| The community of Gravelhill (at one time known
as Connville) seven miles north of Hemphill on FM 1592, had its beginning
on land granted to Joseph Mott by the Mexican government on June 20, 1835,
and not long after this date it became a growing and established community.
Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, among the very few
surviving churches established in Sabine County prior to 1900, was organized
at Gravelhill on January 3, 1876, and has been in continuous existence
from that time. The church was organized by J. S. Lambert and J. J. Roundtree
with the following charter members:
- George Conn
- H. S. White
- John Deweese
- Hosie Baldree
- M. A. Conn
- Sophia H. Wallace
- C. Baldree
- John Anderson
- T. D. Buckhalter
- L. S. Hoard
- Ann Mason
- Mary E. White
- Mrs. C. A. Hoard
The Gravelhill Cemetery lying alongside the church, as
well as the church, is located on land donated by the Conn family. Possibly
the cemetery precedes the church in existence as tradition is that an
emigrant family encamped on the hill where the present cemetery is located
had a child who died and was buried there. The date is unknown, and the
grave unmarked. However, one early burial date is that of Mary Boyett
in 1869. Several veterans of the Civil War are also interred there.
A United States Post Office was established in Gravelhill
on February 8, 1904, with the official name of Connville. Elisha L. Conn
was the first and only postmaster. The post office was discontinued on
June 10, 1907, with mail being handled from Bronson.
As was common in most pioneer communities, there were
several stores in operation within the community at various times over
the years. Perhaps one of the earliest was that of Henry Conn who also
operated a cotton gin and a water (grist) mill on the banks of Tebo Creek.
Other store owners were Pat McGown, George Boyd and Boston Watson.
During the years of the community school system which
began in 1854, at least four schools existed at various sites in the community.
One was located on the north bank of Tebo Creek near FM 1592, another
directly in front of the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in a building
formerly used by a Woodmen of the World Lodge, and one atop the hill immediately
north of the church. The last school (a three room building) was located
directly across the road from the present day home that is owned by the
descendents of Johnnie and Allie Conn. At its peak, there were not less
than 75 scholastics living within the community. The school closed permanently
after consolidation with the Hemphill Independent School District during
or immediately after the end of World War II.
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