Old Sardis Cemetery
San Augustine County, TX
1876
Reba Jernigan Powers, Liberty Powers, Betty Davis Stokes
© 1999
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY THE AUTHORS
Music: Shall We Gather at the River
Revised 13 August 1999

reba@netdot.com | In the Past Lane | Luman Family

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Contributors to the original transcription and recorded history of this cemetery include: Mrs. C. T. (Jeffie Fitzgerald) Wall, Mrs. Billy (Carolyn) McClendon, Mrs. J. M. (McXie Whitton) Martin, Georgea Ethel (Rollins) Hooper, Wanda Hopkins, Wm. Wayne Hopkins, and Euel L. Hopkins.

            The Old Sardis Cemetery is located in the northwest corner of San Augustine County on part of the 1100 acres of land that James Howard Hopkins secured as his 2nd Class Headwright in 1837. Hopkins, a native of Tennessee and the son of John Howard Hopkins, was born about 1810. He married Mary "Polly" Dean, the seventeen-year-old daughter of John and Mary Dean, around 1830 in Coffee County, Tennessee.
            The Hopkins became the parents of seven children: Ruth Elizabeth (m. 1st Allen D. Burress, m. 2nd Richard Adams); Nancy Caroline (died in childhood); Mary Sophronia (died in childhood); John Thomas (m. 1st Margaret E. Rhone, m. 2nd Mrs. Margaret Palvadore Harrell); James Travis (killed in Arkansas during the War Between the States); Soloman (died in childhood); and William Levi (m. 1st Malinda Rhone, m. 2nd. Sally J. Mahan).
            According to the Texas General Land Office records, James Howard Hopkins emigrated to Texas before October of 1837, along with three of his brothers, William, Levi, and Mark, and a sister, Mary Hopkins Medford. Preceding them to San Augustine County was another brother, Soloman Hopkins, who, in the summer of 1836, enlisted in the company of Captain Jewell's Tennessee Volunteers. By 1846, William, Soloman, and Levi Hopkins had moved to Anderson County; Mary Hopkins Medford had settled in Grimes County; and about 1849, Mark Hopkins had moved to California.
          In 1838, James Howard served as First Lieutenant under Captain Travis Broocks in the Cordova Rebellion. About 1844, the Hopkins family  left San Augustine County and moved to Rusk and Smith counties. While in Smith County, Hopkins became ill and died in 1847. The location of his grave is not known.
            About 1876, his sons John Thomas and William Levi moved back to San Augustine County and took possession of the estate. By then, the Davis, Crenshaw, Burgess, Jones, Hodge, Taylor, Perry, and other families had moved into the area. The Timpson-Chireno road went through the western part of the estate, and the settlers asked permission to bury their dead and to build a place to have church and school. The Hopkins heirs gave their consent, and the community became known as Old Sardis.
             The Hopkins estate was divided in 1904, and the tract on which the cemetery and church were located was sold to the Waterman Lumber Company. However, the Waterman Lumber Company deeded back to the community of Old Sardis two acres for church and cemetery purposes, at the same location which has been used for some 30 years. There are 125 graves with monuments in Old Sardis Cemetery. Eighty-six graves do not have monuments, but their identities and locations are known. Sixty-four other individuals are known to be buried there, but in unknown locations.