Crayton Cemetery

Guadalupe Co. Cemeteries of TX

Submitted by Alison Tudor

The Crayton Cemetery in Guadalupe County, Texas is located beside Lehmann Rd. It is 2 miles from Hwy.1979 on Lehmann Rd. It is also known as the Mulkey-Crayton Cemetery. The deed to the cemetery has not been found although a conscientious search has been made of the deed records in the Guadalupe County Courthouse in Seguin. It is believed by several family members and an adjoining property owner, Mr. Lehman (age 90 years), that the land for the cemetery was donated by Will /Bill Jones who died in 1915.

Crayton Cemetery is a family cemetery. James "Jim" and Jane Bell Spruill Crayton and their descendants are buried in this cemetery.

The cemetery is named for James "Jim" Crayton. Their daughter Tennessee Crayton Mulkey and some of her children and grandchildren are buried in this cemetery, hence the second name of Mulkey-Crayton.

Jim Crayton was born a slave on 16 April 1854 in Martindale, Caldwell Co., Texas the son of John Crayton and Riley Kimble. John Crayton was an Anglo Saxon, a widower for thirty years and the owner of forty slaves when he begat Jim. Riley Kimble was one of several Indian slaves John Crayton purchased from a man who brought the Indian slaves to Martindale from Oklahoma. Jane Bell Spruill's mother Sarah "Sallie" Allen was one of these slaves.

His father acknowledged Jim Crayton. He was taught ranching, farming and how to break wild horses. He went on several cattle drives to Kansas. He and Jane Bell Allen Spruill married June 14, 1872 in Caldwell County just as he started on a cattle drive. Their sons were also cowboys. Their son Bruce took cattle up the Chisholm Trail to Kansas City.

Born in slavery and living through Reconstruction, Jim and Jane Bell Crayton lived a prosperous and contented life. According to deed 516 & 517, dated 16 August 1887, in Guadalupe County Courthouse, they built a two room dwelling of pine lumber with gallery on land leased from P.G. Sowell, (son of A.J. Sowell of the Texas Revolution and a writer). They had 18 children, 9 boys and 9 girls. 11 of these children have been located and at least 9 of them are buried here.

Historic pioneers are buried in the Crayton Cemetery. Honorable and hard working, they have left a memorable legacy.

KNOWN BURIED

JAMES "JIM" CRAYTON SR.: Born: April 16, 1854 in Martindale, Caldwell County, Texas. Married: June 14 1892 Caldwell County, TX to JANE BELL ALLEN, dau. of Sarah Allen and Ben Spruill. He died: June 1, 1916 in Hays County, TX.

SARAH "SALLIE" ALLEN SPRUILL:

JANE BELL ALLEN SPRUILL CRAYTON: Born: March 11, 1857 Married: JAMES CRAYTON SR. Died: March 31, 1951

JAMES CRAYTON JR: Born: March 1874 in Caldwell County, TX. Married Oct. 6, 1892 in Guadalupe County, TX to wife #1 LEANA KILGORE Married: wife #2 Lillie WARREN Nov. 3, 1906 in San Marcos, Hays County, TX, #3 Francis Williams, they had one child Cleopatra. Wife #4 Lettie Cheatham on August 2, 1930 in Hays County TX. Died: 1952

ELIZABETH "LIZZIE" CRAYTON: Born: 1875 in Caldwell County, TX. Married: Feb. 22, 1892 in San Marcos, TX to Bill (WILL) JONES They had four children; T. Van, Willie (Gal Will), Frankie and Ophelia. Died: June 6, 1934

BILL (Will) JONES: Married: Feb. 22, 1892 ELIZABETH CRAYTON Died: March 14, 1915. My paternal great-grand father was Bill (Will) Jones of Kingsbury, TX, he was married to Elizabeth "Lizzie" (Crayton) Jones, and they had four children T. Van, b 1/31/1897, Willie (Gal Will), b unknown, Frankie, b unknown and Ophelia, b unknown.

T. VAN JONES: Born: Jan. 31, 1897 T. Van Jones married Liral Barnes of York Creek, Comal County, TX. T. Van and Liral had two sons Bill, b 1925 and Webb, born 7/19/1928. T. Van died 2/20/1954, buried in the Crayton cemetery, Guadalupe County, TX. Liral died in 1975 was buried in Ft. Sam Houston military cemetery in San Antonio, Bexar County, TX.

Died: Feb 20, 1954 T. Van served in military (Mich. 34 Engr. Service Co. WWI).

MINNIE CRAYTON: Born: Jan 15, 1879 in Caldwell County, TX. Married:

Jan. 17, 1904 to TOM NICHOLS, next married <unknown> WILLIAMS. Died of consumption on June 4, 1927 in Hays County, TX. Buried June 5, 1927 Mother of J.A. MULKEY and M.L. CRAYTON.

DOCK CRAYTON: Born: Nov. 24,1880 in Guadalupe County, TX. Died: Feb. 1, 1942 in Hays County, TX. He was killed while digging a well. The well digging machine fell on him. Unknown if he was married.

TENNESSEE "TEENIE" CRAYTON: Born: Oct. 1886 in Guadalupe County, TX Married: Jan. 26, 1903 to JOHN MULKEY, they had 4 children. Died: Dec. 16, 1928

GLADYS MULKEY: Born: Dec. 24, 1904 Married: WILLIE NICHOLS they had one child. Died: Dec. 26, 1932.

OTMAR MULKEY (NICHOLS): Son of Gladys and Willie Nichols

GURTRUDE "GURTIE" CRAYTON: Born: Sept. 1890 in Guadalupe County, TX Married: <UNKNOWN> Black, They had 2 children Died Prior 1916

BRUCE CRAYTON: Born: May 19, 1894 in Guadalupe County, TX Married 5 times, no issue, Died: Jan. 26, 1983 in Hays County.

BAYLOR CRAYTON: Born: April 6,1896 in Guadalupe County, TX Married: LOVIE BARNES July 27, 1931 Died: June 3, 1991 in Comal County, TX

LOVIE BARNES CRAYTON: Born: May 27, 1899 Married: BAYLOR CRAYTON July 27, 1931 Died: March 29, 1983. Mrs. Lovie (Barnes) Crayton, the wife of Baylor Crayton, is the sister of Mrs. Lireal (Barnes) Jones. Mrs Lireal Barnes Jones was married to T. Van Jones.

BENJAMIN H. CRAYTON: Born: Jan. 12, 1898 in Guadalupe County, TX Never Married, Died: June 10, 1978

JANE BELL ALLEN CRAYTON: Born: March 11, 1857 Married: James Crayton Sr. Died: March 31, 1951

Mr. WILL JONES: Born: 1891 Died: 1976. Husband of Mrs. Willie (Gal Will) Jones. Mr. and Mrs Jones had two daughters Alma and Edna.

Mrs. WILLIE (Gal Will) JONES: Born: April 14, 1915. Died: June 6, 1992. Daughter of Bill and Lizzie Jones.

ALMA ECFORD: Born: Feb. 4, 1917. Died: May 13, 1937. Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Will Jones

EDNA JONES, daughter of Will and Willie Jones. Birth and death unknown.

ZIM "JIMMIE" CRAYTON: Died: Aug 15, 1951