CRISWELL COMMUNITY SCHOOL

      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.

      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 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.

      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.

      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.

      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.

      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.

      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.

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