Cottonwood Cemetery, Established 1875
The Cottonwood Cemetery is located at 2920 Whitely Road, in the northeastern corner of unincorporated Dallas County. The east end of the cemetery abuts Cotton-wood Creek. This cemetery is part of the J. C. Johnson Survey and the land was originally located in Mercers Colony. The first known burial at Cottonwood was in December of 1875 with John L. Sims, the twenty-four old son of Elisha and Elizabeth Turner Sims, being the first recorded interment. Both parents, one brother and one sister were also buried here.
There is no known documentation indicating the name of the person that donated the original land for this cemetery, but it is thought that Elisha Sims set aside this land since it was later conveyed by Emma Adalade Sims Spence, daughter of Elisha Sims. The first known documentation recording conveyance of the surrounding property was dated August 19, 1948, and specifically states “Save and Except that portion of said property used as cemetery.”
The original land contained approximately 3/4 acre and consisted of all property directly in front of and west of the entrance gate. The newer section consist of all property east of the entrance gate. This section is slightly less than acre and was donated by William E. and Jessie Rhea Hunter in 1973. Total acreage is now recorded at 1.19 acres.
There are approximately thirty unmarked graves in the old section. Many of the older unnamed graves were marked with bois d’arc stobs (small post) and almost all of those stobs have disappeared over the years. There are 201 marked graves in the combined sections. Many of the graves in the older section contain the remains of the first pioneers and early settlers of the Cottonwood Community.
All of the early graves were dug by members of the nearby communities. Fred Spainhouer, Clyde Raney, Hubert Raney, and Oscar Merritt were some of the frequent volunteers. George Nelson even made a special tool in his Liberty Grove blacksmith shop for evening up the sides.
Veterans from the Indian Wars, Mexican War, Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the Korean Ware are buried in this historic cemetery.
There was no established program for the care and upkeep of the cemetery until 1958 when the Cottonwood Cemetery Foundation was formed. Carl Foster served as first president with Judge Dee Brown Walker as vice-president and Agnes Eaves served as secretary/treasurer. Current officers are Jim Foster, president; Judge Dee Brown Walker still serves as vice-president, Larry Murry, Second Vice President and Mary Beth Tyler now serves as secretary/treasurer.
Cottonwood Cemetery
Alphabetical Directory
Infants are not included. Email for information on infant burials: info@dallaspioneer.org
ADAMS, Elliott L, Aug 21, 1900-Feb 10, 1968
ADAMS, Isaac C, Sr, 1860-1957
ADAMS, M J, 1871-1911
ADAMS, Richard Arthur, Jan 29, 1898-Nov 22, 1916
ALVEY, Ludie, Oct 31, 1892-Sep 4, 1914 dau of James F Kirby & Mary S Wells
BARNES, James Walter, Oct 30, 1899-Aug 18, 1985
BARNES, Nancy Elizabeth Griffin, Mar 14, 1869-Aug 18, 1934
BARNES, William Henry, Jan 28, 1867-May 21, 1953
BEAVER, J T, Oct 24, 1881-Aug 2, 1902 son of FM & ML
BEVEL, Pauline E, Oct 12, 1915-Aug 23, 1993 dau of HN & M Wells Foster
BOYD, Edgar Lee, Jan 16, 1902-Oct 1902 inf son of Emma & Henry
BOYD, Emma Lela, Jul 10, 1881-Dec 12, 1943 husband of George W
BOYD, George W, Jun 30, 1876-Jan 24, 1965 husband of Emma Lela Spence
BOYD, Henry B, Apr 13, 1874-Feb 13, 1904
BOYD, Martha J, Jan 18, 1850-Mar 28, 1935 Martha J Cannon Boyd mother of George W
BRANCH, Bessie A, Mar 23, 1895-Sep 24, 1895 infant dau of V & HF
BRANCH, John C, Jan 20, 1882-Jan 10, 1883 son of HF & MAPJ (Marya P J)
BRANCH, Marya P J, died Mar 25, 1884 no other date
BRANCH, T F, Nov 23, 1881-Sep 20, 1922
BRAWLEY, Nell, Sept 10, 1915-Nov 7, 1999
BRAWLEY, Richard H. Nov 11, 1935-Sept 24, 1984, son of Mack & Nell Foster Brawley
BURCH, Jack Lee, Oct 25, 1954-Jan 3, 1989 son of William Edgar & Betty L Forster Burch
BURCH, William Edgar, Jun 10, 1927-Jun 5, 1979 husband of Betty L Forster
BUTLER, Martin L, 1876-1926, father
BUTLER, Minnie L, 1878-1952, mother
BUTLER, Robert Lawrence, Nov 21, 1929-Jan 6, 1931
BUTLER, Ross, 1902-1940, father
CANTLEY, George P W, Nov 9, 1858-Oct 30, 1880 son of SG & MS
CANTLEY, S G, Mar 1, 1826-Oct 30, 188? broken stone, was neighbor of Sims & Collins
CANTLEY, Susan Ada Still Walker, 1834-1881, wife of Thomas Tuggle Walker then S G Cantley
CHARLES, Buena Boyd, Mar 23, 1912-May 15, 2003, dau of George W & Emma Spence Boyd
COLLINS, Charles M, Jul 6, 1887-Jul 20, 1888 inf son of J F & LC
COLLINS, Joseph Tarwater, Mar 6, 1962-Aug 7, 1979
COLLINS, L O, Oct 8, 1834-Dec 2, 1898 Lee Onidas husband of Sarah Tucker
COOPER, no name, no date
COOPER, No other name, Jan 16, 1861-Jan 2, 1891
COOPER, Frank, Mar 15, 1891-Dec 10, 1937
COOPER, Mildred Inez, Nov 7, 1915-Nov 11, 1930
COOPER, William Gill, Sep 14, 1827- Feb 29, 1912 Mexican War of 1846 hero of buena Vista
CROSS, Jacob Elmer b/d Oct 17, 1934, son of Britton & Anna Cross
CROSS, Leslie, no dates, born Jul 25, 1938, died at birth, twin of Lewis
CROSS, Lewis, no dates, born Jul 25, 1938, lived 15 day, son of Britton & Anna
DAVIS, Janette, Nov 8, 1945-Jan 28, 1996 dau of G W “Dub” & Tommie Boren Forster
ELLIS, Mary Elizabeth, May 30, 1906-Jan 28, 1913, dau of Bob & Fannie Thomas Ellis
FIELD, Joseph A, Apr 18, 1831-Mar 25, 1910, Civil War, born Tenn
FIELD, Sarah, Apr 24, 1834-Apr 19, 1898, wife of Joseph, born Tenn
FLOWERS, Matthew, Jan 24, 1797-June 28, 1881 pewter marker, oldest date of birth?
FORSTER, Emmett, Apr 27, 1893-1914 son of G. W. & Mary Emma Forster, twin brother of Emma Ross
FORSTER, Floyd, Jun 19 1910-Oct 26, 1911 inf son of JA & ME
FORSTER, George W, 1853-1917 George Washington husband of Mary Emma
FORSTER, Inf dau of JA & ME
FORSTER, James A, Sep 23, 1889-Dec 1, 1945 James Albert “Al” husband of Mary Eula Ross Forster
FORSTER, Mary E, 1860-1935 Mary Emma Southworth Forster, wife of G W
FORSTER, Mary E, Mar 31, 1890-Jul 1978 Mary E “Eula Ross Forster
FORSTER, Mary, Jul 27, 1948 inf dau of G W “Dub” and Tommie
FOSTER, Gregory D, Apr 14, 1971-Apr 16, 1994
FOSTER, Homer Newton, Mar 10, 1895-Feb 28, 1969 “Newt” husband of Minnie Ola
FOSTER, James Paul, Dec 18, 1943-Oct 6, 1993, Husband of Barbara Gossett
FOSTER, James T, Nov 13, 1921-Mar 29, 1924 inf son of Homer Newton & Minnie Ola
FOSTER, Minnie Ola, Aug 12, 1897-Feb 12, 1984 Minnie Ola Wells Forster
FOSTER, Percy Wayne, Sept 26, 1930-Aug 30, 2002, son of H. Newton & Minnie Wells Foster
GILBERT, Sylvia Jean, Jan 5, 1919-living
GILBERT, Walter Weeden May 8, 1919-Jan 19, 1997 wed Sylvia Jean on Apr 13, 1940
GOSSETT, Dovie M., Mar 8, 1903-Feb 14, 1985, wife of Andy
GOSSETT, Krista A. Hedgepeth, May 14, 1972-Jan 14, 1994
GOSSETT, Glendora, Jan 14, 1946-Nov 19, 1992
GOSSETT, Andy, Oct 30, 1896-Mar 8, 1952 brother of Horace “Pete” Gossett, wife of Dove M.
GOSSETT, Horace “Pete”, Apr 19, 1916-Aug 25, 1978, husband of Ruby
GOSSETT, Ronnie Dale, Oct 25, 1944-Aug 21, 2003, son of Horace “Pete” Gossett & Ruby Foster Gossett
GOSSETT, Ruby M, Aug 31, 1918, -Sept 11, 1999, Ruby M Forster wife of Pete
GRAY, W. L. Leon, Oct 7, 1914-Jun 8, 2000, father of Linda Gray Foster
GRIDER, George W, Mar 30 1872-Mar 31, 1892 **marker is missing
GRIDER, Mary A, Jul 23, 1841-Jul 12, 1896 wife of James
GRIFFIN, Tolbert T, Dec 31, 1911 age 41 yrs , born 1870, married sister of Kate Barnes Ross
HALL, Kevin Wells, Apr 17, 1961-Apr 19, 1961
HALL, Lloyd, Aug 3 1910-Apr 7, 1989
HART, Travis Lee, June 7, 1926
HENSON, Evelyn Juanita, May 22, 1928-Dec 5, 1991
HIERONYMUS, Nannie, Mar 21, 1896-May 14, 1896 inf dau of WH & ME
HIERONYMUS, Nonie, Jan 16, 1898-Jan 28, 1898 inf dau of WH & ME
HOPPER, Willie, Aug 14, 1897-Sept 22, 1898, inf son of MC & MA
KIRBY, Arvel, ** no date, buried at Restland in Dallas, son of Kibbie Ann & Silias Wesley Ross
KIRBY, Bessie, Apr 21, 1893-Dec 24, 1914 wife of John dau of James W. & Ida Spence Wood
KIRBY, James F, 1852-1934 husband of Mary S Wells
KIRBY, Jewell, Sept 3, 1908-Sept, 1978 ** dates not on marker, son of Kibbie Ann & Silias Wesley Ross
KIRBY, John Henry, 1893-1973-husband of Mary Irene, son of James William Kirby & Levenia Coomer
KIRBY, Kibbie Ann, Feb 8, 1888-Mar 16, 1971 dau of James F Kirby & Mary S Wells
KIRBY, Lucinda E, Dec 10, 1861-Feb 6, 1883 Lucinda Wells wife of John Kirby dau of John Cleveland
KIRBY, Mary S, 1865-1950 Mary S Wells, dau of John Cleveland Wells & Sarah Warren
KIRBY, Mary Irene, 1891-1986, wife of John Henry Kirby
LAND, James Bruce, Jan 28, 1900-Jan 12, 1961 husband of Myrtle Land
LAND, Milton, Nov 21, 1931-Sept 28, 1981 son of J. B. & M. E. Land
LAND, Myrtle E, Jan 31, 1900-Aug 29, 1968 wife of J. B. Land
LEE, Angela, b/d 1968
LEWIS, Veda, Dec 14, 1906-Oct 31, 1923 dau of Jim Lewis & Fannie Rector, married Lennard Butler
LEWIS, W Clint, Jun 6, 1908-Oct 28, 1928 son of Jim Lewis & Fannie Rector
MAXWELL, Inf son of I L & Rilla b/d Aug 11, 1899 Orilla Sims Maxwell
MAYABB, Emma R, May 4, 1921-Sep 24, 1941 dau of Frank & Lena Rector, wife of Buster Mayabb
MCCARTY, James A, May 2, 1854-Dec 9, 1878 son of William McCarty & Myrilla Jane Wilson
MCCARTY, Myrilla J, Dec 7, 1827-Jun 15, 1882 Myrilla Jane Wilson wife of William McCarty
MCCARTY, William, Sep 16, 1821-Sep 26, 1887 son of William McCarty & Mary Baker
MCPHERSON, Cordelia , Nov 27, 1898-Feb 20, 1899 dau WD & LN
MCPHERSON, Inf, Jul 8, 1901 b/d, son of WD &LN;
MCPHERSON, Lillie, Jan 15, 1905-Mar 4, 1905 dau of WD & LN
OSBORNE, Vernon Charles, Feb 7, 1941-Nov 13, 1979, husband of Linda Nell Brawley
PATTERSON, Henry H, Aug 26, 1929-Jul 31, 1966, TX SN USN WWII, husband of Betty Ruth Forster
PATTERSON, James H, Jun 4, 1952-Feb 6, 1996, son of Henry H & Betty Ruth Foster Paterson
PATTERSON, Mary M, Oc-t 20, 1855-Nov 22, 1936 Mary dau of Ruben Wells, wife of James Patterson
POORE, Cordie Bell, May 5, 1902- ____1904, inf dau of JR & Alice
POORE, James R, Aug 27, 1874-Mar 18, 1955, husband of Alice
POORE, Vora Alice, Apr 26, 1876-Apr 14, 1959 mother of Bryant Poore who married Ruth Poovey
POWERS, Jennie C, 1856-1930, dau of William. Gill Cooper
POWERS, Powers, George A, 1855-1923, husband of Jennie C
PRICE, Hubert A, Aug 6, 1882-June 12, 1963
PRICE, Inf dau of Rebecca & HA Price, Mar 18, 1927
PRICE, Minnie Lee, Sep 23, 1885-Sep 21 , 1920, Minnie Lee Forster wife of H A Price
PRICE, Orval, Sep 24, 1910-Dec 23, 1932, son of HA “Hub” and Minnie Lee Forster Price
RATTERREE, Della Marie, 1905-1944, dau of Doc & Kate Ross
RATTERREE, Elizabeth, 1872-1937, mother
RATTERREE, Melrose, 1938-1938RATTERREE, William Harvey, Nov 1930-May 24, 1932
RATTERREE, William J, 1852-1946 father
RECTOR, Edna E, 1862-1952 wife of William D, parents of Frank
RECTOR, Ethel, Oct 10, 1917-June 20, 1999
RECTOR, Fieldon E, Jan 4, 1915-Feb. 21, 1932 son of Frank & Lena
RECTOR, James Frank, Nov 21, 1884-Dec 29, 1970
RECTOR, Lena Ellen, Nov 28, 1891-Nov 10, 1967 wife of Frank
RECTOR, William D, Aug 7, 1852-Mar 13, 1918 husband of Edna, flu epidemic?
RICHARDS, Dorris L. Merritt, Dec 1, 1924-June 6, 1998 dau of Oscar & Beatrice Pelton Merritt
RIGSBY, Michael Grady, Apr 3, 1945-Sept 25, 2000, son of Grady & Joyce Foster Rigsby
ROACH, Cory Dean, Mar 5, 1963-Jun 22, 1981
ROBERTS, Bulah, May 29, 1892-Nov 1, 1898
ROSS, D C Pike, 1885-1957, Douglas Cleveland
ROSS, EM, May 10, 1858-Apr 1, 1928 Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Bright wife of Sam
ROSS, Emma Catharine, Apr 27, 1893-Sep 28, 1972 Emma Forster Ross wife of Joe C
ROSS, Evaline, Dec 8, 1888-June 2, 1914, dau of George & Mary Curry Williams, wife of James H Ross
ROSS, H E Hack, Mar 28, 1908-Dec 9, 1966 Haskell Eugene son of Pike
ROSS, James H, 1878-1943, “Jim”, husband of Evie
ROSS, Joe, Sep 9, 1892-Jan 13, 1979 wife of Emma, son of Sam H & Mary E
ROSS, Lillie Mae, Aug 4, 1906-Jun 13, 1908, inf dau of J H & Evie
ROSS, Sam H, Jul 17, 1902-Aug 3, 1915 Sam H “Houston” drowned, son of S H “Sam” and E M Ross
ROSS, S H, Apr 15, 1854-Mar 19, 1907, Samuel H “Sam”
ROSS, Silas Wesley, Aug 12, 1887-Jan 13, 1959, “Wes” married Kibby Kirby then Maggie Stone
ROSS, Viola McVey, 1890-1928, wife of Douglas Cleveland “Pike” Ross
RUPE, Mary E, Williams Curry Rupe Ross 1868-1947, mother of Evie Williams Ross
SHARP, Elma E, Nov 11, 1894-Nov 27, 1894
SHERMAN, Arthur, Jan 24, 1919-Mar 15, 1991
SHERMAN, Nremonia, Nov 11, 1925-Jul 24, 2001
SIMS, Elisha, Dec 3, 1819- Nov 10, 1888
SIMS, Elizabeth, Jan 20, 1822-Dec 26, 1911 Elizabeth Turner wife of Elisha
SIMS, G D, Feb. 12, 1879-Sep 11, 1890
SIMS, Inf son of W T & S B no date
SIMS, J L, Jan 2, 1875-Oct 6, 1878
SIMS, J W, 1911-1918
SIMS, John L, Aug 23, 1851-Dec 5, 1875 son of Elisha & Elizabeth
SIMS, M J, Apr 24, 1853-Jul 6, 1902, Mattie J Price wife of W T
SIMS, S B, May 14, 1853-Feb. 8, 1892 Sarah Belle Skaggs wife of W T
SIMS, W T, Aug 6, 1848-Feb. 6, 1915 Uncle Billy William Turner son of Elisha
SPAINHOUER, Aaron C, 1848-1935 husband of Emma Pittman
SPAINHOUER, Emma E, 1852-1936 mother of Fred
SPENCE, Addie, 1870 **no other date, died approx 1960 Addie Belle Sims Spence
SPENCE, Annie, 1878-1950, Annie Hammontree wife of Robert A
SPENCE, Billy, 1863-1947
SPENCE, Dillie Elizabeth, Dec 9, 1857-Feb 1, 1936 wife of James Oben
SPENCE, G E, Nov 16, 1853-Feb 22, 1891 Georgia wife of TH
SPENCE, Gary Ray, Nov 13, 1964-Aug 10, 1991
SPENCE, J A, Apr 28, 1882-Dec 5, 1918 flu epidemic? Spouse of S. C. Spence
SPENCE, James Addison, Apr 6 1879-Sep 1, 1926, husband of Josie Wood Spence
SPENCE, James Oben, May 22, 1855-Mar 28,1903 husband of DE
SPENCE, Robert A, 1871-1956 Robert Anthony son of Timothy H
SPENCE, Roy Lee, June 22, 1923-May 24, 1982, son of J. A. & Josie Wood Spence
SPENCE, S C, Jun 18, 1894-Sep 25, 1918 flu epidemic? Spouse of J. A. Spence.
SPENCE, T H, Mar 18, 1839-Apr 2, 1921 Timothy Haywood & GE, parents of JA, RA, Ida
SPERLING, Anton, Dec 20, 1877-Jun 21, 1942 husband of Sadie E
SPERLING, Sadie, Jul 26, 1885-Sep 29, 1969 Sadie Kirby wife of Anton
TEMPLE, Stanley Albert, Aug 30, 1911-May 11, 1979, husband of Lula Rector
TODD, Allie Wells, Jan, 19, 1918-Spt, 10, 1995, dau of Rice and & S. E. Wells
TODD, O C L, Jun 2, 1917-Jul, 9, 1992, husband of Allie Wells Todd
TRAVIS, Preston Lee, Mar 8, 1906- Apr 30, 1951 married Mary L Tucker, his sister Trula m Floyd Butler
TUCKER, G, 1853-Nov 27, 1883, husband of MM
TUCKER, M J, Aug 27, 1873-Nov 18, 1889, son of G & M M Tucker
TURNER, Bertie Viola, Dec 16, 1906-Mar 17, 1956 Turner dau of Louis Wells, wife of Red Turner
WALKER, M Z, Apr 5, 1856-Jul 25, 1877 wife of W M
WARREN, Charlie D, May 4, 1876-Mar 8, 1943 son of Sarah Warren, widow who m John Cleveland Wells
WARREN, M E, May 5, 1884-Jan 6, 1905 wife of Charlie D
WARREN, Sarah, Dec 25, 1841-Sep 16, 1905 Sarah Warren Wells mother of Mary S
WATSON, Arthur, 1892-1941, son of Caleb & Cordelia
WATSON, Caleb H, May 1, 1869-Mar 14, 1906, husband of Cordelia, father of Arthur
WATSON, Cordelia Rice, Feb 20, 1873-Dec 30, 1953, wife of Caleb H
WELLS, Alice V, Jan 5, 1861-Feb 16, 1893, wife of George W, mother
WELLS, Annie, 1872-Feb 18, 1959, dau of L. Bachelor, wife of Jefferson Davis Wells grave not marked
WELLS, Birdie, Jun 13, 1872-Feb 18, 1909 wife of Jefferson Davis
WELLS, Ernest, 1894-1918, son of Dave Wells, husband of Molly Forster Wells
WELLS, George W, Jan 8, 1858-Feb 16, 1927, husband of Alice V, father
WELLS, Hinkle Eugene, Oct 31, 1917-Oct 31, 1917 inf son of Matt and Bell Pelton Wells
WELLS, John C, Oct 15, 1900-Dec 24, 1937 son of Lewis H Wells & Mary E Thomas
WELLS, Len, Jul 12-1882-Jul 27,1960 Len Thomas Wells brother of Matt & Luner
WELLS, Lester “Boots”, Apr 9, 1914-Feb 21, 1983, son of Lewis H & Mary E Thomas
WELLS, Louis H, Dec 30, 1859-Sep 8, 1947 son of John Cleveland & Sarah Wells
WELLS, Lillie May, Feb 9, 1899-Mar 7, 1900 dau of Lewis H & Mary
Cottonwood Cemetery War Veterans
Name War/s
Cantley, S. G. Mexican War of 1841
Cooper, Wm. G. Indian, Mexican & Civil Wars
Collins, Lee Onidas Civil War, Tex. Calv.
Field, Joseph A. Civil War, Bugler in Lynch’s Co. Tennessee
McCarty, William, Civil War, 21st TX Calv.
Spence, T. H, Civil War, NC Calvary
Adams, Elliott Louis, WW I
Wells, Ernie, WW I
Burch, William E, WW II
Gossett, Horace (Pete), WW II
Hall, Lloyd, WW II
Patterson, Hershell, WW II
Sherman, Arthur, WWII
Todd, O C L, WW II
Williams, Bobby C. WW II
Foster, Percy W. Korean War
Gray, W. L. Leon, Korean War
By Jim Foster
