Earl Texas, aka Earle�s Chapel Texas, or Earle�s Texas. (original) (raw)

Earle's Chapel Methodist Church and Cemetery
Photo Courtesy Barclay Gibson, January 2006

History in a Pecan Shell

The town was named after one M. L. Earle, who settled in the area in the late 1850s or early 1860s. The second part of the name came from the local church - the town's central building.

A post office was granted under the name Earl but only remained open for a few months in 1874. The community had 40 students enrolled in the Earle�s Chapel School in the 1890s.

Without a railroad and in a rather isolated region, Earle�s Chapel didn't pose much of a threat to the county seat. Still, throughout the 1930s, Earle�s Chapel maintained their school and church and still had enough people living in the area to keep it alive. After WWII, the population was drawn off by the larger towns and the school has since closed.

Today only the church and cemetery remain.

Earl, Texas Forum

Subject: The spelling of Earle's Chapel

Thanks for the info on Earle�s Chapel, the church and community west of Jacksonville. I couldn�t help but notice the varied spellings used throughout your article concerning Earle�s Chapel. The spelling should always be Earle�s instead of Earl�s. The state of TX had the incorrect spelling on their highway signs also, but the correct spelling is Earle. - Sincerely, Margaret Ann Mims Moody, Liberty, TX, Great-great granddaughter of Elijah Earle, May 01, 2006

Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact us.