor in such a manner as to include the present graves as near in the center of said acre of land as possible. In addition to my reservation of said acre of land, I also reserve the right of a passway for myself and others through the northwest half of said land where it may but suit the said Pullen in order to (sic) the conveyance of the dead to said burying ground in the usual way of conveyance and also the conveyance of stone, timber or other material whatever in order to the inclosing (sic) of graves or making any improvements there whatever that I or my posterity may desire to make.” Although it is not specifically stated that this was the Coleman Family Graveyard, the wording in the document seems to imply such. In 1839, Green had purchased the ObadiahHudson League which joined his labor of land, and it is possible that Green and Sarah lived on the Hudson League as census records show that they were still living in the vicinity as late as 1880 when he was 80 years old and she was 73 years old. It is highly probable that they are buried in this cemetery.Green & Sarah had at least 8 children:(1) Francis “Frank” Henderson Coleman, was born October 4, 1829, and married Adaline Virginia Tatum in 1856. Frank died July 9, 1917, in Kleberg County. (2) Martha Coleman was born circa 1832 and was living with her parents in 1850. She may be buried in this cemetery. (3) Rebecca Jane Coleman was born November 27, 1833, and married William Harvey Derrick in 1861. Rebecca died April 20, 1927, and is buried in Derrick Family Cemetery.
(4) Sarah J. Coleman was born in 1836 and married James R. Machel in 1856. Sarah’s death date and place are unknown; she may be buried in this cemetery.(5) Bethilda J. Coleman was born November 16, 1837, and married Simeon O. Tatum in 1860. She died on January 21, 1924, and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Burton.(6) Mary A. Coleman was born circa 1840 and married Samuel R. Kenada in 1860. She may have died by 1880 and may be buried in this cemetery.(7) Green H. Coleman was born circa 1845 and may have died by 1860. He also may be buried in this cemetery.(8) William Milam Coleman was born January 30, 1847, and married Sarah Ruth Carter in 1869. He died February 1, 1892, and is buried in this cemetery.Deed records throughout the years continued to reserve this acre of land for what was simply referred to as the burying ground or graveyard, with no name mentioned. Later owners were John W. Middleton, George Keesee, Eliza C. Gardner, Lorenzo B. & Anna Little, and John William & Louise Wedemeyer. On February 6, 1890, the Wedemeyers sold the property, 166 ½ acres, to Carl Heinrich Friedrich & Louise Niemann. On June 6, 1892, the Niemanns sold 2 ½ acres to “A. Hinze, A. Kieke & F. Niemann, Trustees of the Coleman Graveyard and their successors in office” for $20 and “for the further consideration that the tract of land conveyed by this deed shall be kept enclosed by a good substantial fence as a graveyard for the burial of the dead of this community”. The Wedemeyers sold the property in 1890 and moved to Coryell County. In 1879, German immigrants who settled in this area formed the La Bahia Turn Verein. They purchased property in 1884 and built a building for their meeting place onthe old La Bahia Road. Businesses were formed during that same time period and a post office opened in 1879. This is probably when the community became known as La Bahia. There is no record of when the cemetery’s name was changed. In the early 1900s, Wedemeyer and La Bahia were used interchangeably, but it is now only known as La Bahia Cemetery. There are no known Wedemeyers buried in the cemetery. No further reference has been found to the name “Coleman Graveyard”.In March 1901, the Niemanns sold the 164 acres to Henriette Hinze, who passed it on to son Paul in 1917, and on August 8, 1933, Paul and Louise Hinze sold another acre to the cemetery association.On January 11, 1948, ten ladies met for the purpose of organizing the La Bahia Cemetery Aid, and by 1957, there were 51 ladies in the organization. They planted St. Augustine grass which now covers most of the cemetery. The fence of chain and native rock pillars along the public road and the La Bahia Cemetery sign were accomplished because of their contributions. They were also responsible for hiring workers to maintain the grounds and gravesites. Their major fund-raising was bingo games at the monthly dances held at the La Bahia Hall. Prizes in the beginning were items such as sugar, flour, etc. When they begin giving money for prizes, the organization gave half of the money collected as a prize and kept the other half for the work of the cemetery. When the dances were no longer being held, the ladies continued their bingo games and also served food as another source of income.
On January 14, 1955, the La Bahia Cemetery Association acquired a one-acre tract from Louise Hinze, widow of Paul. Again the association was required to build a good substantial fence all around the property owned bythem and keep same in a good repaired condition at all times hereafter. On November 7, 1984, the La Bahia Cemetery Association transferred the ownership of 4.7 acres to La Bahia Cemetery Association, Inc. At this time, the La Bahia Cemetery Aid was disbanded.