Early Years

In the early 1800s, the Brazos River and its tributaries were a destination for new settlers coming to Texas.   Tributary forks, like George’s Creek, were a life source to native Indians, pioneer settlers and their livestock.  The first pioneer settlers in the Somervell area were George Barnard and the Torrey brothers from Connecticut.  By 1843, a partnership with Sam Houston was made to establish settlements along the Brazos and promote peace with the Indians. 

The firm of Torrey and Brothers traded widely with the Indians for about ten years, from John F. Torrey’s arrival in Houston in 1838 until 1848, when the Torreys sold the major trading house to George Barnard.  The Torreys’ trading activities were a vital part of Sam Houston’s peace policy and acted as a civilizing agent for the Indians. The Torreys conducted a significant fur trade, assisted in the establishment of New Braunfels, recovered stolen horses and captives from the Indians, and established what was perhaps the first regional bank in the United States.  John Torrey and his brothers David K. and Thomas S. Torrey built the first frame house in Houston and used it as a trading post and as a supply center for their other posts.  David purchased goods in Boston and New York. George Barnard and Sam Houston may have been stockholders in the enterprise.  The Torreys operated a trading house on the Bosque River in 1842 and established houses at Austin, San Antonio (1844), New Braunfels (1845), and Fredericksburg.  Barnard opened a branch store on the Navasota River in 1843, and, at Houston’s request, the firm opened a branch at the falls of the Brazos.  The Brazos post, on Tehuacana Creek in McLennan County, received a license in December 1843 after the Torreys made bond for $10,000.  With its official status under a law of the Republic of Texas passed in 1843, the post had a near monopoly of the Texas Indian trade.  In 1846 Dr. Ferdinand von Roemer made a trip from New Braunfels to the Brazos post with John Torrey and described the trading house as standing in a post oak grove on a high, pebble-covered hill overlooking Tehuacana Creek.  The post comprised six or seven houses built of rough-hewn logs. The largest house held pelts, another contained trade goods for the Indians, and the remaining served as living quarters.  In 1846 Paul Richardson built an additional building for a fee of $100.  The post traded goods to the Indians and, for a price, recovered stolen horses, runaway slaves, and captured Mexicans from the Indians. Indians frequently met at a council ground some four miles west of the trading post.  In May 1845 about 1,000 lodges, or 4,000 persons, camped near the post. On November 16, 1845, Thomas I. Smith and George W. Terrell made a treaty with the Kichai, Tawakoni, Waco, and Wichita groups at the post. In 1844 the Torrey brothers furnished Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels with weapons for the Adelsverein.  The brothers contracted with John O. Meusebach to provision and transport German immigrants from the coast inland.[1]

Companion Settlements

In 1849 George Barnard built one of a chain of Torrey trading houses on the Brazos River at what is now the site of Fort Spunky.  The post itself, run by Charles Barnard, was built near a spring and beside a settlement of peaceable, agricultural Indians. The trading post lay near well-traveled Indian highways and the prominent landmark Comanche Peak, used by the Indians, especially the Comanches, as a lookout, rallying point, and campground.  George and Charles Barnard procured thousands of acres near Comanche Peak and along the Brazos River.  

Around 1850, two pioneer settlements, Fort Spunky and George’s Creek, sprang up 1 and 4 miles south of the trading post.  In the mid-1850s the Indians were moved to Fort Belknap by the United States government, and the Barnards’ trading post declined.

The Fort Spunky settlement was originally named Barnardville.  The community acquired the colorful name Fort Spunky because sporadic fistfights broke out in town.  The settlement was predominantly an agricultural trade center that took the place of the defunct trading post.  About forty residents lived there in 1896.  In the early 1900s John D. Armstrong, the postmaster, owned virtually all the businesses, namely the cotton gin, gristmill, general store, blacksmith shop, and feed store.

The remnants of the Fort Spunky community are on Farm roads 199 and 2174 and Lake Granbury in the southeastern corner of Hood County. [2]

The companion town to Fort Spunky was called George’s Creek, which was developed on the 8-mile long George’s Creek tributary to the Brazos River, also on land owned by George Barnard. These are the two oldest settlements in the area.  J.H. Chambers and Norv Randle, the first settlers of George’s Creek came in 1854.  The town of George’s Creek and the Cemetery were originally located east of George’s Creek.  In 1876, a post office serving the community opened. A blacksmith, photography studio, shoe store, barbershop, doctor’s office, and a telephone exchange all operated in the community.  By 1885, many additional families had arrived in the area, establishing many farms, businesses and churches, including Cumberland Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist congregations.  The creek proved to be rich in silica and a mine that specialized in the material thrived in the town around 1888.  Records indicate two active Baptist churches in George’s Creek community in the 1880’s: Good Hope and George’s Creek.  A third Baptist Church, Buck Creek, formed near the Nemo community in the early 1890s.  A copper and sulfur mine opened during the Civil War.  After the war, many families came to George’s Creek, most of them farmers. [3]

According to the 1889 U.S. Geological Survey of Somervell County.  The road system connected the county seats of Cleburne, Granbury and Glen Rose with these two settlements.    Following the advent of the automobile and paved roads, many residents moved to cities.

Original Road

The earliest road traveled north along the eastern boundary of the Cemetery and town.  It continued north to Fort Spunky, up between the Barnard Trading Post and Knob, crossed the Brazos into De Cordova Bend and on northwards to Acton and Granbury.  Smaller farms were merged into large ranches and the population began to decline in the mid-1920s. The post office ceased operations in 1939. [4]

George’s Creek Cemetery

In 1870, Thomas Taylor conveyed 7 acres for the specified uses of School House, Meeting House and Burial Ground to the Georges Creek Cemetery Trustees, James E. Norton, Thomas Taylor and Elias Underwood.  J. H. Chambers owned the adjoining land south of the 7 acres and built a cotton gin on the creek.  

Site of Meeting and School House

A board of trustees have overseen the care and maintenance of the Cemetery since the 7 acres were donated in 1870. 

The aerial pictured, at left, shows the correct east/west orientation of the gravesites in Sections A-E, before interior roads were added and graves began to be more aligned with the interior roads.  The Meeting and School House in Section E was forced to move west of the creek in the1900’s, along with the rest of the town. 

The Cemetery existed in Sections A & B before the 7 acres was donated by Taylor.  Within only 39 years (1862-1901) the Cemetery occupied 2/3 of the 7 acres donated by Taylor, about 300 graves. (Sections A, B, C, D and 1/2 of E).  By 1929, all of the 7 donated acres were being used for the Cemetery.

Unmarked graves are typically some of the oldest ones in country cemeteries, at George’s Creek Cemetery, we find 170 unmarked graves in the oldest Sections A & B.   The oldest marked grave is in Section A: Sara Olive Berry March 18, 1862.  Some of the 132 unmarked graves in Section A would have been deaths that occurred before 1862.  The oldest marked graves in the other Sections are: Section B: 1863, Section C: 1890, Section D: 1893, Section E: 1901, Section F: 1909, Section G: 1929 and Section H: 1923.

From 1850 – 1979, George’s Creek Cemetery was open to the public, for anyone who lived in the area or who was traveling through the area and died.  From 1979 – 2014, the Cemetery was semi-public, open to “someone with a relative buried at the Cemetery or someone who lived within an area bordered on the west by the Brazos River and on the east by a small part of Johnson County. 

Many former residents of Johnson, Hood and Somervell Counties have been laid to rest at the Cemetery, along with the earliest settlers of the local area.  This includes veterans of modern era wars, both Confederate and Union soldiers, victims of the 1918 Spanish flu, authors of Texas History books, the first judge of Somervell County, donors of land for the Cemetery, Jack Ruby’s bouncer, A Wolf Brand Chili television personality and former George’s Creek Cemetery Association Trustees and caretakers.

The Tabernacle

In 1911, J.H Allison donated 4 acres to the Cemetery Trustees, W.H. Allison, R. L. Bedwell and M.C. Myers for the tabernacle, which had already been built by George’s Creek Baptist Church in 1909.  George’s Creek Baptist Church was established in 1885 and shared a pastor with the Good Hope congregation.  They also shared space with other churches, meeting in the Methodist church building, in schoolhouses, and under brush arbors and tents.  In 1905, the church reorganized, and members constructed a tabernacle at the Cemetery in 1909.  There, they held services, summer worship, big revivals, camp meetings, funerals as well as community gatherings.  They later constructed and moved into the nearby sanctuary, which they continue to use today, built by the Holiness church in 1915. 

Although records for certain time periods are scarce, the known history of George’s Creek Baptist church indicates more than a century of dedicated worship.  Even in times without regular pastors, the congregation maintained a strong Sunday School program.   The membership has changed along with the area population, but the church continues to be a spiritual and social center for the community it serves.

The George’s Creek Cemetery Association was formally established May 30,1979 and the Trust Fund was initiated by donor: Raymond Elliott; along with Trustees: Rose Mary Cavasos, Seth Edens, F. L. Myres, Sis Myres, Roy L. Orr, Sam Orr, E. D. Pinson, and Sam White.  On October 29,1979 By-Laws were executed. Beginning January 1, 2014, the By-Law requirements for membership in the Association shall be limited to any person who is a direct descendant, or spouse of a direct descendant, of an individual buried in the Cemetery.

In 2021, Vernon W. Russell donated an additional 4.238 acres to the Association for expansion.

The Cemetery is the oldest and largest in Somervell County. It serves as the historical link to the two earliest pioneer settlements, and the burial place for many of the settlers and their descendants. Since 1892 relatives of the early settlers meet at the Cemetery on the first Saturday in May for the Annual Meeting of the Association.[5]

[1] https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/barnard-george

[2] https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/fort-spunky-tx

[3] https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/georges-creek-tx

[4] GeorgesCreekCemetery.org

[5] GeorgesCreekCemetery.org

Bird’s Eye View of Local History

~1500Archaeologists place the red man here thousands of years before “pale face” arrived.
1542Louis Mascosco De Alvarado passed by Comanche Peak.
1611-1634Group of Catholic Missionaries visited Indians in the area.
1772De Mazieres, Frenchman, passed by Comanche Peak.
1786Pedro Vial, Frenchman, passed by Comanche Peak.
1787Hoza Mares crossed Brazos River near Granbury.
1818George Barnard born, Hartford, Connecticut.
1823Charles Barnard born, Hartford, Connecticut.
1824Juannah Cavasos born.
1825Sam Graham born.
1827Matt Graham born.
1836Texas Declaration of Independence.
1838George Barnard and John F. Torrey came to Texas.
1840George Barnard claimed 320 acres on George’s Creek.
1841George Barnard and Thomas Torrey in Santa Fe Expedition, passed in view of Comanche Peak.
1842Charles Barnard joined his brother about this time.  They, along with the Torreys formed a business for the purpose of establishing Indian trading posts along Brazos River north of Houston.
1843George Barnard and Thomas Torrey made a journey up the Brazos for locating trading post sites.
1844George Barnard established Trading Post No. 2.
1845Texas Annexation into United States.
1847John F. Torrey acquired Comanche Peak land.  Barnard brothers made large purchases of land east of Comanche Peak.
1848George Barnard purchased Torrey interested in trading post at Waco Village for $9,500.
1849Barnards purchased McClusky land and established trading post near Fort Spunky.
1851John Barnard – reportedly first white child born in Hood County.
1852Alcy Elliott was born at George’s Creek before community formed.  She was the daughter of James M. Elliott, grandfather of Raymond Elliott.
1854Johnson County created, George’s Creek community formed, and Matt Graham settled on George’s Creek land.  Norv Randle and J.H. Chambers settled at George’s Creek.
1855Government moved Indians from Barnard Trading Post to Fort Belknap Reservation.  First sale of town lots at Wardville.  J.M. Elliott and A.D. Kennard deeded lots.
1856Samuel White came to Nemo and George’s Creek area.
1857James Allison visited area, returning later to settle in the community.
1858Norton family came to George’s Creek and became large landowners.
1859Government moved Indians from Fort Belknap Reservation to Oklahoma.
1860Charles Barnard built large mill at present Glen Rose.
1862Sara Olive Berry oldest marked monument in Georges Creek Cemetery.
1865Civil War ended.
1866Hood County created.
1869Robert Graves came to George’s Creek.
1870Thomas Taylor donates 7 acres for George’s Creek School House, Meeting House and Burial Ground.  Charles Barnard sold mill to Thomas Jordan.
1875Somervell County created.  Cumberland Presbyterian Church organized at George’s Creek.
1883Methodist Church given land for building at George’s Creek.
1891Union Church established at George’s Creek.
1892First Saturday in May established as “Graveyard Working Day” at George’s Creek Cemetery.
1897Graham brothers died.
1900Charles Barnard died.  George McClung began to purchase land in the vicinity.  George’s Creek moved from cemetery area, west across the creek.
1905Baptist Church organized at George’s Creek.
1906Juannah Cavasos Barnard died.
1907Church of Christ organized at Fort Spunky.
1909Baptist Church organized at Buck Creek (Nemo).
1911Tabernacle built at George’s Creek Cemetery.  J.H. Allison donates 4 acres that includes the tabernacle to the Trustees of George’s Creek Cemetery.
1915Pentecostal Church built at George’s Creek, which later became the Baptist Church.
1964Silica Sand plant put in operation at George’s Creek.
1971Girl Scout Camp established at Nemo.
1972Gene Roberts purchased McClung Ranch.
1974Rock quarry in operation at George’s Creek.
1976Gene Roberts purchased Dietrich land.
1977Gene Roberts purchased Tuchin land and the Tomicita Ranch.
1979George’s Creek Cemetery Association formed, and Trustees elected.  “Of A People and A Creek” published.
2021Vernon Russell donated 4.23 acres to the George’s Creek Cemetery Association.  Georges Creek Cemetery designated as a Texas Historic Cemetery.
2023George’s Creek Baptist Church, along with the .836 acres it is situated on, donated to the George’s Creek Cemetery Association by members of the congregation.