from "Pioneer Families of Anderson County Prior to 1900", Anderson County
Genealogical Society, 1984, 3rd reprint
Page 39
BURWELL WASHINGTON CAMP was born 22 October 1846 at Dallas, Georgia,
(Pauldin County). He was the fourth child of Josiah Camp and Louisa Cooper
Camp.
After Burl (as he was called) and his father, Josiah, were discharged
from the Civil War, they started to Texas in a covered ox wagon. All
members who came are brothers - Louis Sherwood, Joseph Jackson, James
Monroe, Henry Lumpkins and his sisters - Sara Ann Bethany, Lydia Lucinda
Caroline, Louisa Rhoda Mataleen, and Francis Monarcha Jane. After about
three months of travel, they arrived at Crockett, Texas. They lived there
about three years.
They moved to Palestine, Texas and farmed one year there. They had a
field of corn where the present courthouse now stands. Monroe died and was
buried about two blocks from the present courthouse in Palestine.
Burl's parents bought land for 50 cents an acre, and moved to what is
now known as Camp Hill. Burl bought land joining his parents land in 1875.
He built a home in 1876 and married Louiza Jane Ross, daughter of Tecumseh
Lycurgus Burns and Mary Warden Ross, on 21 February 1877. Five sons and six
daughters were born to this marriage, all of whom were reared at Camp Hill:
1. Andrew Martin
2. Josiah Washington
3. Albert Burns
4. Simeon Thomas
5. Ira
6. Sarah Idor
7. Lydia Ann, died about three years old
8. Nettie Lou
9. Mary Lizzie
10. Lucy Evaline
11. Georgia Carmel
As time went by, Burl added more acreage and he and his family farmed
the land. Besides farming, he raised peaches and all kinds of fruit and
berries. He maintained a catfish pond and a scaly fish pond and operated
the community syrup mill for ribbon cane syrup making. He made tintype
pictures; cut hair; pulled teeth; and often made coffins. He kept about
fifty hives of bees and "talked the Bible" endlessly. You could find him on
the streets in Palestine "talking Bible" and very often would stay up all
night and discuss the Bible with friends. He was a very devout man.
Burwell Washington Camp died 8 September 1928. He was buried in the
Camp Cemetery on the southwest corner of his land. The grave was opened by
relatives and friends and he was buried, at his request, in a "home made"
coffin. Most of the land he owned is now owned by his descendants.
by Saline Barton Goforth