Rowlett Creek Cemetery

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to honor every word. Now, some places earn their names in quiet ways — a man passes through, stakes a claim, walks the land — and the creek and the church and the cemetery all carry that name forward long after the man himself is gone. That's the story we're standing in the middle of right now.

In 1836, Dr. Daniel Rowlett made his way to Texas. He was a Kentuckian, born in 1786, and he didn't come alone — he brought his wife and six other families with him.

The man was hard to categorize. Physician. Lawyer.

Surveyor. Politician. He settled near what is now Bonham, and in 1838 he received a large land grant.

He located much of that grant in the fertile area running along what we now call Rowlett Creek. For a while, folks gathered the only way early settlers knew how — in homes, outdoors, wherever there was room and willingness. Then in 1848, seven charter members came together and organized the Wilson Creek Church of United Baptists, under the leadership of the Reverend David Myers.

Seven people. That's it. That's how something lasting begins.

Four years later, in 1852, the congregation took a new name: Rowlett Creek Baptist Church. Now here's where the land itself enters the story. In 1861, George White — born in 1820 — deeded six acres at this very site for a meetinghouse.

The following year, Shadrick J. Jackson and his wife Sophronia deeded an adjacent four acres. Shadrick was born in 1830, and he would not live to see 1864.

But his four acres stayed. And soon after those deeds were recorded, lots were set aside for a cemetery. The earliest marked grave belongs to a pioneer named Alfred Harrington — 1862.

That same year came the second interment: a man named Charles Gough, who was on furlough from the Confederate Army when he was buried here. Two graves in one year, both 1862, both in ground that was barely broken for the purpose. The cemetery association wouldn't come until 1895, when the Rowlett Creek Cemetery Association was formally organized.

By that point, this ground had already been holding people for over thirty years. The church itself is believed to be the earliest Baptist church in all of Collin County. It went inactive in 1935 — but before it did, it had been instrumental in establishing many early churches, a number of which are still prominent across the North Texas area today.

Seven charter members. A physician-lawyer-surveyor-politician who located a land grant along a creek. Two deed holders.

Two graves in 1862. One cemetery that's still here. Some stories don't need embellishing.

They just need telling.

What the marker says

In 1836 Dr. Daniel Rowlett (1786-1848), a Kentuckian, came to Texas with his wife and six other families. Rowlett, a physician, lawyer, surveyor, and politician, settled near present Bonham. He located much of his large 1838 land grant in the fertile area along present Rowlett Creek. After meeting in homes and outdoors, seven charter members organized the Wilson Creek Church of United Baptists in 1848, under leadership of the Rev. David Myers. In 1852 the name became "Rowlett Creek Baptist Church". George White (1820-1886) deeded six acres at this site in 1861 for a meetinghouse. The following year Shadrick J. Jackson (1830-1863) and his wife Sophronia deeded an adjacent four acres. Soon lots were set aside for this cemetery. The earliest marked grave is that of pioneer Alfred Harrington in 1862. The second interment in 1862 was that of Charles Gough, who was on furlough from the Confederate Army. In 1895 the Rowlett Creek Cemetery Association was formed. Rowlett is believed to be the earliest Baptist church in Collin county. It became inactive in 1935 but had been influential in establishing many early churches, a number of which are still prominent in the North Texas area. (1979)