Abbott, Texas, Hill County. (original) (raw)

Hill County, Central Texas North

31�53'2"N 97�4'32"W (31.883865, -97.075680)

Just E of I-35
10 miles S of Hillsboro the county seat
24 miles N of Waco
ZIP code 76621
Area code 254
Population: 352 (2020)
356 (2010) 321 (2000) 314 (1990)

Abbott TX water tower

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 City Hall, Texas

Abbott Tx Methodist And Baptist Churches

Abbott United Methodist and Baptist Churches
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, 2007

Abbott Tx Baptist Church

Abbott Baptist Church historical marker
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, 2007

Abbott Tx United Methodist Church

Abbott United Methodist Church marker

Abbott United Methodist Church marker
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, 2007

Abbott Grocery, Abbott, Texas

Abbott Texas store

Scott Chapel Cemetery

aka Hejls Cemetery

Hill County
Abbott, Texas

Hill County, Abbott TX - Scott Chapel Cemetery AKA Hejls Cemetery sign

Scott Chapel Cemetery sign
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, July 2018

Hill County, Abbott TX - Scott Chapel Cemetery AKA Hejls Cemetery

Hill County, Abbott TX - Scott Chapel Cemetery Lum Hardin Private C. E.11th Infantry 5th Division

Lum C. Hardin tombstone
Private Co. E. 11th Infantry 5th Division
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, July 2018

Hill County, Abbott TX - Scott Chapel Cemetery AKA Hejls Cemetery

Hill County, Abbott TX - Scott Chapel Cemetery AKA Hejls Cemetery

Hill County, Abbott TX - Scott Chapel Cemetery AKA Hejls Cemetery

Hill County, Abbott TX - Scott Chapel Cemetery AKA Hejls Cemetery tombstone

Sam McFall tombstone
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, July 2018

Hill County, Abbott TX - Scott Chapel Cemetery AKA Hejls Cemetery

Hill County, Abbott TX - Scott Chapel Cemetery AKA Hejls Cemetery

Hill County, Abbott TX - Scott Chapel Cemetery AKA Hejls Cemetery Lambert tombstones

Lambert graves
Click on image to enlarge
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, July 2018

Abbott Cemetery, Texas

Fatima Cemetery

Hill County
About 2 miles N of Abbott, Texas

County Road 3115 E, then N on County Road 3114

Abbott TX, Hill County Fatima Cemetery Sign

Fatima Cemetery sign
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, November 2018

Abbott TX, Hill County Fatima Cemetery Statue

Fatima Cemetery
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, November 2018

Abbott TX, Hill County Fatima Cemetery gate

Fatima Cemetery
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, November 2018

Abbott TX, Hill County Fatima Cemetery

Fatima Cemetery
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, November 2018

Abbott TX, Hill County Fatima Cemetery

Fatima Cemetery
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, November 2018

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