Shiloh-McCutcheon Cemetery

Duane's take

The marker out here tells it like this, and I'm passing it along to you straight. The community of Shiloh dates from 1848, when two men — Nelson Morey and Josiah Talor — each decided this stretch along Brushy Creek was worth putting down roots. Both of them established stores in the area, right there near Wilbarger Crossing.

That crossing would change names over the years — Shiloh Crossing, then Rogan Crossing — but the creek kept flowing regardless. The community itself never grew too grand: a school, a church, two stores, and a few residents living along Brushy Creek. Small enough that everybody knew everybody.

Which, as you're about to find out, could be both a blessing and a curse. The cemetery sits on a parcel of the original grant of 1852 acres — yes, 1852 acres — issued to the heirs of William Gatlin, on account of his participation in the Texas Army during the revolution of 1835 to 1836. That land carried some history before a single soul was laid in it.

Now. The first recorded burial. This is the part you lean in for.

A traveler came through and spent the night at the home of a man named Josiah Kuykendall. That traveler was carrying smallpox. Josiah fell ill.

His brother and neighbor — Mark Kuykendall — heard about it and came over to care for him. That's the kind of thing a brother does. Mark stayed.

And Mark got sick too. Both brothers died from the disease. Both were buried in that cemetery in 1853.

Two brothers, one act of loyalty, one terrible outcome. The ground had barely been used, and already it held that kind of weight. The property wasn't officially deeded as a cemetery until February 1890 — nearly four decades after those first burials.

That's when William McCutcheon deeded the land to three cemetery trustees: F.F. Farley, Green Randolf, and William Rogan. William McCutcheon himself is buried there now, alongside his wife Elizabeth Jane, and six of their thirteen children.

Over the years, people have called this place by different names — Shiloh, Old Shiloh, McCutcheon Cemetery — but the ground beneath those names holds veterans of the Texas Revolution, the Civil War, World War I, and World War II. Generations deep. So deep, in fact, that interments are now restricted to the ashes of descendants of those already buried here.

The cemetery is, in a very real sense, full — full of Williamson County history, full of family, full of the kind of stories that start with a stranger at the door on a cold night. It's been holding this community's memory since 1853, and it intends to keep right on doing it.

What the marker says

The community of Shiloh dates from 1848, when both Nelson Morey and Josiah Talor established stores in this area. Shiloh spread along the banks of Brushy Creek near Wilbarger Crossing, which was later called Shiloh Crossing and Rogan Crossing. The community consisted of a school, a church, two stores and a few residents who lived along Brushy Creek. Shiloh-McCutcheon Cemetery sits on a park of the original grant of 1852 acres issued to the heirs of William Gatlin because of his participation in the Texas Army during the revolution of 1835-1836. The first recorded burial is that of Josiah Kuykendall, who became ill with smallpox after a traveler spent the night at his home. His brother and neighbor, Mark Kuykendall, came to care for Josiah during his illness, but became ill himself. Both brothers died from the disease and were buried in the cemetery in 1853. The property was not officially deeded as a cemetery until February 1890, when William Mccutcheon deeded land to three cemetery trustees, F.F. Farley, Green Randolf, and William Rogan. William Mccutcheon, his wife Elizabeth Jane, and six of their thirteen children are buried here. Through the years, the burial ground has also been known as Shiloh, Old Shiloh, or Mccutcheon Cemetery. Burials at the site include veterans of the Texas Revolution, Civil War, World War I and World War II. Due to the density of burials, interments are now restricted to the ashes of descendants of those already interred at the site. Historic Texas Cemetery – 1999