Cedarhurst Cemetery
La Porte, Harris Co. Cemeteries of TX
Submitted by George Wolf Jr./2000/2001
It all started on the old Johnson Hunter Survey, Aug.10,1824.(Book 2, page 394)
A man with a idea, IRA R. HOLMES was born June 1852 in Ohio, he married Olive
L.? who was born Mar. 1864 in Ill.
They adopted a daughter named Birdie M. who was born Oct.1881 in the State of
Ill.
Holmes was a town builder who saw the opportunity for a town at the mouth of
Buffalo Bayou. On a visit to Houston,Texas in early July 1890, he had an
occasion to visit Morgan's Point with Capt. Frederick Leon Allien, who was
trying to develop the town of Bayview there.
Holmes returned to Denver where he interested the York brothers in the idea of a
new town at the Morgan's Point location.
The group formed the La Porte Land and Town Company. They purchased several
hundred acres from Allien and over 1,000 acres from Dr. John Beazley in what is
now La Porte.
In 1895, I.R. Holmes had been appointed acting mayor by the company.
All the backers left La Porte except I.R. Holmes and A.O. Blackwell when most of
the settlers left the area and they started losing money. Mr. Blackwell and Mr.
Holmes, after the 1903 slump, made a desperate effort to bring to reality the
New Gulf City they had visualized.
I.R. Holmes and Blackwell started over east of old La Porte, called New Town or
East La Porte. The two towns did not get along and fights insued!
The CEDARHURST CEMETERY was laid out around 1901, since one of the tombstones is
dated 1901. I.R. Holmes got his hands on the land for the cemetery and in 1907,
the CEDARHURST CEMETERY ASSOCIATION was created.
:STATE of TEXAS, COUNTY of HARRIS
The Cedarhurst Cemetery Association owners of Blocks
No.1126-1127-1128-1153-1154-1155 in the town of La Porte, Harris County,Texas
have subdivided the said blocks into bural lots and blocks as shown on the above
plat and it hereby dedicates the streets and walks to such use as is necessary
in connection with the purposes for which said block is intended, that is, for
cemetery purposes.
In witness where at the said corporation has caused these present to be signed
by it's President and has caused its corporation seal to be hereby attached this
day of February,A.D. 1907.
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M.C. Idlebrook
b July 5,1849 d Sept. 26,1913 At Rest
Stone broken off base.
Our Mamie, Daughter of J.E. & M.C. Idlebrook
b Dec. 22,1874
Married to A.R. Prince Feb. 4,1897
Departed this life Jan. 25,1904
Stone laying down.
John E. Idlebrook
b Feb. 2,1841 d Nov. 23,1910
(THE IDLEBROOK'S)
J.E. Idlebrook was born Feb. 2,1841, Germany. John married Mary C.? in the year
1867. The Idlebrook family while living at Matagorda,Texas was washed out by a
really bad hurricane in the late 1800's. They eventually settled at Red
Bluff,Harris Co.,Texas, being on the William P. Harris Grant.
John Idlebrook ran a general store and was postmaster at the little town of Red
Bluff.
Red Bluff was a settlement that existed between 1880 and 1890. It had a pop. of
about 100, a post office, school, church, and the Idlebrook General Store.
John later moved his business to Crescent Park in 1893, but soon returned to the
boat building business and they closed the store. Later they moved the store to
the corner where the Isensee brick building stands. Mrs. Idlebrook ran the store
until her death in 1913.
The Idlebrook's had two daughters, Adelia Idlebrook born in 1870, she marred W.
N. Henegan, a native of Liberty Co.,Texas April 1892. They moved into a
two-story frame building at the corner of 7th and Main in La Porte,Texas. Mrs.
Henegan ran the family business until her death in 1941, she is buried in the La
Porte Cemetery (2nd) next to her second husband Guy Ray Hamilton.
Mamie Idlebrook was born Dec. 22,1874, she married Albion B. Prince, he was born
Dec. 1871 in Mass. The couple was married on Feb. 4,1897. Mamie died on Jan.
25,1904 and is buried with her parents in Cedarhurst.
John E. Idlebrook died on Nov. 23,1910 and Mary C. Idlebrook died on Sept.
26,1913. Both are buried in the Cedarhurst Cemetery next to their daughter Mamie
Prince.
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William H. Surber
b May 4,1834 d Feb. 10,1904
OUR FATHER HAS GONE TO THE MANSION OF REST TO THE GLORIOUS LAND BY THE ?BLEST
(Stone broken off base.)
(SURBER)
Willam H. Surber was born on May 4,1834 in Virginia. He had a son named
Sylvestor A. Surber, born Aug. 1855 in Iowa. William died on Feb. 10,1904 and is
buried in the Cedarhurst Cemetery.
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? BUCHHOLZ
Unknown, cement top, no dates or first name. The Buchholz family came to La
Porte around the years 1910/1915.
There is a Friedricha Buchholz buried in the (Other) La Porte Cemetery across
Little Cedar Bayou. May be related?
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G.B. and EMMA L. TERHUNE
G.B. Terhune's stone is missing, only the base and footstone with letters G.B.T.
remain.
His stone may have fell into Little Cedar Bayou?
His wife Emma L. was born in 1855. She owned 165 acres in 1902-1903 and was said
to have lived off of Blackwell Ave.
Mrs. Terhune died in 1933 and is buried next to her husband in the Cedarhurst
Cemetery.
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FRANK R. and ELIZABETH BUSCH
Frank Busch was born on Feb. 28,1852, Cedar Bayou,Texas. His parents were Frank
A. Busch (1812-1881) and Mary Papp, daughter of Johonn M.F. Papp and Elizabeth
Tammer of Cedar Bayou, Chambers Co.,Texas.
Frank married Elizabeth ? in the year 1872. Elizabeth was born Aug. 8,1851,
Texas. Her father was born in Virginia and mother in Mississippi.
The Busch and Baker families, early cattle ranchers at Cedar Bayou operated La
Portes first butcher shop.
Elizabeth had four children, three living, a Busch baby lies buried next to the
couple in Cedarhurst.
A daughter Eelenor Busch was born Nov. 1891.
Frank R. Busch died April 1,1903. He was a Mason.
Elizabeth was listed as owning 656 acres in La Porte during the period of
1902/1903.
Elizabeth Busch died on March 3,1920 and was buried next to her husband in
Cedarhurst.
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SAMUEL C. DALE
Samuel C. Dale was born Feb. 3,1843 in Indiana Co.,Pennsylvania.
He enlisted in the Union Army when he was 18. He served in the 76th Ill.
Infantry and 14th Ill. Cavalry. Enrolled Aug. 21,1862, he was captured and
paroled at Holly Springs, Mississippi, Dec. 20,1862. Reported at Bentons
Barracks, Miss., Jan. 7,1863 and was reported absent without leave on rolls of
that barracks to Jan. 1863. All charges of absence without leave and desertion
of and to Jan. 1863 against this soldier are removed and he is discharged to
date Jan. 15,1863 to complete his military record.
Enrolled in the Co. H, 14 Regt. Ill. Cavalry Jan. 28,1863 and mustered out with
company July 31,1865.
On Oct. 27,1867 he married Nancy June Burns in Ford Co.,Ill.
Nancy died Oct. 4,1890 in Burr Oak, Kansas and two daughters in 1893.
Samuel C. Dale and family moved to La Porte,Texas around 1901.
Ada and Della Dale died May 6 & 7, 1903, 12 hours apart.
Minnie M. Dale, the only surviving child was born Aug. 8,1872. Minnie took care
of her father with his few remaining years left in La Porte,Texas.
Samuel C. Dale was 6 feet tall, light complexed, blue eyes and light colored
hair.
S. C. Dale died May 22,1905, age 62 years at La Porte,Texas. The funeral service
was conducted at the Baptist Church by Rev. J.H.H. Ellis assisted by Rev. B.W.
Hugg. Several touching songs were sung by Mr. and Mrs. Hovey and Rev. Hugg. His
remains were laid to rest at La Porte Cemetery by comrades.
Minnie Dale later moved to Portland,Oregon and married a Mr. Casey. She tried
for years to get part of her fathers Civil War pension but was denied.
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Jane E. wife of N.J.Bonner
b Mar. 16,1843 d June 9,1901
N.J. Bonner
b Oct. 22,1850 d July 26,1908
Frank Isbell
Grandson (No dates)
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Graves surrounded by a concrete wall, maybe two graves, no names or dates?
Maybe Ada and Della Dale? Daughters of Samuel C. Dale.
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WILLIAM M. RABB
William Rabb was born Dec. 30,1823 in the Colorado River Valley,Texas. Willam
was the second white male born on the Colorado in 1823.
His father (Andrew Rabb 1793-1869), Uncles and Grandfather William Rabb were one
of Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred Settlers in 1822.
William married Mary F. ? on July 28,1847 in Fayette Co.,Texas. Mary was born
Dec. 1828, Ala.
His children as listed;
Sam b 1846?
Julia b 1847
Andrew b 1848
Thomas b 1851
Thea P. b 1859
Mary later died?
William Rabb during the Civil War was listed on a muster roll in Fayette
Co.,Texas in Captain Z.M.P. Rabb's company, 13th day of Jan. 1863.
William moved to Chambers Co.,Texas around 1880 and married Prudence Risingen
born June 3,1819, Ohio. She died in Harris Co.,Texas on Mar. 19,1896 and is
buried in the Paker Cemetery, Baytown,Texas.
William moved to La Porte and died Nov. 26,1904 and is buried in the Cedarhurst
Cemetery.
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Grave marked only with the name MAUDE, no dates.
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A unknown grave eroding into Little Cedar Bayou,
I found parts of coffin handles and bones and reburied them on top next the
Terhunes.
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Many other unmarked and unknown graves in this cemetery.
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This cemetery needs to be saved. GEW JR./2000