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)