DUANE
Duane's take
Here's my telling of what the official marker at Sutherland Springs Cemetery has to say — and friend, this one earns every word. Start with a man born in Danville, Virginia, in 1792. Dr.
John Sutherland. He came to Texas in 1835, and right away history had plans for him. It's 1836.
The Texians are bracing to defend the Alamo against the Mexican army, and Dr. Sutherland is there, helping them prepare. Then comes the accident — him and his horse — and just like that, he's rendered unable to fight.
Now, unable to fight does not mean unable to ride, and Col. Travis knew it. So Travis sent him to Gonzales to summon help.
He rode hard. And while he was en route, the Mexican army defeated the Alamo defenders. He carried that knowledge with him for the rest of his days.
After that, Dr. Sutherland went to Tuscumbia, Alabama, gathered his family, and brought them back to Texas. They lived for many years near Egypt, over in Wharton County, before finally settling near the Sulphur Springs on the Cibolo River in 1849.
He purchased the Trevino Grant on Cibolo Creek, and he built something more than a home out there. He took in patients who came seeking health cures from those sulphur springs. He turned that house into a boarding place for the ailing and the hopeful.
And if that weren't enough, the house became a regular stop on the stage line running from San Antonio to Indianola and Port Lavaca. Travelers, patients, and pioneers all passed through. On October 31, 1860 — and that is a date worth remembering — Dr.
Sutherland granted about five acres as a community burial ground. That is the founding moment of Sutherland Springs Cemetery. The first burial came in 1862.
It was his wife, Ann Margaret — born a Lucas, previously a Dickson — Ann Margaret Sutherland, laid to rest in the ground her husband had given to the community. The land grew over time, the way meaningful places tend to. In 1911, Jacob Hyder sold just over two acres to cemetery trustees, expanding the grounds.
Then in 1997, additional acreage was acquired, bringing the total to about seven and a half acres — seven point six nine, to be precise. And who rests there? Dr.
John Sutherland himself. Four Texas Rangers. A county judge.
A sheriff. Military veterans. Doctors.
Masons and Eastern Star members. Descendants of the historic Polley and Sutherland families. African American, Hispanic, and Caucasian residents of Wilson County, all interred together on that ground.
The marker calls it a chronicle of Wilson County pioneers and significant figures in the history of the region. I'd say that's right. A man rode away from the Alamo on an errand that history interrupted, lived long enough to plant roots on the Cibolo, and when he gave that land to his neighbors — for their final rest — he gave them something that's still keeping its promise.
What the marker says
Dr. John Sutherland (1792-1867), a native of Danville, Virginia, came to Texas in 1835. While helping the Texians prepare to defend the Alamo against the Mexican army in 1836, he suffered an accident with his horse, rendering him unable to fight. Still able to ride, Col. Travis sent him to Gonzales to summon help. While en route to Gonzales, the Mexican army defeated the Alamo defenders. Dr. Sutherland then went to Tuscumbia, Alabama, to move his family to Texas, and they lived for many years near Egypt (Wharton County) before settling near the Sulphur Springs on the Cibolo River in 1849. Dr. Sutherland purchased the Trevino Grant on Cibolo Creek. In his home, he boarded patients who came to the Sulphur Springs seeking health cures. His house became a regular stop on the stage from San Antonio to Indianola and Port Lavaca. Sutherland Springs Cemetery dates from October 31, 1860, when Dr. Sutherland granted about five acres as a community burial ground. The first burial was that of his wife, Ann Margaret (Lucas) (Dickson) Sutherland, in 1862. Historically known also as Oak Hill Cemetery, the land was expanded in 1911 with the sale of just over two acres from Jacob Hyder to cemetery trustees. Additional acreage acquired in 1997 increased the cemetery size to about 7.69 acres. In addition to Dr. John Sutherland, buried here are four Texas Rangers, a county judge, a sheriff, military veterans, doctors, masons and eastern star members, and descendants of the historic Polley and Sutherland families. African American, Hispanic and Caucasian residents are interred here. This historic burial ground is a chronicle of Wilson County pioneers and significant figures in the history of the region.