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Thursday, February 25, 2010

FOLLOW FRIDAY: The Graveyard Rabbit Student!

Elyse Doerflinger
Lomita, California

I first ran across Elyse last year when I first started doing "Where I Come From".  I was shocked to find someone so young doing their own genealogy blog and now she is a Graveyard Rabbit.  Elyse does a fantastic job keeping us informed and up to date with information.  She also does a wonderful job preserving the history of those before us for future generations.

Lets face it, most college students do good to get to class on time with their homework.  She in turn also is the writter of two blogs and is working on her genealogy tree to make sure it is sources and all information is correct.  That's amazing!

Her most recent post is on "Edward F. Harney" buried in King County, Washington.  Hop on over and visit Elyse and say Hi!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: Hall


Old Electra Cemetary

Tombstone Tuesday: Rev. D.J. Powell

Rev. D. J. Powell
Born:  8 Dec., 1829 in Warren Co., Tennessee
Died:  8 March 1903 in Wichita Co., Texas
Buried:  Beaver Creek Cemetary, Wichita Co., Texas

Rev. D.J. Powell is important in the founding of our early frontier here in Wichita County as he is known for his services as one of the "Circuit Riders" in this area. 

In early 1880, Rev. D.J Powell (Darius John Powell) and his wife Sarah Caroline Wooten loaded up their nine children in their covered wagon and left their home in Viola, Warren Co., Tennessee.  Their trip ended in 1883 when they ended up in North Texas.  They would homestead several hundred acers of land located in southwest Texas, also known as Beaver Creek.

As the community of Beaver Creek and the surrounding area began to grow, Rev. D.J. Powell opened his home and created a Sunday School, which lead to the opening of the Methodist Church in the area.  Often times he would ride by horseback to serve others when called upon as well. 

On Rev. D.J. Powells grave there is a bronze marker which denotes his service as a "Circut Rider" for the Methodist Church.

What is a "Circuit Rider" you might ask? 

In the early settlement of the area, the religious ministry would travel by way of horseback to preform Sunday Worship, Marriages and Baptisms since the area was sparsley populated at the time and travel for many families often times proved to be difficult.  While the "Circuit Riders" travelled, the often stayed with members of the congregation and occassionaly received a small stipend from the settlements they visited along the circuit, or regular path they travelled.  In 1960 a monument was dedicated to the "Circuit Riders" who served the families of Beaver Creek.  The momument is located at the front enterance of the cemetary and serves as a reminder of those who helped found the area and is also a historical marker.

The children of Rev. D.J and Sarah Powell are:
Children of Darius Powell and Sarah Wooten are:


1.  William Jefferson Powell, born 16 Jun 1855 in Manchester, Coffee Co., TN; died 17 Apr 1942 in Kiowa Co., OK
2.  Jesse Alexander Powell, born 20 Apr 1858 in Coffee Co., TN; died 10 Mar 1937 in Dundee, Archer Co., TX.
3.  Josephine Martha Powell, born 13 May 1859 in Coffee Co., TN; died 23 Nov 1938 in Mission, Hidalgo Co., TX.
4.  Mary Frances Powell, born 1862 in Coffee Co., TN; died 19 Nov 1945 in Washita Co., Oklahoma.
5.  Nancy E Powell, born 17 Aug 1864 in Coffee Co., TN; died 31 Aug 1899 in Wichita Co., TX.
6.  John Whitten Powell, born 31 Oct 1867 in Coffee Co., TN; died 21 Mar 1936 in Wayland, Stephens Co., Texas.
7.  Sarah Caroline Powell, born 08 Feb 1869 in Coffee Co., TN; died 19 Feb 1958 in Iowa Park, Wichita Co., TX.
8.  Ada Wooten Powell, born 01 Jan 1871 in Coffee Co., TN; died 01 Jun 1952 in Los Angeles Co., CA.
9.  Rev. Edward Darius Powell, born 07 Sep 1874 in Manchester, Coffee Co., TN; died 29 Jun 1957 in Borger, Hutchinson Co., TX.
10.  Ora Almeta Powell, born 16 Oct 1876 in Coffee Co., TN; died 24 Jan 1937 in Wichita Falls, Wichita Co., TX.

"Honoring those who served to create that which we love and call home today"

Thank you to:
"Edward Powell for providing me with the information to this story"

Sources for this story:
a.  Iowa Park Leader, Vol. 20, Thursday, October 20, 1988- Happy Birthday Iowa Park 1888-1988 pub 1995 by Genealogy and Historical Society page 175 and 222. 

b.  Circuit Riding preachers Important to Pioneers, by Lita Huggins Watson

(all rights reserved by Robin Inge aka Wolfhuntress2002)

Thursday, February 18, 2010

From the News Room at "NAMES IN STONE"


Names in Stone has just released a new "toy" for all us Graveyard Seekers, Genealogist, Family History Searchers and anyone involved with the search for "our past ancestors".  Stop by Names in Stone and visit their news room and check out what all the buzz is about.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Tombstone Tuesday: Bula E. Cowden

BULA E. COWDEN
daughter of:  W.P & M. J Cowden
Born:  5 June 1891
Died 16 June 1891

He was born to be an angel;

Secure in our Father's care;
And his dear little feet now patter along;
The beautiful streets up there.
Unknown Author

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Beaver Creek Cemetary, Wichita County, TX

Beaver Creek Cemetary
Established 1884
GPS Coordinates for the cemetary are Latitude: 33.90360, and Longtitude -98.92190.


Beaver Creek Cemetary is located off of HWY 25 and FM 2326 about 1.4 miles. The cemetary is on the left hand side and is in very poor condition. There are markers that have pieces missing and only partial names and information can be made out. As seen in the photos some markers are hidden under trees and the growth around them obstructs visitor views.

As I explore deeper into the cemetary and locate markers like the one above, I began to wonder if this marker was placed here under a small tree and over the years it grew and this has become the outcome. 
I don't  know who the caretaker if any is of this cemetary.
However, I plan on doing some research to find out.
There are two markers like this that the headstone is hidden in a tree where you cant see the information on the front. There are many that have brush grown up around them and you have to basically stumble over them to know they are there.  The grass is knee high and some of the markers have tumbled over and broken.   Many of the headstones that have fallen have been placed in a pile near the entrance of the cemetary.
In order for me to take this photo, I had to climb through a Cedar Tree. 

The only reason I even found the marker was because I spotted a Graveyard caretaker hopping across in front of me and I followed him into the tree to get a picture. I'd like to believe he was helping us locate hidden markers that I otherwise wouldn't have found.





The cemtary was created in 1880 by a group of Pioneer Circuit Riders which settled here. There is a monument at the front of the cemetary on the left side as you come in that describes there exsistance and on the back side list there names.




All photos and the stories are the property of the Graveyard Rabbit of Wichita County Texas. 
©Graveyard Rabbits of Wichita County Texas