The Staples-Tuttle-Happle Cemetery Association

05/22/2026

Memorial Day
Starting a year after the American Civil War ended, there were celebrations to honor both Union and Confederate soldiers who had died in the war. In an effort to unite the country, a national day of remembrance was established instead of separate celebrations by the Union and Confederate states. The first Decoration Day was held May 30, 1868. May 30th may have been selected for Decoration Day because flowers would have been in bloom all across the nation. The graves of those killed were decorated with flowers. At Arlington National Cemetery alone, the graves of over 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers were decorated by 5,000 volunteers on the first Decoration Day. Decoration Day became known as Memorial Day and was expanded to include those who died in all of America’s wars. Memorial Day became a federal holiday in 1971. The last Monday in May, rather than a specific date, was designated as the day to observe Memorial Day at the time it became a federal holiday.

05/22/2026

“Decoration Day at Staples Graveyard.
Staples, Texas, May 2.—Today a goodly company of people from the community around assembled at Staples graveyard in the vicinity of Harris chapel to improve the grounds and renew and decorate the graves of their honored dead. This has been a burying ground for more than fifty years. In the absence of a well ordered allotment of blocks and spaces this cemetery, like many others, is lacking in arrangement. Yet it holds the mortal remains of a number of the oldest settlers and among them some of the presentative people of this section of the State. George Francis and wife, Pendleton Rector and wife, Frederick Happle and wife, Thomas L. Stanfield, Thomas D. James, Thomas L. Lilly, Joseph Lancaster and others of the pioneer settlers and some of their children and many of their neighbors are buried here. It is pleasant to note that their descendants who fondly cherish the memory of a noble ancestry are easily among the leading citizens of this locality. Prof. Cook’s school gave holiday and even down to the babies were there. While strong hands felled dead trees and removed small undergrowth, the deft hands of ladies with artistic skill placed blooming flowers on mounds made sacred, it may be by a thousand memories of the past. How appropriate that luxuriant white and pink roses should adorn the grave of beautiful Miss Pitman, who died so suddenly in Galveston and was buried here on that freezing day in January last. And not hers only, but others as well. At noon a spread and sumptuous dinner was enjoyed by all present.”
The Houston Daily Post (Houston, Tex.) Vol XVth Year, No. 32, Ed. 1, Saturday, May 6, 1899. — at Happle Cemetery.

05/03/2026

Thomas G. Merritt is buried in the Happle Cemetery.

05/03/2026

The Happle Cemetery this morning.

04/21/2026

04/09/2026

Staples Methodist Church Marker Dedication Planned
By Mrs. L. P. Howard
Sunday morning, Sept. 20, at 10:40 o’clock the Staples Methodist Church building marker will be dedicated.
A 4 foot red stone belfry has been erected on the church lawn. The two large pillars support the old church bell bought when the first one room frame building was erected with a tall belfry in the center _____ of the church several feet higher than the building. The church was built during the pastorate of Rev W. H. H. Biggs and Rev. Sterling Fisher. Dist. Supt. Of San Marcos Dist. Rev. C. W. Perkins, pastor, organized the church in 1902.
A grill between the two pillars has on it: “Methodist Church.”
San Marcos Record, September 4, 1953, page 15.

04/03/2026

03/21/2026

1948 Staples Softball Champions

03/15/2026

The Cone family members who are buried in the Staples Cemetery were from Wilson County and this was their family cemetery there. Although William M. Cone's headstone is in the family plot at Staples, his remains are in the Cone Cemetery in Wilson County.

Are you familiar with Old Cone Cemetery — Wilson County? Our notes show: Originally located on the west bank of the Clear Fork-Archie Clark Place. Near FM 1681. SHARE 🧐 what you know about this cemetery or TAG 👉🏻🙋🏻‍♂️ someone who might know in the comments!

🪦 Cemeteries hold a certain fascination for many people, as they are places where the living can honor and remember those who have passed away. These final resting places serve as reminders of our own mortality while also providing a connection to our ancestors and loved ones who have gone before us. By visiting cemeteries, we can pay our respects, reflect on the lives of those who came before us, and find solace in the knowledge that their memories live on through us.

The Wilson County Historical Society website contains a list of cemeteries in Wilson County at https://www.wilsoncountyhistory.org/cemeteries

03/08/2026

Pleamon Smith Sowell on behalf of the estate of his father, Asa Jarmon Lee Sowell, leased one hundred acres to Jim Crayton on August 16, 1887. The land was sixteen miles north of Seguin in the James T. Murphy Survey on Cottonwood Creek. The term of the lease was six years.
Crayton was to make certain improvements in exchange for the use and enjoyment of the land. He was to fence the property with posts and wire. Crayton was to put at least thirty acres into cultivation. He was to build a dwelling of pine lumber. It was to have two rooms and a gallery covered in shingles. Crayton was to build corn cribs of logs covered with planks and as many outhouses as he desired. At the end of the lease, Crayton was to surrender the property with the improvements in good order to the estate.
The red arrow points to the Sowell land outlined in turquoise. The blue arow points to Cottonwood Creek. This is north of the intersection of Dreibrodt Road and FM 1339.