San Saba County Historical Commission

Shaw Bend Cemetery

Location:

This old cemetery which has served as a burial ground over the years for two communities (Rye Valley in Mills County and Shaw Bend in San Saba County.) It is located in San Saba County at a sharp bend in the Colorado River near a point known as the “double ford.” The community of Shaw Bend is about ten miles northeast of the city of San Saba. The land for the cemetery was given by J. E. Landers in 1884, land that was later owned by the Burnham family and is now owned by the James R. Cromer family.

GPS: Latitude: 31.3121o N  Longitude 98.6006o W

Directions:

• From San Saba city limit go north on Highway 16.
• Go north 4.2 miles to CR 124. (Shaw Bend Cemetery sign)
• Turn right onto CR 124 (unpaved).
• Go 6.75 miles to CR 142. (Cromer mailbox at this intersection)
• Turn left onto CR 142. Stay left for .9 miles to Shaw Bend Cemetery on right
• Parking on west side of cemetery adjacent to main entrance.



Condition:

The Shaw Bend Cemetery is one of the oldest in San Saba County still in use as a burial ground in 2009. The oldest extant tombstone with an inscription is that of Jimmie Isle Landers who died May 29, 1884, the son of J.E. Landers and Margret
Katherine Shaw. There are, however, many unidentified and unmarked graves in the older section of the cemetery, and it is probable that there were burials here that date back to the 1850’s, but if so, no records remain.

The cemetery has been and continues to be well-maintained. There is an active family interest with an endowed bank account to provide for costs of maintenance and upkeep. The cemetery is an area of about two thirds of an acre, enclosed by a four foot high chain link fence. The main entrance is at mid-point in the west fence line adjacent to the parking area.