Leagueville Then and Now

Leagueville Then and Now

13 Sep 2008

By: Wayne Smith

A land certificate that originated in 1848 was patented in 1850 by Aaron York, surveyor for a league of land in Henderson County, TX, located west of the River Neches on Flat Creek. This area was referred to as "The League" and it is thought "ville" was added possibly to secure a post office. The record of Leagueville (formerly Hopewell) Baptist Church gives the church meeting at the League School House to organize in 1880. By 1855 the Sublett family had gained control of the land and sold it to Matthew Cartwright in 1857. In 1871 B.T. and Annie (Cartwright) Roberts had acquired rights to the property. B.T. died in1887 and Annie in 1903. In 1871 the York heirs sued to regain control of the property but lost on appeal in 1875. The Roberts deeded three acres for school purposes in 1884. Research by Historian Judy Jacobson shows a register of Doctors in the county in 1904 with Leagueville having two.

The litigation slowed the development of the area and only became a community in the late 1800s. Burials had begun on the School property as early as 1863 and it is thought the school moved across the road in the late 1800s where it remained until consolidating with Brownsboro in 1934, transportation making this possible. At the time the roads were un-paved and practically impassable in wet weather. Voluntary help was required to maintain the roads before the County assumed the responsibility. F. M. 607 was built in 1946 and F.M. 317 in 1950, greatly improving accessibility. Clint Gideon and Buell Taylor were the first bus drivers. Later ones were Jess Forrester and Howard Adair, when busses were over-nighted in the community. 1881-1884 records list Georgia Watkins, J.A. Hall, and W.H. Whatley as teachers and G.F. Brownlow, C.G. Hudson, W.R. Murphy, Phelps Smith, and John Rash, trustees.

A Post Office was established on the 30th of March 1899 and closed in 1907. Joe Shelton picked up the mail and placed it on the train at Brownsboro or Murchison. At one time there were two general stores, church, two cotton gins, blacksmith shop and grist-mill; the latter known to have been operated at one time by Rial Adair. A broken and discarded millstone remains and has been placed around the Historical Marker by the cemetery. The I.A. Barton cotton gin moved to Brownsboro about 1915 and remained in operation for many years. The cotton gins were powered by steam and two were said to have burned. Wes Adair fired the boiler for the last time in 1915. Access to the Rail Road precipitated the move and church members moved also and organized First Baptist Church as an Independent Baptist Church in 1909 as it has remained to the present. G.L. Parker was a charter member of both Leagueville and Brownsboro churches.

The blacksmith shop was run by Black Dean and stores were operated by John Adair, J.D. Browning, Will Cooper, John I. Hollingsworth, and Vern Massey. Later owners were Dee Richardson, George Hudnall, Wood McQueen, Garrett Darden, Alfred Kirkpatrick, Russell Williams, Durward Dingler, Robert Tillison, Harrison Arnett, Dewey Williams, Doug Williams, Gip Nichols, Elliout Reagan, Preston Gideon, Horton Epperson and Jack Poore. The old store building burned in 1978 and the church bought the property. The store is now a Kidd-Jones .02 east of the church.

The coming of the Rail Road through Brownsboro in the late 1800s left Leagueville off the beaten path. Highway 31 was built alongside the railroad and Leagueville's hey-day was over. The old deeds call the road through Leagueville the Athens to Tyler road.

The cemetery was expanded in 1946, 1960, and 1998 and contains approximately four acres. There are 800 known graves which include 10 veterans of the Civil War, 7 W.W.1, 46 W.W.2 and 15 Korean, Viet-Nam, and other conflicts. For many years the grounds were hoed and the graves mounded up, but because of erosion and time required in maintenance, mowing was begun in the late 50s or early 60s. Sam Reagan, grandfather of former County Judge Winston Reagan, kept the cemetery for many years and recalled helping dig the first grave. There are many un-known graves as well as some possibly un-marked. An Historical Marker has been placed largely through the efforts of Fran (Adair) Bethea and the Henderson County, Historical Commission. A Memorial Day is observed on 2nd Sunday in June each year. A board of trustees is responsible for the up-keep. The cemetery was incorporated in 1998. The cemetery was recently transcribed by Don Adair, grandson of Rial Adair, and included in the Henderson County, web-site directed by Bunny Freeman. C.L. Gideon compiled a list of the known veterans and flags are placed and re-placed for Memorial Day in May and Veterans Day in November by the Athens Post of the V.F.W. The cemetery maintenance is funded through donations. During the time of the last expansion an old Dipping Vat was found. This was used by the community for tick control in cattle.

The church, begun as "Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church of Christ" in 1880, remains in the original location and was preceded by Rock Hill and New York churches. Charter members were: G.L. Parker and wife, C.G. Hudson and wife, R.O. Echols and wife, J.M. Echols and wife, B.B. Mitchell, Texana Echols, S.E. Parker, Ann Garrett, F.L. Shelton, Susan Lawrence, and M.R. Hopson. Organized as part of Saline Baptist Assn., forerunner of the Southern Baptist Convention chose to become Independent in 1905 and has remained so to the present time. The church currently has 200 members on the rolls with attendance at 150-200. A Parsonage was erected in 1958 and continues in use. With the last addition the plant contains approximately 20,000 sq. ft. at an estimated value of $ 1,000,000.00. Tom Bragdon serves as pastor, with Justin Bragdon as youth pastor and Selman Parker as music director.

Malachiah Reeves, an early settler and Civil War veteran was well known in the area and served as Postmaster in 1906 and 1907, when it closed. He was licensed to preach at Leagueville Baptist Church and was the first pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Black Jack. He is interred in Leagueville Cemetery.