Shaw Bend Cemetery

Footnotes:

 

The Shaw Bend Community:

 

1.         The Shaw Bend Community is located in the northeastern part of San Saba County at a sharp bend in the Colorado River.  It is bounded on the north by Horse Creek, on the east and south by the Colorado River and on the west by Rocky Creek and by a hilly area of ranch land known as “The Rocky Pasture.”

 

The first settlers came to this area in the early1850’s before the county was established in 1856.  Among the first to settle here were the families of Asa Madison Brown and William Calvin Shaw.  The community was named for Shaw, an early land owner and Baptist preacher.  Other family names soon to become associated with this vicinity were Bird, Burnham, Fox, Goode, Johnson, Landers, Magee, Rankin, Taff and Wagley.  The ready availability of water, fertile soil and favorable climate attracted these early settlers.  In the 1850’s stock raising was the major industry, but farming assumed growing importance from 1880 on after wire fencing began.

 

The history of Shaw Bend is inseparably linked to the corresponding history of the community on the other side of the river.  This community was named Rye Valley because of the lush, tall rye grass that covered the valley.

 

The early settlers (1847 – 1860) who came to this area of the new state of Texas settled in the rich, fertile valleys along each side of the river. Rye Valley and Shaw Bend were settled and became established communities during the same time period before the counties in which they are located were organized.  People began to move into this beautiful area along the Colorado River in the early 1950’s.  Some settled on one side or the other of the river, but several of these early arrivers took up land on both sides of the Colorado and built homes and established farms and ranches on their holdings, and Rye Valley and Shaw Bend grew as one community, divided only by the river that ran through that pioneer settlement.  The river was not a dividing element but was very much a part of a growing community.  The river was a center of gravity that added a frame of reference to living and growing up there.

 

2.                  Jimmie Isle Landers: (Number 4 in Row 13)

The first recorded burial in the Shaw Bend Cemetery.  Jimmie Isle was the son of John Edward Landers and Margaret Kathryn Shaw.  Jimmie was drowned along with Mary Jane Nichols on May 29, 884 when the boat capsized as they were being rowed across the flooded Colorado River to attend school in Rye Valley during the time that the Shaw Bend School Building was being constructed.  As far as is known no other member of the Landers family is buried in Shaw Bend. Both John E. and Margaret Katherine are buried in the Goldthwaite Memorial Cemetery.

 

3.         Wagley Infants: (Number 3 and 4 in Row 14)

The second burial recorded is that of an infant son of J.W. and W. Wagley who died on September 7, 1886.  On June 12, 1888, the Wagley parents buried an infant daughter by the side of their son.  A single tombstone marks these gravesites.  Inscription for the son is on the top of the tombstone and the inscription for the daughter is on the east-facing side of the tombstone. Each grave location is also marked by a small sandstone footstone.  There are four other unidentified graves (two on each side of the infant’s graves) that are marked by sandstone headstone and footstones with no name or dates.  These may be Wagley graves, but there are no available records on the Wagley family.

 

4.         Goode, D.C.: (Number 11 in Row 12)

The first veteran to be buried in Shaw Bend Cemetery was D.C. Goode.  Goode was a private in the confederate states Army.  He served in Company D of the 6^th Regiment of the Alabama Infantry. He died February 11, 1907.  He was married to Martha Ann Howell. (Number 10 in row 12) who died in 1906.

 

5.         Bird, Jacob:  (Number 2 in Row 7)

The Bird family was one of the first to arrive in this area of the new state of Texas.  They came from Tennessee and settled on land on both sides of the river at a point that was to become known as the Fox Crossing.  The Bird family and the Taff family were close friends and came to Texas together.  They settled on adjoining tracts of land in Shaw Bend.  Several of the Bird family children and grandchildren married into the Taff family.  The Bird and the Taff families had a very important part in the establishment of Shaw Bend and Rye Valley.

 

6.                  Bird, Sena: (Number 3 in Row 7)

Born in Tennessee, Sena was the wife of Jacob Bird.  She was described as a kind and affectionate mother and grandmother.  She and Jacob in the later years provided a home and cared for several of their relatives’ children, including granddaughter Dicy Fox and nephew James Fox.

 

7.         Fox, Margaret M.  (Number 2 in Row. 6)

Margaret Melvina Bird was born June 12, 1857, in Tennessee.  She married Calvin Fox on January 31, 1877.  They made their home in Rye Valley on land adjoining the Jacob Birds. They had nine children, four of whom spent their life on the family farm in Rye Valley and Shaw Bend and are buried in the Shaw Bend Cemetery.  They are: George Elvin (Number 1 in row 6) Lula Mae (Number 3 in Row 6) Minnie Angeline (Number 4 in Row 6) and Marshal C. (Number 4 in Row 7.)

 

8.         Fox, Nannie R. (Number 5 in Row 7)

Nannie was the wife of Marshal C. Fox and the mother of Opal Mae Fox (Number 6 in Row 7.)

 

9.         Lane, Babe (Number 1 in Row 7)

This is the grave of Leslie Lane, the infant son of Finis A. Lane and Janie Sena Edna Fox. He was the grandson of Margaret M. (Bird) Fox.  This grave has no tombstone and is marked only by a small metal funeral home marker.

 

10.       Other members of the Bird Family who are related to the Taff family and are buried in the Shaw Bend Cemetery.: William M. Bird (Number 4 in Row 10)

William was the son of Jacob and Sena Bird. He married Leah A. Taff (Number 3 in Row 19) on June 12, 1892.  Their two children, daughter Tommie Lee (Number 1 in row 10) and son Boyd Newton (Number 2 in Row 10) are buried in the family plot in the Shaw Bend Cemetery.

 

11.       Rankin, Marshall: (Number 2 in row 9)

Leslie Marshall Rankin was born in Brownwood, Texas, the son of Leslie Rankin and Mary Jane Crundwell.  He married Maude A. Taff (Number 3 in Row 9). Marshall and Maude are the parents of Mary Louise Rankin (Number 4 in Row 9). Mary J. Rankin (Number 5 in row 9).is the mother of Marshall Rankin.

 

12.       Taff, Mrs. Elizabeth (Number 6 in Row 8)

She was the wife of W. A. Taff and was among the first of the Taff families from Tennessee to settle in Shaw Bend.  The 1880 census lists her as a 38 year old widow-farmer with six children.  She married relative J. W. Taff on July 1, 1883.

 

13.       Taff, Thomas D. (Number 9 in Row 9)

The 1900 Census lists T. D. Taff as a 37 year old farmer in Shaw Bend, the father of nine living children.

 

 

14.       Taff, Minerva (Number 10 in Row 9)

            Minerva Wheat was the wife of T.D. Taff.

 

15.       Taff, Samuel Rimmer (Number 4 in Row 8)

This is an unmarked grave that is probably that of the youngest son of Thomas D. Taff and Minerva Wheat. He died at age17.

 

16.       Taff, Mamie: (Number 7 in Row 9)

The 1900 census lists Mamie as a 5 year old female living in the household of her aunt, Mary “Mollie” Taff who married Ed Crawford on Dec. 7, 1898.

 

17.       Taff, Martha: (Number 8 in Row 9)

The 1900 census lists Martha Taff as the sister-in-law living in the household of Ed Crawford.

 

18.       Taff, George P: (Number 5 in Row 10)

            He was the son of J.G. and D. M. Taff.

 

19.       Taff, J.G.: (Number 7 in Row 10)

The 1900 census lists J.G. Taff as a farmer living in Shaw Bend who came to Texas from Tennessee.

 

20.       Taff, Maggie (Number 6 in Row 10)

The 1900 census lists Maggie Taff as the 37 year old wife of J.G. Taff.  Their children are listed as Jessie, Walter, Maude, Carl and Sherman.

 

21.       Taff, Julia (Number 9 in Row 10)

            The 1880 census lists Julia as the 9 year old daughter of Isaac and Martha Taff.

 

22.       Taff, Joseph E. (Number 10 in Row 10)

            Joseph was the son of Isaac and Martha Taff.

 

23.       Taff, William Terrell: (Number 5 in Row 8)

            W. T. “Bill” Taff was the son of Thomas D. Taff and Minerva Wheat.

 

24.       Johnson, M. M. (Number 6 in Row 12)

Marion Marcus Johnson was born May 4, 1833, in Lancaster County, South Carolina, the son of William and Mary Johnson. M. M. Johnson’s first marriage was to Orpha Knox on January 5, 1852 in Lancaster County, South Carolina.  They had two children, Francis Marion Johnson and Orpha Ann Johnson.  Orpha died before 1865 in Hart County, Georgia.

 

His second marriage was to Nancy Malissa Bowers on November 28, 1865, in Hart County, Georgia.  They had two children, Samuel Paris Johnson and Mary Alice Johnson.  Nancy Malissa died Sept. 19, 1869, in Hart County, Georgia and is buried in the Bowers Family Cemetery in Bowersville, Georgia.

Marcus Johnson’s third marriage was to Mary “Polly” Rice on Dec. 5, 1869, in Hart County, Georgia.  She was the first cousin of Nancy Malissa Bowers.  Mary died March 26, 1900, in Mills County, Texas, and is buried in the Shaw Bend Cemetery.

 

            His fourth marriage was to Sue ___?____ in 1906 in Goldthwaite, Texas.

During the time M.M. Johnson lived in Bowersville, Georgia, he was owner and operator of the Bowersville Hotel. The M. M. Johnson family moved to Texas and settled in Shaw Bend in November 1882.

 

25.       Johnson, Mary (Number 5 in Row 12)

            Mary “Polly” Rice was the third wife of M. M. Johnson.

 

26.       Johnson, J. B. (Number 4 in Row 12)

James B. was the nephew of M. M. Johnson.  He was killed in a horse riding accident while visiting with his uncle, M. M. Johnson.

 

27.       Johnson, S. P.: (Number 7 in Row 12)

Samuel Paris Johnson was born August 29, 1866, in Hart County, Georgia.  He was the son of M. M. Johnson and Nancy Malissa Bowers.

 

28.       Johnson, Lula (Number 8 in row 12)

Lula Belzoia Fletcher was the daughter of Jacob M. Fletcher and Virginia E. A. Burnham.  Lula married Samuel Paris Johnson December 10, 1894.

 

29.       Burnham, Theo C. (Number 6 in Row 5)

Theodore C. Burnham, born January 27, 1832, in Branch County, Michigan, was the son of John Holt Burnham.  The Burnham family was early settlers in Hunt, Burnet, Mills and San Saba Counties. Settling first in Hunt County they moved to Burnet County in the early 1960’s where John Holt made his home, farmed and was a circuit riding preacher.

 

Theodore C. married Rebecca Jane Walton Sept. 29, 1858, in Hunt County, Texas.  They had five children: Virginia A.E., John C., Little Berry, Theodore Jasper, and D. Robey.  Rebecca Jane died Nov. 5, 1875, and is buried in the Burnet Cemetery.

 

Theodore C. married his second wife, Mary Walton, on Dec. 20, 1876, in Burnet County.  Mary was the sister of Rebecca, his first wife.  Mary Walton died April 17, 1901, and is buried in the McMillin Cemetery.

           

Theodore C., like his father, was a country doctor, a preacher, carpenter, farmer and rancher.  From early 1874, through 1882 T. C. Burnham acquired much land along the Colorado River basin from Travis County, south through southeastern Mills County to the north. He expanded his holdings in Mills and San Saba Counties to both sides of the Colorado River.  He made his home in Shaw Bend, and it was there that he spent the last thirty years of his life.

 

 

30.       Burnham, L. B. Sr.: (Number 8 in Row 5)

Little Berry Burnham, the son of T. C. Burnham and Rebecca Jane Walton, was an early settler in San Saba and what would become Mills, County.  He and his brother Theo. J. had a big part in the development of Shaw Bend and Rye Valley.

 

31.       Burnham, Mary Alice: (Number 10 in Row 5)

Mary Alice Johnson married Little Berry Burnham December 9, 1895, in San Saba County.  They had five children:  Coleman, Marion, Leslie Dee, an infant daughter who died at birth, and L. B. Jr.

 

32.       Burnham, Annie: (Number 8 in Row 5)

            Annie Ione was the second wife of Little Berry Burnham.

 

33.       Williamson, Jennie: (Number 7 in row 5)

Jennie was the granddaughter of T. C. Burnham and the daughter of Virginia A. E. Burnham.

 

34.       Burnham, Infant (Number 11 in Row 5)

            This is the infant daughter of Little Berry Burnham and Mary Alice Johnson.

 

35.       Burnham, Hubert Coleman:  (Number 8 in Row 6)

            Hubert Coleman was the son of Little Berry Burnham and Mary Alice Johnson.

 

36.       Burnham, Lula Leona: (Number 9 in Row 6)

Leona Hufstutler was the daughter of Thomas J. Hufstutler and Emma Taff. She was the wife of Coleman Burnham.

 

37.       Burnham, Thomas Berry: (Number 10 in Row 6)

            Thomas B. was the son of Coleman Burnham and Leona Hufstutler.

 

38.       Burnham, Infant: (Number 12 in Row 5)

            This was the infant son of Coleman Burnham and Leona Hufstutler.

 

39.       Burnham, Theodore Jasper: (Number 4 in Row 4)

Theo. J. Burnham was the son of T. C. Burnham and Rebecca Jane Walton.  He was an early settler in Shaw Bend and owned land and homes in several locations in San Saba County.  He married Mary Goode on April 20, 1905. They had nine children: John Henry, Lois, Theodore Jasper, Jr., Robert Louis, Haynes Goode, Cynthia Ann, Sarah Rebecca, Bill Kirk and Jack Worth.  All their children began school at Shaw Bend where brothers Little Berry and Theo J. served as trustees.  Their sister, Virginia Fletcher, and Little Berry’s son, Leslie Dee, taught there.

 

40.       Burnham, Mary G. (Number 5 in Row 4)

Mary Elizabeth Goode was the wife of Theodore J. Burnham.  Her parents were James A. Goode and Cynthia Ann Vick.  She was born in Hochheim, DeWitt County, Texas.

 

41.       Burnham, Bill Kirk: (Number 3 in Row 1)

Bill Kirk was the son of Theodore Jasper and Mary Elizabeth Goode.  Bill married Ima Ruth Taylor on August 8, 1942.

 

42.       Burnham, Ima Ruth: (Number 4 in Row 1)

Ima Ruth is the wife of Bill Kirk Burnham and the daughter of L. Roy Taylor and Gertrude Brown.  This listing is marked future gravesite.

 

43.       Burnham, Jack Worth: (Number 1 in Row 4)

Jack Worth is the son of Theo J. Burnham and Mary Elizabeth Goode.  Jack married Clara Jonell Roy on June 11, 1948. This listing is marked future gravesite.

 

44.       Burnham, Jonell (Number 2 in Row 4)

Clara Jonell Roy is the wife of Jack Worth Burnham.  She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence “Red” Roy.  Her listing is marked future site.

 

45.       Burnham, Haynes Goode: (Number 8 in Row 4)

Haynes is the son of Theo J. Burnham and Mary E. Goode.  He married Dixie Viola Jones.  They had two children, Carol Beth and Helen Sue.  He owned a San Saba pecan business with his brothers, Ted and Jack.

 

46.       Burnham, Cynthia Ann: (Number 6 in Row 4) and

Burnham, Sarah Rebecca (Number 7 in Row 4)

These were the twin daughters of Theo J. and Mary E. Burnham. They were born in 1920 and died in 1921.

 

47.       Letbetter, Lois: (Number 9 in Row 4)

Lois Burnham was the daughter of Theo J. and Mary E. Burnham.  She earned a teaching degree from Hardin Simmons University and taught school at Live Oak, Lometa, San Saba and Fort Worth.  She married William A. “Bill” Letbetter who was also a graduate of Hardin Simmons University.

 

48.       Letbetter, William A. (Number 8 in Row 4)

Bill Letbetter received a master’s degree in mathematics from Hardin Simmons in December 1941.  He entered the U.S. Navy a few days after graduation.  He was commissioned a Lt. Commander assigned to captain an LST in the Pacific War.  He received a Medal of Commendation from Chinese leader Chiang Kai-Shek for his outstanding and meritorious work in the Chinese theater of operation.  After leaving the U.S. Navy, Bill taught mathematics at Live Oak, Lometa, and Forth Worth.  Bill and Lois had two daughters, Virginia Gifford and Suzanne Mullins.

 

49.       Cromer, James Ray: (Number 7 in Row14)

Jim Cromer was born December 10, 1932.  His parents were Albert Lee Cromer and Virginia Beatrice Paul.  He married Alta Johanna Verheul on June 2, 1955, in Lubbock, Texas.  Six children were born to this union: James Lee, Maarten Kees, an infant son who died at birth, Maarten, Karl, John David and Joel Patrick.

The Cromer family now owns the Shaw Bend land once owned by the Burnham family.  Maarten and wife, Deanne Hardy and children, Tucker and Karlee, live on the old Theodore Jasper Burnham home site.  This is also land on which the Shaw Bend Cemetery is located.

 

50.       Other family names in this cemetery are Gardner, Magee, Parker, Starr and Sykes but little information is available as to when they came to Shaw Bend or where they settled in the community.