Historical Marker

John May Cemetery

Historical marker location:
Off CR 3685, Center, Texas
( North from Center on FM 699, until you cross the Flat Fork bridge. Look for the first county road 3685 on the east (right). Turn right onto 3685 and drive 1.4 miles. It will tee into CR 3853. Again turn right onto 3853. Drive .7 mile and turn right (south) on 3865. Continue for .4 mile. At the fork of CR 3685 and a private road, leave the county road by going straight onto private property for .4 mile. You will stop at a locked gate. The cemetery is .5 mile beyond the locked gate. Private Property)
Marker installed: 2014
Marker size: 27" x 42" with post

JOHN MAY CEMETERY

John May Cemetery, also known as the May-Hooper Cemetery, holds the graves of the May and Hooper families dating back to the 1850s. Pioneers began to settle Shelby County around 1836, including the John May family. Born in 1797, John immigrated to Texas in 1836 with his wife and two sons. He settled on 605 acres of land near the flat fork branch of the Tenaha Bayou. John May died around 1870 and was buried near his first two wives in their family cemetery. He was a veteran of the War of 1812 and a Texas Ranger. The May House is still standing near the cemetery and is now called the “Haight House.”

The Richard Hooper family is also buried in this cemetery. Richard was born in 1783 in Virginia and immigrated to Texas with his wife and family. In 1836, he served in the army of the Republic of Texas, then represented the county in the first congress of the republic. Hooper was paid as a surveyor for establishing the line between Shelby county and Panola county and was elected county surveyor twice. He died in 1855 and was buried here. Between 1960 and 1980, the cemetery was repeatedly vandalized and tombstones were taken. The land was then sold to the international paper company in 1970 without mention of the cemetery. Trees grew inside the originally fenced area and the cemetery slid into disrepair until 2001 when concerned individuals began to preserve it. In 2004, the Hooper-May Preservation Association was established to clean up and preserve the cemetery. Since it is on the original John May land, it is now called the John May Cemetery. The cemetery is an important early pioneer site, holding the graves of settlers from the early days of the Republic of Texas.

HISTORIC TEXAS CEMETERY – 2010

MARKER IS PROPERTY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS

As one of the most visible programs of the Texas Historical Commission (THC), historical markers commemorate diverse topics in Texas history, including: the history and architecture of houses, commercial and public buildings, religious congregations, and military sites; events that changed the course of local and state history; and individuals who have made lasting contributions to the state, community organizations, and businesses.

gravesites
Audiobooks about the history of Texas.
The Texas Rangers, a famous law enforcement agency, were first organized in 1835 to protect settlers from Native American attacks.
Texas random facts
Shelby County, Texas, located in the eastern part of the state, has a rich and diverse history. The region was originally inhabited by several Native American tribes, including the Caddo, Atakapa, and Hasinai. The first European explorers, including Spanish and French explorers, arrived in the area in the 18th century. However, it wasn't until the early 19th century that permanent settlement began.

In 1835, the Mexican government granted land in the area to Stephen F. Austin's colony, which attracted many settlers to Shelby County. The county was officially established in 1836 and named after Isaac Shelby, who was the first governor of Kentucky. The county's population grew steadily, and by the mid-19th century, it became a major center for agriculture, with cotton being the primary crop.

During the Civil War, Shelby County, like many other parts of Texas, sided with the Confederacy. It sent many men to fight in the Confederate army, and the local economy suffered from the effects of the war. However, the county rebounded after the war, and by the late 19th century, it experienced an economic boom with the discovery of oil and gas reserves.

In the 20th century, Shelby County continued to thrive, with the oil and gas industries playing a significant role in its economy. The county also witnessed significant social and political changes, with the Civil Rights Movement bringing about integration and equal rights for African Americans. Today, Shelby County remains an important agricultural and industrial center, with a mix of rural landscapes and urban developments.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Shelby County, Texas.

  • 1823 - Shelby County is established
  • 1836 - Shelby County plays a role in the Texas Revolution
  • 1845 - Texas is admitted to the United States, including Shelby County
  • 1859 - The Texas State Legislature establishes Center as the county seat of Shelby County
  • 1861-1865 - Shelby County is deeply affected by the American Civil War
  • 1905 - The discovery of oil leads to economic growth in Shelby County
  • 1940s-1950s - Shelby County experiences a decline in population due to rural-to-urban migration
  • 1976 - Shelby County celebrates its sesquicentennial anniversary
  • 2000s - Shelby County continues to be home to a diverse and vibrant community