The Hooten Cemetery is located on the W.K.D'Spain Survey, a part of Old Lamar Co., TX. D'Spain was awarded this patent giving his life to serve in war for Texas Independance from Mexico..The land fell to D'Spains heirs. I did extensive research in the Delta Co., TX Courthouse on the land records. This project is rich with history as the land was craved up to become the homes of so many who migrated from Tenn and other States.
In 1846, the Texas Legislature created a new county named for the Hopkins Family from portions of Lamar and Nacogdoches Counties. But under another act of the Texas Legislature, a part of Lamar County and the northern portion of Hopkins County were organized into a new county known as Delta and the Southwestern part of Hopkins County was deleted and became Rains County. Most of the records are found in Delta Co., TX; however, not all. Some still in the previous counties.
Delta Co., TX, where the Cemetery is located. It was under 3 counties. The Cemetery was established in 1847, the age today in 2011 is abt 154 years old....And most markers were hand carved from the Bois D'Ark wood, as the early Texas Pioneers did not have the means to use Marble or Granite, as they used in the Eastern Developed States, with more established benefits.
In the early days, before new roads were built, from Dog Town Road, you could go into Klondike. Today, Dog Town Road is a dead end by Cooper Lake. J.R.Dickey recalled when they would go down Dog Town Road, cross the tracks, a stream and be in Klondike. Today to get to The Cemetery, which is located South of Klondike, Delta Co.,TX. off of State Hwy 24. As you travel about 3 to 5 miles from Klondike, on the East side of State Hwy 24, take the County Road 2040, (coming from Klondike off of Hwy 24 you will make a left turn onto 2040)and only way it will turn. The County Road 2040 is also known as Dog Town Road. Dog Town Road, is a winding road, as the road straightens out and just when the black top road ends,you will travel about a mile on the sand road. Look on your right for a dark green gate of round pipe, next on the right you will see an alummin gate and just across the road is where you would enter the land that the cemetery is on. Currently the land belongs to Jack Neatherly (2011) and he runs cattle on it and sometimes pens his Bull within the fenced pastor. Please do not enter unless you have contacted him to seek permission. The land is fenced. The cemetery sits to the back of the property, about 300 plus, yards. I did not measure it off, so I can only estimate it at this time.
The cemetery has no remaining markers... The cemetery was last surveyed by the State Of Texas Corp Of Engineers, when the Cooper Lake was being built. They had to ID all cemeteries and moving those that were in harms way. All in harms way were moved by the Corp, but the Hooten Cemetery rested on High Ground, Over Looking the beginning of a pond or possible an inlet to the River that helps to feed Cooper Lake. It is amazingly beautiful. It is a beautiful meadow with old trees, grass, upon higher land. The Cemetery joins the Texas State Corp Of Engineers Lake land,and named Cooper Lake State Park. The Hooten Cemetery was believed to be under the water of Cooper Lake. This occurred because they believed the cemetery was located on either the original homesteads of Elijah Reeves Hooten or his brother James Hooten. And, this land is under water of Cooper Lake. However, when I could not find any records of the cemetery being moved to build the lake, I contacted the Austin, Corp of Engineers and they were very helpful. I also began searching for others that may have knowledge of the cemetery. I was truly blessed when a very gracious lady, Lavyn Sisco (Hopkins Co.,TX Genealogy Library) began to help me to find folks that may have had knowledge of the location. It was through her many contacts that she was able to help me connect to those who actually grew up around the cemetery, riding their horses and descendants of the James Hooten and two of his three wives, Mary (Bills) Hooten and Susan J. (Bills) Hooten Family. Mary & Susan were the Daughters of Daniel Baxter Bills and his wife Martha (WALKER) Bills.
There have been several helping me with this project; and for that reason I do not want to leave them out of the story of my journey to find the Lost Hooten Cemetery, they are: J.R. Dickey, David Hurt, Janie (Hooten) McCauley and the owner of the land where the cemetery is located, Jack Neatherly. We are hoping for an Historical Marker, Civil War headstones for James Hooten and His brother Elijah Reeves Hooten and a Cemetery Association to protect this for the generations yet to be born. Placing one main headstones with the names of the known ones buried in the Hooten Cemetery. Plus some kind of fencing. Any one interested in being a part of this awesome project, please contact me or the others listed here. We also want to have a dedication when we get the Historical Marker and the Civil War Markers for James and Elijah Hooten.
I have learned that this cemetery was used by many Pioneer Families, I just have the known burials recorded from James Hooten's Family Bible and my appreciation to J.R.Dickey, descendant of James Hooten, for giving me copies of this treasured Bible Accounting of dear ones passed on and buried in the Hooten Cemetery. To Jack Neatherly for giving me the certified plat of the Cemetery, surveyed by the Texas State Corp Of Engineers. To David Hurt for sharing an original marker from the cemetery that was laying and decaying on the cemetery grounds. No name remained on it, but easily to see at one point in time it had been carved and used for someone's cemetery marker. And, my deep appreciation to Mr. & Mrs. J.R. Dickey, and Mr. & Mrs. David Hurt for being able to say, "Yes, this is the Hooten Cemetery."
Without a question, this is indeed the Hooten Cemetery, and the land records also give me supporting evidence.
The cemetery was named for the Hooten Family because the first burial was that of James Hooten's first wife Mary A.(Bills) Hooten, and the fact, that Mary's father, Daniel Baxter Bills and brother Johnthan Bills, owned the land when Mary died, and donated this peaceful, beautiful place for his daughter, sister and the community.
It is also believed that some where close to the Cemetery location is where the Early Church Of Christ was errected when the Hootens & Bills Families first settled the land in Lamar Co., TX, with new boundries in 1847, naming the new County Hopkins. I will continue this journey to find evidence that the Church did exsist. This Church is mentioned in Dr. Elijah Reeves Hooten's Obit, which is posted on his memorial page.
I will post a Cemetery Photo and the GPS location. Praise Be To God, for all the wonderful people who helped make this dream come true, to find the resting place of these early pioneers. My Thanks to so many who have encouraged me and are interested in seeing this to completion and they are Joe & Helen Cox, and Doyle Lee Ware, J.R. Dickey, and David Hurt, and June Ussery Bills, and George Hooten. We are also hoping others will join in with us. Many of the above are Seniors and we would love to have others join in and help us Mark this hollow earth,
known as the HOOTEN CEMETERY...FOR ALL GENERATIONS.
Thank you - God Bless,
Anita (Tucker) Poole - GGG-Grandaughter - Descendant of Dr. Elijah Reeves and Ellen Amanda (Bills) Hooten..