Judge James Hooker

Duane's take

The way the official marker tells it, here's the story of Judge James Hooker. Now, some men come to Texas and leave a footprint. James Hooker came to Texas and left a county seat, a legislature seat, a post office, and a steam mill humming in the pines.

Let me lay it out for you. Born in 1807, Hooker made his way to Texas in 1840, and the Republic of Texas took notice right quick. They granted him a 640-acre headright, which was no small thing.

That land became his foundation, and he built on it in just about every way a man could. He served as a commissioner to organize the county and locate the county seat, which means before there was really a county to speak of, James Hooker was one of the men drawing the lines. He became the first postmaster of the Hooker's Mill settlement, and that mill at the heart of it all was the first steam mill in the entire area.

Now, a steam mill in that time and place was the kind of thing that put a settlement on the map, and sure enough, the town grew into an important stop on the road running from Clarksville all the way down to Austin. Travelers moving through that country knew the name. Then Hooker stepped into the halls of government, representing his county in both the Fourth and the Sixth Legislatures of Texas.

And when the great question of secession came before the state, he was there too, a member of the Secession Convention. James Hooker died in 1865, and here is the part that closes the circle: he is buried right there on his headright, the same 640 acres the Republic of Texas granted him when he first arrived. He came to Texas, put down roots in that ground, and that ground is where he stayed.

What the marker says

Prominent Hunt County pioneer (1807-1865) Came to Texas 1840. Granted a 640-acre headright by Republic of Texas. Served as commissioner to organize county and locate county seat. First postmaster of Hooker's Mill settlement where he owned area's first steam mill. Town important stop on Clarksville to Austin Road. Represented county in Fourth and Sixth Legislatures. Member of Secession Convention. Buried here on his headright. Recorded - 1966