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Take
FM 1246 west for two and a half miles and then turn south on CR 648
for 1.8 miles.
History in
a Pecan Shell
Taken from the
cemetery marker:
“Settlement in this area along Steele Creek began in the 1850s. Known
by several names over the years - including Steele Creek, Tidwell,
Shady Grove and Pleasant Grove - the community centered around a Methodist
church named for the Rev. David J. Tidwell (1802-1883) who settled
here with his family in 1853. A post office was established in 1856
with David Tidwell as postmaster, and soon the settlement included
two general stores, the church, homes and a school. Although burials
in the community cemetery probably began earlier, the oldest documented
grave here is that of Nancy Hogan, wife of J. M. Hogan, who died in
February 1858. The cemetery includes about 175 marked graves, and
an unknown number of unmarked ones. Inscriptions on the gravestones
provide a testament to the sometimes harsh living conditions in frontier
Texas and document a large number of infant and child deaths, as well
as apparent epidemics that took the lives of several members of individual
families. Located on land formerly owned by the Chisum family, the
four-acre graveyard was deeded to the citizens living along Steele
Creek by Mary Chisum, widow of J. R Chisum, in 1886. Initially known
as Steele Creek Cemetery, it eventually took on the Tidwell name.
Records indicate that burials ceased to occur here in the 1930s, and
the site was largely abandoned until members of an association of
Tidwell community descendants was formed in the 1980s to assume maintenance
of the site.”
(2001)
According to the Handbook of Texas:
"The creek was probably named for local settler and San Jacinto
veteran Alfonso
Steele." |
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Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and vintage/historic photos, please contact
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