Davenport Cemetery
Selma, Bexar County, Texas
Marker Inscription
William Davenport was born in 1820 in Saltville Township, Virginia. His family later lived in Kentucky before settling in present-day Kaufman County, Texas in 1843. There William met and married Mary Ware, daughter of Texas Revolutionary veteran William Ware. William and Mary built a home south of Cibolo Creek soon after purchasing land here in 1851, part of the Vicente Micheli Survey. When Mary died the following year, William buried her near their home, establishing a community burial ground. In 1853, William married Nancy D. Young, whose father John was a veteran of the War of 1812 and was also later buried in Davenport Cemetery. William Davenport was a leader in the community of Selma. William, Robert Evans and John C. Miller established the first Selma school in 1859, furnishing funds, supplies and labor to build a one-room schoolhouse where William's children were among the first pupils. William, a Mason, also helped build a two-story limestone combination schoolhouse, church and Masonic hall in Selma in 1872. William was captain of a local militia that organized to protect settlers from Indian attacks. He was also an enterprising rancher with land in Bexar, Comal, Bandera and Kerr counties. The International and Great Northern Railway established Davenport Station (later Bracken) near the ranch in the 1880s, and a Davenport School operated nearby in Comal County. William's land extended to the present Randolph Air Force Base, and an auxiliary runway named Davenport Field was later located near the cemetery. Captain William Davenport died in 1901 and is buried here along with other respected pioneers. Nancy died in 1934 and was the last to be buried in Davenport Cemetery. Historic Texas Cemetery - 2004
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
William Davenport, Virginia-born and Kentucky-raised, settled south of Cibolo Creek in 1851, and when his first wife died the next year he buried her near their home, founding this community graveyard. A rancher, militia captain, and Mason, he helped establish Selma's first school in 1859 and a combined schoolhouse-church-Masonic hall in 1872; his second wife's father was a War of 1812 veteran also buried here, and burials continued until 1934.
Why it matters
The cemetery gathers a founding generation of South Texas pioneers—soldiers, schoolbuilders, and ranchers—whose land eventually reached what is now Randolph Air Force Base.
Plan your visit
NearbyMake a day of it — museums, food, and places to stay near this marker.
Museums & culture
- San Antonio Museum of Art14.8 mi away · 200 West Jones Avenue, San Antonio
Attractions
- Morgan's Wonderland5.9 mi away · 5223 David Edwards Drive, San Antonio, TX
- Morgan's Inspiration Island5.9 mi away · 5223 David Edwards Drive, San Antonio, TX
- Off-Road Adventure Ride6.0 mi away
- Amazing Air8.1 mi away · 7702 North Interstate Highway 35, San Antonio, TX
- Blue Hole12.6 mi away
- Little Blue Hole12.6 mi away
Places data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hours and details change — call ahead.
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Related people
- · William Davenport
- · Mary Ware
- · Nancy D. Young
Themes & tags
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