NEAR WEST POINT, FAYETTE COUNTY, TEXAS
295646N 970314W
Wood's Prairie, named after Zadock Woods (who was killed in the Dawson Massacre on 9-18-1842), is the area immediately west of the town of West Point and approximately 10 miles west of La Grange on Highway 71. Zadock Woods' home was used as a fort for protection of the settlers between 1828 & 1842. The cemetery was established near the fort in the 1830's.
The site is located about 1 mile off of Highway 71 on County Road 117 (Woods Prairie Cemetery Lane). In a 1993 report it was noted that the "cemetery is fenced but apparently cattle do get into the cemetery. There are many lily plants growing throughout the cemetery and several large cedars. The huge stumps of 2 oak trees are also there. To the right of the entrance gate, there is a large area where no markers were found but evidence of sand stones and rocks were present. There are probably many unknown burials here." Kathy Carter and Helen Muras visited this site on January 25, 1993.
This report was generated from the survey records and mapping done in 1976 by Mr. T. H. Johnson and by the visit on 1-25-1993. Norman C. Krischke visited and mapped the site on March 1999. Additional information had been added from his research. See his booklet, "Woods Prairie Cemetery," (99.12.3) in the cemetery files of the Fayette Heritage Archives.
A new ornamental fence was placed at the cemetery before the dedication of the Historic Texas Cemetery marker. The marker reads as follows:
WOODS PRAIRIE CEMETERY
Zadock Woods (d. 1842), veteran of the War of 1812 and one of Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred colonists, brought his family to settle in this area in 1828. He built a fortified home on land deeded to his son, Montraville, and established a cemetery here for his family and neighbors.
The first burial is said to be that of a ranch hand. Another alleged early grave belongs to Stephen Cottle, brother of Woods' wife Minerva. He died c. 1828, and tradition holds he is buried north of his sister's plot; hers is the first marked grave, dating to 1839.
Zadock Woods himself is not buried at the cemetery. Killed at the Dawson Massacre of 1842, he is buried at Monument Hill State Historic Site in La Grange, in a vault with others who fell with him. A veteran of the massacre who survived capture and then imprisonment in Mexico is buried here, though. That survivor, Joseph C. Robinson, lived until 1861 and was honored here with a Texas Centennial marker in 1936.
To protect and preserve the cemetery property, which is the resting place of many early Texas pioneers, J.A. Darby, M.E. Darby, T.C. Moore and A.W. Young purchased the site in 1875 and deeded it to their heirs. The pioneer graveyard serves as a reminder of the area's early history. - 2002
The July 2004 photo at top shows the new iron fence and Historic Texas Cemetery marker dedicated in 2003.
Additional information can be found at Woods Prairie Cemetery Index, a site created by Jo White using information from Norman C. Krischke's booklet, Woods Prairie Cemetery.
Paul Smith contributed the data on this page from his survey of the Woods Prairie Cemetery.
NAME
BIRTH
DEATH
COMMENTS
Allen, Ulmont
July 31, 1890
Aug 22, 1890
Bush, Green H.
1852
1933
Bush, M. Tennie
1852
1929
Carson, Daris C.
Oct 16, 1879
Oct 12, 1956
Carlson, Oscar E.
1899
1985
Carlson, Mary K.
1902
1977
Darby, B. F.
June 7, 1823
May 21, 1876
Darby, Sophia
No Dates
Darby, E. J.
Sept 26, 1836
Sept 9, 1861
Wife
Darby, Infant
Aug 30, 1861
Sept 9, 1861
Darby, Infant
Sept 1, 1859
Oct 9, 1860
Darby, M. E.
1826
Aug 21, 1897
Husband
Darby, James A.
June 1, 1829
Feb 22, 1904
Darby, Melissa
May 7, 1840
June 26, 1882
Eisenboro, Mollie
Sept 9, 1860
Feb 22, 1883
Elliott, Charlie
Nov 6, 1882
Sept 10, 1889
Farris, Elton
1887
1896
Farris, William
Jan 19, 1868
Sept 27, 1893
Farris, E. J.
1844
1915
Farris, R. L.
1878
1936
Farris, John J.
Dec 16, 1893
Sept 22, 1895
Farris, James C.
Sept 9, 1864
June 9, 1929
Farris, Clara J.
Mar 7, 1869
May 17, 1938
Farris, Charles E.
Jan 15, 1902
Sept 25, 1971
Fleming, Reuben
Jan 18, 1821
Oct 16, 1871
Fleming, Harriet C.
Dec 15, 1830
June 2, 1891
Galley, Bettie Irene
Jan 12, 1906
Oct 11, 1923
Green, Mary Elinor
Sept 6, 1835
Feb 15, 1924
Green, Mattie M.
Aug 1, 1845
Oct 23, 1896
Green, Susanna
Feb 24, 1861
May 24, 1888
Grege, William
Jan 17, 1864
Oct 26, 1908
Harrell, William
Jan 10, 1797
Sept 5, 1891
Harrell, Minerva W.
Oct 30, 1798
June 10, 1897
Haynie, Miles
Jan 22, 1865
Nov 25, 1893
Haynie, William Ezell
Jan 7, 1872
Aug 2, 1872
Haynie, John G
May 5, 1866
July 28, 1867
Haynie, Constance
Jan 25, 1899
Feb 15, 1957
Haynie, Susanna
Sept 25, 1871
Dec 20, 1957
Haynie, Am Zi F
Aug 9, 1869
June 2, 1942
Hays, Riborne B.
Nov 12, 1888
Aug 2, 1943
Hazelwood, Thursden L.
1883
Aug 3, 1907
Hess, F. A.
Mar 7, 1844
Oct 8, 1905
House, Trini
Sept 29, 1892
Feb 28, 1893
Langston, John R.
Nov 11, 1891
Jan 29, 1918
Langston, Addie Mae
Feb 19, 1887
Dec 14, 1963
McClellan, Thomas M.
Oct 7, 1863
July 30, 1865
McClellan, Mary S.
Dec 11, 1836
June 20, 1870
McClellan, Mollie S.
Jan 12, 1869
July 2, 1872
McClure, Willie R.
Dec 25, 1912
Feb 17. 1913
McClure, Travis C.
1915
1918
Michulka, George A.
Jan 23, 1912
Jan 30, 1950
Moore, Emily T.
1885
1970
Moore, Sam Fulton
1882
1959
Moore, Charles
1852
1941
Moore, Elizabeth
1853
1941
Moore, Brooks
July 6, 1894
July 24, 1984
Moore, Thomas C.
May 24, 1816
Dec 1, 1897
Moore, Williamfield
Feb 19, 1874
Age 9 yrs
Moore, Virgie
Mar 3, 1887
Oct 5, 1889
Moore, Fleming
Nov 29, 1855
Sept 14, 1889
Moore, Flemmie
Feb 13, 1886
Dec 8, 1886
Nichels, Mary B.
May 12, 1905
May 1906
Norris, Emma Farris
1870
1958
Norris, Joe
1869
1913
Queen, B. R.
July 20, 1882
Aug 19. 1931
Reeves, Fannie B.
Aug 11, 1884
Feb 13, 1890
Reeves, Eddie
Feb 13, 1887
Feb 18, 1887
Reeves, Mollie T.
June 19, 1861
Feb 23, 1904
Reeves, Andrew B.
Nov 17, 1872
June 12, 1919
Reeves, Andrew W.
Co B. 12 Ala Inf. C. S. A .
Reeves, Katie M.
Mar 13, 1887
Oct 5, 1889
Reeves, George W.
June 8, 1871
Apr 19, 1941
Reeves, George E.
Feb 10, 1914
Nov 16, 1981
Robinson, Joseph C.
1861
Shropshire, Gay
1868
1888
death date incorrect; 8 Aug 1891 Weimar Mercury obituary [RAJ]
Smith, Ida
Aug 8, 1858
Feb 12, 1923
Smith, George R.
Oct 7, 1846
Feb 9, 1914
Stiles, Mrs. M. O
Feb 10, 1860
May 15, 1887
Williams, Priscilla R.
Jan 25, 1805
Jan 12, 1873
Woods, Minerva C.
Dec 22, 1776
Mar 28, 1839
Young, Eleanor E.
May 30, 1873
July 31, 1948
Young, Susan Green
June 5, 1842
Apr 11, 1939
Young, Martha Jane
Nov 25, 1865
Feb 2, 1942
Young, Frank Clark
June 26, 1868
Dec 8, 1950
Young, Charles A.
Sept 23, 1868
Aug 21, 1931
Young, Mary A.
Aug 21, 1866
June 6, 1934
Young, Stella B.
Dec 27, 1884
Sept 16, 1888
Young, Robert V.
Mar 9, 1857
Jan 9, 1890
Young, Sam
Oct 3, 1867
Age 79 yrs
Young, Jane
Nov 14, 1851
Age 57 yrs
Young, Laurana
Apr 12, 1816
Sept 12, 1864
Young, D. K.
Aug 13, 1854
Aug 13, 1854
Young, Laura
Nov 3, 1862
Nov 3, 1862
Young, Annie
Mar 7, 1865
Mar 7, 1865
Young, Lottie C.
Sept 1, 1944
Sept 2, 1944
Young, Mary M.
May 24, 1901
Aug 5, 1901
Young, Zeddie C.
May 7, 1900
Sept 17, 1900
Young, Joseph C.
Apr 12, 1903
Apr 14, 1904
Young, Zed S.
1863
1936
Young, Belle C. 1877 1941 Young, W. D. June 30, 1829 Jan 29, 1872 Young, William Feb 3, 1814 May 3, 1873 Young, Virginia E. Dec 2, 1848 Dec 6, 1862 Young, David A. June 25, 1841 Age 9 yrs Young, Robert Sept 18, 1853 Sept 18, 1853 Young, Pleasant Apr 24, 1852 Sept 25, 1869
Text of centennial marker:
JOSEPH C. ROBINSON
Captured at the "Dawson Massacre" September 18, 1942. Died in 1861.
Photo of Robinson marker contributed by Marion and Steve Daughtry
