Zimmerscheidt-Leyendecker Cemetery
COLORADO COUNTY, TEXAS
A HISTORIC TEXAS CEMETERY
- Location: on the east side of FM
109, about 8 miles north of Columbus, but on private property and
thus inaccessible to public traffic
- Earliest known year of death:
1856
- Racial mix: all white
- Audited by Jean Gross, Anders
Saustrup, and Bill Stein in February 1990 and again in October 2011 by Mary Anne Pickens who provided photos of each of the markers
- Number of known burials to date: 42
- If you have any corrections, additions or obituaries pertaining to this cemetery, please contact the county coordinator.
The text of the historical marker placed in 2014:
Zimmerscheidt-Leyendecker Cemetery
Frederick A. Zimmerscheidt and his wife, Margaret, immigrated from Budesheim, Germany, to the Mexican state of Coahuila y Texas in 1832 and settled in what is now Colorado County. They left their only child, Josephine Barbara, to continue her education in Germany. Josephine married Johann Leyendecker, and in 1843 they joined the Zimmerscheidts in Texas. Johann and Josephine wrote to relatives describing their new home, and their letters likely influenced other German emigrants to come to Texas. Frederick was active in local education, signing an 1842 petition to incorporate Hermann University and deeding one acre for the Zimmerscheidt School in the 1850s. The Zimmerscheidts deeded 400 acres south of their home to their daughter and son-in-law in 1848. On their land, the Leyendeckers built their own home which stood for more than a century, being listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 before being destroyed by arson in 1983.
Although nearby Frelsburg had two churches and two cemeteries when Frederick Zimmerscheidt died in 1856, his family chose to bury him near his home. Margaret died in 1861 and was buried beside him. Their marble tombstone features a carved drapery with a closed book, which may signify the end of the name Zimmerscheidt, since family all carried the name Leyendecker. Family members interred here served in the military and in public office, including county government and the Texas Legislature. J. F. Leyendecker is also noted as a horticulturist and for operation of Pearfield Nursery from 1876 until his death in 1908. The cemetery is still in use, with burials limited to descendants, who gather annually for a family reunion. Their family cemetery is hallowed ground and a cultural treasure recalling German lives and traditions transplanted to Texas.
Historic Texas Cemetery — 2012
Photo of historical marker contributed by Joye Johnson
Burials
Baring, Josephine; born: Jun 3, 1841; died: Nov 5, 1907;
Daughter of Johann and Josephine (Zimmerscheidt) Leyendecker, married Otto A. Baring; photo
Baring, Otto Albert; born: Jan 5, 1838; Oct 13, 1913;
[Unmarked grave next to Josephine Baring]
Brune, Emil Joachim.; born: May 16, 1880; died: Jun 21, 1971;
Son of Florenz A. and Sophie (Bruedigam) Brune; photo
Brune, Laura; born: Jul 27, 1882; died: Nov 24, 1970;
Daughter of Johann Friederich and Francis Ann (Stanger) Leyendecker, married Emil J. Brune, Jan 16, 1907; photo
Cooper, Mary; born: Feb 14, 1843; died: Dec 18, 1929;
Née Reitcer, married Thomas Cooper; photo
Frels, Anna Margareta Friedericka; born: Jan 29, 1849; died: Aug 6, 1933;
Daughter of Johann and Josephine (Zimmerscheidt) Leyendecker, married William Gerhard Frels in 1869; photo
Frels, Louis Anton; born: Jan 21, 1883; died: Aug 19, 1884;
Son of William Gerhard and Anna Margareta Friedericka (Leyendecker) Frels; photo
Frels, William Gerhard; born: Jun 3, 1846; died: Jul 6, 1911;
Son of Gerhard and Louisa (Wiechmann) Frels; photo
Guthmann, Henry; born: Sep 16, 1868; died: Oct 12, 1940;
Son of Wilhelm and Elizabeth (Meyer) Guthmann; photo
Leehy, Virginia Sue; born: Sep 11, 1936; died: Aug 10, 2010;
Daughter of Johnny and Eva Beatrice (Owens) Leehy, married Charles Wesley Leyendecker, III, divorced
Leyendecker, Adam; born: Oct 28, 1857; died: Apr 21, 1922;
Son of Johann and Josephine (Zimmerscheidt) Leyendecker; photo
Leyendecker, Adolph Sylvester; born: Mar 28, 1871; died: Jul 3, 1887;
Son of Johann Frederick and Francis Ann (Stanger) Leyendecker; photo
Leyendecker, Alice T. A.; born: Jul 30, 1863; died: Jun 14, 1878;
Daughter of Johann Frederick and Francis Ann (Stanger) Leyendecker; photo
Leyendecker, Aline; born: Oct 12, 1918; died: Jun 29, 1920;
Daughter of Arthur P. and Annie (Brune) Leyendecker; photo
Leyendecker, Alma; born: Jul 4, 1870; died: Mar 7, 1954;
Daughter of Julius Andrew and Rosalia (Bernke) Hundt, married Adam Leyendecker in 1893; photo
Leyendecker, Anna; born: Feb 14, 1866; died: Aug 11, 1952;
Daughter of Jacob and Rosa (Tenius) Hahn, married Charles Leyendecker; photo
Leyendecker, Carrie; born: Dec 14, 1868; died: May 1, 1950;
Daughter of Johann Frederick and Francis Ann (Stanger) Leyendecker; photo
Leyendecker, Charles; born: Dec 24, 1855; died: Aug 31, 1947;
Son of Johann and Josephine (Zimmerscheidt) Leyendecker; photo
Leyendecker, Charles Wesley III; born: Jul 27, 1933; died: May 7, 1976;
Son of Charles and Taska I. (Westphal) Leyendecker, Korean War veteran, called Nookie; photo
Leyendecker, Charles, Jr.; born: Feb 4, 1906; died: Jun 24, 1988;
Son of Charles and Anna (Hahn) Leyendecker; photo
Leyendecker, Clifford; born: Nov 28, 1907; died: Jan 28, 2001;
Son of Adam and Alma (Hundt) Leyendecker; photo
Leyendecker, Crystal Ann; born: Feb 15, 1975; died: Mar 2, 2006;
Daughter of Douglas and Diana Matheson, married Charles Leyendecker, May 31, 1995; photo
Leyendecker, Francis Ann; born: Feb 5, 1842; died: Jul 19, 1902;
Née Stanger, married Johann Frederick Leyendecker in 1859; photo
Leyendecker, George M.; born: Jul 14, 1878; died: Nov 3, 1900;
Son of Johann Frederick and Francis Ann (Stanger) Leyendecker; photo
Leyendecker, Herbert; born: Jun 18, 1897; died: Aug 25, 1964;
Son of Adam and Alma (Hundt) Leyendecker; photo
Leyendecker, Jackie A.; born: Mar 12, 1919; died: Feb 8, 2009;
Daughter of Nathan August and Rosalie Cynthia (Barcelona) Bienvenu, married (2) Clifford Leyendecker Oct. 23, 1975; photo
Leyendecker, James; born: Jan 3, 1875; died: Jul 20, 1882;
Son of Johann Frederick and Francis Ann (Stanger) Leyendecker; photo
Leyendecker, James Tracy; born: Dec 21, 1931; died: May 10, 1955;
Son of Weldon and Mary Louise (Ivey) Leyendecker, Lieutenant (JG) USNR, navy pilot killed in plane crash [memorial only, his body was never recovered]; photo
Leyendecker, Jennifer Lynn; born: Sep 21, 1955; died: Oct 29, 1955;
Daughter of Charles and Virginia (Leehy) Leyendecker
Leyendecker, Johann; born: Jun 3, 1803; died: Aug 29, 1869; photo
Leyendecker, Johann Baptist; born: Jul 1, 1843; died: Apr 19, 1918;
Son of Johann and Josephine (Zimmerscheidt) Leyendecker, Confederate veteran; photo
Leyendecker, Johann Frederick; born: Oct 3, 1838; died: Aug 8, 1908;
Son of Johann and Josephine (Zimmerscheidt) Leyendecker, called Fritz, Confederate veteran; photo
Leyendecker, John Frederic; born: Feb 15, 1866; died: Aug 7, 1867;
Son of Johann Frederick and Francis Ann (Stanger) Leyendecker; photo
Leyendecker, Josephine; born: Dec 16, 1816; died: Sep 13, 1863;
Daughter of Frederick Adolph and Margaret (Bastian) Zimmerscheidt, married Johann Leyendecker; photo
Leyendecker, Mary; born: Dec 24, 1836; died: Sep 18, 1875;
Daughter of Johann and Josephine (Zimmerscheidt) Leyendecker, married Hermann Meyer in 1874 [stone does not contain the Meyer surname]; photo
Leyendecker, Mary Louise; born: Nov 19, 1907; died: May 7, 1992;
Daughter of James Ford and Middie May (Wagley) Ivey, married Weldon Leyendecker in 1928; photo
Leyendecker, Peter H.; born: Sep 10, 1879; died: Jul 16, 1899;
Son of Johann Frederick and Francis Ann (Stanger) Leyendecker; photo
Leyendecker, Salforenia; born: Jul 20, 1873; died: Jul 21, 1873;
Daughter of Johann Frederick and Francis Ann (Stanger) Leyendecker; photo
Leyendecker, Taska I.; born: Sep 22, 1911; died: Dec 3, 1978;
Daughter of Hugo and Helene Westphal, married Charles Leyendecker, Jr.; photo
Leyendecker, unnamed baby; born: Sep 4, 1888; died: Sep 4, 1888;
Child of Johann Frederick and Francis Ann (Stanger) Leyendecker; photo
Leyendecker, Weldon; born: Jul 29, 1899; died: Mar 9, 1982;
Son of Adam and Alma (Hundt) Leyendecker; photo
Leyendecker, Zerlina; born: Sep 15, 1904; died: Apr 24, 1968;
Daughter of Adam and Alma (Hundt) Leyendecker; photo
Machinsky, Baby; born: 1938; died: 1938;
Daughter of Albert and Angeline (Moeller) Machinsky [marker was placed some time after 1990 cemetery inventory]; photo
Rau, infant; born: 1908; died: 1908;
Son of Albert and Mauded (Leyendecker) Rau [marker was placed some time after 1990 cemetery inventory]; photo
Zimmerscheidt, Frederick Adolph; born: Oct 17, 1784; died: Sep 12, 1856;
Photo
Zimmerscheidt, Margaret; born: Jul 5, 1795; died: Jul 16, 1861;
Née Bastian, married Frederick Adolph Zimmerscheidt; photo
If you find bad or missing links, please notify the county coordinator.
