Ovilla in Ellis County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Ovilla Cemetery

Photographed by Jackson Frye

1. Ovilla Cemetery Marker

Inscription.
The Ovilla community was founded by members of the Peters Colony in 1844. Benjamin and Erixna Caroline McFarlin were among the early members of the thriving farm community. On November 17, 1886, they deeded four acres to the new Ovilla Methodist Episcopal Church, South, for a church building and a burial ground. Though there may have been earlier burials, the earliest marked grave is that of Rebecca Summers McElroy, the wife of Tom C. McElroy, who died in 1884. Among the more than 440 people buried here are early settlers, at least seven veterans of the Civil War, and veterans of World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Ovilla Cemetery remains a chronicle of the pioneers of Ovilla community.

Erected 2000 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 11782.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1844.

Location. 32° 31.458′ N, 96° 53.021′ W. Marker is in Ovilla, Texas, in Ellis County. It is at the intersection of Red Oak Creek Drive and Clinton Lane, on the right when traveling south on Red Oak Creek Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1403 Red Oak Creek Drive, Red Oak TX 75154, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region

and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

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are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: First Baptist Church of Ovilla (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ovilla (approx. 0.2 miles away); Heritage Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Shiloh Cumberland Presbyterian Church (approx. 0.6 miles away); Shiloh Cemetery (approx. 0.8 miles away); Ellis County (approx. 4.3 miles away); Parsons' Cavalry (approx. 4.3 miles away); Red Oak Cemetery (approx. 4½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ovilla.

Ovilla Cemetery and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J Frye, May 3, 2020

2. Ovilla Cemetery and Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on April 14, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 1, 2021, by J Frye of Fort Worth, Texas. This page has been viewed 538 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 1, 2021, by J Frye of Fort Worth, Texas. 2. submitted on May 26, 2023, by J Frye of Fort Worth, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.