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Watts Chapel
Methodist Church and Cemetery
Johnson County,
North Central Texas
Photos and information by Sam Fenstermacher
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Directions:
From Cleburne take FM
4 towards Grandview for about 5 miles. There's a Texas Historical
Commission marker on the main road and after that the church and cemetery
are on the left side of the road.
The Watts Chapel Methodist Church
This isn't a historical church preserved for future generations to
see and appreciate. The Watts Chapel Methodist Church is still very
much a part of the local community, and it's a very busy place. During
a recent visit to a Sunday service I had to sit in a pew way in the
back because the entire church was full |
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The Watts Chapel
Methodist Church
Photo Courtesy Sam Fenstermacher |
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The
church and marker
Photo Courtesy Sam Fenstermacher |
The text from
the Texas Historical Commission marker:
The rural Watts Chapel community is named for the family of Nathaniel
Franklin Watts (1851-1919), who settled in this area of Johnson County
in 1872. Watts married Rachel Ann Bennett in 1875, and they bought
a small farm near this site. They acquired additional acreage over
the years and operated a cotton gin for farmers in the region. Mr.
Watts later served as a Johnson County commissioner. Nathaniel and
Rachel Watts were the parents of twelve children, five of whom died
at an early age. The Watts Chapel Cemetery began as a family burial
ground in 1879, when their infant daughter, Sallie, died and was buried
on the family farm. Over the years other family members also were
interred here, as were friends and neighbors in the community. In
1892 the Watts family deeded three acres of land to the Methodist
church. The Rev. B. F. Badget served as first pastor of the new congregation,
which was named Watts Chapel in honor of its benefactors. The congregation
continues to be an active part of the community and hosts an annual
homecoming celebration. Both the church and the cemetery reflect the
pioneer heritage of rural Johnson County. |
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The Watts Chapel Cemetery
The four little grave markers in foreground are all Watts family children
who died early in life with the nearest stone being Sallie.
Photo Courtesy Sam Fenstermacher |
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The
marker stone for Sallie Watts, the first of the five Watts family
infants to die and the oldest grave in the cemetery.
Photo Courtesy Sam Fenstermacher |
©
Sam Fenstermacher
May 22, 2004
Anyone wishing to share stories or historic photos of Watts Chapel
and Cemetery, please contact
us.
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