“Unknowns”, Other Local Cemeteries & How You Can Help
WCCI has nine unidentified graves located immediately on the right as you enter the cemetery (section 5). These small, thin stones, (many are damaged) are marked “UNKNOWN”. As old as 50 - 120 years ago, some families passed on information and wooden crosses passed into time as families moved out of the Bulverde and San Antonio area as did their information.
We know three of their names.
The following data is from www.FindAGrave.com from the late Emory Schnuriger:
Augusta Schulmeier Benfer - the daughter of Johann Valentin Schulmeier and Susanna A. Ackermann. Augusta Schulmeier was married to Philip J. Benfer in Bexar County, Texas on March 23,1869. The children born to the couple were: Gustave S. Benfer, Adolph Edward Benfer, Amelia Benfer, Augusta Benfer Burkett, Clara Benfer Uhr, Otto Benfer, and Philip W. Benfer.
Amelia Benfer - the daughter of Philip Jacob Benfer and Augusta Schulmeier.
Philip Jacob Benfer - the son of George Benfer and Catherine Wilhelmine Marquardt. Philip Jacob Benfer and his wife Augusta are the Great-Grandparents of two Legendary Texas Lawmen; Capt Robert Alfred Benfer (1918-2014) of the San Antonio Police Department, and Chief of Police Earl Lee Chokiski (1920-1992) of the El Paso Police Department.
All three were first buried at their Family Cemetery in Wetmore, but in 1937 were removed and reburied in a remote section of Wetmore Community Cemetery. None of the Benfer family have a headstone or any other marker.
We believe family of the others still come to these graves and may have information but are afraid to inform the cemetery. WCCI will help fund the costs to replace these stones with family information if we can get assistance in positive ID and location. If your family or a historian can help, we would love to work with you.
Other small cemeteries in our area have been abandoned and City Council District 10 needs your help. Please feel free to contact your councilmen if you can volunteer time. We are looking at Schools, Churches and Scout Troops to volunteer time.
If you would like to donate funds to help replace damaged stones, contact us below as we are working with a local stone company to start mid-2022. JJ
Update:
Since posting over three years ago, we were aware of Ms. Bessie Winters Wheeler (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/169440207/bessie-wheeler). Since she died in January 1919, she would not have been buried at WCCI. The only “Colored” cemetery at this time was Hockley Cemetery (https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2615921/hockley-cemetery) that lies behind what is now Northern Hills Elementary School.
WCCI was contacted by a genealogist, Mrs. Michelle Johnson, that is volunteering a great deal of time and effort to help with these efforts. We are hoping to post more updates soon. JJ
