Handout From the Wheatland Cemetery Presentation by Fred Harrington
WHEATLAND CEMETERY
WHEATLAND CEMETERY has roots to the Methodist Church. The first church in the area was Wesley Chapel and it served people of all denominations from the surrounding countryside.[1] The church was destroyed by a tornado April 29, 1856, by a tornado, then called a “cyclone”. The same day a storm killed nine persons and severely injured twelve others at Cedar Hill. The building was restored by the congregation, however the Methodist withdrew in 1864[2] and moved about one mile southeast to the community of Wheatland.[3]. “Called Sproul’s Corner at the time, or Sprouls’ Store or more often just Sprouls’s after the homesteader who operated the general store and became postmaster when postal service was extended to this far-flung outpost of civilization.”[4]
“Sprouls’ settlement grew. Homesteaders continued to come and establish themselves. A gristmill was built on Ten Mile Creek and a steam engine for cording wood was established in 1858.”[5] About 1870 the Post Office Department complained that the town of Sowers in Northwest Dallas County and the town of Sprouls were similar, so the name of Sprouls was changed to Wheatland.”[6] “Therefore in 1870 this area became known as Wheatland and the Church became known as The Wheatland Methodist Church.”[7] “The land for the church as well as for a school, cemetery and for the town of Wheatland itself, was donated by Tom Branson and H. K. Brotherton. This was all accomplished on a handshake.”[8]
Wesley Chapel disbanded and “the marked graves were moved in 1968 to be included in the Wheatland Cemetery, about 1 mile southeast in the James W. Taylor Survey Abstract No 1475.”[9]
“In 1872, the deed for the Wheatland land originally handed over on a handshake was officially recorded by Sam Uhl.”[10] This has caused some confusion about the actual date of the establishment of the Wheatland Methodist Church, with the belief that this was the actual date that the church was moved to the Wheatland site. Mr. Branson asked Mr. H. K. Brotherton to become his partner in managing the land. They sold lots for home sites on each side of the present Parakeet Lane, which runs parallel to and one block north of Wheatland Road. The original landowner had refused to permit Wheatland Road to continue through on its present course. Part of the Land was donated for the purpose of construction of a school, a church and a cemetery. Their partnership and all of their land transactions were based only on an original handshake between the two.[11]
The present Wheatland Methodist Church building was built in 1912, over the remains of the original structure, erected shortly after the 1856 storm. Visible under the present structure are the floor support beams of the original building.”[12]
The Wheatland Cemetery Association was formed April 1, 1911, with the object of the association being to arouse general interest in the care of the cemetery, to provide necessary funds for the maintenance and to make provision for administration of any endowments established for the care of the cemetery. Meetings are held on Decoration Day, the first Sunday in May. All persons owning grave space or having interest and responsibility of care of family graves are eligible to membership. [13] The first Board of directors were Sam Uhl, D.A. Spain, F.D. Daniel, A.L Whaley and A. E. Eshleman.[14]
“Wheatland Independent School District became a part of the Dallas Independent School District in 1954. Dallas closed Wheatland School in 1963, at which time they sold one acre of land to Wheatland Cemetery. The balance of the original school land, including the school buildings, was sold to Wheatland Methodist Church. Wheatland Cemetery and Wheatland Methodist Church were the only organizations to which Dallas would guarantee title to the land.”[15]
According to Marshall Miller, member of Wheatland Cemetery Association since 1911, “ The first burial of anyone other than a Branson or Brotherton in Wheatland Cemetery was that of a school tutor, a Miss Rodgers who died as a result of the Malaria epidemic of 1869. Her burial started the use of the cemetery by other pioneer families.”[16]
The cemetery was first known as Branson-Brotherton Cemetery before the formation of the Wheatland Cemetery Association.
On February 1, 1872, a formal warranty deed was signed officially creating the Branson Brotherton Cemetery. One dollar was paid by H. K. Brotherton, Samuel Uhl & B.L Branson, Trustees, to start what has become Wheatland Cemetery with one square acre of land.[17]
In 1913, one acre was deeded to the Wheatland Cemetery Association from Sam Uhl and B.L. Branson.[18]
Also in 1913, the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church South at Wheatland held a meeting for the purpose of conveying by deed two and one-ninth acres of land, to the Wheatland Cemetery Association.[19]
In 1921 part of the current cemetery named Prairie Land Cemetery was incorporated into the Association.[20]
The Wheatland Cemetery is maintained beautifully by the Wheatland Cemetery Association, which operates from the interest of an endowment fund, engineered by Clark Pelt while with the Wheatland Cemetery association. The cemetery is in current use.
Prominent Wheatland Area Citizens Rest in Wheatland Cemetery
(Some moved from Wesley Chapel). Names include:
BRANSON “Mr. Thomas Branson was reared on his father’s farm in Ohio. He went with his family to Illinois in 1822.He was married August 12, 1829 to Miss Eleanor Thomas. In 1853 he moved with his family to Texas, and bought land eleven miles southwest of Dallas." (east side of the Wheatland area) "Here he continued his agricultural pursuits the rest of his life, and at his death, October 21, 1864, he left a large estate. His home place consisted of 1,500 acres of fine, improved land, a large portion of which was under cultivation. He brought the first Durham cattle and Morgan horses to Dallas county and introduced greyhounds and rabbit-chasing. Mr. Branson was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he at times officiated. He was an earnest Christian man and in every respect a most worthy citizen." [21]
BROTHERTON "Henry K. Brotherton, a farmer living near Wheatland, has been identified with the interests of Dallas County, since 1850. He was a native of Ohio, born in Franklin Co, September 12, 1824. When his father died, the mother surviving (the father) several years. During his youth he was employed as a clerk in his uncle's general merchandise store at Groveport, near Columbus, Ohio, and was thus occupied up to the time of his coming to Texas. The maintenance of his mother and her family devolved largely on him. Mr. Brotherton was married in the fall of 1849, to Miss Rachel Minor. In the fall of 1850, Mr. Brotherton and his wife, in company with James H. Swindells and wife, started with horse teams for Texas, then the frontier of civilization. The journey consuming several weeks and the party arriving here just before Christmas. His estate at one time consisted of 1,200 acres in his home place, besides various other tracts of land. Mr.Brotherton was eminently a self-made man."[22]
UHL Thomas Uhl was a prosperous and representative citizen of Dallas County, born in Maryland in 1840. At the age of nine years Thomas Uhl was left an orphan, his mother dying and his father going to California. The family had moved to Macoupin County, Illinois and after his mother's death he lived with different parties. Having heard of the great advantages this country afforded, in the fall of 1858 he came south, bringing with him a herd of sheep for his brothers, Samuel and A.J., he boarded with Mr. Brotherton and attended school three months, at the end of which time he hired to Mr. Brotherton and remained with him till the fall of 1861. He then enlisted in what was originally Col. B.W. Stone's regiment, Co. F. In the spring of 1862 the command was reorganized and Colonel Ross was chosen commander. Previous to its reorganization the command operated in Arkansas and the southwestern part of Missouri. On Christmas, 1861, they had a fight with the Indians on the headwaters of the Arkansas River. In April, 1862, they crossed the Mississippi river, and served in the states east of that river until the close of the war."[23]
BRANDENBURG B.F. Brandenburg was 5 years old when he came to Texas. He served in Co. C, Sixth Texas Cavalry (of the confederate army.) He then returned to Texas and engaged in farming. He had a farm of 575 acres of improved land, all in high state of cultivation. His chief products were wheat, oats and corn."[24]
PENN “Joseph R. Penn came to Texas in the fall of 1854. Mr. Penn started his career when quite young, with comparatively nothing, but by foresight and close attention to business he became one of the most progressive and enterprising farmers of Dallas County. Before his death he had a nicely improved farm of 1,100 acres and had it well stocked. He was a democrat."[25]
CARR William Carr was born in Nelson Co, KY August 25, 1801, was of fair complexion, gray eyes, sandy hair and was a farmer. Elizabeth, his wife was born in 1798. In later years, they were married and several children were born to them. They were as follows: Jane, married to Jack Garner; Sallie, married to Ben Hale; Nan married to John Brandenburg; Lydie, married to Wright; and Henry married to Eliza Butcher.
During the war of 1846-1848, between the United States and Mexico, William came to Texas to fight the Mexicans and left his family in Missouri.[26]
Henry Stephen Carr was born February 9, 1831 in Indiana. He was the oldest of several children born to Elizabeth and William. Since he was the oldest child when his father came to Texas, he was left to look after his mother and younger children. All were urged to keep one of his brothers, Lee Carr, at home. However, Lee later left home and followed his father to Texas to fight in the war with Mexico. His mother then sent Henry Carr to Texas to look after Lee…”
In the winter of 1849, William came to Texas and settled in Dallas County. February 23, 1869 Henry was married to Eliza A Butcher. The Fairmeadow’s addition is now located on the land where William and Elizabeth homesteaded, farmed and raised their family. William died in 1872 and was buried at Wesley Chapel, later moved to Wheatland. Elizabeth died February 8, 1872,[27] buried in Wesley Chapel and later moved to Wheatland cemetery."[28]
PELT John Clark Pelt moved in with the Barker’s family in Duncanville, where he grew up. He married Olah Lee Grounds on November 15, 1896. She was from a Pioneer family who in 1848 moved from Kentucky to a place in Texas called Cedar hill. John and Olah Pelt started their married life on a farm located on what is now called Wintergreen Road. In 1928 they moved to a place located on Hustead Street in Duncanville. There he entered into building. He and his half brother, Hoke Smith became general contractors for the Duncanville school, now Central elementary. Later he and anther half brother, Clint Smith supervised the first Duncanville gymnasium. John Clark Pelt was interested in civic affairs. He started and was the first president of the Dads Club and the Lions Club. He was a Mason of long standing and the Duncanville Lodge was named in his honor.[29]
GARNER "Andrew Jackson Garner was born in 1810 in Tennessee and died in 1902 in Dallas County, TX.[30] He was buried in the Wesley Chapel church cemetery, and his grave was later moved to Wheatland cemetery. He married Eliza Jane Carr in Greenfield, Missouri, February 28, 1844. She was born 1831 in Kentucky, died 1905 in Dallas County, TX.[31] She was the daughter of William and Elizabeth Jane Carr. She was a charter member of the First Methodist Church in Duncanville, TX in 1883.[32] Andrew and Eliza Jane divorced in 1882. She is buried in Wheatland cemetery.
Family legend says that Andrew Jackson Garner fell off a hay wagon at age 92 or he would still be active.
NANCE Charles Palmer Nance is the man credited with giving Duncanville its name. The town of Duncanville lies adjacent to Wheatland, shares much of the same history and buries their families at Wheatland.
WISDOM “John Shelby Wisdom was born into a large family in Tennessee. In 1901, he and his wife Hattie Wright purchased 148 acres for $100 in this area. Hattie died in 1918. Wisdom and his fried Pink Wright began to observe the Boy Scouts who camped on the property just west of their own. In 1920, John Shelby Wisdom was so moved by a troop of Scouts holding an Easter Sunday service in the woods that the older man was inspired to invite the Boy Scouts to camp on his land whenever they liked. In 1922, Wisdom and Wright deeded 185 acres of land to the Dallas Council of the Boy Scouts (now Circle Ten Council), retaining a life estate in 130 acres. Known by this time as “Daddy” Wisdom, John Shelby Wisdom spent much of his time with the Scouts. When Wisdom died in 1931, he was mourned by his family and thousands of Boy Scouts.”[33] Wisdom was buried in Wheatland Cemetery.
WHALEY In 1865 L. B Whaley came to Texas and in 1874 he bought 80 acres of “wild land” on what is now known as Wintergreen Road. He added to it and worked the land until he had 165 acres of fine farmland. A beautiful home was built on it and made a suitable home for his bride, Minnie Hash, whom he married in 1861. Five children were born to them: Millie H, who married R. M. Brotherton, Charles’s first wife’s name is unknown, but his second wife was Annie May Massey. Al who married Pearl Carter, Anna R. who married Dr. Will Brown, and Mattie M. who married Albert Morris. The house is still standing today (1989) at 301 E. Wintergreen Road (DeSoto). We do not know who lived in the house following the Whaley’s but in March 1949 Roff and Marie Hood purchased it from Asbury and Rebecca Morris, possibly a descendent of Mattie and Albert Morris. During the Morris’ ownership, the house was rented for many years and fell into disrepair….
Whaley information by Margie Brotherton Miller.[34]
NANCE LETTER DESCRIBING AREA AROUND WHEATLAND
The area around Wheatland which is now a part of the city of Dallas was described in a letter written by Charles Barker who reached Dallas County on December 13, 1852. "Charles Barker was instrumental in the establishment of early Methodism in this county, and on April 4, 1868, was unanimously elected church clerk at old Wesley Chapel. He and his wife used to ride to this church horseback."[35]
"Dallas City, January 1853.
Dear Brother:
I now sit down to write you a few lines, which will inform you that we are well at this time and have enjoyed good health since we left North Carolina. I have settled in Dallas County on the west side of the Trinity River within eight miles of the county seat, which is also called Dallas...
I am certainly in a fresh and newly settled country. A great many settlers have come in this fall and winter and are still coming in almost daily and it is with much difficulty that you can get houses...some have to camp out for weeks and even months...
This portion of the country is just as rich as any man wants it to be. The soil is black and sticky as tar and deep as necessary. Corn, wheat and cotton grow well.
I am well pleased with this portion of the country so far though there are some objections and the greatest objection is the scarcity of timber. In fact it is altogether open prairie with no timber except on the creeks and branches and mountains. Many of the farmers in this neighborhood haul their rails from 6-12 miles. Thought it is cedar, when they get a cedar fence they consider it a fence for a lifetime, if the fire is kept from it...
Houses are very sorry in this country for it is a considerable job to build a cabin in this country owing to the timber being so scarce and plank is out of the question. The people use what they call puncheon, which is ash saplings split open and laid down for floors...
A man can raise as many cattle as he pleases without feeding them at all and can kill fat beeves anytime in the winter. In fact cows are fatter here than I ever saw them in North Carolina. The grass is now green in the bottoms notwithstanding we have some cold weather.
Land is worth from one to five dollars an acre. I have bought as much corn as I want at thirty cents a bushel, pork at $6.00 per hundred, wheat at a $2.00 per bushel. Groceries are high in this country owing to have to haul so far by wagon. Salt is worth $7.00 per sack, sugar 12 1/2 cents, coffee, 12 1/2 cents, iron and nails are 10 cents to 15 cents a pound and chewing tobacco is out of all reason...[36]
WESLEY CHAPEL
Wesley Chapel, "a one-room log house"[37] "was constructed on a site located southeast of the intersection of highway 67 and Camp Wisdom Road. The little church was attended by people of all denominations from the surrounding countryside. It was served each Sunday by circuit riders of different religious persuasions. In 1847, it was organized as a Methodist church, at which time it was called Wesley Chapel. Although it was officially a Methodist church, it was still attended by people of differing religious beliefs, since it was the only church in the area. A small cemetery was also located at the site."[38] "The Wesley chapel burial ground was a little north of the church, the front of the church faced south."[39]
"Four big pecan trees were planted to mark the corners of the original Wesley Chapel church. They are all that remain of Wesley Chapel. Somehow this small plot of land located off Highway 67 (Marvin D. Love Freeway) east of Duncanville where Camp Wisdom crosses, has managed to escape excavation and modern development. Today these trees are now tall and majestic."[40] "The log structure was demolished on April 29, 1856, by a tornado, then called a 'cyclone'. The same day, a storm killed nine persons and severely injured twelve others at Cedar Hill. The building was restored by the congregation. It is interesting to note that the Dallas Herald, in reporting details concerning the destruction done by this storm, in its issue of may 10, 1856, described Wesley Chapel as 'the Methodist Church that camps on Five Mile Creek.'"[41]
Wesley Chapel and Cemetery were located in the northwest Portion of the J. R. Bell survey 123, in southwest Dallas County. The present day location description is city of Dallas, block 1/6929, city plan no 68-185 [42], on Marvin D. Love Freeway southeast of the Camp Wisdom intersection.
"Wesley Chapel: records on headstones in the tiny Wesley Chapel showed that a burial took place there in 1852. "Here lies Margaret Garner--she died so young-- 1852."[43] "There were thought to be as many as 40 burials at Wesley Chapel."[44] "According to the markings on the graves, the last burial at Wesley Chapel Cemetery was in 1932. The graves that could be found were moved to Wheatland cemetery in the fall of 1968, by land developers who had recently purchased the land. The developers had also agreed to erect a marker indicating the site of Wesley Chapel, but failed to fulfill their promise."[45]
"Hidden among blooming redbuds and majestic pecan and elm trees where the twentieth century goes roaring by in streamlined cars is the almost forgotten settlement of Wesley's Chapel."[46] No one maintains this land as a cemetery and it has not been in use since 1968.
Graves known to have been moved from Wesley Chapel to Wheatland Cemetery are:
Nannie Laster married F. L Garner 1884
B 2-15-1865 D July 22, 1902
M. Margaret Garner
A.J. Garner 1810-1902
William Garner
Bibliography for Wheatland Cemetery
“Marshall Miller Interview” July 1985. Notes in private papers of author”
Abstract Files at Dallas Title Co., 1934 Pendleton Dr., Garland, TX.
City of Dallas, Planning Office, Canterbury Village, City Plan #68-185, Received 4-3-1970.
Dallas County Deed Records, Office of the County Clerk, Dallas, TX.
Dallas Times Herald, March 29, 1935.
DeSoto, A Texas Tale, 1847-1989, written by people of DeSoto, Copyright 1989. Taylor Publishing.
First United Methodist Church of Duncanville. Texas Historical Marker Application 1983.
Wheatland Cemetery Tombstones, Dallas, Dallas Co., TX
History of Duncanville. Duncanville Historical Commission, 1976.
Local History & Genealogical Society of Dallas, Texas. Memorial & Biographical History of Dallas County, Texas. Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co, 1892. Reproduced by Walsworth Publishing Company, Inc.
Pelt Family History, in possession of Phillip Pelt, Box 460, LaGrange, TX 78945.
Switzer, David. It’s Our Dallas Co., Published by D.S. Switzer, Education Writers 1954.
Vinyard, Lucretia Barker. History of Cedar Mountains, Rhea Printing Co., Inc. of Dallas. Copyright by the estate of Mrs. C. O. Vinyard, August 1, 1973.
United States Archives, War Records, Washington, DC.
Webb, Walter Prescot. The Handbook of Texas, Editor in Chief, pg 891.
Wheatland Cemetery Association Records, President, Robert Lankford.
Wheatland Cemetery Video Tape, Duncanville Historical Association. 1986
Wisdom, John Shelby. Texas Historical Marker Number 11841 inscription for John Shelby Wisdom, 6400 W. Red Bird Lane, entrance to Boy Scout Camp Wisdom, Dallas, Dallas Co. TX.
[1] History of Cedar Mountains, Lucretia Barker Vinyard, Rhea Printing Co., Inc. of Dallas. Copyright by the estate of Mrs. C. O. Vinyard, August 1, 1973.
[2] Minutes to Wheatland Cemetery Association, July 25, 1908.
[3] “Interview” July 1985. Mr. Marshall Miller, member of Wheatland Cemetery Association since 1944. “Notes in private papers of Olivia Harrington”
[4] Dallas Times Herald, March 29, 1935.
[5] The Handbook of Texas, Walter Prescot Webb, Editor in Chief, pg 891.
[6] Dallas Times Herald, March 29, 1935.
[7] The Handbook of Texas, Walter Prescot Webb, Editor in Chief, pg 891.
[8] “Interview” July 1985. Mr. Marshall Miller, member of Wheatland Cemetery Association since 1944. “Notes in private papers of Olivia Harrington”
[9] Abstract Files at Dallas Title Co., 1934 Pendleton Dr., Garland, TX.
[10] Dallas County, Texas Deed Records. Vol 39 pg 12. 60 acres in Southwest Corner of J. W. Taylor Survey.
[11] “Interview” July 1985. Mr. Marshall Miller, member of Wheatland Cemetery Association since 1944. “Notes in private papers of Olivia Harrington”
[12] IBID. “Interview”
[13] Constitution of the Wheatland Cemetery Association. Original in possession of the President of the Association.
[14] Charter of Wheatland Cemetery Association of Dallas County.
[15] IBID. “Interview”
[16] Wheatland Cemetery – Video Tape – 1986. Duncanville Historical Association.
[17] Warranty Deed, Dallas County, TX February 1, 1872.
[18] Deed, Dallas County TX, March 31, 1913.
[19] Warranty Deed, Dallas County TX, March 31, 1913.
[20] Warranty Deed, Dallas County TX May 20, 1921
[21] History of Dallas County, Pg 579-580.
[22] History of Dallas County
[23] History of Dallas County, Pg 919.
[24] History of Dallas County, Pg 458
[25] History of Dallas County, Pg 491.
[26] War Record, United States Volunteer Service, Private of Captain James J. Clarkson’s Co. F., 3rd Regiment of Missouri Mounted Volunteers, who enrolled on April 26, 1847 to serve during the War with Mexico. Discharged October 14, 1848 at Independence Missouri.
[27] Headstone Inscription of Jane and William Carr, Wheatland Cemetery, Dallas, Dallas Co., TX.
[28] Duncanville Historical Commission. The History of Duncanville, P202
[29] Pelt Family History, in possession of Phillip Pelt, Box 460, LaGrange, TX 78945.
[30] Headstone Inscriptions of A. J. Garner. Wheatland Cemetery, Dallas, Dallas Co., TX
[31] Headstone Inscriptions of Eliza Jane (Carr) Garner. Wheatland Cemetery, Dallas, Dallas Co., TX
[32] Texas Historical Marker Application for First United Methodist Church of Duncanville.
[33] Texas Historical Marker Number 11841 inscription for John Shelby Wisdom at 6400 W. Red Bird Lane, at entrance to Boy Scout Camp Wisdom, Dallas, Dallas Co..
[34] DeSoto, A Texas Tale, 1847-1989, written by people of DeSoto, Copyright 1989. Taylor Publishing, page 36.
[35].History of the Cedar Mountains, Lucretia Barker Vinyard, Rhea Printing Co., Inc. of Dallas, Copyright by the Estate of Mrs. C. C. Vinyard, August 1, 1973. Pg 62.
[36] IT'S OUR DALLAS CO., DAVID SWITZER, PUBLISHED BY D.S. SWITZER EDUCATION WRITERS 1954, PG 15.
[37] DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS DEED RECORDS. VOL. 39 PG 12.
60 ACRES IN SOUTHWEST CORNER OF J.W. TAYLOR SURVEY.
[38] "INTERVIEW" JULY 1985. MR. MARSHALL MILLER, MEMBER OF WHEATLAND CEMETERY ASSOCIATION SINCE 1944. "NOTES IN PRIVATE PAPERS OF OLIVIA HARRINGTON"
[39] HISTORY OF CEDAR MOUNTAINS, LUCRETIA BARKER VINYARD, RHEA PRINTING CO., INC. OF DALLAS. COPYRIGHT BY THE ESTATE OF MRS. C.O. VINYARD, AUGUST 1, 1973.
[40] WHEATLAND CEMETERY - VIDEO TAPE - 1986.
[41] DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS DEED RECORDS. VOL. 39-12.
60 ACRES IN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF J.W. TAYLOR SURVEY.
[42] CITY PLANNING OFFICE - CANTERBURY VILLAGE
CITY PLAN #68-185, RECEIVED 4-3-1970.
[43] DALLAS TIMES HERALD, MARCH 29, 1935.
[44] IBID. TIMES HERALD
[45] "INTERVIEW" JULY 1985. MR. MARSHALL MILLER, MEMBER OF
WHEATLAND CEMETERY ASSOCIATION SINCE 1944. "NOTES IN PRIVATE PAPERS OF OLIVIA HARRINGTON."