THE POWELL-TULL CEMETERY

Chilton, Falls County, Texas

 

 

 

                         

Researched and compiled by Clayton Hicks

1996

 

The cemetery was first called POWELL Cemetery  because the land was donated by the POWELL family and John POWELL, who died March 28, 1889, was the first person to be buried there.    Over the next fifty-four years about twenty-two other persons were buried there.   

 

Charles Roy TULL, son of William Abraham TULL and Georgia Etta Ferguson TULL, died in 1896 and was the first TULL to be buried in this cemetery.    William Abraham TULL, died September 4, 1943, was the last person to be buried there.

 

For the next forty years the cemetery was neglected.    Weeds, briars, shrubs and trees began to invade the cemetery.    In the early 1980’s, Sam TULL, George Edwin TULL, Audry and Wesley McKEE, Durwood VASSER, James L. TULL, Hollie TULL, Bertie BAXLEY and Netom STEED met to discuss cleaning, fencing and maintaining the cemetery.    There was also a discussion about organizing a Cemtery Association and calling it the POWELL-TULL Cemetery Association.    Sam TULL later met with attorney Robert CARTER in Marlin, Falls County, Texas to discuss legal requirements to form a Cemetery Association.    Legal notices were posted in the newspapers.    On June 19, 1983, at the TULL-HICKS reunion, the POWELL-TULL Cemetery Association was organized.    Hubert McKEE was elected President; Netom STEED as Vice-President; and Beatrice JOHNSON as Treasurer.    The following were elected Directors:  Sam TULL, Hollis VASSER, George Edwin TULL.    Hollie TULL donated $100 to open a bank account.    Beatrice JOHNSON also donated $1,000 from the sale of her book of family records.    Money has been added to this fund from family and friends through the years.    A meeting was called for May 17, 1987 for the purpose of electing Durwood VASSER as Vice-President to replace Netom STEED who has resigned.    Mary Ann COHN was also elected Treasurer.    At the June 18, 1989 meeting, Hubert McKEE, Sam TULL, Hollis VASSER, George Edwin TULL and Hollie TULL met to discuss the type and cost of fence to be put around the cemetery with a gate at the entrance.

 

A group representing the POWELL-TULL families has worked several years to clean the cemetery and put it back in an honorable condition.    In February, 1996, a group of family members, under the direction of Hollis VASSER, put up a five wire barbed wire fence around the entire cemetery and a metal gate at the entrance.    Work was also begun clearing all the underbrush.    They met again in March and April to continue working and cleaning the cemetery.    Some damaged headstones have also been repaired.    Every effort will be made to maintain the cemetery in the best manner possible using volunteer help.

 

The research on this cemetery was done by Clayton HICKS on February 9, 1996 with help of his wife Selma CRAWFORD HICKS, Hubert McKEE, Roy JUCH, Isabell TULL WELCH and Mary Nell HELFER.

 

A numerical index showing the grave locations is included as a part of this project in order to assist in locating the graves of those buried there.    The #1 grave identification begins with Thomas Marion TULL.

 

There were twenty-three graves located and all but one was identified.    Any misleading information of unmarked graves is unintentional.    Their identity and location was determined by word of mouth and family history.    There may be other unmarked graves that were not found or identified.

 

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Volunteers have worked hard to maintain the Powell-Tull Cemetery in a respectful and dignified manner but funds are always needed to continue this effort.    Please send your tax-deductible donations to:

 

                                   Powell-Tull Cemetery Association

                                   Terry L. TULL, Treasurer

3962 Hwy 14 North

Mexia, TX 76667

 

Funds in any amount are very much appreciated!                 

DIRECTIONS TO THE POWELL-TULL CEMETERY

 

Located East of Chilton, Falls County, Texas about five miles.    From Chilton proceed Eastbound on State Highway #7 and turn onto County Road #419 (also Post Oak Blvd).    Go .3 miles to the first road to the left (unmarked in 1996), which is the road just before the C. W. Whitaker place.    Go North .1 mile  to the cemetery entrance.    The cemetery proper is located about fifty yards West down into the post oak grove of trees and is surrounded by a barbed wire fence and has a metal gate.

 

INVENTORY OF GRAVES

&

GRAVE LOCATION NUMBER

 

#1   TULL, Thomas Marion                                                   #12        POWELL, Nancy C.

        Born - 11 Nov 1836                                                                       Born - 9 Oct 1832

        Died -  4 Mar 1921                                                                        Died -  28 Jul 1901

        Civil War Marker                                                                          Inscription - Wife of John POWELL

                                                                                                                 As a wife devoted

#2   TULL, Amy CAPLE                                                                       As a mother affectionate

        Born - 10 Aug 1835                                                                       As a friend ever kind & true

        Died -  30 Jan 1919

        Wife of T. M. TULL                                                         #13        POWELL, John

                                                                                                                 Born - 8 Dec 1826

#3   TULL, William Abraham                                                               Died - 28 Mar 1889

        Born - 1 Jul 1854                                                                                   Inscription - In memory of husband

        Died - 4 Sep 1943                                                                                         of N. C. POWELL.   Blessed are the

        Oldest son of T. M. TULL                                                             pure in heart for they shall see God.

        And Amy CAPLE TULL                                                                 Made by C. G. Matthews, Marlin, TX

 

#4   TULL, Georgia Etta (FERGUSON)                               #14        SUGGS, W. M.

        Born - 21 Dec 1854                                                                       Born - 11 Mar 1908

        Died -  4 Apr 1925                                                                         aged 48 years

                                                                                                                 Inscription - Called Higher. Prepare

#5   GREER, Sophia A. (TULL)                                                                          to meet me in Heaven.

        Aged 51 years  11 months  (2 Dec 1998)                                   

        Inscription – She is at the beautiful                               #15        BUSBY, Mulisia

        Gate waiting and watching for us                                                  Born – 9 Jan 1850

        Wife of Eliza Greer                                                                       Died – 15 Sep 1902

                                                                                                                 Inscription – Wife of J. M. BUSBY         

#6   SYLVESTER, Hattie Roberter                                                      Not lost.    Blessed Thought

        Born – 26 Dec 1890                                                                      But Gone Before

        Died -  17 May 1894                                                                     Where We Shall Meet

        Dau. Of C.T. & E. V.                                                                      To Part No More

 

#7   Baby Dau. Of John Oliver SIMS                                    #16        SUGGS, Martha

        Died – 4 Jul 1931                                                                                         Died – 30 Mar 1901

        Informant: Mary N. SIMS HELFER                                                           Aged 80 years

                                                                                                                 Inscription – Wife of Eli SUGGS

#8   Child of Dorothy GREEN & Flem SIMS                                     Not Lost But Gone Before

        Died – 27 Sep 1931                         

        Informant – Mary N. SIMS HELFER                            #17        SUGGS, Elick A.

                                                                                                                 Born – 8 Jul 1864

#9   SIMS, Dorothy GREEN                                                                 Died – 21 Dec 1889

        Died – 27 Sep1931                                                                        Inscription at top – We Love Him

        Informant – Mary N. SIMS HELFER

 

#10 No name                                                                           #18        TAYLOR, Earnest Lee

        Unmarked rock for a headstone                                                    Born – 25 Apr 1897

                                                                                                                 Died – 27 Sep 1898

#11 TULL, Mattie L                                                                              Son of P.T. & D. A. Taylor

        Born – 14 Aug 1882

        Died – 19 Nov 1901                                                       #19        TAYLOR, Wm. Ennis

        Inscription – Wife of M. L. TULL                                               Born – 21 Feb 1898

                                                                                                                 Died – can not read date

                                                                                                                 Son of P. T. & D. A. TAYLOR

                                                                                                                 Inscription – Asleep in Jesus blessed sleep

                                                                                                                 From which none ever more to weep

 

                                                                                                  #20        BOLTON, William

                                                                                                                 Born – Sep 1855

                                                                                                                 Died – 1 Oct 1898

                                                                                                                 Inscription – In memory of

                                                                                                                 William Bolton

                                                                                                                 Husband of Louisa Bolton          

 

                                                                                                  #21        McREA, A. R.

                                                                                                                 Cement marker with no writing

                                                                                                                 Informant- Isabell TULL            

 

                                                                                                  #22        McREA, (Mrs. A. R.)

                                                                                                                 Informant- Isabell TULL

 

                                                                                                  #23        TULL, Charlie Roy

                                                                                                                 Born – 27 Feb 1896

                                                                                                                 Died – Aug 1896

                                                                                                                 Headstone with initials “CRT”

                                                                                                                 Son of William Abraham TULL &

                                                                                                                 Georgia Etta FERGUSON TULL