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Martha Chapel
Cemetery
Photo courtesy Dana
Goolsby, October 2010 |
| Just outside
of Huntsville
lies a forgotten community tucked away down a winding dirt road under
the pines. Little remains of the early East
Texas community, with the exception of one of the oldest burial
grounds in Walker County
and memories passed on from early settlers. |
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Martha’s Chapel
is a church community located approximately seven miles southwest
of Huntsville
in south central Walker County. The area has been known by many
names throughout its existence. It has been referred to as Johnson’s
Chapel, Trinity Church, as well as Robinson’s Settlement.
The site is on an unimproved road midway between Farm roads 1374
and 1791, also commonly referred to as Bowdens Road and in more
recent years, Demon's Road.
The Rev. Moses Speer came to Texas in about 1837, to participate
in the “Texas Mission” of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
The “mission”, of course, was to bring Methodism to the new Republic
of Texas. Until Texas won its independence at the Battle
of San Jacinto in April of 1836, the official religion of Mexican
Texas was Catholicism, and the preaching of other religions was
strictly forbidden. Speer rode a circuit that included the towns
of Montgomery
and Huntsville,
however, there were towns in early Texas at that time. He preached
at gatherings in homes. He was revered as a good “soul-winner”.
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William
Robinson was a devout Methodist, and gave 30-plus acres of land to
the “Texas Mission” to build a campground, church building, school,
and it also contained a cemetery. The William Robinson Settlement
was home to any preacher, of any denomination, especially circuit
riding ministers. Robinson had two sons-in-law who were Methodist
circuit riding preachers.
The Methodist church built on the land provided by Robinson is believed
to have been the first church constructed in Walker
County. The church was initially built in the 1830s and eventually
became known as Robinson’s Settlement. The church shared its building
with other denominations as well. |
First Burial
at Martha's Chapel
Photo courtesy Dana
Goolsby, October 2010 |
| In 1840, the
Rev. Moses Speer became seriously ill while staying at the Robinson
Settlement and died. Speer was the first person buried in the cemetery
where the first campground originally stood. Today his grave can still
be found with ease in the cemetery. In 1843, the fourth Texas Methodist
Conference held its annual meeting there. Sometime after the conference
the local congregation adopted the name Trinity Church. In 1855 John
C. Black donated twenty acres to the original Robinson grant, and
a new building was erected near the old church. The original log structure
was then moved and turned into a barn. |
Old
tombstones of early settlers
Photo courtesy Dana
Goolsby, October 2010 |
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The
designation Martha’s Chapel was possibly derived from one of the
names of the first church members buried in the new church’s cemetery.
Martha Palmer was the wife of church trustee Anthony C. Palmer and
many believe the cemetery is named after her. During the Civil War
attendance at Trinity Church declined. Rev. James G. Johnson had
recently returned to Martha’s Chapel in 1863, and constructed a
smaller building that was known for a while as Johnson’s Chapel.
The surrounding rural neighborhood also maintained a school, though
the bell rang only sporadically in the early years. In 1896 the
Martha’s Chapel school employed two teachers, Miss Ona Randolph
and Miss Mary Sterne. The schoolhouse remained as late as 1936 but
was closed soon thereafter. By the 1990s only the cemetery remained
at the site.
All that remains of this early pioneer settlement is Martha’s
Chapel Cemetery. The cemetery sits beneath the cluster of old
pines and cedars, where the East
Texas sunshine can only peer through from time to time. A stroll
among the old tombstones tells the story of the early settlers who
left their mark on the area.
© Dana Goolsby
This
article was originally published on MYETX.com
"In The Pines With Dana Goolsby"
March 16, 2012 Column
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| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
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