As the sun began to fade...
The church bell rang out clear.
Grandma and the others slowly disappeared...
Compiled by Sandra Stone, President and Patricia Paschall Venner, Trustee of the Long Creek Cemetery Association
In the Long Creek Cemetery lie the remains of descendants of the Republic of Texas. Captain Alexander W. Webb came to Texas from Illinois in 1840. He claimed a tract of land within the three mile strip of Mercer colony that was crossed by Long Creek about two miles west of the East Fork of the Trinity River. Captain Alexander W. Webb was the "first citizen" of what would become known as the Long Creek Community. Benjamin Crownover, Captain Webb's father-in-law, would also settle with his family in the three mile strip of Mercer Colony. Some of the pioneer families to come to the Long Creek settlement and receive land grants were: Bennett, Coats, Crownover and Lawrence.1
On October 2, 1855, Leona Crownover Caldwell, wife of Solomon W. Caldwell, was the first laid to rest under a very old pecan tree (still living) which was located in the field of her father, Benjamin Crownover. Family history tells us that on what would be Leona's last visit to her parents, Benjamin and Nancy Crownover, she was sick with TB and ask her father if he would bury her in the field under the pecan tree. Leona passed away shortly after and the family burial place later expanded to become what is known as Long Creek Cemetery. 2
Prior to 1879, current records show eight marked graves. (However, there are some unmarked graves and graves that are marked with bois d'arc stumps.) Those eight are: Rachel Berry, 1863; Benjamin Crownover, 1864; Nancy Robbin Crownover, 1865; Charlene Summers, 1866; Infant Summers, 1874; Elizabeth Toliver, 1874; Bennie Browder, 1875 and twins Mattie and Maggie Summers, 1876. 3 All eight headstones are still standing.
On July 2, 1879, Alexander W. Webb and William H. Caldwell deeded to the citizens of the Long Creek Neighborhood a 2-acre parcel from the Webb-Crownover Survey to be used as a public graveyard. 4 Four additional parcels of land would be given from the Crownover, Blevins, Reedy and Earl Paschall families to extend the boundaries of Long Creek Cemetery. 5 A.W. Webb's grant would be the "magnet" of the community. He gave a portion of his land, adjoining the Cemetery, to be used for the community's first school and its first church (Methodist denomination.) The first Methodist preacher was Nelson Keen, followed by Weaks and Walker Douglas. 6 Later, the church was called Union Church, and would serve all denominations. The Long Creek Baptist Church is now located at the same site which adjoins the Cemetery. Descendants of early settlers were teachers for the school. Those teachers were Earle Paschall, John Vineyard, Ollie Vineyard, Cuba Vineyard Pashcall and Bob Vineyard.7 Several who are interred at Long Creek Cemetery.
Beneath the 150 year old trees in Long Creek Cemetery lie the resting places for Veterans going back to Benjamin Crownover who served in the War of 1812. His marker reads, "Private, Mounted Volunteers, Illinois Militia, War of 1812." Another headstone is inscribed "Winifred E. Hayden, PFC 4 Infantry World War II, September 2, 1923-January 4, 1945." PFC Hayden was one of two local men killed in World War II. He was killed in action in Belgium. 8 The U.S. Army Reserve Center in Mesquite was dedicated to the two men, Winifred E. Hayden and John L. Hanby, and bears the name, "Hanby-Hayden Memorial." In April, 1995, an impressive service was conducted by the Sons of Confederate Veterans to mark the installation of a monument at the grave of George Washington Lewis (1835-1924).9 Approximately 49 days after turning 21 A.W. Webb enlisted in the Black Hawk War in Greene County, Illinois.10 His service would end on August 16, 1832. Once again, Webb was mustered into service on September 19, 1841 by Col. Montague and under the order of Brig. General E. H. Tarrant. Webb would serve as a Captain over 42 men engaged to build Bird?s Fort. Veterans from the Civil War, World War I and World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam are also interred there. Sadly, on September 17, 2004, Spc. Chad Drake serving in the Army and fighting the war on terrorism in Operation Enduring Freedom in Iraq was laid to rest at Long Creek. In 1936, John Will Allen, a member of the Dallas Police Department was buried at Long Creek. Other headstones note membership in fraternal organizations such as the Woodmen of the World, Masonic and Eastern Star. Lucinda Webb and A. W. Webb were members of the "Pioneers of Dallas County" formed July 13, 1875.11
On August 16, 1929, tragedy struck when thirteen members of the McHenry and Badgett families were killed while traveling home from visiting the Dallas Zoo when the eastbound Sunshine Special, Texas & Pacific line passenger train crashed into a truck occupied by fourteen members of the two families. The model T they were traveling in reached the railroad crossing just three and a half miles east of Mesquite, Texas at a point where their view of the tracks were obstructed in both directions. All but one perished that day; five members of the McHenry family and eight members of the Badgett family. The ages of those who died ranged from three to fifty two years of age. All were from the Long Creek community and are buried there.12 Only one large headstone stands for each family, and inscribed on the two stones are the names of those who died that day. Newspaper accounts would describe how the entire community came together to help dig the graves for the burial of these two families.
In 1933, there was a sad coincidence in the deaths of Eugene Pascahall and Nell Paschall. They were the children of identical twins, Will and Ed Paschall. Both died on a Monday night, just one week apart and both deaths were the result of an accident. They were laid to rest near each other in the Long Creek Cemetery. 13
On October 30, 1936, Emmett Dunn was killed instantly when a rifle accidently discharged hitting the nineteen year old in the chest. 14 Today Emmett, along with many others, lie in an unmarked grave on the grounds of Long Creek Cemetery.
In 1985, little Christy Meeks' story would make the local and national news when she was abducted and murdered by a stranger.15 Christy's family chose the quiet slumber of Long Creek Cemetery for their little girl to rest.
Long Creek's "first citizen" and the benefactor of the first parcel of land to be used as a public cemetery died April 8, 1891. The inscription on his stone reads: "An old Texas Pioneer."
Because the Long Creek community was such a small area, few things associated with family names existed. There were three roads bearing the names of those buried at Long Creek Cemetery. Those were: Berry, Paschall, and Polly.
A full blood Cherokee Indian, Mary Elizabeth Francis Barthalamew, was buried in Long Creek in the winter of 1916. Also buried there is Ellen Hill who is full blook Cherokee. Other families are buried in Long Creek who were of Texas Indian and Cherokee descent.
Stones in Long Creek Cemetery bear the names of the families who came later in the 1800's. Some of those were: Duckworth, Dunn, Lewis, Paschall, Polley, Reedy, Browder, Stiager and Vineyard. Interred there are respected and prominent people who served as ministers, school teachers, doctors, a mayor, and other community leaders. Bill Biggs who was the Pastor at Long Creek Baptist Church and his wife were laid to rest just inside the east gates next to the Church.
In 1910, the Long Creek Cemetery Association was formed by a group of ladies in the community to take care of the upkeep of Long Creek Cemetery. Mrs. Jeff Caldwell was its first President and is now buried at the cemetery she helped care for. Stories are told about the Association's selling of box lunches and homemade ice cream to raise money to care for the grounds. The Association is still active, and with the same purpose. To make the cemetery more secure, a six foot fence and gates were installed in 2003. To some extent, the Association maintains the appearance of the cemetery by some of the families tending the graves of their loved ones, but the ongoing maintenance requires the Association to hire a landscaping contractor to mow and maintain the grounds. An extensive clean up project of the entire grounds began in May, 2004 with the trimming of trees, shrubs and the entire fence lines. Another of the Association's projects for 2004 was to install weather protected information boxes near the gate entrances to hold letters of information to those who might visit. For further contact, important phone numbers are also displayed on signs placed near the gates. Patriotic projects have been held in 2004. A flag display to celebrate the 4th of July , Independence Day, Labor Day and to commemorate the Anniversary of September 11th were also made. The Association's major source of funding is from lots sales, gate fees and donations from surviving descendants. Interestingly, the current Executive Board of the Association consists of members who are all descendants of some of the original settlers of Long Creek: Duckworth, Dunn, Lewis, Paschall and Webb.
On October 2, 2004, the Long Creek Cemetery Association will hold a dedication in remembrance of our first burial, Leona Crownover Caldwell, with the placing of a burial marker on the 149th anniversary of her death. Since Leona's death her burial place had been marked by a bois d'arc stump at the head and foot. The original markers will remain as a testament to the history of Long Creek.
On May 18, 2005, the Texas Historical Commission signed the designation affidavit designating Long Creek Cemetery as a Texas Historical Cemetery. And on November 18, 2006, family and friends will gather once more to honor their loved ones of the past with the Dedication of its Texas Historical Cemetery Marker on the grounds of Long Creek.
Bibliography
A Stake in the Prairie, Mesquite, TX, Dallas, Taylor Publishing Company, 1984.
Long Creek Cemetery Association, Minutes and others unpublished records, 1910-2004.
Dallas County Deeds and Records, 1879-2004.
Survey for Roscoe Berry, Robert H. West, County Surveyor, January 21, 1959.
Webb Family History, compiled by Carol Webb.
Polley Family History, complied by George E. Gragsone, Jr.
Mesquite Historical and Genealogical Society Quarterly, September, 1969, Mesquite, TX.
