History of Shooks Chapel and Cemetery

HISTORICAL MARKER: No 

LOCATION: County Road 3503 in Sulphur Springs, Texas

DETAILS

Shooks Chapel Cemetery is a historic burial ground located in Hopkins County, Texas, that dates back to the 19th century. The cemetery is located on County Road 3503 in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and is part of the Shooks Chapel United Methodist Church.

The cemetery is named after the Shooks family, who were among the first settlers in the area. The Shooks family settled in Hopkins County in the mid-1800s, and they established a small community that included a church and cemetery. 

Although the exact date of its establishment is unclear, the cemetery was originally part of the Shooks Chapel United Methodist Church, which was built in 1876. The church was named after the Reverend John Shook, a prominent Methodist minister at the time and the church’s founder.

Several prominent families played a significant role in the development of the Shooks Chapel community; the Sims family, the Cook family, and the White family. 

William Sims was one of the early settlers in the area and played a key role in establishing the community. He was a farmer and also served as a local justice of the peace. Several of his descendants still live in the area and are active in the community.

Another prominent family was the Cook family. James Cook was a farmer and cattle rancher who settled in the area in the late 19th century. He was also a well-respected community leader and served as a county commissioner. The Cook family has remained an important part of the Shooks Chapel community, with many of James Cook’s descendants still living in the area.

The White family was also influential in the Shooks Chapel community. William White was a farmer and rancher who settled in the area in the late 19th century. He was also a local justice of the peace and served as a school board member. The White family has been active in the community for many years and has been involved in a number of community organizations and events.

The Shooks Chapel community has always been close-knit, and this has been reflected in its many social events and organizations. One of the most important of these events is the annual Shooks Chapel Homecoming, which has been held every year from 1902  onward. The event brings together people from all over the area for a day of food, music, and fellowship.

In addition to the homecoming, the Shooks Chapel Literary Club was founded in the early 1900s and provided an important forum for local residents to discuss literature and current events. The community also at one point had a thriving 4-H club.

Over the years, the cemetery has been maintained by the Shooks Chapel United Methodist Church and local volunteers. The cemetery has undergone several renovations and improvements over the years, including the installation of a fence around the perimeter of the cemetery and the repair and restoration of many of the gravesites.

Among the notable burials in the Shooks Chapel Cemetery is that of Samuel Bell Maxey, a Confederate general who served during the American Civil War. Maxey was born in Tompkinsville, Kentucky, in 1825, and he moved to Texas in the 1850s. He served as a general in the Confederate Army during the Civil War and later went on to serve as a U.S. senator from Texas.

The cemetery is the final resting place for many other notable individuals, including John H. Bowers, a Texas Ranger who served in the late 1800s, and John Ragsdale, a prominent farmer and businessman in the area.

Today, the Shooks Chapel Cemetery is still in use, and it remains an important part of the community’s history. The cemetery is maintained by the Shooks Chapel United Methodist Church and local volunteers, who work to ensure that the gravesites and monuments are preserved for future generations.

Citations:

“Shooks Chapel Cemetery.” Find a Grave, www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2140983/shooks-chapel-cemetery.

“Shooks Chapel Cemetery.” Texas Historic Sites Atlas, Texas Historical Commission, www.thc.texas.gov/preserve/projects-and-programs/state-historic-sites-atlas/shooks-chapel-cemetery.

Maxey, Samuel Bell. “Maxey, Samuel Bell.” Handbook of Texas Online, Texas State Historical Association, www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/maxey-samuel-bell.

Photo of Shooks Chapel gates by Brandon Darrow