Cornett, Texas, Cass County. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

Settled prior to the Civil War, the community was first named Hamil's Chapel. It was changed to Troup, after the county in Georgia where most of the residents had lived before coming to Texas.

Finally, the name was changed to Cornett after G. T. Cornett, a local landowner and his family. The community had a post office in operation from 1901 to 1906. The only population estimates come from 1933 when 53 residents were reported, 1964 when it had fallen to 40 and 1986 when it reached an estimated 30 � the same number used through 2000.

Cornett Today

Photographer�s Note:
�Today Cornett is nothing more than a wide spot on the road. There are several residences in the vicinity and a nice church and cemetery.� However, as the cemetery marker indicates, over the years there have been many people who once called this place home.� - Gerald Massey, July 2010

Historical Marker

Cornett Cemetery

The first burials here were in the 1850s, but the oldest legible stone marks the grave of Mary Frances Hampton, who died Oct. 4, 1880. Robert Dunlap donated nine acres of land to the cemetery and to adjacent Hamell's Chapel Methodist Church. Other donors of land included G. T. Cornett and S. E. McCord, Fred and Sallie Hall, and Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Trumble. Known by several names during its history, the community burial ground was renamed "Cornett" after Cornett Post Office was established in 1901. The cemetery contains about 295 marked and 110 unmarked graves.

1907 Cass County postal map showing Cornett
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

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