CRISWELL CEMETERY, FALLS COUNTY
Prepared by Bill Fox, September 2000
Marcus Thomas Durham came to Texas from Alabama after the Civil War, settling between Marlin and Riesel in 1867. Two years later he purchased property and a home in a community in northeastern Falls county that would later become known as Criswell.1
The Criswell community, comprised of several hundred residents, was a thriving farming community during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.
On June 4, 1886, M. T. Durham deeded 10 acres of his property out of the Jonas Brewton survey (abstract #95, Vol. W, page 318, Falls Co., TX) to the community of Criswell for the sum of one dollar. The property was to be used for the purposes of a school, church and burial grounds.2
It appears that at the time the property was donated, 21 marked graves existed in what would become Criswell Cemetery. The oldest marked grave is that of C. M. Criswell who died February 27, 1873. The second oldest marked grave is that of M. T. Durham’s father, Thomas Durham born March 1811 died March 1873.3
Not long after the property was deeded to the community, a building was built on the property east of the cemetery. This building served as a school during the week and as a church on the weekend. The original building burned in the late 1920’s and was replaced approximately one year later with the building that is presently on the property. This building continued to be used as a school and a church until the early 1950’s when the school consolidated with the Ben Hur School district.
Early in 1950, three members of the church: Fred Broxton, John Erskine, and W. D. Stone formed the Criswell Cemetery Association. On February 17, 1950, in an effort to save the building, they purchased the school house with money collected from the community. Prior to the formation of the association the cemetery had been poorly maintained. The three trustees of the Criswell Cemetery Association held their first meeting on March 18, 1951 and made plans for an Annual Homecoming, to raise money for the upkeep of the cemetery. The first Homecoming was held on June 17, 1951. Approximately 450 people attended, and a collection was taken for the maintenance of the cemetery.4 Homecomings have been held annually on the 2nd Sunday in June since that time and a maintenance fund was started to maintain the cemetery and schoolhouse/church building. In 1958 and 1959, in an effort to keep livestock out of the cemetery, a 337 ft. by 365 ft. area of the northwest corner of the property was fenced.5 This fenced area encompassed the original cemetery and provided room for expansion.
At the present time the cemetery has three hundred and nine marked graves and an unknown number of unmarked graves. The cemetery has averaged approximately two to three burials a year since its start, with the most being nine in 1970.6
The Criswell Community has long since faded away and the cemetery and school house is the only remaining evidence of what was once a thriving community.
1 Falls County Historical Commission. Families of Falls County, Texas (Austin: Eakin, 1987), p. 125.
2 Falls County, Texas Deed Records, abstract #95, Vol. W, page 318.
3 Marked graves in Cemetery, also, Fox, Bill. Criswell Cemetery, Falls County, Texas Survey 1999 - 2000. Copy available at Nancy Nail Memorial Library, Mart, Texas.
4 Criswell Cemetery Association. Minutes 1951 - 2000.
5 Criswell Cemetery Association. Minutes 1951 - 2000.
6 Fox, Bill. Criswell Cemetery, Falls County, Texas Survey 1999 - 2000. Copy available at Nancy Nail Memorial Library, Mart, Texas.
The Criswell Cemetery is located on Falls County Road 159 in northeast Falls County. From the community of Otto, take FM 1240 south 3.8 miles to County Road 159. Turn left on 159, go 2.1 miles to the T in the road, turn left and go 1.2 miles, the cemetery is on the left. It is well maintained, easily located and a peaceful place to visit.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Criswell Cemetery Association. Minutes 1951 - 2000.
Falls County Deed Records, abstract #95, Vol. W, page 318, Falls County, Texas.
Falls County Historical Commission. Families of Falls County, Texas (Austin: Eakin, 1987) p. 125
Fox, Bill. Criswell Cemetery, Falls County, Texas Survey 1999 - 2000. Copy available at Nancy Nail Memorial Library, Mart, Texas.
Prepared by Bill Fox, September 2000
Marcus Thomas Durham came to Texas from Alabama after the Civil War, settling between Marlin and Riesel in 1867. Two years later he purchased property and a home in a community in northeastern Falls county that would later become known as Criswell.1
The Criswell community, comprised of several hundred residents, was a thriving farming community during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.
On June 4, 1886, M. T. Durham deeded 10 acres of his property out of the Jonas Brewton survey (abstract #95, Vol. W, page 318, Falls Co., TX) to the community of Criswell for the sum of one dollar. The property was to be used for the purposes of a school, church and burial grounds.2
It appears that at the time the property was donated, 21 marked graves existed in what would become Criswell Cemetery. The oldest marked grave is that of C. M. Criswell who died February 27, 1873. The second oldest marked grave is that of M. T. Durham’s father, Thomas Durham born March 1811 died March 1873.3
Not long after the property was deeded to the community, a building was built on the property east of the cemetery. This building served as a school during the week and as a church on the weekend. The original building burned in the late 1920’s and was replaced approximately one year later with the building that is presently on the property. This building continued to be used as a school and a church until the early 1950’s when the school consolidated with the Ben Hur School district.
Early in 1950, three members of the church: Fred Broxton, John Erskine, and W. D. Stone formed the Criswell Cemetery Association. On February 17, 1950, in an effort to save the building, they purchased the school house with money collected from the community. Prior to the formation of the association the cemetery had been poorly maintained. The three trustees of the Criswell Cemetery Association held their first meeting on March 18, 1951 and made plans for an Annual Homecoming, to raise money for the upkeep of the cemetery. The first Homecoming was held on June 17, 1951. Approximately 450 people attended, and a collection was taken for the maintenance of the cemetery.4 Homecomings have been held annually on the 2nd Sunday in June since that time and a maintenance fund was started to maintain the cemetery and schoolhouse/church building. In 1958 and 1959, in an effort to keep livestock out of the cemetery, a 337 ft. by 365 ft. area of the northwest corner of the property was fenced.5 This fenced area encompassed the original cemetery and provided room for expansion.
At the present time the cemetery has three hundred and nine marked graves and an unknown number of unmarked graves. The cemetery has averaged approximately two to three burials a year since its start, with the most being nine in 1970.6
The Criswell Community has long since faded away and the cemetery and school house is the only remaining evidence of what was once a thriving community.
1 Falls County Historical Commission. Families of Falls County, Texas (Austin: Eakin, 1987), p. 125.
2 Falls County, Texas Deed Records, abstract #95, Vol. W, page 318.
3 Marked graves in Cemetery, also, Fox, Bill. Criswell Cemetery, Falls County, Texas Survey 1999 - 2000. Copy available at Nancy Nail Memorial Library, Mart, Texas.
4 Criswell Cemetery Association. Minutes 1951 - 2000.
5 Criswell Cemetery Association. Minutes 1951 - 2000.
6 Fox, Bill. Criswell Cemetery, Falls County, Texas Survey 1999 - 2000. Copy available at Nancy Nail Memorial Library, Mart, Texas.
The Criswell Cemetery is located on Falls County Road 159 in northeast Falls County. From the community of Otto, take FM 1240 south 3.8 miles to County Road 159. Turn left on 159, go 2.1 miles to the T in the road, turn left and go 1.2 miles, the cemetery is on the left. It is well maintained, easily located and a peaceful place to visit.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Criswell Cemetery Association. Minutes 1951 - 2000.
Falls County Deed Records, abstract #95, Vol. W, page 318, Falls County, Texas.
Falls County Historical Commission. Families of Falls County, Texas (Austin: Eakin, 1987) p. 125
Fox, Bill. Criswell Cemetery, Falls County, Texas Survey 1999 - 2000. Copy available at Nancy Nail Memorial Library, Mart, Texas.