Boswell
Boswell is on Boswell Creek and a country road off Farm Road 1375,
thirteen miles southeast of Huntsville in southeastern Walker County. In
1881 community residents organized the Boswell Creek Baptist Church.
Members met in a nearby log schoolhouse until 1883, when a church
building was constructed on donated land. In 1896 a post office opened
at Boswell, and by 1914 the community had ten residents and a general
store-post office operated by J. M. Baird. The post office closed in
1921. By 1940 Boswell had the church, a cemetery, and a number of
scattered dwellings. The community's Baptist church was rebuilt several
times, and the structure built in 1928 still stood in 1982, when the
church received a Texas Historical Commission marker. In 1990 the community was still named on the county highway map. TSHA
Boswell is a historical rural community in Walker County, Texas,
that no longer functions as an active populated place but retains
historical significance through its church and cemetery. It originated
around the establishment of a Baptist church and is not incorporated,
with no post office since 1921.
Location:
Southeastern Walker County, on Boswell Creek along a country
road off Farm-to-Market Road 1375 (also near the intersection of Four
Notch Road and Hardy Bottom Road), about 13 miles southeast of
Huntsville (the county seat). Coordinates: approximately 30.607°N,
95.378°W (more precisely 30°36.422'N, 95°22.675'W). It appears on the
New Waverly U.S. Geological Survey Map.
History: Established in 1881 when nine residents organized the Boswell
Creek Baptist Church (initially meeting in a log schoolhouse 0.25 miles
south of the current site), with Rev. T.E. King as the first pastor. A
frame chapel was built in 1883 on land donated by Phillip J. Ellisor.
The church served as the community's center, hosting prominent
preachers.A post office operated from 1896 to 1921.By 1914, the
population was around 10, with a general store-post office run by J.M.
Baird.The church was rebuilt several times, including in 1928.The
community declined after World War II, leading to the congregation's
official disbandment in 1950.
Current Status:
Boswell has a population of 0 as a distinct community,
consisting of scattered rural dwellings with no active infrastructure
beyond historical remnants.The 1928 Boswell Baptist Church building
remains, along with the Boswell Cemetery (also known as Boswell Creek
Cemetery), and the site hosts an annual homecoming. A Texas Historical
Commission marker was placed in 1981 (or 1982 per some records).As of
1990, it was still noted on county maps, and photos from 2021 confirm
the site's preservation. Nearby unincorporated areas include New
Waverly (about 10 miles south).
Boswell, Texas Community Overview:
Boswell was a small, rural
community in Walker County, Texas, located near Huntsville. It was
centered around agricultural and community activities in the late 19th
century, with the Boswell Baptist Church serving as its social and
religious hub. The community declined after World War II, and today it
is largely defunct, with the church site used only for annual
homecomings. The area's coordinates are approximately 30° 36.422′ N,
95° 22.675′ W, at the intersection of Four Notch Road and Hardy Bottom
Road.
Rev. T.E. King (full name possibly Thomas E. King, though unconfirmed
in records; initials are consistently T.E.) was a Baptist minister
active in Texas during the late 19th century. He is primarily known for
his role in the founding of Boswell Baptist Church:Role as First
Pastor: On November 26, 1881, King led the organization of Boswell
Baptist Church with nine founding residents in a log schoolhouse
located about 0.25 miles south of the eventual church site. He served
as the congregation's inaugural pastor.
Early Church Activities:
Under his leadership, services were initially
held in the schoolhouse. This continued until 1883, when a frame chapel
was constructed.
Legacy: The church grew to become the center of community life, hosting
religious services, social events, and activities for many years. King
is noted among the prominent preachers who served there, though
specific details of his sermons or tenure length beyond the founding
period are not documented in available historical records. The
congregation disbanded in 1950, but the site honors its history with an
annual homecoming.
Biographical Details: No birth, death, or family information was found
in genealogical databases, obituaries, or cemetery records like Find a
Grave. Searches for biographies or graves in Texas yielded no matches
for a Rev. T.E. King from this era, suggesting he may have been a local
figure with limited broader documentation. He does not appear in
unrelated modern pastor listings or other historical figures with
similar names (e.g., Robert Donnell King or Horace Morgan King).
A Texas Historical Commission marker (Number 8432, erected in 1981)
commemorates the church and specifically mentions King's role as the
first pastor.
Phillip J. Ellisor (sometimes spelled Philip; middle name possibly
John, though unconfirmed) was a landowner and resident of the Boswell
community in Walker County, Texas. He is best known for his
contribution to the local church:Land Donation: In 1883, Ellisor
donated the land where the Boswell Baptist Church's frame chapel was
built. This act enabled the congregation to move from the temporary
schoolhouse to a permanent structure, solidifying the church's role in
the community. As a donor, he was integral to the early development of
Boswell, which revolved around the church for social and religious
activities. No records indicate further roles, such as church
membership or leadership. Ellisor belonged to a family with deep roots
in Walker County and nearby areas like Montgomery County. The Ellisor
surname appears in local genealogies:Possible relatives include John
Raney Ellisor (born circa 1848 in Texas, died 1910s), who married Sarah
Elizabeth Pursley and had children including John Henry Ellisor Sr.
(1875–1947, born in Walker County).
Later descendants: John Henry Ellisor Jr. (father of a child born 1904
in Walker County) and Philip Nolan Ellisor (1916–1940, buried in Pine
Valley Cemetery, Montgomery County—likely a grandson or great-nephew).
The family was involved in local farming and community life, with ties
to Walker County from at least the mid-19th century. No exact birth or
death dates for Phillip J. Ellisor were found, but given the 1883
donation, he was likely born in the 1840s–1850s. Searches on Find a
Grave and WikiTree yielded no direct match for his grave, though the
family name is prominent in Texas genealogy. No obituaries, census
details, or additional biographical information (e.g., spouse,
children, occupation beyond landownership) were located in historical
records. The Ellisor family history suggests connections to early Texas
settlers, but Phillip's specific lineage remains unclear without
primary documents like deeds or wills.
The same historical marker for Boswell Baptist Church highlights Ellisor's donation.
Connections Between Rev. T.E. King and Phillip J. Ellisor: Their known
link is through Boswell Baptist Church: King's pastoral role in
founding it and Ellisor's land donation two years later. This
collaboration helped establish a lasting community institution in rural
Walker County, reflecting the era's reliance on local leaders for
religious and social infrastructure. No evidence of personal or family
ties beyond this event was found.
Texas State Historical Association
https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/boswell-tx
Texas Almanac
https://www.texasalmanac.com/places/boswell