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SCOTTSVILLE,
TEXASHarrison County,
East Texas
Farm roads 1998 and 2199
5 miles E of Marshall
Population:
287
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The
bronze Scottsville marker from 1936
TE Photo |
Scottsville’s
population was reported as 300 in 1929, as 50 during the Great Depression,
and as around 260 by 1950 - which is just about where it stands today.
Scottsville still has its post office (granted in 1869) and ten businesses.
Scottsville is a dispersed community with no discernable center. The
main attraction to the town is the cemetery. |
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A
view of the Scottsville cemetery and chapel.
TE Photo October, 2001 |
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THE
SCOTTSVILLE CEMETERY
Scottsville,
Texas and William Thomas Scott
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The
Scott family remembered their dead monumentally and the volume of
artistic memorials makes one think that they may have kept a stonecutter/
sculptor on the payroll.
The Rose and Scott families joined each other in marriage prior to
their arrival in Texas. The Yourees, Austins and Randolphs came later.
The repetition of names in the cemetery would confuse all but the
most knowledgeable genealogist or family member. |
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The
Scott names on the monument’s base
TE Photo |
The
town was named after William Thomas Scott, who moved to Texas
from Louisiana in 1840. That year he built a plantation home, based
on the plan of Jefferson Davis’ Biloxi, Mississippi home of Beauvoir.
*(See Forum below.) Prior to the Civil
War he was the largest slaveholder in Harrison County.
The Scotts also built a school and volunteered the services of the
family governess to teach the local children.
During the Civil War the plantation provided provisions for Confederate
troops. |
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The Scott Confederate Monument
TE Photo |
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cemetery displays a Confederate monument that is much larger than
many found on courthouse lawns around the state. The Scotts involvement
in the war is reflected in seven of the names inscribed on the pedestal.
Many of the others were relatives. |
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Plaque
from the church at Scottsville Cemetery c. 1904
TE Photo |
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church at the cemetery was erected by the family of William Scott
Youree after he was killed in Mexico in 1904. The weeping angel that
marks his grave has become a popular regional photographic subject.
It bears a striking resemblance to a memorial for a Hill family member
in Houston’s Glenwood cemetery – even down to the missing hand. |
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The angel at the grave of William Scott Youree
TE Photo |
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The inscription on the Youree Monument
TE Photo |
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“It happens in the best of families….”
TE Photo |
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of the smallest stones in the Scottsville Cemetery is that of Major
Herman Kretz – 2nd Battalion. Pennsylvania Infantry U.S. Army.
A Yankee. It’s 18 inches of height would pales by comparison to the
50 foot tall Confederate monument. The fine print reads: Barried [sic]
Lot 3593 Arlington National Cemetery. That probably makes everyone
happy. The only reason it appears at all is that it is placed alongside
his wife’s tombstone. |
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Scottsville Cemetery is one of the most picturesque in Texas and is
worthy of a trip – even if it takes you out of your way. The histories
of the families demonstrates the closeness and inter-dependence that
existed between pioneer families in the early development of East
Texas. |
Scottsville
Texas Forum
I went to see
the Weeping Angel at Youree Memorial Cemetery. Thanks for the information
in TE. Sad to see the vandalism. - Barclay Gibson, May 05, 2006
Subject:
Scottsville Cemetery
I found your
[magazine] and have enjoyed traveling around Texas in it. I did
a Google search for Scottsville Cemetery and found your article.
I am interested in finding out more history of this cemetery and
the founding families. I am looking for early photo history. Could
you put me in touch with anyone who might know about the Scottsville,
Texas Cemetery and church? - Wilfred Smith Keithville, Louisiana,
wilfredm@bowie-cass.com, May, 06, 2006
Subject:
Scottsville, Texas
Sirs, In the article (which was by the way very nice!) on the cemetery
in Scottsville, the author mistakenly refers to Jefferson Davis's
Biloxi home as "Bellerieve" . In truth, the name of his Biloxi home
is "Beauvoir". I know because I just came back from Biloxi and took
photos of its damage from Katrina. Attached is a photo with the
correct spelling. It's a small thing, spelling, but history buffs
will notice! - Kathy L. Baumgarten, March 09, 2006
Marshall
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