Payne Gap Cemetery Directory

William Thomas “W.T. or Uncle Billy” Carswell (1846-1912)

Names Detail

First Name

Middle Name

Nick Name/Preferred Name

Last Name

Birth and Death

Birth Date

Death Date

Age at Death

Cemetery Location and Disposition

Cemetery Location

Disposition Type

Relationships to Others at the Cemetery

• Son of Laura Emma [Norwood] Carswell (1825-1889)
• Husband of Lydia C. [Baker] Carswell (1845-1917)
• Father of Walter Byrd Carswell (1882-1965)
• Father of Mattie L. “Nellie” [Carswell] Cook

External Links

• Find A Grave

Notes

From the Four Fs of Moline, Texas, in the essay about the Carswell family written by Cleo Carswell:

One of the earliest families of Moline was that of William T. Carswell, father of Byrd Carswell and grandlather of Johnnie, Lora Belle, and Pat. William T. was affectionately referred to as Uncle Billy probably because of his witticisms and the characteristic wording of his remarks.

William T. Carswell’s family came to West Texas, as they referred to this area, from San Augustine County in east Texas in 1881. The family consisted of William T., his wife, Lydia, and one daughter, Mattie, who was about one year old. Byrd was born in 1882.

Upon arrival here, the family camped for a time under a big live oak tree just off the present Carswell land in Pigfoot Pasture. In 1978 Pigfoot deer hunters sawed cross sections of this tree, which had fallen down, for members of the Carswell family.

Soon a log cabin was built near the present location of the barnlot, and a fence or wall of stacked rock was built adjacent to the house to protect livestock from cold winds and weather. Part of this wall still stands, which attests to the accuracy of its construction. Also, a round stone-walled corral about 50 feet across was built near the house. This corral was used by cattle trail drivers for penning and holding cattle, and by neighbors, as well as by the family, for working livestock. Pat remembers seeing his dad and others breaking and riding wild horses in the corral.

A 25-foot deep hand-dug well was also provided for the homestead. It was located across the present Farm Road 1047 from the house. Byrd said his mother washed clothes in tubs beside the well and spread them to dry on the low trees nearby. Sometimes in winter his father cut blocks of ice out of Bennett Creek, hauled them, and stashed them in the well to increase the water supply.

At this time land was not fenced. It was open range for everyone’s livestock. Uncle Billy owned a flock of sheep. Since sheep eat grass too short for cattle to graze, neighboring cattle owners threatened Uncle Billy for having them. He countered with, “My sheep won’t run. They’re not afraid.”

In a revival meeting at Payne Gap, Uncle Billy, in giving his testimony, stated, “And I’m going to heaven in spite of Hallenbeck, hell, and high water!” Mr. Hallenbeck was a man with whom Billy had had differences.

The Carswell family probably lived much the same as their neighbors did, working the land, and sharing with and visiting neighbors and relatives. At least two other Carswell families moved here from San Augustine at the same time as William and Lydia. Bob Carswell was a brother whose wife Nannie was buried at Payne Gap in 1887. Robert Weeks was a brother-in-law. Both these families probably returned to San Augustine sometime later.

At this time the only trade center was at Center City. This was where they went cross country on horseback to purchase supplies and get mail. There was no Star nor Payne Gap.

For farm people, most of the year’s supply of food was grown at home and processed by drying, curing, and/or storing to preserve it. Mother Lydia found time and space for a row of rose bushes in her vegetable garden, as they wouldn’t grow in her yard. In the Carswell yard today is a “Lydia Baker” rose bush, planted in her memory and started from one she herself planted. It is also a memorial to the ‘busyness” of Grandma Lydia and her reputation as a devoted homemaker.

Neighbors tell that when asked how his wife was after she had been sick at one time, Billy replied, “Bless God, she’s no better.” “Bless God” was known to be his special “by” word. And once when asked why he didn’t “take up” more land, or buy more, he said, “Bless God, taxes are just too high.” They were $10 a year, and money was scarce.

William T. Carswell, born in 1846, died in 1912. In his latter years he was blinded by cataracts and had be guided to move about. Lydia lived in her children’s homes after his death. She died in 1917. One day she came to Byrd and Carrie’s house from Mattie’s at Moline, pulling a little wagon with her belongings, and said, “Carrie, I’ve come home to die.” And she only lived a few more days. They are both buried in Payne Gap Cemetery.

From the Mills County Book, written by Cleo Carswell:

His wife Lydia had a thirst for knowledge, and subscribed to many magazines and bought books. She had a green thumb, and had a rose garden, as well as a large vegetable garden. She helped work the land and gather the crops,tended the garden, milked the cows and fed the chickens. As with most people, they lived off of the land.

W. T. or “Uncle Billy” as he was called, was a person of the community. He liked to meet and visit with people, and talk business, sometimes leaving the home duties to Lydia. Together, they did quite well and had a good name in the community.

W.T. added parcels of land to his place and sold off some. He said he didn’t want too much land, as taxes were too high. He averaged ten dollars a year.

Patsy Blasdell, a living relative, recounts, “The story goes that Laura Carswell (first person buried at the cemetery) came to visit W.T. (William Thomas) Carswell (1846-1912), her son, and suddenly died … [W.T. was] Pat Carswell’s paternal ‘Grandpa Billy’ … W.T. and his wife Lydia Baker were the ones who first settled the Carswell ranch and start paying taxes in 1882. They are both buried at the Gap I think beside Walter Byrd Carswell, my grandfather ‘Grandpa Byrd.’ W.T. and Lydia had two children, Mattie L. Carswell (1878-1963) and Walter Byrd Carswell (1882-1965). When Lydia died she was worked to death at Aunt Mattie’s house in Moline, according to grandma. She brought her few belongings up to Grandma and Grandpa Byrd’s house and said, ‘Carrie, I’ve come home to die,’ which she did shortly after.”

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