Sutherland Springs Cemetery .... Sutherland Springs, Wilson County, Texas .... by Shirley Grammer 3/12/2012
The community of Sutherland Springs was established ca. 1849 and named for Dr. John Sutherland (1792-1867). Dr. Sutherland came to Texas in 1835 and is well known in the annals of Texas history as one of the survivors of the Alamo in 1836. Dr. Sutherland would have been among the many casualties at the Alamo had he not been crippled when his horse fell on him. Not being able to fight, Col. William Travis sent him to Gonzales to seek help. While Dr. Sutherland was on this mission the Alamo fell to the Mexican forces. 3 Dr. Sutherland's nephew, William DePriest Sutherland, born 8/10/1818 died March 6, 1836 at the Alamo. He was the son of George Sutherland. 4
Dr. John Sutherland was born near Danville, Pittsylvania Co., Virginia May 11, 1792. 5 His parents were Capt. John Sutherland, Sr. and Agnes Shelton Sutherland. Capt. Sutherland was an officer in the Revolutionary War. He was of sturdy Highland Scotch descent; his father, John Sutherland (or Sutherlin as it was originally spelled) having emigrated to America. 6 Capt. Sutherland moved from Virginia to Tennessee in 1805 and settled on Clinch River where he kept a ferry known as Sutherland's Ferry. 7
Dr. John Sutherland became a merchant at Knoxville, Tennessee. 8 There he met and married his first wife. Afterwards he went to Decatur, Alabama where he served as president of a bank. 9 After a while he moved to Tuscumbia, Alabama and entered into the mercantile business with his brother George. In 1825 George and John opened their store in a "new brick building" on the corner of Sixth and Main on "Mechanics Row." 10 It was here in Tuscumbia that Dr. Sutherland selected his second wife. In 1829 Dr. Sutherland and George Sutherland closed their business. In December 1835, Dr. Sutherland, Captain William Patton and several others visited Texas with a view to settling on lands which the Mexican government offered as an inducement to settlers to make homes in Texas. 11 Arriving at San Felipe they took the oath of allegiance to the new government. Then they proceeded to San Antonio arriving there on the 18th of January, 1836. 12 After the fall of the Alamo Dr. Sutherland returned to his family in Tuscumbia, Alabama. In the fall of 1837, having closed his business in Tuscumbia he brought his family to Texas, reaching the settlement known as Egypt, (Wharton County, Texas) in December of that year. 13 He built a home on the West side of the Colorado River, located 4 miles from Egypt where he lived until the fall of 1849 when he moved to present day Wilson County , settling near the Sulphur Springs on the Cibolo River, present day Sutherland Springs, Texas. 14
Dr. Sutherland was married three times; first to Diana Kennedy in Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee, December 31, 1816. 15 There were 3 children born to this union: David (1820-1852), Sarah Agnes (1822-1870) and John James Sutherland (1824-1845). Diana died February 17, 1827 in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Dr. Sutherland's second marriage was to Ann Bryan Lane on November 17, 1827 in Alabama. There were five children born to this union: George Quinn (1829-1869), Levin L. (b. 1832 - died in South America) 16 and Jack Sutherland (1838-1922) 17 Two daughters: Margaret Ann, (1834-1834) and Margaret Ann, II born 1/10/ 1840 - died 11/1840). 18 Ann died January 10, 1840 in Egypt, Wharton County, Texas. 19 His third and final marriage was to Ann Margaret Lucas Dickson 1/21/1841 in Colorado County, Texas. 20 Ann Margaret Dickson was the widow of Abishai Dickson who was killed with Fannin at Goliad. 21 Margaret and Abishai Dickson had several children. Dr. Sutherland and Ann Margaret had 3 children: Mary Elizabeth (1843-1901), 22 William T. (1845-1924) 23 & Rev. Alexander Hamilton Sutherland (1848-1917). 24 Dr. Sutherland and Ann Margaret were separated in later years but remained friends. They never divorced.
In 1849 Dr. Sutherland purchased the Trevino grant on Cibolo Creek, located some twenty miles east of San Antonio. 25 Dr. Sutherland boarded patients who came to the Sulphur Springs seeking cures for various ailments. He gained a reputation for curing cholera and other maladies. His house was soon a regular stop, known as Sutherland Springs, on the road to Port Lavaca from San Antonio. January 27, 1851 Sutherland Springs obtained a post office. Dr. Sutherland was the first postmaster. He had the town platted and sold lots, sponsored the construction of a school and Methodist church and served as a justice of the peace and a member of the school board. His town became the provisional seat of Wilson County in 1860.
The Cemetery at Sutherland Springs was established October 31, 1860 when Dr. Sutherland granted approximately 5 acres to the town of "Sutherland" for a graveyard. 26 The first burial was that of his wife, Ann Margaret Sutherland, who died May 5, 1862. Ann Margaret Sutherland was born in Savannah, Georgia August 5, 1809. 27 She ran a boarding house and became acquainted with many travelers traversing the old road from San Antonio to Port Lavaca & Indianola.
On May 22, 1911, Jacob Hyder sold 2.09 acres for $75 to Margaret Curry, Mamie Sutherland and Jennie Wiseman, trustees of the Oak Hill Cemetery Association, 28 present day Sutherland Springs Cemetery Association, bringing the total acreage to 7.09 acres. On May 1, 1956, Jennie Wiseman and Mamie Sutherland submitted their resignations as trustees of the Oak Hill Cemetery Association. Margaret Curry was deceased. The cemetery became known as the Sutherland Springs Cemetery Association, with Basil Hoke, Claude Cowan, and Melvin Deagen elected as new trustees. Mrs. Basil (Pearl) Hoke was the president. 29
On September 19, 1997, the Billy Deagen family of Sutherland Springs deeded 0.59 acre to the Sutherland Springs Cemetery Association, bringing its total acreage to approximately 7.69 acres. 30. A plat of the cemetery is found in a General Warranty Deed dated 11/21/1995 PP.895-367, Bill Deagen and sons, LTD to John J. Sturm & wife, Jo Ann Sturm, 51.47 acres of land out of the A. Trevino Grant. The Sturm's own the surrounding land around the cemetery.
Interred in this cemetery are four Texas Rangers, a county judge, a sheriff, doctors, veterans, Masons, members of Eastern Star, descendants of the historic Polley and Sutherland families who were early pioneer settlers to the area. 31.
There are many interesting characters interred in this cemetery. To mention a few:
Mrs. Susan Walker Pickett, born ca. 1825 in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She wrote letters to Andrew J. Hamilton 32 a noted Unionist and Texas Congressman in 1865. 33 Hamilton assumed the office of provisional governor (6/17/1865 - 8/9/1866) under an appointment from President Andrew Johnson during the turmoil of reconstruction. Susan expressed her differences with William Longworth, the local agent for the Freedmen's Bureau. She was also recognized as a poet. 34 Susan was married to County Judge, Andrew Greer Pickett. Susan died October 26, 1873 and is buried in the Sutherland Springs Cemetery. Judge Pickett remarried Eleanor Adelia Polley in 1877. They are buried in the Floresville City Cemetery.
Mary Augusta Polley-Polley Baylor (1827-1915) was born under the Republic of Texas flag at San Felipe de Austin. Her father, Joseph Henry Polley, was a veteran of the War of 1812. He came to Texas with Stephen F. Austin and was a member of Austin's "Old 300". Mary Augusta was married twice; first to her (1st) cousin, Joseph Egbert Polley in 1842. After the death of her husband Mary Augusta came to the Cibolo in 1847 with her family and settled near Sutherland Springs. She married Walker K. Baylor in 1852. At one time Mary Augusta Baylor was believed to be the oldest native Texas woman and had the distinction of living under four flags. She has a "Citizen of the Republic of Texas" medallion on her gravestone that was placed in 2008. Walker K. Baylor (1821-1891) was connected to the well-known Baylor family of Texas. He served as a postmaster of Sutherland Springs in 1866 and county judge of Wilson County in 1867. W.K. Baylor and Mary Augusta Polley-Polley Baylor are buried in the Sutherland Springs Cemetery.
Jonathan James Polley (1848-1925) was the son of pioneer settlers Joseph Henry Polley and Mary Bailey Polley. He was born on the Cibolo near Sutherland Springs. He was a brother to Mary Augusta Polley-Polley Baylor. Jonathan never married. He is buried in the Sutherland Springs Cemetery.
Susan Rebecca Polley Henderson-Brooks (1835-1906) was the daughter of Joseph Henry Polley and Mary Bailey Polley. She first married Connally F. Henderson in 1858. Connally was killed in the Civil War at the Battle of Gaines Mill. 35 Susan married (2nd) Josiah D. Brooks in 1876. Susan and Josiah are buried in the Sutherland Springs Cemetery.
John W. Lilly (1818-1883) appears to have arrived in Texas by 1838. He conducted business in Matagorda and Wharton Counties, including a partnership under the name Wadsworth and Lilly. He received a third class head right grant from the Republic of Texas in 1845, which was later patented in Maverick County. Sometime prior to 1861, Lilly relocated to Sutherland Springs in Wilson County, where he entered into a partnership with W. K. Baylor in a mercantile business. He had a daughter, Rowena, by his first wife, Mary Lilly, and another daughter, Alice Viola, from his (2nd) marriage to Eliza Temperance Craighead 6/17/1873. Eliza (1843-1877) was the daughter of James Patterson Craighead (1812-1854) and Sarah Agnes Sutherland Craighead (1822-1870). Eliza was a granddaughter of Dr. John Sutherland. John W. Lilley, Mary Lilly (1829-1866), Eliza T. Craighead Lilly, Rowena Lilly Killough (1865-1932) and Sarah Agnes Sutherland Craighead are all buried in the Sutherland Springs Cemetery. 36
Mary Ann Cotton Mayes (1821-1875) was the wife of early settler, William D. Mayes. W. D. Mayes came to present day Wilson County as early as 1847, purchasing land along the Cibolo south of Sutherland Springs. His wife, Mary Ann Cotton Mayes, was born in Halifax, N.C. to Joseph Cotton and Eliza H. Harris Cotton. Mary Ann married William D. Mayes (12/14/1837) in Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee. William and Mary Ann became wealthy land owners in Wilson County. Mary Ann was buried in the Sutherland Springs Cemetery. The burial place of W. D. Mayes is unknown. 37
John D. Murray (1836-1916) served in the Civil War as 1st Sgt. Co F 4th TX Inf. He was a member of Hood's Texas Brigade and attended the Forty-fourth Hood's Texas Brigade Reunion in Floresville, Texas on October 14th & 15th, 1915. 38 He was born in North Carolina. His family came to the Cibolo ca. 1858 and settled near La Vernia. He was the son of William Owen Murray and Sarah Ormsby Murray who are buried in the Historic Rector Chapel Cemetery in La Vernia. John married Arabell May Stevenson (1849-1933) in 1869 and they were the parents of eleven children. John and Arabell are buried in the Sutherland Springs Cemetery.
John Frederick Perchard (1873-1920) was born on the Island of Jersey, England according to his obituary. He was the son of a highly honored English family. He came to America in 1892. He married Miss Edna Murray in 1903, daughter of John D. Murray and Arabell Stevenson Murray. He ranched for awhile and then went to work for Waters-Pierce Oil Company. John and Edna Perchard are buried in the Sutherland Springs Cemetery. 39
Sanford Brown (1830-1916), Texas Ranger, was born in Maury County, Tennessee and came to Texas when he was about 13 years old. He married Miss Mary Reynolds (1840-1905). They had eight children. Sanford Brown often spoke of his Indian fighting days at Fort Davis. Among his papers was a brief report stating: "Under the command of Major John S. Simonson, in Capt. W.R. Henry's Company, while trailing Indians we saw where they had a war dance, saw many moccasin tracks and a dead Indian Chief and a squaw." According to the Texas State Archives Records, Sanford Brown drew two pensions; one as an Indian fighter for the U.S. Government and another as a Confederate Veteran of the Civil War. The government classified these men as Texas Rangers attached to the 8th US Infantry. A Texas Ranger Cross was placed at his grave site in 2008 by the FTRA. Sanford and Mary are buried in the Sutherland Springs Cemetery. 40
John Sutherland Craighead (1847-1935) Confederate Soldier, former Sheriff of Wilson County (1894-1899) and pioneer settler. He died at the Confederate Home in Austin, Texas September 22, 1935. John Craighead was born in Knoxville, Tennessee . He came to Sutherland Springs in 1857. He married Miss Mary Isabella McAlister (1846-1910), daughter of John M. McAlister and Isabella McClain McAlister, early pioneer settlers of La Vernia. John was the son of James Patterson Nelson Craighead and Sarah Agnes Sutherland Craighead. He was a grandson of Dr. John Sutherland. John and Mary I. Craighead are buried in the Sutherland Springs Cemetery. 41
J. P. N. "Pat" Craighead (1875-1921) Texas Ranger, was born in Sutherland Springs. Pat Craighead joined the Texas Rangers in 1906 and served in Captain John R. Hughes Company at Ysleta, Texas and later was stationed in the lower border country. He was badly wounded by Mexican bandits in the San Benito ambush in 1910 at which time his partner Quirl Carnes was killed. Due to the seriousness of his wounds his left leg had to be amputated. After serving as a Texas Ranger for five years Pat resigned to become Sheriff of Jim Hogg County. He was elected to that office in 1912 and served in that capacity until his death in 1921. Pat Craighead is the son of John S. and Mary Isabella McAlister Craighead. He is a great-grandson of Dr. John Sutherland. Pat is buried in the Sutherland Springs Cemetery. 42
Mary Frances Sutherland Johnson (1843-1901) was a daughter of Dr. John Sutherland and his third wife, Ann Margaret Dickson Sutherland. She married Robert Johnson. She is buried in the Sutherland Springs Cemetery along with a young child. The burial place of Robert Johnson is unknown.
Jack Sutherland (1838-1922) son of Dr. John Sutherland and his second wife, Ann Bryan Lane. Jack married Mary Elizabeth Sutherland, daughter of the first Chief Justice of Wilson County, Dr. William Sutherland. Judge Sutherland and his wife are buried in the Evergreen Cemetery, Victoria, Texas. As far as I know, no kinship has ever been established between the two Sutherland families. Jack and Mary Elizabeth Sutherland-Sutherland (1848-1897) remained in Sutherland Springs. Eleven children were born to this union. 43 Jack served in the 4th Regt Texas Infantry, Hood's Brigade CSA. He engaged in the mercantile business in Sutherland Springs. Jack and Mary Elizabeth Sutherland are buried in the Sutherland Springs Cemetery. 44
William Thomas Sutherland (1845-1924) was the son of Dr. John Sutherland and his 3rd wife, Ann Margaret Dickson Sutherland. He was born at Egypt, Texas. William married Miss Eunice Sophia Will (1849-1936), born in Canada. William entered the Confederate Army in 1864 and served in Texas and Louisiana until the end of the war. He became a surveyor in Wilson County which he learned without ever taking a course in school. He was elected county surveyor in 1876. His compass, tripod, chain and ax have gone to the corners of practically every foot of land in Wilson County and his word was law in the field of surveying. William and Eunice are buried in the Sutherland Springs Cemetery. 45
Sarah Agnes Sutherland Craighead (1822-1870), daughter of Dr. John Sutherland and his first wife, Diana Kennedy Sutherland. Sarah married James Patterson Craighead (1812-1854) 1/5/1843 in Tennessee. Her daughter, Eliza Temperance Craighead, was the second wife of John Lilly. Sarah Agnes Craighead is buried in the Sutherland Springs Cemetery. The burial place of James Patterson Craighead is unknown.
Charles P. Warren (1858-1924) Texas Ranger, (Private, Company F of the Frontier Battalion, mustered into state service June 1st, 1882 46 and honorably discharged August 1, 1882). was one of the founders of the Methodist Church at Sutherland Springs. He served as steward and trustee for many years. He was revered and loved by the entire membership. He was Postmaster in Sutherland Springs for twenty-four years, having been appointed March 16, 1886 and serving until the appointment of George B. Everts March 7, 1910. 47 He married Miss Zora Wright (1866-1897) of Yorktown 10/8/1885. They are buried in the Sutherland Springs Cemetery. 48
Dr. John McQuincy Weston (1833-1918) Born in Columbia, S. C.. He graduated from Charleston Medical College in the class of 1852. He came to Texas and located at Richmond, Ft. Bend County as a practicing physician. He married Miss Marie Louise Chambers (1840-1935) in 1856 who became his life companion. Eight children were born to this union. He enlisted in Terry's Rangers, 8th Texas Cavalry and was commissioned a surgeon. He served four years . He was badly wounded at the Battle of Shiloh. He returned to Ft. Bend after the war but was forced to give up the practice of medicine for a while due to a heart problem. He was elected County Judge of Ft. Bend County. After retiring from this office he moved to West Texas. In 1892 he moved to Marcelina in Wilson County where he resumed the practice of medicine, later moving to Sutherland Springs. He retired in 1914. Dr. and Mrs. John Weston are buried in the Sutherland Springs Cemetery. 49
Parker M. Weston (1882-1936) Texas Ranger. He was known as one of the best fox hunters in the Sour Lake, Hardin County, Texas area where he lived at the time of his death. He owned a pack of fox hounds which were the envy of hunters for miles around. He married (1st) Zillah Short (d. 1916) & (2nd) Kate Standley. Parker joined the Texas Rangers in 1906 and served under Captain John H. Rogers in Company "C". He retired from the Rangers in 1917. He went to work as a security guard for the then-fledgling Texas Oil Company, which later became Texaco. He later worked as a pumper at Sour Lake, Texas. Parker and his first wife are buried in the Sutherland Springs Cemetery. 50
Georgia Walker (1888-1950) is buried in the African-American section of the Sutherland Springs Cemetery. Her obit states she was a well known colored woman of Floresville and wife of I. S. Walker, resident of Floresville for many years. The body was taken to Sutherland Springs for burial . Many friends attended the burial rites. Services were held by the colored Methodist pastor from Seguin. Her husband who survived her was a highly respected colored citizen of the community for years. She left no children. 51
Jose Angel "Joe" Cardenas (1911-2001) was born in Mexico. He came to Fredericksburg, Texas with his parents when he was seven years old. The family came to Stockdale, Texas ca. 1926. Joe married Refugia Guerra of New Berlin, Texas October 29, 1929. They moved to Sutherland Springs . Joe was a farmer and worked for Pat Higgins on the "Higgins Buffel Grass Farm" until he retired at the age of 87 years. Pat Higgins was the son of Patillo Higgins of Spindletop fame. Joe and Refugia had five children; three boys and two girls. 52
Dr. John Sutherland died on April 11, 1867. Eulogized by Susan J. Pickett, he was buried in the "village cemetery" he had donated. He left little to his heirs except the home in which he had lived and 188 town lots in Sutherland Springs, most of which his son Jack sold. 53
Charles B. Stevenson, County Judge of Wilson County (1925-1936) born 1854, described Dr. Sutherland as a courteous, portly gentleman, much interested in the development and progress of the community and welfare of its people. 54
Sutherland Springs Cemetery is probably the only cemetery in Wilson County that has African-American, Hispanic and Caucasian burials in the same cemetery. The Sutherland Springs African-American Community had their own private cemetery adjacent to the Sutherland Springs Cemetery prior to 1977. It was separated by a barbed wire fence and terribly overgrown. Billy Deagen was elected commissioner in 1977. Richard Cardenas, Commissioner Billy Deagen and others removed the fence, cleaned the cemetery and incorporated both cemeteries. Old metal markers were removed. There are approximately 60 graves in that section of the cemetery; many of these are unmarked. It is kept clean by the Sutherland Springs Cemetery Association. 55
There are over 90 veterans interred in the Sutherland Springs Cemetery. An annual Veterans Day Memorial Service is held in the cemetery every year on Memorial Day. All local living veterans are invited. A local minister is in charge of the service. Nice Refreshments are always served. The community looks forward to this event.
The Sutherland Springs Cemetery Association holds annual meetings. They elect officers every year. The present officers are: 55 Bertha Cardenas Lomas, President; Chuck Allen, 1st Vice President; John Ferguson, 2nd Vice President and Sharon Hays, Secretary-Treasurer. They send an annual newsletter with notification of the meeting date. They have paid maintenance of the cemetery and a volunteer work day the third Saturday of October. Gravestones have been placed on unmarked graves with the inscription "Unknown". If an unmarked grave can be identified, a stone is placed by the cemetery association with the appropriate name and dates. The cemetery has one wrought iron fence surrounding the Charles Hines family plot and one concrete enclosure around the John Lilly plot. A number of graves are surrounded by cradles. Crape Myrtles were planted in the cemetery; some by the association and others donated in memory of Jason Puryear. Roberta Chesley donated Crape Myrtles in memory of Dr. John Weston.
The entire cemetery is fenced. They have a flagpole. They have two entrances that connect to FM 539; one entrance has an arched iron sign above the gate. The road into the cemetery makes a huge circle and connects with both entrances.
