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History in
a Pecan Shell
Originally known
as Pine Springs, the origin of the name remains something of
a mystery. The town established a church, school, and cemetery in
the mid 1850s but until a post office opened in 1889, things were
pretty quiet. The name Pine Springs had been taken by another town
so the post office was granted under the name Mixon. In 1907 the Mixon
post office closed.
The town's high-water mark occured in the 1890s when the town reported
seventy-five Mixonites. Mixon still had 70 people living there in
the 1940s, with two businesses in operation but due to the increased
mobility after WWII,
Mixon had negative growth.
Today Mixon is comprised of two Baptist churches, a cemetery and a
population estimated as below 50. |
First Baptist
Church of Mixon
Photo
courtesy Gerald
Massey, December 2012 |
First Baptist
Church of Mixon Historical Marker
Photo
courtesy Gerald
Massey, December 2012 |
First Baptist
Church of Mixon sign
Photo
courtesy Gerald
Massey, December 2012 |
Mixon Missionary
Baptist Church
Photo
courtesy Gerald
Massey, December 2012 |
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Historical Marker:
at the intersections of Highway 135, FM 177 and FM 3052
Mixon Cemetery
SETTLERS FROM TENNESSEE,
ALABAMA, GEORGIA AND THE CAROLINAS, INCLUDING THE BLANTON, BRALY,
DICKEY, LANGSTON, LONG, MUSICK, SHAW, STOCKTON AND THOMAS FAMILIES,
ESTABLISHED PINE SPRINGS COMMUNITY (LATER MIXON) IN THE 1850s. IN
1853, JOSIAH THOMAS DEDICATED 9.7 ACRES OF LAND ON THE WESTERN SIDE
OF HIS TWO-THIRDS LEAGUE OF A HEADRIGHT FOR CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS
PURPOSES. AFTER THE LAND CHANGED HANDS SEVERAL TIMES, A MAY 22, 1883
DEED CONVEYED THE TRACT FROM S. A. AND F. M. BRALY TO THREE TRUSTEES,
S. K. BRALY, MOSES LANGSTON, AND L. T. WILLINGHAM, REPRESENTING THE
LOCAL CHURCHES – METHODIST EPISCOPAL SOUTH, CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN
AND MISSIONARY BAPTIST.
THE OLDEST MARKED GRAVE IN MIXON CEMETERY IS FOR OCTAVIO BRALY (APR.
11, 1853 – JUN. 12, 1854). MANY OF THE OLDEST BURIAL SITES ARE MARKED
WITH LOCAL RED IRON ORE ROCK. TRADITION STATES THERE ALSO MAY BE UNMARKED
GRAVES FOR MEMBERS OF LOCAL INDIAN TRIBES. MORE THAN 125 VETERANS
HAVE MARKED GRAVES, INCLUDING SOLDIERS FROM THE WAR OF 1812 TO PRESENT.
MANY OF THE 22 CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS BURIED HERE SERVED IN COMPANY
G, 22ND REGIMENT OF THE TEXAS INFANTRY.
GRAVESTONE MATERIALS INCLUDE LIMESTONE AND GRANITE. MANY LARGE OBELISKS
AND WOODMEN OF THE WORLD MARKERS ARE PROMINENT. IN THE 1940s, BRICK
COLUMNS AND A METAL ARCHWAY WERE PLACED ALONG THE PERIMETER. THE LANDSCAPE
WAS SCRAPED EARTH UNTIL THE 1950s, AND HAS BEEN MOWED GRASS SINCE
THAT TIME.
THE MIXON CEMETERY ASSOCIATION BOARD ENSURES THAT THE TRADITIONS OF
THE FOUNDERS CONTINUE WHILE ACTIVE BURIALS OCCUR. A MEMORIAL SERVICE
AND DINNER ARE HELD YEARLY. MIXON CEMETERY CONTINUES TO BE USED AND
REMAINS A TESTAMENT TO THE PIONEERING MEN AND WOMEN OF THE COMMUNITY.
2010 |
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| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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