Cox Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in Dallas County, located near White Rock Lake, approximately at the 4000 block of Dalgreen Drive between Lawther Drive and Fisher Road. The oldest marked grave dates back to 1848 for Margaret Frances Dixon, a two month old daughter of Solomon and Lydia Dixon. Little Margaret died in November of that year and Lydia died about one month later. Over a dozen members of the Dixon family are buried there. The largest family group are the members of the McCommas family. Not counting spouses and descendants with other last names, over two dozen family members bear the name McCommas as their last name or maiden name.
Amon Burke McCommas Sr. was born June 5, 1804 in Anderson County, Tennessee to Stephen McCommas and Sarah Sartain McCommas. He was one of the earliest settlers in Dallas County. Amon, his father and their families came to Texas in December of 1844. He had married Mary Polly Brumfield on January 23, 1823 in Lawrence, Ohio. Their first child was Stephen followed by James, John, Elisha, Amon Jr, Rosanna, Mary and Armilda. Amon was a practicing minister in the Disciples of Christ (Christian Church). Amon is said to have chaired the committee that founded Dallas County. He was a founding member of Dallas County Pioneer Association and also served as its first chaplain. Amon served during the Mexican War. Amon died on May 20, 1877. Mary Polly Brumfield McCommas was born on September 15, 1805 in Virginia to Virginia natives James G. Brumfield and Elizabeth Rice Brumfield. She died on June 27, 1877.
Children of Amon and Mary Polly McCommas buried at Cox:
Elisha McCommas was born on March 19, 1830 in Lawrence County, Ohio and came to Texas with his family when he was fourteen years old. He spent some time in Oklahoma searching for gold during the Gold Rush days before returning to Texas to farm. Elisha was married to Rhoda Ann Tucker (sister of Missouri Tucker – two McCommas brothers married two Tucker sisters) about 1850. He served in Company B of the 19th Texas Cavalry under Col. Nat Buford during the Civil War before returning to his farm in Texas. Elisha died on August 22, 1903. His wife Rhoda was the daughter of John Stephen Tucker and Agnes West McNew Tucker and was born in July 18, 1835 in Missouri. One record says that the couple had thirteen children. Rhoda died on November 9, 1904.
John C. McCommas was born in Illinois on January 14, 1828 and came to Texas with his family when he was a youth. He served in the Mexican War. after returning to Texas, he was married to the former Missouri Tucker in the spring of 1849. He later served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. In each recorded federal census, John was listed as a farmer. He died on February 26, 1909 at the age of 81 at the family home, said to be on Greenville Avenue, four miles north of Dallas at the time. Missouri was born in Missouri in 1829. Missouri and her sisters Tennessee Dean Tucker McCommas and Rhoda Tucker McCommas had come with their parents to Dallas County in 1848. One account says that their father, Stephen Tucker, left town on business in the 1850s and never returned. He is presumed to have died before 1860, but his actual fate is unknown. Their mother Agnes operated the family farm for a while but by the time the 1870 census was taken, she was residing with John and Missouri McCommas in their already large family. Missouri predeceased John by a few years and died at the age of 75 on July 1, 1905.
Children of John C. and Missouri McCommas:
William Milton “Bud” McCommas was born June 24, 1853 in Texas to John C. and Missouri Tucker. On November 13, 1873, he married Tennessee “Tennie” Dean Tucker, his mother’s younger sister (not all that unusual in those days when some families were much larger and couples might have children over a twenty-plus year period). He was a farmer and held other jobs from time to time. In once census, his job was listed as”conductor.” Tennessee was the youngest daughter of Stephen and Agnes Tucker, born in Tennessee on January 6, 1857. Tennie and Bud had at least 8 children and continued the Tucker family tradition of naming their children after states as one of their daughters was named Nevada McCommas. Tennie died at 71 on January 10, 1928. Bud died at the age of 79 on September 8, 1932.
Other children of John C. and Missouri McCommas:
- Isabell McCommas – born May, 1855 and died May, 1863
- Thomas J. McCommas – born June, 1858 and died October 9, 1888
- Charles G. McCommas – born December 12, 1860 and died October 30, 1880
- Mattie E. McCommas Williamson – born June 12, 1862 and died October 28, 1937
Children of Elisha and Rhoda McCommas:
- Alice V. McCommas Chenault – born December 15, 1962 and died July 14, 1905
- Rhoda Melissa McCommas White – born February 5, 1863 and died December 10, 1889
- George E. McCommas – born 1866 and died 1899
- Wallie E. McCommas – born April 22, 1869 and died March 28, 1902
Other McCommas family members:
- John McCommas (son of J. M. McCommas and Mary Shields) – born Marcy 23, 1858 and died March 18, 1922
- Addie Lee Martin McCommas (wife of George E. McCommas) – born September 18, 1873 and died Marcy 7, 1952
- Willie A. McCommas (son of Stephen Burke McCommas and spouse B. J.) – born 1873 and died 1875
- Julia Lillian McDaniel McCommas Yerby (wife of Wallie E. McCommas and then Henry Yerby) – born March 9, 1874 and died September 26, 1942
- Nevada McCommas (daughter of William M. and Tennessee) – born July 7, 1876 and died July 7, 1877
- Neta Dean McCommas Chandler (daughter of Wm M and Tennessee) – born September 12, 1880 and died August 7, 1914
- Inez McCommas Brown (daughter of John H. and Lizzie Fisher McCommas) – born November 1885 and died July 30, 1915
- T. J. McCommas (son of Thomas J. McCommas and unknown spouse) – born November 10, 1886 and died July 19, 1895
- Mary Elizabeth Council McCommas (wife of Lawrence Edger McCommas) – born May 17, 1890 and died August 13 1894
- Lawrence Edger McCommas (son of John W. and Rebecca Derryberry McCommas and great grandson of Amon and Mary Polly McCommas) – born May 11, 1892 and died May 5, 1955
- Nina Florence McCommas (daughter of George E. and Addie McCommas) born on 1893 aind died in 1894
There were many more spouses and descendants who did not have McCommas in their names but were buried at Cox Cemetery.
By Mike Magers
