Dwyer Cemetery, Luna County, New Mexico
Submitted by Terry Humble
and Anthony Romero, November 12. 2000.
The Dwyer Cemetery is located in the extreme northern
part of Luna County, New Mexico, near Taylor Mountain. It
can be reached by taking State Highway 61 east from US
Highway 180 eight miles and then turning south on the Taylor
Mountain Road and traveling one mile. It's exact location
is 107 degrees 54' 21" West longitude, 32 degrees 35' 10" North latitude
and is easily seen on the East side of Taylor Mountain
Road. There are ten burials with legible names, nine of
them with headstones and one with a metal marker on a fence
enclosing the grave. The cemetery encompasses an area of
approximately 100 feet by 200 feet and has signs of numerous
unmarked graves. The following list shows the names and
inscriptions of those that are marked.
DAVID E. ALLISON - Died March 9, 1889 - Age 26 Yrs 10 Mos
16 Days.
Note: The Allisons were a prominent Lower Mimbres
family. There was even a post office named Allison, New
Mexico, from 1893 until 1901.
JOHN C. BOONE - Born In Louisiana June 25, 1821 - Died at
Dwyer, N. M. Feb. 13, 1900.
SARAH M. BOONE - Born In Louisiana Aug. 28, 1869 - Died at
Dwyer N. M. Dec. 10, 1903.
Note: The Boones were a prominent ranching family
near
Dwyer. Sarah was Mrs. James Boone, survived by her husband
and five children. John C. Boon was probably her
father-in-law.
THOMAS E. BROWN - Our Father - Died June 19, 1905 - Aged 47
Yrs.
Note: Another prominent rancher of the Lower
Mimbres.
Tom Brown Canyon, which runs into the Mimbres River, six
miles above Dwyer, was probably named after him. He was
born near Waco, TX and came to New Mexico in 1881.
ANNIE DONAHOO - Wife of M. B. Donahoo - Died Oct. 7, 1896 -
Age 31 Yrs 2 Mo 1 Da.
PETE FOSTER - 1842 -- 1902.
MARY LOU FOWLER - In memory of - Dau. of W. N. and L. M. -
Died March 13, 1890 - Age 3 Mos. - beautiful, lovely, she
was but given a - ? - to earth to blossom in heaven.
CHARLES P. GAMBLE - Born March 30th 1857 - Died May 8th 1891
- It was hard indeed to part with thee - But Christ's strong
hand supported him.
IRWIN MOORE - In Loving Memory of - Born June 8, 1842 - Died
July 23, 1899.
Note: Irvin Moore ranched on Gavilan Canyon, four
miles above Dwyer. He was arrested in 1886 and sent to
Texas for two 1870 murders. He was judged not guilty by
reason of self-defense. He was shot and killed July 23,
1889 by a disgruntled suitor of one of his daughters. The
headstone date is evidently wrong by ten years.
ESTELLE VAUGHN - Born in Benton Co. Ark. Sept. 27, 1871 -
Died in Grant Co. N. M. Jan. 19, 1898.
Note: Allie Estelle Vaughn was the son of J. L.
Vaughn, Lower Mimbres rancher and politician.