Moore Catholic Cemetery
Moore, Frio County, Texas
Marker Inscription
This site was deeded to the Moore Catholic Church in 1902 by Ben Duncan, who also gave land for the church structure. Burials occurred before the land was donated. The earliest known grave is that of Christine Tehas (1819-1894). Mostly Spanish names appear on the gravestones, but English and German ones are also seen. Graves here include those of pioneer settlers, and veterans of Indian battles and two World Wars, as well as a Virginia-born ex-slave. A cemetery board was organized in 1974. (1976)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Moore Catholic Cemetery began before its land was even formally donated, with the earliest known grave that of Christine Tehas, who died in 1894. Ben Duncan deeded the ground to the parish in 1902, and the headstones—mostly Spanish, but also English and German—reflect the mingled peoples who settled this South Texas frontier. Among those buried here are pioneer settlers, veterans of Indian conflicts and both World Wars, and a Virginia-born formerly enslaved man.
Why it matters
The cemetery quietly documents the diverse frontier community of Frio County, where Hispanic, Anglo, German, and African American lives intersected on the Texas borderlands.
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Related people
- · Ben Duncan
- · Christine Tehas
Themes & tags
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