The Powell–Tull Cemetery

Chilton, Falls Co., Cemeteries of   TX

Submitted by Theresa Carhart

Cemeteries of Texas Coordinator: Dolores I. Bishop

 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 Tull 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 Newton Steed met to discuss cleaning, fencing and maintaining the cemetery. There was also a discussion about organizing a Cemetery 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; Beatrice Johnson as Treasurer. The following were elected Directors: Sam Tull, Hollis Vasser, and 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 of 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 Junch, 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.

 Directions to the Powell-Tull Cemetery

 Located east of Chilton, Falls County, Texas about five miles. From Chilton proceed eastbound on SH #7 and turn onto CR #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 miles 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.