Here stands a tribute to bravery a poignant reminder of frontier life. The John Williams and Howell Haggett Plaque commemorates two Texas Rangers who paid the ultimate price for their service. This marker stands in remembrance of their sacrifice.
The John Williams and Howell Haggett Plaque is located in Hornsby Cemetery. This cemetery began with their graves. John Williams and Howell Haggett were Rangers. They were sent to Hornsby’s during the Texas Revolution in 1836. Their mission was to protect Hornsby’s fort. Tragically both John Williams and Howell Haggett were scalped by Indians. This happened while they worked in the cornfields. They were buried where they fell.
The John Williams and Howell Haggett Plaque is a Texas Centennial marker. It was erected in 1936. The plaque not only honors John Williams and Howell Haggett. It also remembers another Ranger William Atkinson. He was killed by Indians in 1845. Daniel Hornsby also died that day. The John Williams and Howell Haggett Plaque shows how long Indian resistance lasted. It persisted against Anglo settlement.
The inscription on the John Williams and Howell Haggett Plaque reads “To John Williams and Howell Haggett. They were killed by Indians in May 1836.” It states they were protecting the families of the Hornsby’s settlement. They were returning from the Runaway Scrape.
The John Williams and Howell Haggett Plaque also states “To William Atkinson. Pioneer Ranger buried near Daniel Hornsby. Both were killed by Indians June 7 1845.”
Notice the crosses around the John Williams and Howell Haggett Plaque. They designate the three Rangers Williams Haggett and Atkinson. Hornsby Cemetery may have the most Texas Ranger burials per capita. Entering the cemetery one sees many Texas Ranger crosses.
The John Williams and Howell Haggett Plaque is not the only marker here. There is another Texas Centennial marker. It is dedicated to Josephus Hornsby and his wife Eliza Ann Lane. Josephus Hornsby was the son of Reuben Hornsby. He settled here in 1832. He served as a Bastrop Ranger in 1837. He fought in the Flores Fight in 1839. He also fought at the Battle of Plum Creek in 1840.
Hornsby Cemetery itself is a Texas Historical Cemetery. It marks the location of a settlement long gone.
Consider the lives of John Williams and Howell Haggett as you stand here. They represent the countless individuals who shaped Texas. Their names are etched in stone here on the John Williams and Howell Haggett Plaque. But their stories live on in the heart of Texas. Their bravery helped build Texas. Remember them as you explore this historic ground.