Rockett
Rockett is located on FM 983 about eight miles northeast of Waxahachie.
The community was once known as Liberty (See Liberty-Sylvania church).
When Hans Smith stopped to water his team at a spot on Red Oak Creek
near (present) Rockett's location, he apparently felt the spot would be a
good place for his home and business. Records show that he opened a grocery
and dry goods store there in 1846. Smith was a man of many talents,
well educated, and a fluent speaker. He was the head speaker in 1851
for the event honoring Ellis County's formation in 1850. He is buried
in Smith Cemetery about two miles southeast of Rockett.
The community was named for John Rockett who came to the area about 1852.
His wife is buried in Bell's Chapel Cemetery just north of Rockett.
Other early families were Hartesy, Wicker, Coffey and Sullivan. The
community grew slowly and in 1894, received a post office, which was closed
in 1907. In 1933, there was a store, gin and the Christian church.
The population was 150 at this time, and declined very little; however,
there were no stores until recent years. The Liberty or Rockett Christian
Church, which moved to this location from Brushy Creek in 1901, became inactive
for a period of time. In August, 1983, a group of concerned Christians met
in the old building, discussed its preservation, and began meeting again
in October, 1983.
In Sept. 1861, Parson's Brigade was organized at Rockett. The unit
was trained and commanded by Col. William H. Parsons, Mexican War veteran,
colorful duelist, editor, merchant and lawyer. Besides fighting in
Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana and Indian Territory, the Brigade was famous
for attacks on federal ironclad ships in the Red River Campaign of 1864.
The old gin still stands, the Christian church is in use each week, and
there is also a grainery. Graves Cemetery is located just north about
half a mile on Bell's Chapel Road. It has recently been restored, is
still in use, and has a Texas Historical Marker which was placed there in
2001.
As we see in a number of these old communities, new homes are springing
up, and Rockett is beginning to grow once more. The old store is now
a restaurant, and farther east at the cross roads, there is a new filling
station and convenience store.
References:
Ennis Press, March 15, 1894, "Vignettes from
the History of Ellis County."
A Memorial and Biographical History of Ellis County, Texas, Lewis
Publishing Co. Chicago, 1892
Historical Marker "Parson's Cavalry C. S. A." Waxahachie Daily Light,
June 5, 1987
Ellis County History, compiled by Mrs. A. L. Feltenberger,
1955
Copyright © 2002-2016, Ellis County TXGenWeb. All
Rights Reserved.
This page
was last modified:
Thursday, 01-Jul-2021 13:17:23 MDT
|