Social life in the [Tunis] community was limited by travel facilities and there were few public amusement centers. Miss Sims [daughter of Dr. J. R. and Mary Sims, 2nd wife] recalls parties were often given in private homes with guitars, fiddle, and other stringed instrument players furnishing the music. Her brother, Sam and his wife, Maggie, often provided music or joined in the square dancing or Virginia reel. A favorite place to be invited for this entertainment was to the home of the Gregg family.
(Burleson Count Historical Society 1980,
Mamie Sims, SIMS family history, page 420)
Some of the families buried in the cemetery have no direct descendants. Others have descendants still residing in the communities of Caldwell, Snook, (Burleson County, Texas), Bryan, College Station (Brazos County, Texas ) and the surrounding rural areas; as well as all over the United States.
At the tun of te twtieth century, floods damaged the region. The Texas historical Commission placed a marker on Farm to Mrket Road 50, 2 miles East of State Highway 21, Cook's Point. The marker's inscription is:
BRAZON RIVER LEVEE
DESTRUCTIVE BRAZOS RIVER FLOODS HAVE OFTEN PLAGUED RESIDENTS
OF BURLESON COUNTY. IN 1899, A 30 INCH RAIN KILLED 35 AND CAUSED
ABOUT $9 MILLION IN PROPERTY DAMAGE. AGAIN IN 1900, 1902 AND 1908
BRAZOS RIVER BOTTOM INHABITANTS ENDURED SERIOUS FLOODING. IN
1909 W. S. MIAL AND 49 OTHER CITIZENS ASKED THE COMMISSIONERS OF
BURLESON COUNTY TO BUILD LEVEES ALONG THE BRAZOS TO PROTECT THE
VALUABLE FARM LAND. IN JULY 1909, VOTERS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS AND THE HIGHER TAXES TO PAY OFF THE DEBT.
CONTRACTORS ROACH AND STANSELL BUILT THE 8-FOOT LEVEE WHICH
EXTENDED SOUTH FOR 30 MILES. ITS TEST CAME IN DECEMBER 1913, WITH
A STORM FAR WORSE THAT THE 1899 FLOOD. RESIDENTS OF THIS AREA,
DEPENDING ON THE LEVEES FOR SAFETY, DID NOT FLEE UNTIL THE WATER
HAD RISEN DANGEROUSLY. TOO LATE, THEY DISCOVERED THE LEVEE
TRAPPED WATER AND THEN BROKE, UNLEASHING A WALL OF DESTRUCTION
FROM WHICH THERE WAS NO ESCAPE. VICTIMS RODE OUT THE FLOOD ON
ROOFS AND IN TREETOPS. THERE WERE 180 DEATHS AND $8 MILLION IN
PROPERTY LOSS. STILL CONVINCED OF THE VALUE OF THE LEVEES, VOTERS
IN 1914 APPROVED RECONSTRUCTION BONDS. THE INDEBTEDNESS WAS
NOT RETIRED UNTIL 1963, LONG AFTER MODERN FLOOD CONTROL
METHODS MADE THE AREA SAVE. (1978)
(Texas Historical Commission, 5181, BRAZOS RIVER LEVEE, (1978), Research: Mrs. Joyce Speckman (Bernadette), Mrs. James B. Inman (Caressa), Burleson County Historical Commission, Chriesman, Burleson County, Texas.)
Had Mother Nature not created such suffering among the planters and farmers of the "bottom" lands, more evidence of the settlers might exist today. Their legacy lives on in the occupants who toil on the richest soil in Texas today.
Last week, my husband and I were driving through rural Burleson County and had car trouble in the quaint village of Tunis. Our water pump had gone out and we were just beside ourselves. five minutes later, a gentleman stopped to graciously help us out. He drove us to nearby Caldwell to get a new part, and back to Tunis repair the car. He only referred to himself as Brother Ezekiel and refused to accept a dime for his deeds.
Of all the cities and communities we drove through, Tunis was truly the highlight of our journey. I certainly hope the good people of this entire area realize what a magical place Tunis is. We proceeded onto Clay, but the merre sight of Tunis in my rearview mirror restored my faith in manhood.
Shirley O'Brian, Mexia, 1999
Letters to the Editor
Courtesy of Robert C. Borden, Opinions Editor
The Bryan-College Station Eagle, Bryan, Texas
The cemetery has endured years of neglect. Today, an effort is being made to clean up, preserve and maintain the upkeep of the cemetery through the Brazos bottom Baptist church Cemetery Association that was formed October 22, 1995 as a non-profit organization. The Association meets on a regular basis once a year to transact business.
On June 15, 2000, the Texas Historical Commission certified Brazos Bottom Baptist church Cemetery has been recorded as a Historic Texas Cemetery.