Bratton Cemetery (click here for Google map) is located in Texas just south of Round Rock near where the borders of Travis County and Williamson County meet.  The cemetery is on the south side of F.M. 1325 just before it reaches the intersection with IH-35 on the east side of the Limestone Ranch apartment complex.  The survey below is as complete as we could get it of all the headstones that we could find that had legible inscriptions.

This survey was made on January 9, 2003.  The earliest death year we were able to read was 1847, for three members of the ROBEY family.  The latest death year we found was 1963 for Sy R. BULLOCK.  The cemetery is kept well cleared, but several stones have suffered vandalism.  We saw two old marble slabs that appeared to have been broken off fairly recently.  See also the Bratton Cemetery listings on Find-A-Grave, which have some better photos of several of the stones.

None of these people are related to me and I have no further information on any of them.

There is an earlier survey of this cemetery done by someone else that was posted to the message boards on Ancestry.com:     Bratton Cemetery survey done on October 26, 2001.  This is a bit difficult to read, but looks as though they may have gotten some stones that we missed or were unable to read in our survey.

Click on the thumbnails to see the larger photos.

•  The Texas Historical Marker at the front gate.  The text on the sign reads as follows:
  "Kentucky native John Bratton (1812 - 1855) came to Texas with his family in 1837.  Ten years later, Bratton purchased land in this area and set aside one acre for use as a burial ground for family and friends.  The earliest known burial, that of Mary J. Robey, took place in 1847.  There are more than 100 known gravesites in the Bratton Cemetery, and about 50 of the burials are marked only with fieldstones.  A good example of a pioneer graveyard, in which many of the graves date from the 1800s, the Bratton Cemetery is a reminder of the area's local history.  (1985)"

•  East end of Bratton Cemetery.  If there ever were any markers here, they are long gone now.  Recent major construction in the area has moved the main road (F.M. 1325) farther away from the cemetery than it used to be, making access to the cemetery easier and safer.  The car in the photo is parked on the new driveway where the road used to be.  The white concrete apron used to be all the room that was available to pull off the road.

•  West end of Bratton Cemetery.

•  Looking northwest from the fenced-in plot of Robert and Ellen BRATTON.  Note the mailbox on the fence.  The corners of the photo are black because I zoomed all the way out and forgot to retract the lens hood.

•  Looking southwest toward the fenced-in BRATTON plot.  The stones in the foreground may be some of the graves referred to by the Historical Marker as being "marked only with fieldstones."  The stone flat on the ground on the right side of the photo and the one immediately behind it are MILBURN footstones (see below).

•  View south-east showing the large ROBEY monument.  This is one of two or three family plots in this cemetery that have had white iris planted on them.

•  BULLOCK family plot looking northwest.  I forgot to retract the lens hood again.

None of these people are related to me and I have no further information on any of them.

We meant to bring chalk, but somehow Mom and I both managed to forget it anyway.  We will have to remember to go back someday with some chalk and try harder to identify some of the "unknowns" and "illegibles" on the list below.

1.      UNKNOWN, Milly.  This stone is located in the northwestern corner of the cemetery.  The word "MILLY" is barely visible on this stone.  If there was any other inscription on this stone, we couldn't make it out.

2.    UNKNOWN, Zebulon.  Birth date illegible.  Death date appears to read "DEC ?? 186?"  This stone is near Milly's above and is similar in style and carving.

3.  UNKNOWN.  This marker is of the same style as the PENNINGTON markers below, but is not in the same plot.  Between the lichen and the erosion, the inscription was so far gone that it was impossible for us to make out what it said.

4.  ASHER, Zola T., daughter of L. B. & R. A. ASHER, born July 27, 1877, died June 3, 1901.  The smaller stone leaning against the monument bears the initials "Z. T. A." - probably her footstone.

   "Jesus said; I am the resurrection
   amd the life; he that believeth on me,
   though he were dead, yet shall he live.
   [John 11:25]"

   
   

5.  BRATTON, Bobbie Jane, born Dec. 28, 1869, died Jan. 4, 1948.

   
   

6.  BRATTON plot - John and Jane.
   1.    Jane BRATTON, born October 6, 1813, died February 10, 1906, "Farewell dear mother, sweet thy rest."  The top part of the monument has apparently been put on the base the wrong way around because the word "FATHER" is carved in big letters underneath Jane's inscription.

   2.    John BRATTON, born August 18, 1812, died October 11, 1855, verse reads "".  This side of the monument is badly weathered and hard to read.  Dates corroborated by his individual stone nearby (below).  The individual stone adds his age - 43 years.

       BRATTON, John, born Aug. 8, 1812, died Oct. 11, 1855, Age 43 years.  This is the individual marker for John BRATTON listed on the small obelisk above.

      
      

7.    BRATTON, Robert, born July 13, 1851, died July 18, 1853, aged 2 years.  Robert's stone has been broken off and leaned against the monument of Jane and John Bratton above.  Possibly Robert was one of their descendants.  The inscription does not show up well in my photos, although the carving is fairly deep and intact.  It is easier to see in person.

   
   

8.  BRATTON monument - John and Mary.  This large stone is located on the edge of one of two large broken concrete slabs near the center of the cemetery.
   1. John BRATTON, "Father", born March 31, 1856, died June 15, 1930.
      
   2. Mary P. BRATTON, "Mother", born Jan. 13, 1859, died Sept. 6, 1911

      
      

9.    BRATTON stone - Robert and Ellen.  This is located inside an iron fence next to a very old juniper tree.  There is a mailbox on a post next to the fence with the name Bratton on it.  The ornamental knob from the top of the stone has come off and rests on the ground next to the stone.
   1.  Robert BRATTON, husband of E. M. BRATTON, born April 15, 1828, died Dec. 8, 1869.

   2.  Ellen M. BRATTON, wife of R. BRATTON, born Aug. 31, 1834, died Jan. 8, 1877.

      "Kind father of love, thou are gone to thy
      rest.  Forever to bask in the joy of the
      blest."

   
   

10.  BRATTON, William H., son of W. A. & W. E. BRATTON, born Oct. 2, 1880, died Nov. 15, 1880.

11.  BRATTON, Mrs. Winnie E., wife of W. H. BRATTON, born Oct. 2, 1840, died April 29, 1907.

    "A precious one from us
    has gone.
    A voice we loved is stilled.
    A place is vacant in our
    home"
    (last line usually reads "That never can be filled." - may be broken off on the base)

    
     BULLOCK family plot - very long plot with many graves marked off by small head and footstones and outlined with stone blocks.  No names except on the two larger monuments below.

12.  BULLOCK, Jesse, born Feb. 28, 1839, died May 14, 1921.  "We hope to meet again."

13.    BULLOCK, John M., born Jan. 14, 1885, died March 15, 1911.  Woodmen of the World emblem.  "Gone but not forgotten"

    
    

14.    BULLOCK, Jessie Ada, "Mother", 1878 - 1944.  "Rest in peace."  Metal funeral home marker also present - gives birth year of 1877.

15.    BULLOCK, Sy R., "Father", 1870 - 1963.  "Rest in peace."  Funeral home marker also present - gives death date as April 6, 1963 and age at death of 92 yrs, 10 mos, 17 days.  A funeral home in Taylor, Texas - name appears to read "CON?RA or CON?BA Funeral Home".

    
    

16.  DANIEL, Bailey M., born Apr. 27, 1905, died Dec. 25, 1931.

17.  DANIEL, Henry, born July 28, 1896, died Mar. 9, 1928.  "Gone but not forgotten"

18.  DANIEL, J. Mark, born Oct. 15, 1863, died Dec. 20, 1945.

19.  DANIEL, J. H., born Aug. 5, 1859, died Oct. 19, 1934.  This stone does not show up well in the photo, but was much easier to read in person.

20.      (military stone) DANIEL, John Henry, Texas, Fireman 3CL, U. S. N. R. F., March 9, 1928.

21.  DANIEL, Sallie P., born Dec. 25, 1864, died Apr. 30, 1946.

22.  DAVIS, E. B., born Dec. 25, 1870, died Apr. 8, 1892.  Stone broken in three pieces.

23.  EDWARDS, Joseph D. F., son of R. A. & M. F. Edwards, born September 14, 1880, died April 10, 1900.  "Beneath this stone, in soft repose / Is laid a mother's dearest pride."

24.  HICKS, C. C., son of Henry and E. HICKS, born Jan. 26, 1853, died Aug. 18, 1872.

    
    

25.  HICKS, Nancy and Isaac (two children memorialized on the same stone). Carving on top of stone - image of a broken flute? over clasped hands.
    1. Nancy C. HICKS, born Aug. 20, 1861
       
    2. Isaac H. HICKS, born Dec. 5, 1865

       Death date for both is given as "drowned July 14, 1874"

       
       

26.  HICKS, Sophia L., daughter of S. J. and M. E. HICKS, born Dec. 9, 1873, died July 30, 1874.  This stone is on its back on the ground and is broken in several pieces, but the carving is still in good shape.

    
    

27.  HYLAND, infant.  Infant son of U. or V. B. & H. J. HYLAND, born and died July 4, 1902.  "A little flower of love / that blossomed but to die".  See his Find-A-Grave entry for better photos.

28.  McNEESE, B. F.  There are two stones here back-to-back for Mr. McNeese:  one a military stone and one placed by the family.  According to a correspondent, this is Benjamin Franklin McNeese, born in Arkansas.
    1.  (military stone) B. F. McNEESE, Grey's Co., 37 Texas Cav., C. S. A.  The face of this formerly white marble stone is badly blackened and the inscription does not show up well in this photo.  It is easier to see in person.

    2.  (family stone) B. F. McNEESE, born Jan. 27, 1845, died Jan. 21, 1889, "At rest in God".

       
       

29.  McNEESE, Mrs. B. F., "Mother", 1853 - 1937.  According to a correspondent, this is Williamett Bratton McNeese, wife of Benjamin Franklin McNeese above.

30.  McNEESE, Ben F., "Father", born June 22, 1882, died Dec. 1, 1954.  "To Our Dearest Father".  According to a correspondent, this is Benjamin Franklin McNeese, son of Benjamin Franklin McNeese and Williamett Bratton above.

31.  McNEESE, Ethel B., "Mother", born July 3, 1884, died June 12, 1933.  "Gone But Not Forgotten"

32.  McNEESE, Hazel, born Dec. 1, 1913, died Oct. 11, 1922.  This stone is easier to read in person.  The highly polished granite finish with non-contrasting inscription makes it difficult to photograph.

33.    McNEESE, Opal, daughter of B. F. & E. B. McNEESE, born May 20, 1909, died, March 3 or 13, 1911.  Illegible single-line inscription.

34.  McNEESE, Robert, 1891 - 1918.

35.  McNEESE, Waymon, son of B. F. & E. B. McNEESE, born Sept. 8, 1905, died May 8, 1906.  "Our little one is / at rest in Heaven."

36.  MERCER, J. S., born Dec. 20, 1840, died Apr. 22, 1908?  This stone was difficult to make out with all the growth on its face - may say "gone but not forgotten" above carving of clasped hands.

    Information below provided by a relative who confirmed the death date from the death certificate:

    John S Mercer, born in TX - Son of Jesse Mercer and Emily Caroline Stroud.
    Brother of Sarah J and William H Mercer.  Half-Brother of Francis M, Joseph D and Isabella A Mercer.
    Joseph married, about 1868 in TX, Easter "Jane" Hicks.
    Father of Etta, Charles Patterson and Lee Mercer. Other children, if any, unknown at this time.
    Grandson of William Mercer and Isabell Malloy.
    John died in McNeil, Travis Co., TX.
    Cause of Death: Edema of Lungs.
    Contributory Causes: Bronchial and Kidney Trouble.

    
    

37.  MILBORN, Thomas J., "IN / Memory / of / Thomas J. MILBORN / Was born February / the 2nd 1845.  And departed / this Life September the 11th 1854 (or 1864 - stone is broken off and hard to read here)

38.  MILBURN, Eliza, born Nov. 4, 1822, died Jan. 15, 1904, aged 81 years, 2 Mos., 11 days.  At the top of the stone above the clasped hands:  "In loving remembrance of".  Verse at bottom of stone reads:  "Dearest mother thou hast left us / but tis God that has bereft us / He can all our sorrows heal."

39.  MILBURN, Mary, In / memory of / Mary MILBURN / was born October the 25th 1805 / And departed this life / July the 22nd 18?? (last two digits of year eroded completely off the stone - a correspondent with better photo equipment reads it as 1857) / Age 51 years and 8 mo / nths and 2 days

40.  MILBURN, Thomas, In / memory of / Thomas MILBURN / was born February the 25th, 1802 / and departed this life February / the 14th 1855 age 56 years / and 11 moths (sic.) & 19 days.  (the transcription appears to be accurate, so I guess somebody's math was a bit off when they gave the stonecarver the information)  The stone in the background is his footstone (all of the MILBORN / MILBURN stones of this shape have matching footstones, some of which are unusually large).

41.  MILBURN, Wm., born Mar. 8, 1823, died Oct. 16, 1878.  There is a Masonic emblem on the stone.  The small stone in front of William's in the photo is the footstone of Thomas J. MILBORN above.  The verse appears to read as follows:

    "Forget thee I will not.  I cannot
    Thy name
    Engraved on my heart doth
    Forever remain
    The palms of my hands
    While I look on and see
    The wounds I received when
    Suffering for thee."

42.    NOE, infant sons.  See the Find-A-Grave listing for a better photo.  This small, difficult to read blackened marble stone is set into the edge of a large broken concrete slab near the center of the cemetery.  The green lines on the right hand photo are an overlay that I did in Paintshop Pro in an attempt to read the inscription.  Nothing was actually applied to the stone.  The inscription appears to read:

    "INFANT SONS
    OF EDWARD P.
    & ELVIE J. NOE"

    
    PENNINGTON family plot.  The three grave markers listed below are odd flat "art deco" looking things (stone? metal?) laid in the ground.  The inscriptions are in such low relief that they only show up in very strong contrasty light and even then the inscriptions cast only very faint shadows by which to read them.  They may not show up at all in the photos.

43.  PENNINGTON, Lillian Wood, born Jan. 5, 1880, died Jan. 25, 1940

44.  PENNINGTON, Chas. Dudley, born Oct. 29, 1874, died Jan. 19, 1940.

45.    PENNINGTON, Chas. Clifford, born May 19, 1901, died Dec. 14, 1923.  This is the only marker where the inscription showed up well enough to see in the photograph.

    
    

46.  PENNINGTON, Annie S. & William H.
    1. Annie S. PENNINGTON, 1853 - 1920
       
    2. William H. PENNINGTON, 1848 - 1919

    
    PUTNAM family plot - several small low stones near a bush by the fence on the north side of the cemetery.  These have a sort of coarse, pebbly, surface.

47.  PUTNAM, Baby Son, 1907.

48.  PUTNAM, Chester Owen, 1895.

49.  PUTNAM, John Owen, 1871 - 1916.

50.  PUTNAM, Johnnie Arabella, 1868 - 1943.  This stone has a deep chip in the top, which partially obscures the word "Arabella."

51.  PUTNAM, William John, 1839 - 1910.

    
    

52.      REISSIG, Ella and Klaerchen.  This stone is near the fence along the north side of the cemetery.  The yellow lines on the center photo are an overlay that I did in Paintshop Pro in an attempt to read the inscription.  Nothing was actually applied to the stone.    We were unable to make out what this stone said (we are still kicking ourselves for forgetting the chalk), but a relative of this family has provided a translation of the inscription, which is written in German.
    Here
    Rest in God
    Ella b. Apr 30, 1886 and
    Klaerchen REISSIG
    b. 27 May 1885 - 2 June 1886
    According to relatives, "Klaerchen" is a diminutive nickname ("little Klara").  The two children buried here are Klara Augusta Reissig and Ella Louise Reissig.  A relative has submitted some information for the Reissig family.

    Reissig family (rich text .rtf file) - 8k.  Neater formatted layout - should be readable by most Windows compatible word processors (Word, Wordpad, etc.).

    Reissig family (plain ASCII .txt file) - 7k.  Messier unformatted layout, but readable by a wider variety of programs.

    I made a gedcom file of the Reissig family information and uploaded it to Rootsweb's Worldconnect service.  Reissig database.

    
    

53. RICHEY, H. A.  Born April 15, 1846, died June 1, 1876.  See the Find-A-Grave listing for photos (I didn't see this stone when I was there).

    
       ROBEY family monument - large marble monument with draped urn on top.  The year 1885 is carved near the top of the southwest side of the monument.  The photos of the inscriptions below may look a bit dark because they have been digitally enhanced to try to make them easier to read.  There is more information on this ROBEY family at the William and Mary Robey Homepage.

       Northwest side.

    1. Maria ROBEY / Born in / Scioto Co. O. / Aug. 27, 1815 / Died / Mar. 19, 1864.
       
    2. Emily A. ROBEY / Born / Feb. 20, 1845, Died in Tex. / July 6, 1853.
       
    3. Mary L. ROBEY / born Jan. 19, 1847 / Died In Tex. / Dec. 2, 1847.

     Southwest Side.
    1. William ROBEY / born in Md. / near Washington City / Nov. 15, 1777 / Died near Austin City Tex. / July 20, 1875.
       
    2. Mary / wife of / Wm. ROBEY / Born in Va. / near Washington City / 1788 / Died near / Austin City Tex. / Oct. 29, 1869.
       
    3. Thomas L. ROBEY / Born near / Portsmouth O. / Aug. 14, 1821 / Died in / Williamson Co. Tex. / Oct. 1847.
       
    4. Mary J. ROBEY / born near Portsmouth O. / June 4, 1831 / died in Williamson Co. Tex. / Sept. 1847.

     Southeast Side
    1. Lizzie May / Wife of / J. B. HUDNALL / Born near / Merrilltown Tex. / Oct. 20, 1861 / died / June 16, 1885.
       
    2. F. A. ROBEY / son of / William & Mary / ROBEY / Born near Portsmouth O. / Sept 3, 1823 / died near Merrilltown / March 20, 1899.
       
    3. Alfred / son of / T. L. & M. A. ROBEY / born Feb. 10, 1884 / died June 28, 1897.

       Northeast Side.  The initials "R. & H." (Robey & Hudnall?) are carved near the top of this side of the monument.
    1. Annie S. / wife of / F. A. ROBEY / Born near / Terre Haute Ind. / April 19, 1834 / Died near / Merrilltown Tex. / April 12, 1864.
       
    2. William ROBEY / born near / Merrilltown Tex. / May, 1859 / Died / Oct. 1859.
       
    3. T. L. ROBEY / Born / Jan. 14, 1855 / Died / May 13, 1893.

       
       

54.  ROBEY, Emma A., Feb. 26 1863 - Dec. 31, 1930.

55.      ROGERS, George, born June 13, 1861, died Nov. 15, 1907.  There is a "Woodmen of the World" emblem on this stone.

56.    ROGERS, Mary Etta. , dau. of J. A. & M. R. Rogers, born April 16, 1903, died May 21, 1903.

    
    

57.    ROGERS family monument - small marble obelisk.
    1.  ROGERS, James, son of John and Elizabeth ROGERS, born Mar. 11, 1819, died Nov. 10, 1864.

    2.  ROGERS, Mrs. N. E., dau. of R. and N. BRATTON, born July 25, 1832, died Feb. 11, 1898.

    3.  ROGERS, Nancy E., born Mar. 5, 1854, died Oct. 21, 1854.

    4.    ROGERS, Mary A., born May ?, 186?, died Jan. ??, 1865.

    
    
58.  SALSTROM?, ??ra (Vera? Laura?), daughter of Victor and Lena, born June ?, 1907, died June ??, 1907.  "Budded on Earth to bloom in Heaven."  This reddish stone with a dove on the top had a coarse pebbly surface and was difficult to read.  This stone is located in the southwest corner of the cemetery very close to where the fences meet.

    
    

59.    SHEPPERD, E. C., daughter of E. W. T. & Q. A. SHEPPERD, born Sept. 19, 1873, died Feb. 26, 1875.

60.    SHEPPERD, S. E., daughter of E. W. T. & Q. A. SHEPPERD, born Jan. 30, 1869, died July 11, 1870.

    
    

61.  SHURMAN, infant son of T. J. and M. C. SHURMAN, born July 7, 1865.

62. SHURMAN, C. A., son of T. J. & M. C. SHURMAN, born Jan. 12, 1871, died March 7, 1872.  This stone was broken off and face down.  We turned it over to get the inscription.  I was apparently so busy helping Mom scrape mud off the inscription that I forgot to photograph the stone.  It looks very much like the stone of the other SHURMAN baby above.  See the Find-A-Grave listing for someone else's photo.

63.  SIMPSON, Ida, daughter of S. J. & E. SIMPSON, born Oct. 2, 1890, died Mar. 30, 1900.

64.  SMITH, baby.  Infant son of W. R. & Ellen SMITH, born & died Dec. 20, 1901

65.  STUDER, Joe E., 1867 - 1947.

66.  STUDER, Kate Pennington, 1872 - 1942.

    
     Three STUDER children marked both by a small obelisk and three smaller individual stones.  All four are badly eroded and difficult to read.  The information below is combined from both.

67.    STUDER, Melba, dau. of J. & K. STUDER, born September 15, 1908, died November 20, 1909.  "Another little angel / before the Heavenly throne."  The letter "M" is just barely legible on her individual stone.

68.    STUDER, Nelson D., son of J. & K. Studer, born May 21, 1911, died June 16, 1912.

69.    STUDER, Reginald, son of J. & K. STUDER, born March 18, 1900, died Nov. 13, 1901.  "God needed one more angel child amidst his shining band."  This is the only side of the obelisk that was clear and easy to read.  On the corresponding small stone, we were just barely able to make out the letter "R" in his name.

    
    

70.    THOMPSON, Augustia, wife of J. N. THOMPSON, born Oct. 30, 1864, died Sept. 2, 1896.  "Gone to a better land."

71.  THOMPSON, Bertie Lee, "Our Darling", son of J. N. & A. THOMPSON, born Aug. 5, 1892, died Sept. 20, 1892.

72.  THOMPSON, Gillie Ann, "Our Mother's grave", wife of W. S. THOMPSON, born 1828, died July 10, 1880.

    "Asleep in Jesus, blessed sleep
    from which none ever wakes to weep.
    ----------
    Many daughters have done
    virtuously.  But thou hast
    excelled them all."

73.  THOMPSON, Katie, "Our Step Mother", second wife of W. S. THOMPSON, born March 3, 1838, died Feb. 11, 1899.  There is a five-line verse at the bottom of the stone.  Part of it has been broken off and the rest is difficult to read.

    "Blessed are the dead which die
    In the Lord for (henceforth, yea)
    (saith) the spirit that they may
    (rest from their labors) and
    (their works do) follow them."

74.    THOMPSON, William S., "Our Father", born Oct. 16, 1823, died Oct. 27, 1903.  "Gone but not forgotten"  This was a standard small obelisk.  The column has been knocked off and rests on the ground, making the inscription difficult to read.

75.  THOMPSON, Winnie C., daughter of W. S. & G. A. THOMPSON, born July 27, 1857, died March 17, 1876.  "Asleep in Jesus, that dearest / Friend.  In whom my hopes / of Heaven depend."  Stone has a wreath of roses carved on the top - writing on the ribbon in the center reads "Meet me in Heaven Was Her Last Request".

76.  TOWNSEND, James Alexander, son of I. D. & L. A. TOWNSEND, born June 20, 1880, died Oct. 17, 1881.  There is a line of writing carved above the image of the lamb which reads "Sweet Babe Rest in Peace".

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