History of Kincaid Family Cemetery in Universal City, Texas explored and explained.

This news article will explain and explore the history behind Kincaid Family Cemetery in Universal City, Texas. This cemetery was also known as David G. Kincaid Cemetery, David G. Kincaid Family Cemetery, D. G. Kincaid Cemetery, D. G. Kincaid Family Cemetery, and Kincaid Cemetery.


Kincaid Family Cemetery was established on the Geier and Schmid Farm by German immigrants Martin Schmid and Wilhelm Geier in 1869. In 1869, Geier and Schmid agreed to split the land, each receiving a portion. Martin and Johanna Schmid reared four children in Selma: William, Sam, Sedonia Haile and Mary Elizabeth Wuest. (Ref: https://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/Details/5029012806/print)

Martin Schmid, a Civil War veteran who served under Capt. Theodore Podewils' 32nd Regiment of the Texas Cavalry, died in 1880 and was buried in this immediate area, thus establishing the Schmid family cemetery. Johanna remained on the farm until 1894, when she sold it and moved to San Antonio. She, along with her parents, two of her infant children, son William and daughter Sedonia, were buried in the family cemetery. Kentucky native David Kincaid moved his family to this area and was the town blacksmith. His wife, Talitha Adeline Kincaid; their daughters Esther Ada Kincaid Wallace and Josephine P. Kincaid; and Talitha's father, John Davis, are buried in the Kincaid cemetery. (Ref: https://www.forttours.com/pages/hmbexar.asp)

William Davis, enlisted in the Confederate 15th cavalry, Company A, at San Antonio, on January 1, 1862. David Greer Kincaid, Jr. is buried in the Kincaid Family Cemetery in Selma Police Station off I-35. (Ref: https://www.geni.com/people/David-Greer-Kincaid-Jr/6000000002591439418)

Kincaid Family Family Cemetery was purchased from Andreas Stautzenberger in 1901 and excluded from any future real estate transactions. Sam Schmid and John Kincaid went together to the Bexar County Courthouse to have the cemeteries officially noted in the Bexar County Deed Records. Throughout the deed record history since 1901, the deeds contain the language “Save and Except for the Schmid and Kincaid Cemeteries.”  The cemeteries mysteriously disappeared in the 1950’s during the construction of IH-35 through Selma. Headstones and fencing disappeared during that time as the cemeteries were located on the escarpment at the back of the Schmid farm near natural gravel pits that were accessed for the gravel to build the highway. (Ref: https://farmandranch.omeka.net/exhibits/show/harrisonjohnshouse/harrisonhousearchitectural)

Unfortunately all original fencing and tombstones have disappeared from the Kincaid Family Cemetery. The tombstones and markers have been relocated to another cemetery. Talitha's original tombstone has been found and returned to another cemetery somewhere in San Antonio. (Ref: https://www.bexar.org/DocumentCenter/View/3914/Guide-to-Historical-Markers-of-Bexar-County)

The Texas Historical Commission approved a historical marker to stand at the spot of the Schmid Cemetery in summer of 2001. This historical marker also references the Kincaid Family Cemetery 100 yards away. (Ref: https://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/Details/5029012806/print)

In 2009, the Kincaid Cemetery was re-established on the fairway complete with new fencing provided by the Selma Historical Foundation and headstones provided the Kincaid descendants. (Ref: https://farmandranch.omeka.net/exhibits/show/harrisonjohnshouse/harrisonhousearchitectural)

Despite that all tombstones and markers have been relocated to another cemetery, all burials still remain intact, untouched, and unharmed. The people are still there. (Ref: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tx/bexar/cemeteries/kincaid.txt)

The burials to this cemetery are as follows:

Kincaid Family Cemetery
 
John Davis                     7/ 4/1774 - 2/8/1858 (father of Talitha)
David G. Kincaid              12/17/1806 - 2/5/1871 (husband)
Talitha Adeline Kincaid       11/18/1814 - 7/5/1885 (wife)
Esther Ada (Kincaid) Wallace  11/29/1849 - 9/9/1874 (daughter)
Josephine P. Kincaid           5/20/1851 - 6/10/1874 (daughter)


Kincaid Family Cemetery is located at 12900 Mount Olympus, Universal City, Texas, US 78148.