This very neglected cemetery belonged to the original San Marcos Primitive Baptist Church which acquired its name from its proximity to the San Marcos River. First organized in 1853, the church building at this site and all of the early church records were destroyed in a flash flood that probably occurred in 1869 or 1870. Later a fire in the home of one of the church members destroyed another 60 years worth of records. The latest date on any of the remaining gravestones is 1919 while some people have estimated that there were several hundred people buried here whose mostly wooden grave markers were variously destroyed by recurring floods and meandering livestock. A record of only a very small number of the many people buried in this old cemetery has been preserved along with family memories of a few more.

Fortunately, a group has been formed by Julie Dahlberg, to clean up this old landmark and eventually get it declared an official Texas Historic Cemetery, as it deserves to be. Julie has also established an interactive website for those interested in photos of the cemetery, the group's ongoing efforts, or exchanging information on the genealogies of the people buried there. http://oldhighsmith.webs.com/

Relationship to New Highsmith Church and Cemetery:

In 1886, Pastor J. M. Baker deeded land at the site of the second and still standing Primitive Baptist Church and cemetery, which is the site of a Texas historical marker. It was his intention that it be mainly his family and descendants who were buried there and such interments continue to the present time. This location is often referred to as the new Highsmith Primitive Baptist Church and cemetery.

In 1930 the church congregation moved to downtown Luling and church members are now buried in the cemeteries of their respective communities.

Directions:

The Old Highsmith cemetery is south of the Dunlop Oil Field on the left side of the road traveling from Seguin and Kingsbury toward Luling on Hwy 90. Turn left onto Country Road -237. Go across the railroad tracks and turn right at the next gravel road and follow until you get there. Located in Guadalupe County, the cemetery is found behind two fences and is surrounded by cypress trees. According to a sign on the gate, the owner of the surrounding property appears to be

Chessher Drilling Company
Paul F. Haass Jr.
"A" Lease, RRC #03797

Credits:

This cemetery was surveyed by Linda & Ben Pitzer on March 3, 1971, and the graves listed here are from their efforts along with a listing by L.E. Smith, and an undated typescript which was researched by Irby Baker Spring, Clyde Ussery Howel and Mary Lee Williamson Bolles, and prepared for the internet by Wanda Qualls. The cemetery photo taken by Steve and Julie Horrocks in 2009 illustrates all too well the overgrown nature of the cemetery before Julie Dahlber's group began work on it.

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txguadal/cem/oldhighsmith/highold.html