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Hancock Family Cemetery

Type: Cemetery

Rating:

(2.00)2

Cost: N/A

Years In Use: 1901-1912

Open To The Public: Yes

Historical Marker: No

ADA Accessible: N/A

Bikes Allowed: N/A

Dogs Allowed: N/A

Interpretive Guide: N/A

Address: Burks Lane

City: Austin

County: Travis

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All four burials reside within an iron fence perimeter.

Steiner Ranch is one of the biggest subdivision developments in the Austin-area. Once a working cattle ranch, what was once the remote hill country is now just part of Austin's suburban sprawl. Houses bracket the site now, but Steiner Ranch has done a commendable job maintaining the area. The upkeep here surpasses that experienced by most such small family cemeteries.

At the turn of the century the Hancock family made use of this land for family burials. From 1901 to 1912 four people were laid to rest here, none of them more than 6 years old. There are no signs of additional graves here for adult family members and so far I have not been able to find out what connection the Hancocks may have had with the ranch in its working years. All headstones are legible and all plots are within an iron fence that undoubtable helps maintain their integrity. Crushed stone over the graves themselves helps prevents weeds from creeping in.

Photos

Hazel Hancock's stone marker is the best preserved of the four. (Photo by Austin Explorer)

Log Entries

Small but peaceful
By Austin Explorer on 9/22/2012
Rating:

This is one of the smallest cemeteries you'll likely encouter with only four plots. Stopped by to log the visit since I'd failed to do so when I documented some time back.

Recommended Item

Ghosts In The Graveyard: Texas Cemetery Tales
Olyve Abbott
~~List Price: $18.95~~ Your price: $14.95

Legends of abandoned old graveyards and some not so abandoned abound-the crying dog in the cemetary well, the wandering ghost of Long Tom March, who carries a deck of cards and won't rest until he finds a winning poker hand. Next to a graveyard where an arm is buried, the old piano in the fogotten church plays. These and other tales along with some more recent real-life experiences will intrigue you, skeptic or not. Read the tales with an open mind. They are for pleasure, a bit of paranormal, a little seriousness, and hopefully a laugh or two. If you are a nonbeliever in the supernatural, you may change your skepticism is etched in stone. Then again the author learned that nothing is etched in stone forever. This humorous book also includes some unusual coffins, tombstones, and epitaphs as well as some early Texas burial traditions.