Many War of 1812 Soldiers Are Buried in Plano's Cemeteries
Brenda Kellow
November 27, 2011
Henry Cook was an officer in the Illinois Militia during the War of 1812. He was also one of the pioneers of Collin County. Cook is one of fifteen veterans of the War of 1812 buried in the county that have been located so far. There may be others. His remains are in the Baccus Cemetery located on the northwest corner of Bishop Road and Legacy Drive near the Dallas North Tollway.
Lieutenant Cook was born in Fincastle, Botetourt County, Virginia on May 28, 1775. He came to Collin County as a member of the Peters Colony in 1845. His property was located on the Shawnee Trail where his cabin was a landmark on that route. He first used the property as a family cemetery in 1847 when his son Daniel died at the age of 16. His daughter Rachel Cook Baccus deeded the burial ground to her heirs in 1878. Sometime later Rachel donated the adjoining land for construction of the Baccus Christian Church Sanctuary. The Baccus Cemetery was named in Rachel’s honor about 1915. The cemetery is still in use but the church was disbanded in the 1930s.
After Henry Cook died on June 10, 1862 his remains were placed in the Baccus Cemetery. He and his much younger wife Sarah Kincaid (1793-1889) are the parents of John Cook (1804-1894), Jacob Cook (1817-1901), Rachel Cook Baccus (1830-1912), Daniel (1831-1847) and Sarah Jane Cook Dudley (1839-1928).
A bronze marker was placed near his grave on November 19th. A formal dedication of the marker and grave is planned for a future date. The cemetery is already marked with a Texas Historical Marker.
Below are some of the other Collin County Pioneers who fought in the War of 1812.
Samuel A. Bogart, veteran of the War of 1812, fought in the Battle of New Orleans and a member of the Texas Legislature from 1847-1859. He died in 1861 and may be buried in an unmarked grave in Stiff Chapel Cemetery.
James Whitis Bullock came to Texas in 1824 and was a veteran of the Battle of New Orleans. Bullock is buried in the Nancy Bullock Cemetery, also believed to be the Millwood Cemetery near Millwood. Unfortunately, the records and stones of the cemetery and Bullock family have not survived.
Henry Cook was also a Lieutenant in the Illinois militia. After his death in 1862 he was buried in the Baccus Cemetery.
Thomas Finley was an Ensign in the Illinois Militia in Colonel Judy’s second regiment. He was buried in the Young Cemetery near Frisco after his death in 1859. His grave is marked with a bronze marker.
George Fitzhugh, a Private in the Kentucky Militia, died in 1863 and is buried in the Fitzhugh Cemetery in Forest Grove south of Fairview.
John Fitzhugh was a Private in Captain Whitsitt’s company of Kentucky Militia where he fought in the Battle of River Thames. John Fitzhugh died in 1878 and is buried in the Fitzhugh Cemetery in Forest Grove, south of Fairview. His grave is marked with a bronze marker.
Others who fought in the War of 1812 are: Harrison Jamison is buried in the Ware Cemetery near Prosper; Michael Mallow is buried in the Orenduff Cemetery south of Melissa; Ziza Moore’s remains are in a marked grave in the the Moore Family Cemetery near Chambersville; Louis Needham died after 1838. His burial place is unknown; Thomas Rattan died in 1854 and is buried in the Throckmorton Cemetery located between Anna and Melisa. His daughter married Governor Throckmorton of McKinney. When George Washington Smith died circa 1875, his remains reside in the Blue Ridge Cemetery. Henry Wetsel died in 1880 he was buried with a bronze marker in Pecan Grove Cemetery in McKinney; Benjamin White died in 1869 and is buried in the Alexander Cemetery; and Moses Sparks, a Peters Colony settler, died in the county in1858, but his remains are unknown.
Many of our pioneers were military and each should be honored as such. Participate in the upcoming dedication of Henry Cook’s grave. The dedication is scheduled for some time in the future. Watch for the date.
Brenda Kellow has a bachelor's degree in history, teaches, and lectures on genealogy. Before retiring to publish her family’s histories in 2007, Brenda held certification as a Certified Genealogist and as a Certified Genealogical Instructor. Send reunion announcements, books to review, and genealogy queries to: [email protected].