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

This news article will explain and explore the history behind Martin Schmid Family Cemetery in Universal City, Texas. This cemetery was also known as Martin Schmid Cemetery and Schmid Cemetery.

Martin Schmid Family Cemetery was established and plotted by Martin Schmid in 1858. The cemetery was expanded in 1869.

Martin Schmid Family Cemetery was re-established in 1880 with the death of Martin Schmid. Martin, his in-laws, Wilhelm and Dorothea Geier, wife Johanna, son William and daughter Sedonia Haile, were all buried in the family cemetery at the southwestern edge of the 127-acre farm. Martin Schmid 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)

The Texas Historical Commission had approved a historical marker to stand at the spot of the Martin Schmid Family Cemetery in summer of 2001. This historical marker also references the Kincaid Family Cemetery 100 yards northwest. 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.  The Schmid Cemetery was “lost to history” as the legal metes and bounds description that would physically locate the cemetery on the fairway was lost with the dismantling of the original fencing as the “legal description” documenting the Schmid Cemetery was based on the perimeter of the fence.  (Ref: https://farmandranch.omeka.net/exhibits/show/harrisonjohnshouse/harrisonhousearchitectural)

Unfortunately all original fencing and tombstones have disappeared from the Martin Schmid 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)


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. Information regard exact birth dates have been lost with the disappearance of headstones, markers, and tombstones. (Ref: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tx/bexar/cemeteries/schmid.txt)



The burials to this cemetery are as follows:

Martin Schmid - 1820 - 6/15/1880
Johanna Geier Schmid - 1839 - 6/1899  
William Schmid - 3/1856 - 8/11/1889
Sidona Schmid Haile (Mrs. Robert Evans Lee Haile) - 12/16/1865 - 5/11/1909
Johanna Schmid (infant daughter of Martin and Johanna) - 1860 -
Wilhelm Geier - 1809 -  
Theodora Geier - 1806 -


Martin Schmid - 1820 - 6/15/1880

Martin Schmid came from Herbrichtingen, Germany during the 1800s. He served as 3rd and later promoted to 2nd Sargent in the Confederacy during Civil War; "paroled" out of San Antonio at end of war.


Johanna Geier Schmid - 1839 - 6/1899

Johanna Geier Schmid came from Wolfenbuttel, Germany with her parents to San Antonio, Texas in the year 1849.
 

William Schmid - 3/1856 - 8/11/1889

William Schmid was born on 3/1856 in Selma, Texas. William also served as the postmaster for Selma from 1886-1889. He was a Bexar County Deputy who was shot down in front of H. Stroeck Groceries and Dry Goods Store on Main Street by George Bolton in Bracken, Texas  on the date of 8/11/1889. He was oldest son of Martin and Johanna Geier Schmid.


Sidona Schmid Haile (Mrs. Robert Evans Lee Haile) - 12/16/1865 - 5/11/1909

Sidona Schmid Haile (Mrs. Robert Evans Lee Haile) was born in Selma, Texas on the date of 12/16/1865. Sidona Schmid Haile was the daughter of Martin and Johanna Geier Schmid.


Johanna Schmid (infant daughter of Martin and Johanna) - 1860 -

Johanna Schmid was the infant daughter of Martin and Johanna Geier Schmid. Her death date is unknown due to the disappearance of her headstone.
 

Wilhelm Geier - 1809 -  

Wilhelm Geier was the father of Johanna Geier Schmid who came to New Braunfels, Texas during the 1800s. The date of his death is unknown due to the disappearance of his headstone.


Theodora Geier - 1806 -

Theodora Geier came from Wolfenbuttel, Germany with her daughter, Johanna Geier Schmid, in 1849. She moved with her husband, Wilhelm Geier, and her daughter, Johanna Geier Schmid, to Selma, Texas in 1854.



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