The Dessau Lutheran Cemetery has been designated as a "Historic Texas Cemetery" (2009).



The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Dessau has been recognized by the "Texas Historical Commission" with a historical marker (1984).



The Dessau community was settled in the 1850's by German immigrants. The names of some of the early settlers were Martin Wieland and his two brothers, Fritz and Albert, and sister Hermine, Gustav Grosskopf, Fritz Krueger, Andrew Krueger, Willie Hennig, Carl Nauert, Christian Nehring, Frederick Goerlitz, and Mr. Schwartzkopf. They named the community after the German Duchy Anhalt-Dessau where Martin Wieland grew up. Dessau was founded in 1854 and is twelve miles north of Austin, Texas.



Soon after their arrival, these families began to conduct prayer meetings and bible studies in their homes. They alternated between homes until the early 1870's when they formed a Lutheran congregation and built the church that is still standing today. In 1874 eight acres of land were purchased from Christian Nehring for ten dollars. The church and the parsonage were built in 1876. The construction of the building was made possible by the labor and materials furnished by the members of the congregation and other settlers in the community. The construction was supervised by one of the early settlers, Fritz Krueger. In 1877, two more acres were added to expand the cemetery and to build a school house. The first burials were in 1874. Church services were conducted in German until 1940. After 118 years the congregation disbanded in 1994.



The original church building faces east and is at the top of a hill. The Dessau Lutheran Cemetery is directly in front of the church. Many of the early settlers and their descendants are buried in the cemetery which has over 200 graves.



Please visit the Dessau Lutheran Cemetery Association web site - dessaulca.org - for more information.