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History in
a Pecan Shell
The town was named
after Joseph Abbott, lawyer, teacher, judge, and U. S. congressman
for District Twenty (Ellis,
Hill, Kaufman,
and Navarro counties).
The Missouri, Kansas and Texas railroad arrived in 1881 and a post
office was opened the following year.
In the 1890s Abbott had two cotton gins, and a gristmill as well as
the essential businesses every small town needed. The town had a series
of fires (1897, 1903 and 1904) but rebuilt each time. An interurban
railway connecting Forth
Worth and Waco was established
in 1913 - the same year Abott was electrified.
In 1920 a paved highway was built and things looked promising. But
after the Great Depression arrived, the town became a flagstop on
the railroad. School enrollment was 240 in 1930 but with consolidations
of other schools - this increased to over 500.
From only 156 people in 1890, Abbott reached it's peak in 1914 with
713 citizens. By the start of WWII
there were only 264 people - not far from what it is today.
It is against the law in Texas to mention
Abbott without declaring that Willie
Nelson is from Abbott. Old-timers still remember Willie carrying
his guitar to school and one person we talked to reported that he
thought that Willie's sister played guitar better than he did. |
Abbott United
Methodist and Baptist Churches
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, 2007 |
Abbott Baptist
Church historical marker
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, 2007 |
Abbott United
Methodist Church marker
Photo
courtesy Barclay
Gibson, 2007 |
Scott Chapel
Cemetery
aka Hejls Cemetery
Hill
County
Abbott, Texas |
Scott Chapel
Cemetery sign
Photo courtesy Jen
Basham, July 2018 |
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Lum C. Hardin
tombstone
Private Co. E. 11th Infantry 5th Division
Photo courtesy Jen
Basham, July 2018
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Sam McFall tombstone
Photo courtesy Jen
Basham, July 2018 |
Lambert graves
Click on image to enlarge
Photo courtesy Jen
Basham, July 2018 |
Fatima Cemetery
Hill
County
About 2 miles N of Abbott, Texas
County Road 3115 E, then N on County Road 3114 |
Fatima Cemetery
sign
Photo courtesy Jen
Basham, November 2018 |
Fatima Cemetery
Photo courtesy Jen
Basham, November 2018 |
Fatima Cemetery
Photo courtesy Jen
Basham, November 2018 |
Fatima Cemetery
Photo courtesy Jen
Basham, November 2018 |
Fatima Cemetery
Photo courtesy Jen
Basham, November 2018 |
| 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
us. |
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