Interment source:
Bay View Cemetery Map, ca 1940
NO HEADSTONE
1. Biography
It appears that this gravesite was intended for Mrs. R. A. Culpepper, the mother of little Rowland Aldridge Culpepper who is buried in Old Bayview Cemetery. Mrs. Culpepper was originally Mary Katherine “Mamie†Clark, the daughter of Rev. Horace Clark and Mary Davis Clark (she also is buried in Old Bayview Cemetery). Mary Katherine was born in Texas in March of 1854 according to census records. Harris County Marriage records indicate that Mary Katherine and Rowland A. Culpepper married in Harris County on October 31, 1878. Mary’s father was a prominent clergyman and educator who served as rector of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Corpus Christi from 1880-1897 (see Handbook of Texas article on “Horace Clarkâ€). Anna Moore Schwien states in “When Corpus Christi Was Young†that Dr. Spohn had his first hospital in Mrs. Culpepper’s home. Mrs. Culpepper moved to the city of Corpus Christi about 1891 after the death of her husband. By 1900 she is shown again in the census records of Harris County as living on Polk Ave. (ED 81, sheet 1B, line 83). Listed in the same household are: a son Horace who is born in August of 1884 (a clerk in an auditing office); a daughter Sarah born in October 1879 (a musician); and a daughter Mamie E. born in January of 1886 (in school). Mary Katherine’s father, Horace Clark, is also living with the family at that time and still serves as a minister. Mary Katherine’s mother, Martha Davis Clark, had died in Corpus Christi in 1896 and apparently her father had moved to Houston to live with his widowed daughter. Mary Katherine Clark Culpepper died May 26, 1921 in Houston. However, while there may have been a plot reserved for her next to her son Rowland Aldridge as indicated by a map of Old Bayview Cemetery, her obituaries from the Houston papers state that she was in fact buried in Glenwood Cemetery in Harris County (probably next to her husband).
Research and transcription: Michael A. Howell
Biographical Information on
Mary Katherine (_Mamie_) Clark Culpepper Census records of Harris County, Texas in 1880 indicate that Mary K. Culpepper was born in Texas in March of 1854. At the time of the census, she lived with her husband, Rowland, age 35, and three month old daughter, Sarah. Culpepper_s occupation is listed as _Cotton Classer_.
His birthplace and that of his parents is listed as Virginia. Harris County Marriage Records show the couple had been married there on Oct. 31, 1878. (Harris County Marriages, p. 81).
Mary Katherine Clark Culpepper was the daughter of Rev. Horace Clark and Mary Davis Clark. Rev. Clark, a prominent clergyman and educator, served as rector of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepard in Corpus Christi from 1880-1897. (See Handbook of Texas online, _Horace Clark_) Anna Moore Schwien states in _When Corpus Christi was Young_, that Dr. Spohn had his first hospital in Mrs. Culpepper_s home. (See Old Bayview web page of Anna Schwien) Mrs. Culpepper moved to the city in about 1891, after the death of her husband. By 1900 she is shown again in the census records of Harris County as living on Polk Ave. (ED 81, sheet 1B line 83). Listed in the same household are: a son, Horace born in August of 1884, who was a clerk in auditing office; a daughter, Sarah born in Oct. 1879, a musician and a second daughter, Mamie E. born January of 1886, who was in school. Her father, Horace Clark is also shown as part of the household, born in July 1819 and listed as a minister. Her mother, Martha Davis Clark, had died in Corpus Christi in 1896 and apparently her father had moved to Houston and lived with her. Mary Katherine Clark Culpepper died May 26, 1921. (Harris County Death Records). Her obituary from the Houston papers indicate that while she may have purchased a lot in Old Bayview, she herself was buried in Glenwood Cemetery in Houston, Texas. Her mother and her son, Rowland Alridge Culpepper, are interred in Old Bayview.
2. News Item
A newspaper article which appeared in the Corpus Christi paper, _The Weekly Sun_ Jan. 5, 1893 details an open house hosted by Mrs. Culpepper.
It offers a glimpse of her lifestyle and friends at that time.
At Mrs. M. A. Culpepper_s
Some two years ago Mrs. M. A. Culpepper erected a handsome residence on Chaparal street, where she has lived a very retired life since it occupancy. On Monday last, however, she decided to receive; and of course her large circle of friends and acquaintances took advantage of the occasion to offer her their congratulations. Carriages filled with gentlemen friends began to come early in the evening, and were heartily welcomed by Mrs. Culpepper and Mrs. Dr. Clark. As the parlor doors were opened, it was indeed a beautiful sight that met the visitors_ gaze. The house had been most beautifully decorated with date palms, evergreens and beautiful flowering plants. As the eye wandered over the beautiful scene, the house looked, indeed like a fabled wood nymph_s bower-and the wood nymphs were there in the persons of the following bright-eyed young ladies, who had gathered to give a fitting welcome to the fair hostess_
guests: Misses Gertie Smythe, Mrs. James Hickey, Blanche Rivera, Belie Skinner, Anna Brooks, Nellie Ricklefsen, Katie Ricklefsen, Jessie Chapman, Katie Hassell, Nellie Chapman.
The gentlemen were _taken in hand_ by the fair assistants, and escorted to little tables, which seemed to say, _for you; and I; let_s eat and be merry._ It would be useless to attempt to tell of the dainties offered in tempting array by those who took a special delight in urging you to eat, and at the same time making you forget by their presence that you ever were hungry. But everything that refined taste could suggest was served in dainty dishes, and Mrs. Culpepper certainly evinced rare judgment in preparing the menu.
After a while the refreshments were begin served, several ladies favored the guests with fine vocal and instrumental music, which added greatly to the evening_s entertainment. To Mrs. Culpepper and her assistants the gentlemen owe a debt of gratitude for the hospitalities extended, and the occasion will long be remembered. The reception lasted until about
11 o_clock, and during the evening the following gentlemen were received and extended to the ladies the compliments of the season:
A. A. Lichenstein, Thos. Hickey, Dr. Horace Clark, Julius Lichenstein, Mr. and Mrs. Hassell, A. H. Beynon, Simon Weil, H. J. Dale, W. E. Cooke, E. E. Furman, Chas. A. Meuly, Dr. H. J. Hamilton, A. Y. Blum, Fred Rivera, Jas. W. Durst, W. A. Hassell, Jr., Watson Macmannus, A. D.
Evans, R. M. Pettigrew, H. D. C. Gussett, Dudley Ward, W. B. McCampbell, A. O. Blum, J Burk. Wm. Mass, Thos. Smythe, C. Walter McWilliams, H. A.
Dove, C. Arthur Barley, A. Mushaway, R. A. Blum, R. E. Smythe, L. H.
Brewster.
Research: Msgr. Michael Howell
Transcription: Geraldine D. McGloin, Nueces County Historical Commission