Babyhead Cemetery the UNTOLD story By Traci Moon

In the 1800’s the Native American Indians, flourished plenty in the desert Texas Hill country, when the land still echoed with the wisdom of their people. This was a time of great turmoil for the Native Americans, as settlers unfortunately blatantly encroached upon their lands, bringing with them their own dominant ways and customs.

Legend tells of a tragic event in the late-1800s, when settlers trespassed upon Native American's land. As a warning to the settlers, they snatched a small child from them.

In an act of ritualistic warning, the 4-year was sacrificed and her head placed upon a stake at the foot of the Native American's sacred mountain as a warning to those who dared to barge in, upon their land.

It is said that the settlers were enraged, and with their vengeful grief, took over the Native's land, driving them out. In spite, they proudly named “their” town settlement, Baby Head. The town was established in 1850. They built homes, developed businesses, erected a post office, a school house, and courthouse.

Today, there in its place is nothing more than a faded ghost town which was absorbed into the county of Llano Texas and all that remains of Baby Head is a solemn cemetery, where the memories of Native Americans are nothing more than a savage tale, based on the perspective of self-entitled settlers, which are etched into weathered gravestones.

Among them lies the resting place of 32-month-old Jodie May McNeely, who departed this world 139 years ago or 51,232 days ago as of the date of the Solar Eclipse April 8, 2024.

Although it was not baby Jodie who lost her life and had her head on a stake, she is the one that visitors come to pay homage to. Jodie’s grave represents the event that took place to people who hear the tale told told in the perspective of the dominant settlers who drove out the natives despite the loss of one of their own.

People from all walks of life stop by, leaving behind tokens of remembrance for the innocent unnamed 4-year-old child who was sacrificed as a warning to the encroaching settlers that did not heed warning.

Dolls, doll heads, toys, coins, flowers and sweets are offered in tribute to her memory, a solemn reminder of the loss suffered due to the settlers forcing Native Americans off their land.

The truth of these legends will never be known, lost to the sands of time like footprints in the wind. Yet still, the spirits of the Native American ancestors linger in the whispers of the breeze, their voices calling out to those who would listen, reminding us of the bond between the land and its people.

Their memories can never be broken.
Written by Traci Moon —The Luxury Witch