Near Novice in Coleman County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Atoka Cemetery

Photographed by Duane Hall, October 18, 2014

1. Atoka Cemetery Marker

Inscription. Settlement of this area began in the 1850s with the establishment of Camp Colorado, a United States Cavalry outpost. At the outbreak of the Civil War the camp was occupied by Texas state troops and Texas Ranger units. The existence of the camp spurred permanent settlement in the area, and many families moved here from the southern United States after the Civil War. The settlers established farms and ranches, and the Atoka community included a general store operated by D.A. Parker and S.N. Edenborough, a combination church/school building, and a cotton gin built by D.A. Parker.
This cemetery was established in 1880 on land deeded by C.E. Bush. Among the early pioneers buried here are the Rev. Hugh Martin Childress, Sr., a former Texas Ranger and Republic of Texas soldier; his son, Elisha Childress, who served as the first Coleman County Sheriff; veterans of the Civil War; and several workers killed in an explosion that occurred during the construction of a Santa Fe Railroad bridge across Jim Ned Creek in 1910. The cemetery, which is maintained by an assoication of descendants of those buried here, is one of the few physical reminders of the Atoka community and its pioneer settlers.

To Commemorate the Life and Work of Jack Shields

Erected 1996 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 232.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.

Location. 31° 59.637′ N, 99° 40.366′ W. Marker is near Novice, Texas, in Coleman County. It is on County Road 441 0.1 miles west of County Road 490, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Novice TX 79538, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Big Country.

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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 Comanchería,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Old Townsite of Content (approx. 4.6 miles away); Counts Cemetery (approx. 5.3 miles away); Ranger Campsite (approx. 5½ miles away); Ranger Peak (approx. 5½ miles away); Cotton Production in Runnels County (approx. 5½ miles away); Crews (approx. 7½ miles away); Silver Valley Cemetery (approx. 7.9 miles away); Lawn Atlas ICBM Launch Site (Dyess S-6) (approx. 10.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Novice.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Alec Simmons (was approx. 4.8 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . .
1. Atoka Cemetery Official Website. (Submitted on October 24, 2014.)
2. Rev. Hugh M. Childress, Sr. From the findagrave.com website. Includes a biography and images. (Submitted on
Photographed by Duane Hall, October 18, 2014

2. Atoka Cemetery Entrance
October 24, 2014.)

Additional commentary.
1. Hugh M. Childress Historic Site
The burial place of Hugh Martin Childress, Sr. is Historic Site No. 427 of the United Methodist Church. The site is marked by a UMC Plaque.

— Submitted October 24, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.

View to West Along County Road 441 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, October 18, 2014

3. View to West Along County Road 441

View to East Along County Road 441 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, October 18, 2014

4. View to East Along County Road 441

Atoka Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, October 18, 2014

5. Atoka Cemetery

View to northeast from the
southwest corner of the cemetery

Photographed by Duane Hall, October 18, 2014

6. Atoka Cemetery

View to southwest from the
northeast corner of the cemetery

Childress Family Plot image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, October 18, 2014

7. Childress Family Plot

From left to right, graves of Hugh Martin Childress, Sr. (1800-1886), Susannah Childress (1809-1882), Elisa Childress (1837-1884), and Mary Childress (1832-1912).

Burial Place of Hugh Martin Childress, Sr. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, October 18, 2014

8. Burial Place of Hugh Martin Childress, Sr.

Historic Site No. 427 of the United Methodist Church

United Methodist Church Historic Site Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, October 18, 2014

9. United Methodist Church Historic Site Plaque

Memorializing the burial place of
Hugh Martin Childress, Sr.

East Section of Atoka Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, October 18, 2014

10. East Section of Atoka Cemetery

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 24, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 778 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on October 24, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.