Brummett Pioneers Led Influential Lives Leader News January 6, 2004 Transcribed by Julie Karm (juliesgenealogy@hotmail.com) ********************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ********************************************************** By Bill Burris Special to Leader News Bigfoot- Many of South Texas pioneers and descendants buried in the Brummett Cemetery off CR 173 four miles northeast of Bigfoot lived lives that would make fascinating scripts for novels or movies about the Old West. Included among those buried in more than 400 marked graves are pioneer farmers and ranchers, Indian fighters, veteran from the Civil War to the Battle of San Jacinto and the Korean conflict and early Texas Rangers and, according to legend at least one slave and one Native American. Pioneers buried in Brummett include Civil War and San Jacinto veterans About 50 graves are unidentified, the names of their occupants lost to time. The Brummett, the oldest cemetery in Frio County, occupies about four acres near the Siestadero Creek in the extreme northeast corner of the county. It has been in continuous use for more than 140 years. It gets its name both from the family who donated the land and from the Brummett Settlement, or community, which thrived in the area form the 1850s through the 1920s and is believed to have been first formal settlement in Frio County. A controversy has existed for the past few months over whether the entry road to the cemetery may be closed (see related story). The oldest marked grave in the Brummett is that of two-year-old Elija C. Ross who died Nov. 23, 1860. The person oldest in age was Elizabeth “Big Granny” McCray, who was born in 1796 and died at age 105. Among candidates for the “most married” title is Matilda Fulton Arnold Lane McCoy, a daughter of Robert Fulton, inventor of the steam engine and submarine. Her first husband, Benjamin Arnold, was killed fighting at Goliad. The second, Francis Lane, was killed by Indians. The third, Simpson McCoy, was involved in the Hatfield and McCoy families feud. The most recent person interred in the Brummett Cemetery was Florence Ridgeway of San Antonio, a former school teacher in Natalia and Pearsall and a descendant of Archibald Lipscomb who fought in the Revolutionary War. She died Dec. 16, one week short of her 97th birthday. Elerie Ann Shoemake Bowman better known as Ann Bowman of San Antonio as a hobby for the past few years has search out the genealogical and biographical information on people buried at the Brummett and has publish a booklet, “Brummett Cemetery-Frio County, Texas” that is offered to those interested in exchange for a $25 contribution toward upkeep of the cemetery. She can be reached by phone at (210) 675-5681. One of the obvious conclusions is that many of the 100 families with ancestors in the Brummett are interrelated through marriage. Following are notes, primarily from Bowman’s research, on a few of those buried in the historic cemetery: Civil War veterans include James C. Bishop (1836-1912), Edwin P. Jones (1832-1910), Robert B. Witter (1837-1916), Robert J. Smith Sr. (1835-1904), and Jefferson Whitley (1835-1904). James W. Winters Jr. (1817-1903) with two brothers fought in the Battle of San Jacinto. Another brother and his father carried supplies for Sam Houston’s army. A marker commemorating James’ service, provided by the state, was erected by his gravestone during the 1936 Texas Centennial Celebration. James M. Winters (1830-1861), son of William C. Winters, was killed in a fight with about 25 marauding native Americans who had stolen 200 head of horses from local settlers. Dr. Thomes S. Speed (1800-1861), a former member of the Kentucky Legislature, was injured in an encounter with the native Americans and may have died as a result. His account from the San Antonio Herald was reprinted in the A.J.Sowell book “Early Settlers and Indian Fighters of Southwest Texas” Margaret Hood Wilkins (1826-1897) was the daughter of Alamo defender James George. An uncle William Deardorff, also fought and died at the Alamo. William Sadler (1899-1968) was one of at least three brothers who served in the Texas Rangers at the turn of the century. James Eli McCoy (1858-1899), was hanged in San Antonio for wounding a LaSalle County deputy sheriff. Dicie Long Nixon (1836-1892) in 1871, after her husband Alonzo died in Milam County, came to Atascosa County in a covered wagon with six children to join her tow brothers, Toby and Jim. All but one of her children also are buried in the Brummett. Correction and add on notes by Julie Karm: Margaret George ‘Frazier’ Hood Wilkins (Guess she would tie with Matilda Fulton in the most married category.) Hannah Deardorff Robinson also buried in Brummett sister of Alamo Defender William ‘Dearduff’.