North Elm Common School District No. 56 - Schoolhouse
North Elm Common School District No. 56
The Cameron Herald published an article on September 20, 1976, stating that the school served the community as early as 1885.
The school children first met under a brush arbor, taught by Mr. Joe Eplen. It isn’t known as to the year the school building was built. It was a three room school with a hall where a rope hung from the school bell. The school employed three teachers each year. Through the years the teachers recorded were Mary Price Houston, daughter of Mose Price taught 22 years; Mrs. C. H. Carroll; Edna Mae Lott, daughter of Mary and Sam Houston; Nora Duncan; Minnie Blaylock; Kate McClendon; and Cleo Reed Nichols.
In the early 1950's the school was closed and the students transferred to nearby Yarrellton School. Yarrellton School faded as well, into obscurity, when the railroad passed it by. Also, "Yarrellton" has been respelled as "Yarrelton" on official maps.
After the school was torn down, Mrs. Houston purchased the lumber. A reunion for North Elm School is held periodically under the pavilion at the Cemetery.
Texas Rangers at North Elm Cemetery
Two brothers buried in the Cemetery served as Texas Rangers. Elizey T. Perkins was born 2 March 1884 near the North Elm and Yarrelton communities in Milam County, Texas and died 7 November 1918 while on duty in the Big Bend area on the Mexican border. He enlisted in the Texas Rangers 1 September 1918 and served in Company 1 at Station Ysleta in El Paso County.
James C. Perkins was born 1 August 1890 near the North Elm and Yarrelton communities in Milam County, Texas and died 13 February 1968. His service included:
25 August 1917 - Company C, Station Austin, Travis County
21 April 1919 - Company B, Station Marfa, El Paso County
5 January 1920 - Company F, Del Rio, El Paso County
8 March 1934 - Special Ranger, Station Yarrellton, Milam County
On the 21 Jan 1935 Ranger James C. Perkins resigned. He was Marshal of Calvert, Texas for five years and from 1941 until 1945 he served as Brand Inspector for the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raiser Association.
Officer Down Memorial Page: Elizey T. Perkins
Milam County Historical Commission: Milam Brothers Patrolled Bloody Mexico Border
Texas Ranger Law Enforcement Association
Texas Rangers - Texas State Historical Association
Texas Ranger Association Foundation
North Elm Common School District No. 56 - Concert - April 8, 1892
Concert at North Elm, April 8, 1892
Over one hundred years ago graduation exercises were held at North Elm School with an elaborate program. During the 1940's the Cameron Herald published the following program from an original copy brought to the Herald office by Luther Roberts. The original copy of the program was the property of Mrs. Lee McCollum who was the former Miss Lula Westbrook. Transcribed as printed.
P R O G R A M M E
Prayer - Rev. Glazner.................................................Music - Gentle Spring
Declamation - Tight Times........................................... Dock Westbrook
Declamation - The Momentous Question......................Glen Minshew
Declamation - Be Careful in Your Play..........................Lee Fuller
Recitation - Busybodies................................................. Birdie Holland and Bettie Fuller
Recitation - The Candidate..............................................Bland Bryant
Declamation - My Brother Jim....................................... Jesse McLendon
Declamation - All Tipsy But Me.....................................Charlie Little
Music - The Quaker Courtship
Recitation - My Mother's Song...................................... Nettie McKinney
Declamation - That Figure Card......................................Johnie Thomas
Recitation - Seven Times are Seven..................................Susie Lewie
Recitation - The Soldier's Cradle Hymn........................... Maud Ellis
Declamation - The Drunkard's Looking Glass.................. Johnie Minshew
Music - Matrimonial Sweets
Recitation - Housemaid's Soliloquy....................................Mary Lewis
Recitation - The Blind Girl's Dream....................................Ruth Minshew
Dialogue - Which is the Brighter
Recitation - Hang Up Baby's Stocking............................... Arra Fuller
Dialogue - Uncle Raspy's Rule
Music - Leap by Leap the Roses
Declamation - Nursery Reminisces......................................May Bryant
Recitation - Lucy..................................................................Roxie McKinney
Recitation - Cawdleology.....................................................Clara McKinney
Dialogue - The Children of the Week..................................By Seven Little Girls
Recitation - Smile Whenever You Can.................................Pearl Colburn
Question - Which is the Greatest Evil, A Scolding Wife or a Smoking Chimney.. Dock Westbrook
Recitation - Sixteen and Sixty..............................................Ellen Westbrook
Music - I'm Going to Write to Papa
Declamation - Bog's Dogs...................................................Len Minshew
Recitation - The Gambler's Wife.........................................Clara McKinney
Dialogue - Rather Mixed
Music - Chicadedee
Recitation - One Link Gone.................................................Birtie Reece
Recitation - The Housekeepers Soliliquy............................. Etta Harbour
Dialogue - The Charity Student
Music - I'll Be Dar
Recitation - Tannyard Song...............................................Willie McKinney
Dialogue - A Wonderful Dream
Recitation - The Drunkards Bride..................................... Ida Minshew
Declamation - They Went Fishing....................................Frank Kemp
Music - Father Please Stop Drinking................................A Negro Sermon
Dialogue - The Bores of the Day
Recitation - The Drunkard's Last Scene............................Maggie Minshew
Declamation - The Lost Pantaloons..................................Johnie Thomas
Recitation - A Mother's Prayer......................................... Ruth Ellis
Dialogue - Keeping Bachelor's Hall
Music - Grandpapa and I
Dialogue - The Bogus Doctor
Declamation - Closing Address........................................ May Bryant
Recitation - The Secret.......................................................Bessie Minshew
Music - Our Parting Song.................................................The Lord's Prayer
North Elm Cemetery - Texas - President's Message
We welcome you to the North Elm Cemetery website. The Cemetery is located in Milam County, Texas, and is a cemetery designated as a Texas Historical Cemetery with a beautiful marker located in the cemetery. We are also listed with Save Texas Cemeteries, Inc.
The Cemetery is rich in history of those buried here. We have two Texas Rangers, one that was killed in the line of duty. There are fifteen Confederate Veterans, and many of the early settlers of the North Elm and Yarrellton communities buried behind the gate of the Cemetery.
People came to this area following the Civil War looking for a place to start over, and the Blackland soils brought them to North Elm and Yarrellton. These two communities were close in family ties and crossed over in many ways.
There have been a number of fund raising projects completed in recent years, the Cemetery has been re-surveyed, and it has been platted so we know the locations of all graves. Markers have been repaired and reset. Four history books have been written about the Cemetery. Carol Sue Gibbs has published a book of newspaper articles abstracted from the Cameron Herald during the years from 1895 to 1945.
The Cemetery is supported by donations from its members and fund raisers held yearly. Quilt Raffles, Silent Auctions, and the like are held during the Annual Meetings. History Books and a Cookbook have also been successful in generating operating funds for the Association.
The North Elm Cemetery Association is a tax-exempt, Texas non-profit organization as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax deductible and encouraged, please mail them to: North Elm Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 14, Cameron, Texas 76520.
If we can be of help, please contact us at the above mailing address, or by sending a message to the website.