Aquilla, Texas, Hill County, Prairie Grove Cemetery, Copperhead Cemetery. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

Settlement began in the 1840s. The original name had been Mudtown but when a more dignified name was needed, they came up with Aquilla after early resident Aquilla Jones.

A post office was opened in 1859 and in the late 1870s the Texas Central Railroad came close to Aquilla - close enough for businesses and residents to move to the rails. Aquilla had 175 residents in 1886 and by 1892 it was down to just 100. In the late 1890s the town drilled a well to replace the creek water that they had been using. By 1910 the population was up to 200 and four years later there were over 500 people with all essential businesses. By the late 1950s the population was back to only 250 and it has since declined to 109.

See
Prairie Grove Cemetery ›
Copperhead Cemetery ›

Prairie Grove Cemetery

Prairie Grove Cemetery in Aquilla
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, March 2018

Copperhead Cemetery

31.815826, -97.260617

Copperhead Cemetery sign
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, March 2018

Copperhaed Cemetery - Walter Clark tombstone
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, March 2018

Copperhead Cemetery - J.C. Latham tombstone
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, March 2018

Copperhead Cemetery tombstone
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, March 2018

1907 Hill County postal map showing Aquilla, SW of Hillsboro,
and The Texas Central Railroad
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

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