Thomas B. & Louisa M. Howeth - Gainesville, TX
N 33° 37.856 W 097° 07.571
14S E 673799 N 3722810
Thomas B. & Louisa M. Howeth were killed in an 1854 tornado that struck their home near Gainesville, TX. They were the first burials in what is now Fairview Cemetery, Gainesville, TX.
Waymark Code: WMPWXD
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 11/01/2015
Views: 3
The children's grave site is marked by a faux crypt that has a newer, granite cap on it, with the following inscription:
In Memory Of
Thomas B. & Louisa M. Howeth
The first born April 21, 1843
and the latter December 2, 1844
They were killed in the tornado
of May 28, 1854 & the children of
William & Harriett Bell Howeth.
According to Ron Melugin's "Heroes, Scoundrels, and Angels", Louisa's body was carried four miles by the tornado, which also killed a cousin, Andy Howeth, and his two children as they all sought shelter in William W. Howeth's cabin, six miles west of Gainesville. W.W. Howeth, Jr. was a survivor, and his account of the storm is found at the provided link. He mentions that a U.S. Army party visited the area soon after, noting that the same tornado had destroyed much of Fort Towson in Indian Territory (today's Oklahoma), and it was a mile wide. The tragedy prompted the Howeths to move into Gainesville.
The Texas Historical Marker also provides some background:
Originally the Howeth family cemetery, this site traces its history to 1854, when a tornado struck the Howeth family cabin near Gainesville. First buried here were Thomas and Louisa Howeth, young children of William and Harriet Bell Howeth. William Howeth deeded the ten-acre cemetery to Cooke County in 1868. In 1878 the Cooke County commissioners turned over the site to the City of Gainesville in a 999-year lease. A city ordinance reserved a section for freedmen.
The cemetery's name was changed in 1897 to East Hill, and in 1904 the name was changed again to Fairview. A separate Jewish Cemetery adjoined this site from 1881 until 1964 when the two graveyards were combined.
Among the estimated 18,000 graves are those of Civil War veterans; Preston Conlee, a San Jacinto battle veteran and Bastrop County sheriff who lies in an unmarked grave; 34 victims of the 1918 influenza epidemic; Bob Scott, ex-slave and centenarian; and former U.S. Senator Joseph Weldon Bailey.
A chapel and sexton's office, designed by Dallas architect Will Scott Richter, was constructed in 1938 at a cost of $6,296. The arched gate dates to 1964. This Victorian-era cemetery continues to serve the city.
Type of Death Listed: Killed by something
Website (if available): [Web Link]
Cause of death inscription on headstone: Not listed
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