Sarah Jane (HOOTEN) Bearden the daughter of Doctor Elijah Reeves Hooten and Ellen Amanda (BILLS) Hooten and their obit says burial near where they first settled when coming to Hopkins Co., TX. This cemetery is located off of 2040 All so as know Dog Town Road, and there is a sign after you make the turn onto 2040 County Road, Located in Delta Co., Texas Between Commerce and Klondike., on the W.K.D'Spain Survey, which was homestead by Ellen's father Daniel Baxter Bills. Daniel's title passed to his son Johnathan Bills. Today the cemetery is on Mr Jack Neatherly's land. First burial was Ellen's sister, wife of James Hooten. It is known as the Old Hooten Cemetery. There is no eveidence of the cemetery, there are no remaining headstones. Mary A. (BILLS)Hooten, wife of James Hooten, died 1847, in childbirth, at the time it was still Hopkins Co., TX., before Delta County Texas was carved from it. Her death was just one year after making the journey from Tenn to Texas to resettle in the wilderness of Texas.
Sarah married on 17 Nov 1860 Hopkins Co., TX to Eli Franklin Bearden.
Sarah is the shorter women in the photo and on the left. The other women, taller one, on the right is believed to be a sister, but her name is unknown. Sarah The mother of 10 Children.
When Sarah and her husband (Eli Franklin Bearden) came to Hood Co., TX, the Indians raids were frightening. Sarah's husband and sons dug a dug-out under the bed. If the Indian's had found the girls they would take them, but not the boys. When they saw Indians coming she would quickly get the girls down in the dug-out, put the rug over the door to the dug out and set the bed over the door. I feel certain the girls brothers helped to quickly get their sisters in hiding. The girls would be so frightened, some said, "we did not dare to even breath."
Lois Seaton told me of the fearful raids which always seem to come when Pastor Bearden was away.
Sarah's husband was a Circuit Preacher and would be gone 2 weeks at a time. But, the Addran school was excellent and they wanted their children to attend in Thorp Springs, Hood Co., TX.. The school started out in Hopkins Co., TX where the Hooten and Beardens settled when coming to Texas. When the school moved to Hood Co., Tx they also moved. The 3rd move for the school/college, was to another location and is now know as Texas Christian University, Abilene, TX. I found the school records from Addran on the Bearden Children.
As the children got older, they would move with Rev. Bearden. It was difficult finding marriage records because they lived in so many Texas counties, when each daughter married. And, their daughters and their families made their homes in so many Texas Counties...Some I still have not located.
My research tells me this was a very loving, Christian Family.
Children that are not listed because I have yet to find where they were laid to rest.
1. Nancy Ellen "Ella" Bearden married Ruben D. Jones-15 Aug 1878 Lampasas Co., Texas Book A - D. - 5 known children. Ella born Oct 1861 Hopkins Co., TX
2 Mary E. Bearden married James Marion Tucker 1 Oct 1885 Blanket, Brown Co., TX listed below.
3. Amanda Jane Bearden Married James Nathanial Ross on 26 July 1885 Hopkins Co., TX They moved to Oklahoma, maybe around Pottawatomie. Then to the Moore, OK area.
4. John C. Bearden married Lela V. Myers. Listed below.
5. Sarah A. Bearden born 1870 Hopkins Co., TX
6. Laura Josephine "Josie" Born Feb 1872. Married William Turner Greer 22 Dec 1892 Comanche Co., TX. Mr Greer is buried in Charlie Cem in Clay Co., TX
7. Rhoda Emily Bearden born 21 Aug 1874 Lampasas Co., TX married William M. Loveless, Jr.17 March 1897 Dallas Co., TX and she is listed below.
8, Thomas W. Bearden Born 11 April 1876 Single VA Hospital Burial ?? some where in Ft. Worth, Tarrant Co., TX
9. Lauran N. Bearden born about 1877 - 1878. No other info
10. Lucy Kathrine Bearden Born 7 May 1880 married John Hardy Bryan. Mother of 5. Wingate Cemetery, Wingate, Runnels Co., TX Listed below.