WHAT DO YOU KNOW about the Texas State Cemetery?

WHAT DO YOU KNOW about the Texas State Cemetery? If you read Michael Barnes’ two recent features about the cemetery in the Austin American Statesman you already know more than I can add. Perhaps an impetus for his article was journalist Julian Read’s recent interment there. Julian was a resident in Westminster Retirement Community. He is certainly not the only, nor will he be the last Westminster resident to be recognized for public service with a resting place in our beautiful State Cemetery.________ Huge trees shade the gravesites of individuals who have made both major and minor marks in the history books of Texas. Stephen F. Austin’s remains were transported from his sister’s land and reinterred in the city named for him.________ Early settler Joseph Wilbarger lived many years after Indians scalped him and left him to die near the Colorado River. His remains are in the cemetery. There is a monument honoring Susanna Dickinson, survivor of the Alamo, but she is buried at nearby Oakwood Cemetery making her a cenotaph. (1)________ The Fergusons known as “Pa and Ma” are buried in the state cemetery beside each other. James also nicknamed “Farmer Jim”, was elected governor (1914) and impeached three years later. Unable to run for office in Texas again, his wife Miriam Amada “Ma” became his proxy governor in 1924. There is more to be featured about this preposterous duo is in my next article. Stay tuned.________ Way Back in history (1686) La Salle and other French explorers came to the land we now call Texas. Their explorations were unsuccessful and a small ship the La Bell went down in the Gulf of Mexico. When the ship was raised, the remains of one of the sailors was reinterred in the far side of the cemetery at the base of Monument Hill (2003). The ship acquired by the Bullock Texas State Museum (2), now displays it with all its remains, minus this sailor.________ Texas has both confederate and union Texans to commemorate. A decorative cage-like structure holds an Italian granite sculpture of Albert Sidney Johnston. His likeness, first created by Austin’s Elisabet Ney, lies in repose in a glass lined Gothic crypt. Johnston served as a general in three armies: the Republic of Texas, United States and Confederate States. A statue of him stood on the South Mall of the University of Texas at Austin, but in 2017 it was removed to the University’s Briscoe History Center.________ A very impressive monument in the cemetery marking the burial site of former Union general and Texas Gov. Edmund J. Davis reaches for the sky.________ More recent public figures rest in gravesites at the state cemetery, for example Texas stateswoman Barbara Jordan, Governor John Connally and his wife Nellie, and Navy SEAL Chris Kyle. Football fans will find beloved Longhorn football coach Darrell Royal and his wife Edith there. Carole Sikes 7/2021________ (1)Cenotaph: A monument erected to honor a deceased person whose remains lie elsewhere. (2) The museum is located at on a corner at 1800 No. Congress Ave. at MLK Street, Austin, TX Photos featured in the Statesman’s are by Aaron Martinez, article by Michael Barnes