Historical Marker

Gates Cemetery

Marker installed: 2002
Marker size: X

GATES CEMETERY

THE GATES FAMILY CAME TO TEXAS AS PART OF STEPHEN F. AUSTIN’S ORIGINAL COLONY. THIS CEMETERY, THE FAMILY’S SECOND IN TEXAS, WAS ESTABLISHED ON LAND GIVEN TO SAMUEL H. GATES FOR SERVICE IN TEXAS’ WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. HE AND HIS WIFE, ELIZA DILLARD, RAISED THEIR FOUR CHILDREN IN THE GATES-WELL COMMUNITY, WHICH WAS SERVED BY THIS CEMETERY AND BY A SCHOOLHOUSE IN USE UNTIL THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY.

THE FIRST BURIAL HERE WAS THAT OF THE GATES’ SON SAMUEL A., A CONFEDERATE VETERAN IMPRISONED AT VICKSBURG WHO DIED SHORTLY AFTER HIS RETURN HOME IN 1863. OTHER BURIALS INCLUDE HIS FATHER, SAMUEL H., AND HIS BROTHER, JOSEPH DILLARD GATES, A SECOND SERGEANT IN COMPANY I, FIRST TEXAS REGIMENT, ONE OF TEXAS’ FIRST CONFEDERATE UNITS. JOSEPH LATER SERVED AS INSPECTOR OF CATTLE AND AS GONZALES COUNTY COMMISSIONER. HIS GRANDDAUGHTER JAIME K. FERGUSON, ALSO BURIED HERE, WORKED FOR THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AS A TEACHER ON INDIAN RESERVATIONS. SHE HELPED FORM A CEMETERY ASSOCIATION TO MAINTAIN THESE GROUNDS, THE RESTING PLACE FOR GENERATIONS OF GATES FAMILY MEMBERS. THE CEMETERY’S FEATURES DEMONSTRATE DECADES OF BURIAL PRACTICES AND REFLECT THE AREA’S EARLY HISTORY.

HISTORIC TEXAS CEMETERY - 2002

As one of the most visible programs of the Texas Historical Commission (THC), historical markers commemorate diverse topics in Texas history, including: the history and architecture of houses, commercial and public buildings, religious congregations, and military sites; events that changed the course of local and state history; and individuals who have made lasting contributions to the state, community organizations, and businesses.

gravesites
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Texas random facts
Gonzales County, Texas, has a rich history dating back to its settlement in the early 1820s. The area was part of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas until the Texas Revolution in 1836, when the Battle of Gonzales became a pivotal moment in the fight for independence. The battle, often referred to as the "Lexington of Texas," was fought due to a demand by Mexican authorities for the return of a cannon given to the settlers to protect against Native American raids. This refusal to comply with the orders of the Mexican government marked the beginning of the Texas Revolution.

Following the Texas Revolution and the establishment of the Republic of Texas, Gonzales County played a vital role in the formation of the new state. The town of Gonzales became the capital of DeWitt County and remained a prominent center for trade and agriculture. The 1850s brought an influx of German immigrants to the area, who brought with them their agricultural expertise and helped to further develop the county's economy.

During the Civil War, Gonzales County primarily sided with the Confederacy, and many residents served in the Confederate Army. After the war, the county faced a period of reconstruction and struggled with political and economic challenges. However, through the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the discovery of oil and the expansion of the cattle industry brought renewed growth and prosperity to Gonzales County.

Today, Gonzales County remains a vibrant community with a mix of agriculture, oil and gas production, and diverse industries. The county is also known for its rich cultural heritage, including historical sites and the annual reenactment of the Battle of Gonzales. The county's history is celebrated and preserved through museums, historical markers, and the pride of its residents in their shared past.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Gonzales County, Texas.

  • 1834 - Gonzales County established as a municipality of Mexico
  • 1835 - "Come and Take It" cannon skirmish occurs in Gonzales, marking the start of the Texas Revolution
  • 1836 - Texas gains independence from Mexico; Gonzales County becomes part of the Republic of Texas
  • 1846 - Texas becomes a state, and Gonzales County remains a political subdivision
  • 1861-1865 - Gonzales County residents participate in the American Civil War
  • 1878 - The Gonzales Inquirer, the oldest continuously published weekly newspaper in Texas, is established
  • 1887 - Gonzales County Courthouse is built
  • 1891 - The Harwood and Gonzales Railway connects Gonzales to the Texas railway network
  • 1905 - Oil is discovered in Gonzales County, leading to an economic boom
  • 1936 - The Gonzales Warm Springs Rehabilitation Center, now the J.B. Wells Park, opens as a medical facility for polio patients
  • 1949 - The Gonzales Memorial Museum is established to preserve local history
  • 1967 - The Gonzales State School opens to serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
  • 1988 - The Confederate Soldiers Monument is erected in the Gonzales Memorial Museum