Standing in front of the Crenshaw Family Cemetery Plaque, we find ourselves transported back to a time when Galveston was a bustling port, and the Bolivar Peninsula, a tranquil refuge for families seeking a fresh start. The Crenshaw family, seeking a different life, landed on these shores in 1872. James A. Crenshaw, a veteran of the Civil War, had a vision for a future on the peninsula. He was a skilled farmer, and his produce, carried by a fleet of nine sailboats, found its way to the bustling markets of Galveston.
But life, even on the seemingly serene peninsula, had its tragedies. The Crenshaw family, who eventually had ten children, lost two young daughters, in 1875 and 1882, buried them in the shade of oak trees near their home. This plot, along with the surrounding land, remained in the family’s hands for generations. The iron fencing that once adorned the small cemetery disappeared over time, leaving only a small segment embedded in one of the oak trees.
The 1900 Galveston Hurricane inflicted colossal damage on the region, including the loss of the Crenshaw family home. After the storm, the family packed up and left the peninsula, except for two of their sons. Helen Crenshaw eventually married Dr. Newell W. Atkinson in Edna, Texas. In this little cemetery, tucked close to the shore, rests the memory of the two young daughters who died so young.
The Crenshaw Family Cemetery Plaque tells a story of a family who braved the storms of life, and the resilience of a family that found ways to persevere, in the face of tragedy, and the power of nature.