The following pages will be set up as family information is submitted. Please be aware that the information is given to the best of one's knowledge and you are encouraged to help with any corrections you feel are needed. You can provide information by emailing it to longcreekcemetery@sbcglobal.net Also, make sure you check the Picture pages for new pictures.
Biography on pages 551-552 in Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County, Texas (Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1892) Transcribed on 26 Mar 2005 by Robert Bennett
SOLOMON W. CALDWELL is another one of the venerable pioneers of Texas. He came here in 1841, when he was twenty--three years of age, working his way by driving a team for a man who was traveling to this State. Here he found employment as a farm hand and worked in this way until he was able to -buy a piece of land. He had many difficulties to meet and overcome, as did all the early settlers. When he first camped on the little creek where he now lives, Mr. Caldwell had to go four miles for water. On one occasion, while lie was gone for water and his wife was getting supper, a panther approached, attracted by the odor of the meat she was cooking. She threw it the pan of meat, and when it had eaten the morsel it went away satisfied. Bears were also troublesome and frequently made raids on their hogs. Worse to be dreaded than the wild animals were the savage Indians.
Mr. Caldwell was born in the Territory of Illinois in 1818, on the 26th day of March. His father, Matthew Caldwell, was born in Union district, South Carolina, in 1783. He was first married in South Carolina and moved to Kentucky when that State was a Territory. There he reared a family of six children: Curtis; John; Isaac; Christian, wife of John Couch; Sallie, wife of Thomas Cowsert; and Pollie, wife of a Mr. Williams. Of the children by his father's first wife Mr. Caldwell knows nothing, having lost trace of them years ago. After the death of his wife in Kentucky, Matthew Caldwell was married, in that State, to Nancy White, who was born in North Carolina in 1785, their marriage occurring in 1803. About 1817 they moved to Illinois.
By his second wife he had five children, namely: Meron, wife of John Eads; Matthew H.; George H.; Solomon W.; and Hugh C. The subject of our sketch is the fourth-born in this family and is the only survivor. His father died in 1826, at the age of sixty-three years, and his mother in 1837, aged fifty- three.
When he came to Texas Mr. Caldwell first located in Red River county. In 1842 he was there married to Miss Leona Crownover, who was born June 3, 1820. After twelve years of wedded life she died, in 1854, aged thirty- four years, leaving no children.
Mr. Caldwell had taken a headright of 320 acres. He sold that and moved to Dallas County in 1850. Here he pre-empted 160 acres and bought ninety-nine acres more, making in all 259 acres, his present farm. September 5, 1855, he, Caldwell was united in marriage with Miss Martha Ann Coats who was born January 1, 1837. Samuel Coats, her father, was a native of South Carolina, born in 1802, and her- mother, nee Nancy Jones, was born in 1800. Mr. Coats moved to Texas in 1844 and settled in Dallas county. His death occurred in 1874, at the age of seventy-two years, and his wife died in 1872, aged seventy-two. They were the parents of eleven children, viz.: John J.; Thomas D.; Fannie, wife of J. P. Lawrence; Elizabeth, wife of E. C. Browder; James A.; Nancy; Martha A. and Marion A. (twins); John W.; Sarah M.. wife of Bennett Manning; Pernicia, wife of Ballis Johnson. Of this numerous family only three are living; Mrs. Caldwell, Mrs. Lawrence and Marion A. Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell have had six children, namely: Nancy E., wife of W. H. Coyle; Samuel B., who married Virginia Singletery; James A., who married Mary May; John D., who married Sallie McNeal; Mary J., deceased; and Mattie, wife of William White. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
Mr. Caldwell served in the Mexican war, and is now a Mexican pensioner, drawing $8 per month.
ADDITIONAL NOTES; Soloman Caldwell’s first wife, Elizabeth Leona Crownover was the first person buried at what became Long Creek Cemetery, Sunnyvale, Texas.
Mr. Caldwell was a member of Scyene Lodge #295, Scyene, Dallas County, Texas.
Addition information on his family may be found in the book, ‘The Families of Long Creek Cemetery, Sunnyvale, Dallas County, Texas” compiled by Robert Bennett or online at Families of Long Creek, Dallas County, Texas
A loving special friend of the Long Creek Community and Long Creek Cemetery passes away. Guy Lewis loved to share his memories of Long Creek and was kind enough to set for hours and tell you all he knew of the ol days and the families he knew. Guy will be missed and we send our love and prayers to Rita and his family. (although Guy will not be buried at Long Creek Cemetery he will always remain a part of the Long Creek family and we honor him today).
Guy Elmo Lewis, Jr.
(1922-2007)
Guy Elmo Lewis, Jr. (Guy) of Sunnyvale, Texas, born January 30, 1922, passed away on September 14, 2007. Son of Guy Elmo Lewis, Sr. and Emma Virginia Lewis.
Guy served as Property Manager for the Veterans Administration in the Dallas area for over 44 years, beginning in 1957. His management territory included Dallas, Collin, Hunt, and Rockwall counties.
Guy is survived by his wife of 60 years, Rita Lewis and son Tom Lewis and his wife Cindy Lewis of Frisco; son, Steve Lewis and his wife Pam Lewis of Houston. Guy is also survived by grandchildren Kimberly Lewis, Matthew Lewis, Robert Lewis, Sean Lewis, Cassidy Schulz, and Mandy Schulz.
Guy was a fourth generation Lewis that was born in Dallas County. He was a graduate of Mesquite High School and earned his bachelors degree in Business from SMU. He was a second lieutenant serving in the United States Air Force during World War II, and was a pilot flying B-24?s.
Guy and Rita started the Guy Lewis Real Estate and Insurance Company in 1953. Rita was Guy?s partner in life and business for the 60 years of their marriage, basically 24 hours a day. They were a unique couple that worked together as a terrific team. Guy was recently recognized by the Greater Dallas Association of Realtors as being one of the ten realtors in the Dallas area to hold a Texas real estate brokers license for over 50 years. Guy retired from the active business community just a few years ago at the age of 80.
Guy ran for a seat in the Texas State Legislature during 1968, and was a dedicated Precinct Chairman in Dallas County for many years. Guy was a strong supporter and active within The Masonic Lodge, The Scottish Rite, and The Shriners of North America his entire adult life.
Guy loved to travel with his wife and family and truly enjoyed going to the Wiley Opry every Saturday night to experience emerging singing talent. He developed many treasured friendships at the Opry. Guy and Rita had a long-standing summer tradition of visiting their grandsons at Boy Scout summer camps throughout Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.
Guy was a proud member of the First Baptist Church Sunnyvale and a member of the Omega Sunday school class. His love for his wife, family, country and his Savior Jesus Christ was unsurpassed.
Burial took place at Grove Hill Memorial Park at 3920 Samuell Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75228.
The Caldwells: info provided by Robert Bennett November 16, 2004.
Brazoria Oakie Bennett daughter of James Madison and Maranda C. Dye Bennett was born 23 Feb 1864. Her unusual name was given to her because she was born while the family camped near the Brazos River, as they were returning from a trip to Parker County, Texas. She married Jasper Jeff Robins Caldwell (b. 06 Mar 1861 in Dallas County, Texas) on 03 Apr 1883 in Dallas County, Texas.
Oakieand Jeff attended the Tripp Baptist church. They were cotton farmersand apparently quite successful. At on point they owned over 400 acresbut lost most of it during the depression after 1920, when cottonprices fell disastrously.
"Oakie" was a midwife and was something of the community nurse. She never became sick herself. She was so successful in bringing people through typhoid fever epidemics that even the doctor would come by to get her to help. Shenursed many people through the 1918 flu epidemic. She also served atthe first President of the Long Creek Cemetery Association.
Shewas an excellent seamstress, made her own soap, gardened and canned alltheir vegetables, had a hen house with about 50 hens, raised andslaughtered calves and hogs, and got money for Christmas by sellinghalf a dozen turkeys each year.
Jeff and Oakie had four children; Sara Elizabeth, Robert Benjamin, William Carson and Rachel May Caldwell. Inaddition to these they took in at various times numerous children, whoat one for one reason or another were in need of care and mothering, atotal of up to 25 in all. These included; Oakies younger twin sisters,Minnie and Maggie Bennett; grandniece Evelyn Wilson (daughter ofJonathan Buckalew and Daily Violet Bennett Wilson), nieces EssieFlorence and Rosa Jacobs (daughters of Samuel Benjamin and FlorenceVitula Bennett Jacobs); and grandchildren; Albert Lawrence, RichardEdwin, Walter, Gerta and Stella Mae Gray (children of Alfred King andSara Elizabeth Caldwell Gray).
Jeff died on 15 Apr 1923 in Dallas County, Texas and Oakie died 07 Dec 1926 in Mesquite, Dallas County, Texas. Both are buried with many other family members at Long Creek Cemetery. Their marker is inscribed with "They Lived for Others"
I have not verified this information in total. I regret any omissions or mistakes asthey are not intentional on my part. Please contact me with anyadditions or corrections or for source information. I would very muchlike to know more about this amazing couple!
Bennett-Stone Information submitted by Sandra S. Stone
Texas Mesquiter, July 14, 1922
"Negroes Held Up Two Men Near Mesquite"
B.F.Bennett and Sam Stone of Dallas, who were returning to Dallas fromMesquite, were held up and robbed by two negro bandits, just west oftown, about 10 o'clock Sunday night. The holdup occurred at thebridge acrose the ravine, just south of the railroad lake, about threefourths of a mile west of Mesquite.
Theraod at that point, on both sides of the bridge is very rough and carshave to slow up. According to the report made by Bennett andStone, as they slowed up for the bridge, a negro leaped onto therunning board of the car on both sides, each of them with a pistol inhis hand and demanded their money and valuables. Mr. Stone was robbedof $8.00 in cash and some valuable papers, while Bennett lost $15.00 incurrency and a gold watch.
After committing the robbery, the negroes, keeping their pistols on the them, ordered them to drive on.
Lewis, George Washington- Information submitted by Virginia Chase
Thursday, April 6, 1995 - Mesquite News
<>MEMORIAL SERVICE PLANNED FORVETERAN
A memorial service for George Washington Lewis(1835-1925), an early settler, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Long CreekCemetery in Sunnyvale
The service will be conducted by the Sons of TheConfederate Veterans to mark the installation of a monument at the grave. Commander Eugene E. Hauptman of the 11thTexas Cavalry will be in charge of the ceremony.
Lewis died at the Confederate Home in Ardmore, Okla.Sept. 17, 1925, where his son, the Rev. George W. Lewis, a Methodist minister,was the home administrator.
“The Texas Mesquiter”, the predecessor of the MesquiteNews, recorded that his body was shipped by train to Mesquite and accepted by his son, Jim Lewis. No one knows why his grave has remained unmarked. His wife,Sarah Jane (1841-1891) and daughter, Cynthia (1880-1887) are buried in the same plot and they both have tombstones.
Several descendants had become concerned about the absence of a marker, but Guy E. Lewis, a great-great nephew, of Dallas, andCharles D. Lewis, a grandson, of Las Cruces, N.M. combined their efforts to secure an official marker. The installation was completed recently.
George W. Lewis was born in Wilson County, Tenn., toCarroll and Hannah Adams Lewis. He was the second child and second son in a family of 11 - four sons and sevendaughters. After his Civil War Service and the death of his father and mother, he migrated to Dallas County in 1887and lived near his brother, Sampson K. Lewis, in the Tripp-Long Creek community.
Early in the 1900s, he moved his family to the Oklahoma Territory. He was named a delegate to the Constitutional Convention after statehood in 1907 and was elected a memberof the 1st, 2nd and 3rd State Legislatures. Lewis was a farmer and “read the law” according to his family. He was a Democrat and a member of the Methodist Church.
The graveside ceremonies are open to the public and and any descendants of George W. Lewis and Sampson K. Lewis are encouraged to attend. A reception will be held following the ceremonies at the Long Creek Baptist Church.
Taking part in the program will be Guy E. Lewis, the Rev.Gene Lewis, Dorothy Lee Lewis Ivey and Virginia Lewis Chase.
