Moss Ragsdale Cemetery

The cemetery at this site was first used as a burial ground in the 1850s, but the land was not formally set aside for this purpose until a 1902 warranty deed noted “one acre of land . . . to be used exclusively as a burying ground and for no other purpose.” The cemetery is named for Matthew Moss, on whose property it was established, and Moss’ son-in-law, James Campbell Ragsdale, who was the first person interred at the site. All of the marked burials that remain at the cemetery are members of Matthew Moss’ extended family. Matthew Moss was born in Virginia in 1776 and served in the War of 1812 before moving to Arkansas, where he operated a steamboat on the Red River. He brought his family to Milam County ca. 1845. Moss died in 1858 and is presumed to be buried at this site. James C. Ragsdale settled in Fayette County ca. 1832, married Rebecca Moss, and served in the war for Texas Independence. Ragsdale died while on a business trip in Milam County, and was buried on his father-in-law’s property. The last known burial, in 1916, was that of Elizabeth Murry Ragsdale, wife of Matthew Moss Ragsdale. The cemetery is located near the former townsite of San Andres. San Andres was laid out in the early 1850s and a post office operated at the site from 1852 until 1877. David Green Davis, the first postmaster of San Andres, was buried here in 1871. Confederate veterans known to be buried at the site include David Green Davis, L.E.S. Williams, John Matthew Davis and Matthew Moss Ragsdale. Today, Moss Ragsdale Cemetery serves as a reminder of the many pioneer families who worked to settle Milam County.

Moss Ragsdale Cemetery is a historical marker in Rockdale, Milam County, dedicated in 2010. It is one of 88 historical markers documented in Milam County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 151 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 30.7134, -97.1185 near Rockdale. The nearest cataloged historic site is Kirkpatrick (cemetery), about 1.2 miles away. Others within a short drive include Site of Mission San Francisco Xavier de Los Dolores, Site of the Mission Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria, and Apache Pass River Crossing.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5507016376. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.