From Matagorda County History & Genealogy page
Hawley Cemetery
Hawley Cemetery, first known as Deming’s Bridge Cemetery, was established in 1854. It is located on Tres Palacios River, two miles east of Blessing, in the Thomas Jamison League of Matagorda County, Texas.
The name Deming’s Bridge originated from the cemetery’s proximity to Deming’s Bridge and was in the churchyard of Tres Palacios Baptist Church.
The original two acres were donated by Emelius and Norman Savage to Tres Palacios Baptist Church which was founded in 1852.
An additional 1 ½ acres were donated by Jonathan Edwards Pierce in 1893.
The cemetery association purchased an additional 3 ½ acres along the south side of the cemetery and the south fence was moved to enclose the new acreage.
The names of the community and post office were changed from Deming’s Bridge to Hawley by Jonathan Edwards Pierce in 1899.
In 1913, Jonathan Pierce and his two daughters, Pearl Pierce Smith and Grace Pierce Heffelfinger deeded an additional 13 acres to the Hawley Cemetery.
The earliest recorded burial was Sarah Tone October 30, 1857.
The upkeep for Hawley in the early days was the responsibility of church and family members.
During the 1930s, during a cleanup effort, a brush fire got out of control and burned the existing wooden markers. 80 oblong concrete markers were placed on the graves where the wooden markers were burned and most of the names of those marked with the concrete markers are still unknown.
The Hawley Cemetery Association was formed in 1939.
A map of the cemetery with all graves was made in 1940.
The current Hawley Cemetery Association keeps the cemetery grounds and records in excellent condition.
There are six sections in the cemetery, A-H. Burials at Hawley include brothers, Abel Head “Shanghai” Pierce and Jonathan Edwards Pierce and their extended families which includes William Walter “Pudge” Heffelfinger, All-American guard on a Yale University football team in the 1800s .
In 2010 there were 1,729 known burials and an undetermined number of unknowns. Included in the 1,729 burials are seven war casualties 375 veterans and seven Gold Star Mothers.
St. Peter’s Catholic Church
Since its dedication on April 20, 1915, St. Peter’s Catholic Church has been a religious influence on the town of Blessing, Texas.
Throughout the years, the parishioners of St. Peter’s Catholic Church have not only evangelized the word of God, but have been a positive presence in Blessing.
St. Peter’s Catholic Church has always been the largest church in Blessing.
It remains so today. In 1915, the ladies of the church organized the St. Peter’s Altar Society.
These ladies have decorated the altar, prepared church meals and cleaned the Church over the years.
Since about 1950, the Altar Society has prepared an annual turkey and dressing meal during the Church’s annual Fall Festival.
This festival is attended by most of Blessing; Catholic and non-Catholic. Since 1976, the Altar Society, along with the St. Peter’s Knights of Columbus, has provided meals for the senior citizens of the Blessing area each week.
The Knights of Columbus was also organized in the early days of the church for the men of the parish. These men have kept up the grounds of the Church and helped perform repairs through the years. Each Thursday, the “Knights” hold a Bingo Game that is well attended by all of the Blessing area.
This is the only entertainment for some of the senior citizens of Blessing and the surrounding area.
During the Christmas season, it has always been a tradition to have the Tidehaven High School band play a Christmas Concert for the church members.
After the concert, the students enjoy a meal provided by the Altar Society and then go Christmas Caroling on a hayride through the Blessing area. Some of these same youth participate in the monthly Catholic Youth Organization sponsored dances.
The Youth Organization has been instrumental in providing activities for area youth since about 1976.
As in any community, the poor is ever present.
St. Peter’s Catholic Church strives to help those in need as often as they can. Over the years, the Church has provided food for their small food pantry, money for electric or gas bills and money to purchase fuel for travelers without funds.
In the small community of Blessing, St. Peter’s Catholic Church remains the largest Church, not only in size, but in love for its community and fellow Christians.
Partain Cemetery
This cemetery is located on private property near Hawley Cemetery in the Blessing area and has been adopted by the Hawley Cemetery Association.
The cemetery is about 30’ X 60’ with small trees growing in it.
Tombstone and family information was provided by Lester Wallace and appeared in the Matagorda County Genealogical Society publication, Oak Leaves, May 1994
Lacy Cemetery
At one time this cemetery was also known as Trespalacios Creek Cemetery.
It is on the east bank of the creek and is one of the oldest burial grounds in the area.
The graves were originally marked by wooden markers and logs, but supposedly railroad workers used them for fire wood. Mrs. Mamie Pierce Withers, a granddaughter of Sarah Bright and William D. Lacy, erected a monument and fenced the cemetery.
There is some confusion as to the burials in the cemetery. William D. Lacy’s name appears on the marker, but he died and is buried in Kentucky.