The TXGenWeb Project

Terrell Daily Tribune, December 28, 1935 
 
ROCKWALL NEGRESS, 115 YEARS OLD, DEAD 

"Ellen Hill, negro woman, whose age approximated 115 years, died at her home Sunday following a short illness.  
 
Funeral services were conducted at her home by her pastor, with burial in the family cmetery. Since the freeing of 
 
the slaves, Ellen had lived in the negro settlement south of Rockwall, where she owned a farm. She had been the 
 
property of a Dallas family. For twenty-eight years it had been the custom for her family to honor her on June 19th 
 
with a family reunion and picnic on the banks of the river near her home. She was active and able to walk about the 
 
house until stricken nine days ago. In recent years she devoted her time to piecing quilts, but prior to 1910 she spun 
 
and wove the cloth used by her family. She was the mother of fourteen children, eight of whom survive her. She is 
 
also survived by fifty-two grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren." 
 

submitted by Linda Feagin Harwell