Remembering Don Patton

Donald Lee Patton

 October 17, 1927 ~ November 18, 2009

Electra, TX

I first met Don in the summer of 2007 and at first meeting was hooked.  He was just one of the "Ole' Cowboys" that you only hear about in stories.  This folks was the "REAL DEAL". 

I had the priveledge of spending my Friday afternoons most days having coffee with Don and the other "Ole Cowboys" at the local coffee shop in Electra.... "The Whistle Stop".  I never got tired of hearing the stories they told.  Each time they told their stories, the fish got bigger, the horses got wilder, the fall's got harder and the laughs more enjoyable.

Don Patton was a hard working man and was not afraid of a little dirt or a little challenge. 

Anyone you talked to that had the privledge of crossing paths with Don will tell you that he devoted his time to teaching boys to be men and men to be "Cowboys".  He was at every football game, every basketball game and every event possible for his grandkids.  He cheered them on to victory each time, regardless of the score.

You only hear about "Real Cowboy's" in the movies or in the story books, but this guys and gals was the "REAL DEAL"

He could out rope any man, and ride any horse. 

Don believed in God and his family.

We miss you Don!

"COWBOY UP"

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: Glasglow

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)

Beaver Creek Cemetary, Wichita County, TX

FORGOTTEN CEMETERIES 

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

Please write me for permission to reuse

Christmas Morning.....

Ronnie and I were on our way back from feeding horses when we passed the Old Iowa Park Cemetary located on HWY 25 in Electra.  He happened to look over and this is what we saw.  WOW!  Now this is not something you see every day, even in a little country town... but there they were.

West Texas had a huge snow storm late Wednesday night early Thursday and into the latter part of Thursday.  Since we got so much snow, the ground is covered in most parts and the animals are searching for food. 

So these guys decided to get out somehow and go searching for Christmas Dinner.

So next time you happen to be driving around, dont be suprised if you see some visitors at your local cemetary.  I would have never believed it if I had not seen it for my own eyes and I live here.

Merry Christmas Ya'll

 Graveyard Rabbit of Wichita County, Texas

Sarah .......

Inscription on this marker is hard to make out. When we went, I was not properly prepared for this sort of finding. I will be going back with some cleaning tools to see if I can save the information on this headstone. This particular stone moved me and made me realize just what we do and the reason why. The elements are destroying this marker and those persons after us who may want to locate Sarah wont find her if something is not done. I know nothing about Sarah at this time, but hope to locate a family memember that is unaware of this issue and maybe we can do something...

Circuit Riders of Beaver Creek, Wichita County, TX

Front side of Memorial Monument

(Dedicated by: Vera F. Backus)

Vernon Marble and Granite Works

Inscription Reads:

In the memory of the early Circuit Riders and early settlers, who established the homes-the camp meeting grounds-the church-the school and the cemetary of Beaver Creek Community. This monument is affectionately and gratefully dedicated

Their Courage was reflected in the glow of their campfires, their faith and industy tamed an untamed land. Their love and devotion to almighty GOD pointed us Heavenward on that upward path, that leads to the Great Divide.

Backside of the Monument list the Riders:

J.W. Campbell S. O. Gafford F.N. Crutchfield

D. J. Powell A.B. Trimble G.C. Davis

J.T. Hosmer L.G. Rogers F.L McGeehee

A.P Smith T.J. Minnis E.H Cannon

Casey C.G. Williams G.R. Slagle

The following information was provided to me by Edward Powell in conjunction with the History of D.J. Powell.

Circuit Riding preachers Important to Pioneers, by Lita Huggins Watson


"In the days when travel was difficult in this sparsely settled area, some of the religious ministry was conducted by circuit-rider preachers. Since congregations were very small, they could not afford a resident pastor and shared a travelling minister with many other fledgling churches.
As the preacher travelled, he would preach on Sundays and perform marriages and baptize converts. Traveling by horseback, he stayed in the homes of members of the congregation. Usually he received a small stipend from settlements along his circuit, or regular path.

In 1960 a monument was dedicated to the circuit-riding ministers who served the Beaver Creek area in the southwest part of Wichita County.

Source, 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.