The Texas Spirit Quest
is a series of Caches placed by many individuals, near cemeteries and historic sites in hopes of paying respect to the many pioneer ancestors that have ‘walked’ before us.
There are hundreds of cemeteries in the rural communities across Texas. This series will introduce you to many of them. The cache pages will provide a virtual history tour of the cemeteries, tombstones and local lore.
There are 11 interments at this site, ranging from 1842 through 1937. Five Cruzes buried here, along with four Monsolas, a family that immigrated from Cuba and intermarried with the Cruzes. There is also a Matuse by marriage / Monsola by birth. It appears that a member of the Monsolas married into the Whisenant family--the latter evidently own or control the cemetery at this point. Finally, there is a Native American buried here as well, a certain Chief Grey Eagle. William Cruze, who is also laid to rest on these grounds, has a recorded date of death in 1856, while Grey Eagle allegedly died in 1857. However, according to a family account, they were killed on the same day: "After the fall of the Alamo (Mar. 1836) a Mr. McKinney, a Mr. Maverick and (Grandfather) Bill Cruze located on a ranch below Austin, near McKinney Falls. Besides ranching, they started slave trading out of Africa. They made several trips and brought back only men. Bill Cruze was six feet five inches tall and weighed two hundred and fifty pounds. He was the only man who could handle the slaves. In those days, Bill Cruze had fifteen or twenty men under him as range riders and scouts for Indians and outlaws. There is a high mound north of Creedmore, Texas called Pilot Knob. There is where Bill Cruze kept scouts planted day and night to watch for Indians and outlaws, since he was paid by several of the largest ranchers in Central Texas for that purpose. At times he had thirty or forty men under him. His house was guarded every night. He kept an Indian guide with him at all times. One morning early the two went out to the corral about a hundred yards from the house to saddle their horses. Outlaws and some Indians were hidden in the weeds. They opened fire on Granddad and Chief Gray Eagle, killing both instantly. The two were buried side by side in the old Cruze cemetery."
There is no public access to this site, but you can see the enclosed and semi-overgrown grounds a few dozen feet beyond the roadside fenceline. However, you do not need to enter the cemetery to make this find. At any rate, as always, any refinements to the listed coordinates are welcomed.