Collins Cemetery
Austin, Travis County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Established by Newton Isaac Collins, Sr. (1826-1903), an emancipated slave from Alabama, the Collins Cemetery is the final resting place for his family. After the Civil War, Collins acquired land throughout eastern Travis County, establishing the thriving community of Pilot Knob. The first known burial was Collins' son-in-law, Ben Bremond, in 1894. Dee Gabriel Collins (1863-1926), Collins' son, is buried here with his wife, Donnie Louise (Sauls) Collins (1869-1933), along with Collins' daughter Vinie (Collins) Bremond (1856-1912) and other members of the Collins and Bremond families. A small iron fence encloses a monument for Newton I. Collins, Sr., an integral member of the Pilot Knob community. Historic Texas Cemetery - 2004
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
This family burial ground was established by Newton Isaac Collins, Sr., who came out of slavery in Alabama and, after the Civil War, acquired land across eastern Travis County and founded the thriving community of Pilot Knob. The first known burial here was his son-in-law in 1894, and generations of the Collins and Bremond families followed, gathered around a monument to the community's founder. A small iron fence still encloses his memorial.
Why it matters
The cemetery is a tangible record of Black landownership and community-building in Texas during Reconstruction, when emancipated people turned freedom into land, family, and lasting institutions.
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Related people
- · Newton Isaac Collins, Sr.
- · Dee Gabriel Collins
- · Vinie Collins Bremond
- · Ben Bremond
Themes & tags
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