Chappel in San Saba County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Chappel Cemetery

Photographed by James Hulse, May 30, 2024

1. Chappel Cemetery Marker

Inscription. Chappel, established in the 1850s, is one of San Saba County's earliest settlements. The land for this cemetery is part of 16 1/2 acres donated by Joab B. Harrell (1814-1893) that he formally deeded in 1886 to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Harrell, the county's first chief justice, had buried his own son at this site some fifteen years earlier. The M.E. church, a school and store served as the center of this community. This burial ground chronicles the lives of pioneers and families that are Chappel's heritage. The Chappel Cemetery Association was established in 1976 to ensure the site's preservation and perpetual care. Historic Texas Cemetery - 2001

Erected 2001 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 13694.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1886.

Location. 31° 3.334′ N, 98° 34.31′ W. Marker is in Chappel, Texas, in San Saba County. It is at the intersection of Ranch to Market Road 501 and County Road 424, on the left when traveling north on Road 501. The marker is located at the entrance to the cemetery along the highway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11815 RM501, San Saba TX 76877, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Big Country.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Edward D. Doss (approx. 4.7 miles away); We Gave Our Life for Our Country (approx. 4.7 miles away); McAnelly Settlement (approx. 5.7 miles away); Site of Old Behrns West Texas Normal and Business College (approx. 9.7 miles away); Indian Signaling Grounds (approx. 11.1 miles away); Chadwick's Mill (approx. 11.2 miles away); Site of Barnett-Hamrick Settlement (approx. 11.2 miles away); Harris Cemetery (approx. 11.6 miles away).

Also see . . . Chappel, TX. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)

Chappel, previously known as Harrell's Chappel, is at the intersection of Farm roads 1031 and 501, near Cherokee Creek and five miles southwest of Bend in southeastern San Saba County. On October 7, 1854, David and Esther Matsler settled on Cherokee Creek near the site of future Chappel. Other early settlers in the area included the Rumsey and Poplin families, Ambrose Casey, E. M. Boyett, and three brothers, William A., David Donald, and James Milton Low. By the 1860s settlers were involved in stock raising, irrigation, and chairmaking. In the late 1880s Joab B. Harrell donated fifteen acres of land to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The new church building also served as a school until 1892, when a separate
Photographed by James Hulse, May 30, 2024

2. The entrance to the Chappel Cemetery and Marker
structure was erected for the school. The Keeney (Keeney's) post office was established beside Davis Creek near Chappel in 1879. The post office was operated by George Keeney in his home until a flood destroyed it on July 8, 1880. Mail was then sent to San Saba until 1891, when the Richards (Richard) post office was opened near Davis Creek in Mrs. Sabina A. Self's home. This office lasted less than a year because of a flood. Mail was routed to the Bend post office until the Chappel post office was opened in 1897. This post office was named after the church and served the community until 1917. In 1914 Chappel had two general stores and a population of twenty-five. The Chappel post office was reestablished in 1918 and operated until 1941. The estimated population of Chappel was sixty-nine from 1925 until 1939, when it fell to fifty. The number of local businesses also declined from ten in 1933 to two in 1939. Although the estimated population of Chappel remained at fifty from 1939 to 1964, the number of businesses fell to one in 1945. After 1964 there were no rated businesses reported in Chappel. The community's estimated population from 1966 through 2015 was twenty-five. In 1984 a church and a cemetery remained at the site.

(Submitted on May 31, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 3, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 31, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 430 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 31, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.