History:
Mrs. Ballenger's name for the cemetery may well be correct as the cemetery appears to be on what was once a ranch named El Pie and located on an 1884 Cameron County Map. In that case, the tract of land originally was part of a tract of land referred to as "Ojo de Agua" (Eye of Water) granted to Rosa Maria Ynojosa de Balli, in conjunction with a Spanish land grant known as "La Feria" (the Fair), by Spain in 1777. This grant was confirmed by the Texas State Legislature, Act of February 10, 1852. (See General Land Office File San Patricio 1-697.) Source of information for grant is Guide to Spanish and Mexican Land Grants in South Texas by Texas General Land Office, Garry Mauro, Land Commissioner, 1988, number 9.
The ranch "El Pie" was also on the list of ranches visited by the Oblates in the 1880s and into the early 1900s. Information from the list of "Missiones de la cote (Rio Grande) du Nord au sud," Mercedes District.
Several of the tombstones had stones, ceramic shards, or seashells placed on them recently. This indicates that there has been visitation by family. Usually, this traditon of placing a stone on the tombstone is a Jewish tradition.
If the figures are correct, the cemetery was in use for about 68 years. Why burying ceased is unknown except that the county is said to forbid it.
Interesting to note that CRESENSIO TOVAR lived to be 105 1/2 years of age. He was born May 3, 1832 and died December 14, 1937. FELICITA CASTILLO lived to be 93 years of age, dying in 1936.