Guentzel.Org

Boot Hill for my ancestors

Once a year, the Guentzels in central Texas descend on a little plot of ground in Williamson County known as Guentzel Cemetery to commune with other Guentzels.

That sounds so much better than we’re going to a tiny speck of acreage in the middle of nowhere to cut back some of the overgrowth. I suppose I have myself to blame.

In the early 90s I was doing some family research at the Texas Archives and discovered there was a cemetery in Williamson County named “Guentzel”. I was a little shocked about that because I didn’t know we had that much history in Texas. I told my dad about it and he (rather casually) remembered that there was the “old” Guentzel Cemetery that his late Uncle Melvin used to maintain. I took a trip out to the cemetery to see what it looked like.

Let me try to describe what I saw.

I had to follow a series of narrow county roads that look like they see as much tractor traffic as automobiles to get to a little patch of trees in the middle of a pasture. The trees helped mark the spot where someone from a time past might want to be buried. When I drove up, I saw a old wooden gate (like a ranch gate) that gave way to a little clearing with about 8 graves. The trees and grass were pretty thick and it was clear to me that Melvin was the last guy to take care of the place (whenever that was).

My description of the place inspired my father and my uncle to have a “cemetery cleaning day” every year. It’s been sort of a family reunion too. My uncle usually brings Elgin Hot Sausage (from Southside Market, naturally) and we bring ice chests full of soda and water. The work is usually finished within an hour or so.

My uncle sometimes keeps the sausage warm by putting the wrapped package on the engine block in his truck…doesn’t that sound like something a real Texan would do?

Anyway, tomorrow’s the day. We’ll see Elias, Ervin, Delzie and the rest of the past Guentzels as well as some of the present day and future Guentzels.

I’ll bring the camera. Maybe I’ll have good pics tomorrow.