Colony Cemetery
Beeville, Bee County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Several Norwegian farmers and their families immigrated to this area beginning in 1894. Their settlement became known as Norwegian Colony or, simply, the Colony. In April 1897, Colony residents met to establish a cemetery and a cemetery association. Because three earlier graves were on a corner of Hans Thompson's property, he offered to donate an acre for the burial ground. His offer was accepted, and O.R. Peterson created a plan for the site, dividing it into four blocks of equal size. The fourth block was established as an open area for single graves available to anyone. Lewis Travland, Hans Thompson and Barney Olson became the association's first officers. Although the association wanted the burial ground reserved for those of Scandinavian descent, many others were initially allowed in the fourth block. This practice was discontinued when it became clear there was limited space. The first three burials are those of Hans Thompson's son, Carl (d. January 1896), Barney Olson's son, Barney (d. August 1896), and Telda Travland (d. April 1897). The two earliest birth dates noted in the cemetery are those of Nels Thompson (b. 1810) and Gertrude Hanson (b. 1826). Veterans of the Civil War, Spanish-American War and both World Wars are also buried here. The names of settler families and their descendants can be found throughout the burial ground, including Thompson, Travland, Selgelid, Kingsted, Nelson, Olson, Beck, Berkeland, Mickelsen, Torgerson, Lovell and Sivley. Today, Colony Cemetery, designated a Historic Texas Cemetery in 2002, is a link to the original Scandinavian families and their contributions to the community's rich history. (2004)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Beginning in 1894, Norwegian farm families settled the South Texas prairie in a community they called simply 'the Colony.' In 1897 the settlers organized a cemetery association and accepted Hans Thompson's gift of an acre around three existing graves, laying out four equal blocks with one reserved for anyone in need. Though the founders hoped to keep the ground for those of Scandinavian descent, the earliest burials — a child, a son, a young woman — soon filled the rows, and generations of Thompsons, Travlands, and Olsons followed.
Why it matters
Colony Cemetery preserves the memory of Norwegian immigrants who joined the great Scandinavian migration to America and put down roots on the Texas coastal plain.
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Related people
- · Hans Thompson
- · O.R. Peterson
- · Lewis Travland
- · Barney Olson
Themes & tags
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