Mary A. Sutherland
Mary A. Sutherland
Born January 9, 1850
Died August 26, 1930
Our Mother who loved
us more than life. We hope
to so live that we may
meet her in Heaven
footstone M. A. S.
Photo Credit: Rosa G. Gonzales
- Corpus Christi History by Murphy Givens
Corpus Christi Caller Times (June 4, 1998)
- Corpus Christi History by Murphy Givens
Corpus Christi Caller Times (December 22, 1999). Available on microfilm.
- Corpus Christi History by Murphy Givens
Corpus Christi Caller Times (June 14, 2000). Available on microfilm.
- Corpus Christi History by Murphy Givens
Corpus Christi Caller Times (May 23, 2001). Available on microfilm.
- Corpus Christi History by Murphy Givens
Corpus Christi Caller Times (December 27, 2002).
- Corpus Christi History by Murphy Givens
Corpus Christi Caller Times (July 18, 2003).
- Corpus Christi History by Murphy Givens
Corpus Christi Caller Times (August 2, 2006).
- Corpus Christi History by Murphy Givens
Corpus Christi Caller Times (November 21, 2007).
- Article or reference in The Handbook of Texas online
- Photograph
- Obituary
Death Claims Local Pioneer Early Tuesday
Mrs. Mary A. Sutherland Has Been Resident of Corpus Christi
for Fifty-Four Years
80 Years OldFuneral Services To Be Held at 10 o'clock Wednesday Morning
Mrs. Mary A. Sutherland, 80, one of Corpus Christi's pioneers, died at her home at 1301 Water street at an early hour Tuesday morning.
Mrs. Sutherland had been in ill health for some time, but only during the past few weeks had her illness become serious.
Mrs. Sutherland was born in Selma, Ala., in January, 1850, and was the daughter of Mr. And Mrs. McCrae of that city. She was married Hugh R. Sutherland, Sr., who died here in 1908, in Alabama, in May, 1866. She and Mr. Sutherland first moved to Texas in 1869 and came to Corpus Christi in May, 1876.
When Mrs. Sutherland and her husband first came to Corpus Christi in 1876, this was but a small town, containing between 3,500 and 4,000 inhabitants, and Mrs. Sutherland had seen Corpus Christi grow from a small gulf coast fishing community to one of the leading cities of South Texas, having resided here for 54 years. The home where she and her late husband first resided when they came to Corpus Christi was on Water street, immediately east of where the Vaky apartments now stand.
Two children were born to Mr. And Mrs. Sutherland before they came to Corpus Christi. One of these was Miss Gussie Sutherland, who later became Mrs. Gussie Cronkey. She was drowned in San Antonio in 1895, and that left the other child, Hugh R. Sutherland, who resides in Corpus Christi. Mr. Sutherland is one of Corpus Christi's prominent attorneys, is president of the Nueces County Bar association, and chairman of the Nueces county democratic executive committee.
Funeral services will be held at 10 o'clock this morning for Mrs. Mary A. Sutherland, 80, pioneer resident of Corpus Christi and author of "The Story of Corpus Christi," Mrs. Sutherland, mother of H. R. Sutherland, died early Tuesday morning at her home, 1301 Water street.
Mrs. Sutherland's life since she came here in 1876 has been one of consistent industry and leadership in civic affairs of the city. She has been prominently identified with many organizations for the promotion of public welfare during her 54 years residence here.
She was a member of the Methodist church, having joined in her girlhood, and was active in the work of the Corpus Christi chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. "The Story of Corpus Christi," written and published in 1916 was for the benefit of this organization, and has become the only available history of the city.
Mrs. Sutherland was instrumental in the construction of two monuments, one at the foot of the bluff below the Plaza hotel, which reads, "In Memory of the Soldiers of the Confederacy, Erected by the Corpus Christi Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy," and the other in the Bayview cemetery with the inscription, "Erected to the memory of the Confederate dead interred in this and adjacent cemeteries."
Thirty-five years ago the Bayview Cemetery association was organized for the purpose of beautifying the plot of ground where the cemetery now stands. Mrs. Sutherland was chosen chairman of the executive committee; the late Mrs. Jessie Griffin was named president, and Mrs. Jessie Clark was treasurer. A number of other persons were members of the organization and interested in the work. Later the cemetery in Hillcrest was planned. The initial meeting of the association was held at the home of Mrs. Merriman on chaparral street.
Mrs. Sutherland took a strong interest in the fire department of the small city and was a volunteer for years. She was of great assistance in the annual celebration of the department and aided in the suppers given on these occasions.
There was no opera house or auditorium of any type in Corpus Christi 25 years ago. Mrs. Sutherland, Mrs. G. R. Scott and Mrs. W. B. Hopkins led a move to construct a pavilion on Water street. The drive was successful and the pavilion was used for years in the presentation of shows and as a gathering place for the people.
Another interest of the woman was the old baseball team, the Corpus Christi Browns, one of the most widely known teams ever known in South Texas. Thirty years ago Mrs. Sutherland was known over the entire section for her enthusiasm in the game.
The following excerpt regarding Mrs. Sutherland's life was taken from the book, "The Story of Corpus Christi," and was written by Eli T. Merriman for the book:
"There is no woman in corpus Christi better and more favorably known than is Mrs. Mary A. Sutherland, mother of H. R. Sutherland, one of the city's most prominent attorneys.
"A southerner by birth, a native of the state of Alabama, she has been and is today a champion of Southern rights, and though in sympathy with "the lost cause" and a lover of the Sons and Daughters of the Confederacy, she is a patriotic and a staunch friend of the Red, White and Blue, and ever ready to raise her voice in defense of Old Glory and the Land of Sweet Liberty.
"Her residence of nearly forty years entitles her to being classed as an old settler of the Bluff City, to which she is so much attached.
"No woman has taken more interest in the city's progress and development than has Mrs. Sutherland, she having been among the leaders in a number of things for the good of the town, such as assisting in the beautification of the bluff, cemetery work, pavilion work and other improvements.
"Being a woman of great executive ability, sound reasoning and perseverance much for the city's good in all of her undertakings, as well as securing for herself and her children some valuable property. She, like others, has had her trials and her burdens to bear, but with it all, she is still engaged in good work, ready to assist her people in all the interest of the town.
"A staunch member of the Methodist church, a good Christian woman, ever willing to assist those in distress and need.
"Mrs. Sutherland is a pleasing talker and is always glad to greet her friends at her home in Starr street, where she resides with her two accomplished granddaughters, Misses Annie and Hugh Cronkey."
Source: Corpus Christi Caller, 1930
Transcription by: Rosa G. Gonzales - Excerpt from The Story of Corpus Christi, by Mary A. Sutherland
Mary A. Sutherland
by Eli T. MerrimanThere is not woman in Corpus Christi better and more favorably known that is Mrs. Mary A. Sutherland, mother of H. R. Sutherland, one of the city's prominent attorneys.
A Southerner by birth, a native of the State of Alabama, she has been and is today a champion of Southern rights, and though in sympathy with the "lost cause" and a lover of the Sons and Daughters of he Confederacy, she is patriotic and a staunch friend of the Red, White and Blue, and every ready to raise her voice in defense of Old Glory, and the Land of Sweet Liberty.
Mrs. Sutherland came to Corpus Christi in 1876 with her husband, H. R. Sutherland, Sr., now passed to the "Great Beyond," and their two children, H. R. Jr., and Gussie, afterwards Mrs. Cronkey, now deceased.
Her residence of nearly forty years entitles her to being classed as an old settler of the Bluff City, to which she is so much attached.
No woman has taken more interest in the city's progress and development than has Mrs. Sutherland, she having been among the leaders in numbers of things for the good of the town, such as assisting in the beautification of the bluff, cemetery work, pavilion work and other improvements. Being a woman of great executive ability, sound reasoning and perseverance, Mrs. Sutherland has accomplished much for the city's good in all her undertakings, as well as securing for herself and her children some valuable property. She, like others, has had her trials and burdens to bear, but with it all she is still engaged in good work, ready to assist her people in all the interests of the town.
A staunch member of the Methodist Church, a good Christian woman, ever willing to assist those in distress and need.
Mrs. Sutherland is a pleasing talker, and is always glad to greet her friends at her home on Starr Street, where she resides with her two accomplished granddaughters, Misses Annie and Hugh Cronkey.
Source: Sutherland, Mary A. Edited by Frank B. Harrison. The Story of Corpus Christi. Corpus Christi: Corpus Christi Chapter, Daughters of the Confederacy, 1916.
Research by: Msgr. Michael A. Howell
Transcription by: Geraldine D. McGloin, Nueces County Historical Commission
