The historical marker dedication ceremony was held on Saturday, April 12, at the Jaeger Witte Cemetery, near Burton. Speakers for the afternoon included Mike Schlabach of the Washington County Historical Commission, Ciera Harris of the Brenham Heritage Museum, and George Zemanek, secretary of the Jaeger Witte Heritage Cemetery Association.
Zemanek said that the preservation of the cemetery has taken much effort on the part of many people, including his late grandfather, Henry Jaeger Jr., who served as the cemetery’s primary caretaker and overseer until his death in 2005 and laid the groundwork for what would become the Jaeger Witte Heritage Cemetery Association.
The association’s president, Jeff Featherston, also a descendent of the Jaeger Family, noted “As we unveil this marker, we not only honor the memory of those who came before us, but we also affirm the importance of preserving our roots for generations to come.”
Schlabach told those gathered, “This place is more than just a resting place. It is a testament to generations of love, sacrifice, perseverance, and faith. Each headstone tells a story— a story of German immigrants who left their homeland for a promise of a better life to this unknown and sometimes hostile land.”
Jaeger’s four surviving children, Jeanette Zemanek, Larry Jaeger, Edith Featherston, and Jerry Jaeger, unveiled the marker.
Burton American Legion Post 242 led the Pledges of Allegiance to the US and Texas flags. Vicar Sharon Schwarz of Christ Lutheran Church in Brenham gave the invocation. Father Stephen Whaley of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Brenham offered the benediction and pronounced a blessing on the marker.
A subject qualifies for a marker if two basic criteria are met: historical significance and age. Historical significance is established by reviewing its role and importance in local history, and the age requirement depends on the topic.
Jaeger Witte Cemetery received designation as a Historical Cemetery in 2019. Receiving this designation required nearly a decade of research and planning by the Jaeger Witte Heritage Cemetery Association. The cemetery was established in the mid-1850s by the Hagedorn family and is the resting place of members of the Hagedorn, von Bieberstein, Witte, and Jaeger families. It is still an active burial place for members of the Jaeger family. The Jaeger Witte Cemetery is maintained by the Jaeger Witte Heritage Cemetery Association and by individual donations. Current officers of the association are Jeff Featherston, Steven Jaeger, George Zemanek, Debbie Byrd, and Kay Kulow.
Over 50 people, many of whom were descendants of the Jaeger, Witte, von Bieberstein, and Hagerdorn families gathered for the unveiling. Many of the people in attendance had not seen one another in many years and remarked the dedication was very much like a large family reunion.
