Milam County Historical Commission
Milam County, Texas
Milam County, Texas
St John Lutheran Church Cemetery
Thorndale, TX
From Thorndale: CR 437 north 3 miles
Erected 1992
St John Lutheran Church Cemetery
The small agricultural community of Detmold was
settled near the turn of the century by German
immigrants. In 1900, local residents Carl Fick,
August Boening, and Ernst Richter deeded land at
this site for the establishment of a Lutheran
church and cemetery. The oldest recorded grave,
that of Gottfried Eschberger, dates to 1903.
Over 175 graves are located here, many with
tombstones bearing German surnames and
inscriptions. In 1963, the church congregation
relocated to Thorndale, but the cemetery remains
as a tangible reminder of the small community.
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$1,000 REWARD
The reward issued in connection with Halloween
night vandalism incidents at St. John Lutheran
Cemetery north of Thorndale has grown from $750
to $1,000. Curtis Unnasch, spokesman for the
reward fund, said the money will be paid in
connection with information which leads to the
arrest and conviction of the person, or
persons, who toppled 12 headstones at the
cemetery, located three miles north of
Thorndale. Unnasch said the headstones
apparently did not break. Anyone with
information about the vandalism may call 512-
898-2909
Rockdale Reporter, November 12, 2009
