Rayner Cemetery Stonewall Co. TX Submitted by Dorothy Baitz Clark- August 2000 ************************************************************************ 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. Gloria B. Mayfield, LadyTexian@tcainternet.com TX Tombstone Project Manager The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ************************************************************************ Rayner Cemetery Stonewall Co. TX Submitted by Dorothy Baitz Clark- August 2000 RAYNER CEMETERY Information submitted for this document by Joe A. and Dorothy (Baitz) Clark Rayner Cemetery in Stonewall County, Texas is located between Old Glory and Aspermont, Texas just off Highway 380. To reach the cemetery you will go West out of Old Glory for 2 miles, and then turn South on CR 116 for 5.2 miles. The cemetery is located on the East Side of the road with a large metal sign RAYNER over the West entrance. At this date of August 2000 it is apparent that no one maintains the grounds and there are several gravesites that have funeral home markers at them, but there are no stones for identification. The Rayner family who owned the large ranch where it is located donated the land for the cemetery. Rayner was the County Seat of Stonewall County at one time before it was moved to Aspermont. The history of the cemetery will be quoted for the most part from the Stonewall County history Book and written by Moneta Carr Newman as follows: n the southeast corner of Stonewall it stands. Long abandoned, and forgotten by all but those that laid their loved ones there. It is a peaceful spot, scattered over three acres of a large ranch. For many years it was open range, and cattle grazing near rubbed themselves on the tombstones. Now it has a barbed wire fence, and cattle graze slowly by as if loath to disturb those sleeping there. You can visualize the wagons filled with weeping relatives as they brought their loved ones here. The monuments seem strangely at peace as they stand guard amid the mesquite and cactus that has grown up around them. The inscriptions are gone from many, but those that are legible will be listed below. The oldest grave was an unknown trapper killed by lightening in 1884. He was found dead and buried where he lay. The Rayner's son was buried there, but later moved to Anson, Texas. The ruins of an iron fence that enclosed his grave still stands, a gnarled mesquite tree grows up in the center of the block. Carl Lanier, son of early day pioneers, lost his life at age eleven. Born March 3, 1880 and died March 22, 1891, it is told that the children had dug a cave where they played and Carl was bitten by a rattlesnake. His frantic parents hitched a pair of horses to a wagon and ran them full speed to the nearest doctor at Anson, Texas. Both horses died that night and Carl died the next day. In checking over the list of births and deaths one can see the tragedy in the lives of the early day pioneers. LAST NAME FIRST NAME DOB DOD STONE INSCRIPTION Burns Infant son of C.E.&B.H.) 5-16-1891 6-14-1891 Single Carr Iva Mae 12-19-1897 5-27-1898 Single Weep not Papa and Mama For me for I am waiting in Heaven for thee. Caudle Sager 10-16-1897 12-9-1897 Son of W.P.& Rebecca Herbaugh Earl 2-2-1875 3-14-1895 Single (under a mesquite tree) Jesus while our hearts are bleeding o'er the spoils that death has won We would at this solemn meeting calmly say Thy will be done Though cast down we're not forsaken, though afflicted not alone Thou didst give and thou has taken Blessed Lord, Thy will be done. Herbaugh Levi 4-2-1868 2-20-1895 Single (Masonic Emblem) A precious one from us has gone A place is vacant in our home Which never can be filled God in His wisdom has recalled the boon his love had given And though the body molders here, the soul is safe in heaven. Jones Carry was born 12-25-1887 died July 1900 (The engraving was very dim and we are not really sure of the first name on this stone) Lanier Carl 3-3-1880 3-22-1891 Single McBroom Edna W. 4-1-1889 9-20-1892 Single Her happy soul has winged its Way to one pure bright eternal Daughter of H. & M.M. McBroom eternal day. McBroom Infant son of H. &M.M. McBroom born and died 1-15-1896 Gone but not forgotten McBroom Thomas W. 1-23-1897 10-12-1897 Single Sleep on dear babe and take Son of H. & M.M. McBroom thy rest, God calls away When He thinks best. McBroom Infant son of H. &M.M. McBroom born and died 6-13-1899 Gone but not forgotten McBroom Infant son of H. & M.M. McBroom born and died 8-27-1900 Budded on earth to bloom In heaven McCaule Nancy A. 3-25-1844 1-24-1890 Single To live in the hearts we Leave behind is not to die Wife of G.D. McCaule Our Mother (tall beautiful stone…cement covered grave) McClaren M.A. 3-30-1858 12-4-1891 Single wife of J.C. lord she was thine and not My own, Thou hast done Me no wrong. McClaren William Cooper 9-28-1884 3-6-1890 Single Our darling one has gone Son of J.C. & M.A. McClaren before to meet us on the The distant shore. (There is a rock "fence" about one foot high around the McClaren graves with a heavy cable above it.) Taylor J.W. 3-25-1835 1-12-1899 Single Gone but not forgotten Vogel F. 1-10-1833 8-3-1889 Single Husband of F.C. Vogel He is at rest (Tall pointed stone…ornamental fence around gravesite.) Yeary J.B. Hand carved native stone…."Died 1890" South of the Caudle grave there is a 10 X 10-ft. site fenced with pipe and wire…no markers. South of the McCaule grave there is a 6 X 10-ft. site fenced with ornamental fencing…no graves Or markers. There are 10 large native stones about 30 inches high at one site, five in a row on the east and five in a row on the west. We do not know if there are 10 graves, or five. There is no engraving on the stones. .