Hooker Cemetery

Hooker Cemetery. James and Elizabeth Kitching Hooker migrated from Tennessee to Missouri to Texas. By 1842 James had claimed a headright grant for 640 acres located in the extreme Northwest corner of then Nacogdoches County. In 1846 he helped organize Hunt County as one of the five original commissioners, was elected its first probate judge and represented the county in the Fourth and Sixth Legislature and the Secession Convention. The Texas Historical Survey Committee, in 1966, placed a plaque on James Hooker's grave honoring him as a "Prominent Hunt County Pioneer.", Established in the Southwest corner of James Hooker's original land grant, Hooker Cemetery's first burial was Ann R. Hooker who died October 3, 1851. By the early 1900's the land was owned by Nathan Rabb, a son-in-law of James Hooker who deeded 8.4 acres to the cemetery. In 2003 Sherman Chapman and Rita Shepherd deeded an adjoining 2.5 acres for future expansion., The name of the cemetery has always been Hooker Cemetery. Being located in the Hooker Ridge Community however, local people have referred to it as Hooker Ridge Cemetery. Early settlers brought slaves with them and oral history says several are buried along the west edge of the original part. These probable graves are unmarked. Of approximately 1,000 marked graves now existing, only 33 are dated before 1900. Veterans of six wars are buried here., Formed to provide ongoing care in the 1920's, the Hooker Cemetery Association was incorporated in 1974. The association has established burial fees and regulations, administers and maintains the cemetery, and meets annually to elect officers and transact business