Martha's Chapel
Overview:
Martha's Chapel is a historical church community and
settlement in Walker County, Texas, established in the 1830s. It is
also known by alternative names including Johnson's Chapel, Trinity
Church, and Robinson's Settlement. The area served as an early hub for
Methodist activity in southeast Texas, featuring a church, campground,
school, and cemetery. The community was rural and agricultural,
reflecting early pioneer life in the region. By the 20th century, the
settlement had declined, with only the cemetery remaining as a tangible
remnant. The site has gained modern notoriety for alleged paranormal
activity, often referred to as part of "Demon's Road" or "Demons Road".
Location and Geography:
Martha's Chapel is located approximately seven
miles southwest of Huntsville, the county seat of Walker County, in
south central Texas. The site is on an unimproved road, specifically
Bowden Road (also known as Demons Road), midway between Farm-to-Market
Roads 1374 and 1791. Coordinates for the cemetery, which serves as the
primary landmark, are approximately 30.64892°N, 95.63364°W. The area is
characterized by rolling East Texas terrain with pines, cedars, and
rural landscapes, part of the broader Piney Woods region. Access to the
cemetery is via Martha Chapel Cemetery Road, about Ό mile west of
Bowden Road.
History:
The settlement traces its origins to the early 1830s when
William Robinson, a devout Methodist and settler who arrived in Texas
around 1834, donated over 30 acres of land for a campground, church,
school, and cemetery. This area became known as Robinson's Settlement
and was a stronghold for Methodist activity in southeast Texas. The
land was granted to Robinson on March 7, 1835, as part of Joseph
Vehlein's colony. The Methodist church, likely the first in Walker
County, was built in the 1830s and initially shared with other
denominations, hosting circuit-riding ministers, including Robinson's
sons-in-law.
By 1839, under the donation to Rev. Littleton Fowler, Superintendent of
Methodists in the Republic of Texas, the site included a fully
established campground, church, and school. Early clergy such as Isaac
Strickland, Jesse Hord (noted as "Ord" in some records), Joseph P.
Sneed, and Bishop Thomas A. Morris served the area. Rev. Moses Speer,
who preached in the region starting around 1837, died of illness at the
settlement in 1840 and became the first burial in the cemetery.
The fourth Texas Methodist Conference was held there in 1843, presided
over by Bishop James O. Andrew. In 1855, John C. Black donated an
additional 20 acres, leading to the construction of a new church
building; the original log structure was moved and repurposed as a
barn. The name "Martha's Chapel" originated around 1854-1855, likely
after Martha Palmer, wife of church trustee Anthony C. Palmer, who was
the first interred in the new cemetery behind the church.
During the Civil War, church attendance declined. In 1863, Rev. James
G. Johnson returned and built a smaller structure, temporarily renaming
it Johnson's Chapel. The rural school operated sporadically, with
teachers like Miss Ona Randolph and Miss Mary Sterne employed in 1896;
it remained until at least 1936 but closed soon after. The third and
final church building was completed with funds bequeathed by Rev.
Johnson upon his death in 1887 and dedicated on October 18, 1887, by
Bishop W.W. Duncan. The congregation disbanded in the 1930s, ending a
century of Methodist activity, leaving only the cemetery.
No specific population figures are recorded for the settlement, as it
was an unincorporated rural community. A Texas Historical Commission
marker (No. 8463), erected in 1990, commemorates the site as United
Methodist Historic Site No. 255.
Cemetery:
Martha's Chapel Cemetery, also known as Martha Chapel
Cemetery, is one of the oldest burial grounds in Walker County, located
under old pines and cedars at the original campground site. It contains
approximately 110 memorial records, with burials spanning from the
1840s onward. The cemetery reflects the settlement's pioneer history,
including graves of early settlers, ministers, and families. It remains
active for maintenance and is listed on historical registries.
Notable Burial
Details
Rev. Moses Speer (d. 1840)
First burial; Methodist circuit rider who preached in the area from 1837.
Martha Palmer (d. 1854)
Wife of trustee Anthony C. Palmer; namesake of the chapel and cemetery.
Rev. James G. Johnson (18121887)
Pastor who built the smaller chapel; bequeathed funds for the final church.
William Robinson
Land donor and founder of the settlement (exact burial date not specified).
Legends and Hauntings:
The area, particularly Bowden Road leading to
the cemetery, is reputed as one of the most haunted sites in Texas,
often called "Demons Road." Local folklore includes tales of ghostly
apparitions, demonic entities, red eyes in the woods, and eerie
experiences like vehicles stalling or shadowy figures. These stories
may stem from the site's isolated, wooded setting and historical
tragedies, such as high mortality in pioneer times. It has been
featured in paranormal investigations, podcasts, and videos, though no
verified supernatural events are documented. Visitors describe it as a
quaint yet spooky old cemetery.
More:
History: Established in the 1830s, it's one of Walker County's oldest
burial grounds, with over 300 graves, many unmarked from the pioneer
era. It includes plots for early settlers, Civil War veterans, and
victims of yellow fever epidemics.
Reported Incidents:Orbs of light floating above headstones, captured in photos and videos.
Whispers of children's voices or cries for help, especially near the church ruins.
Apparitions of a woman in white (possibly a grieving mother) wandering the grounds at dusk.
Electronic voice phenomena (EVP) recordings of names like "Martha" or pleas to "leave us be."
Why Haunted?: The site's isolation and forgotten graves are said to
trap restless spirits. A 2012 East Texas travel guide highlighted it as
a hotspot for "residual hauntings" from 19th-century funerals.
Distinction from Other Sites:
This Martha's Chapel should not be
confused with other Texas sites of similar names, such as Martha Chapel
in Houston County or unrelated cemeteries. Nearby historical markers
include those for Union Hill Church, Bath Cemetery, and Ebenezer
Cemetery, all within 7 miles, but they are distinct communities.
Demographics and Modern Status:
As a defunct settlement, Martha's
Chapel has no current population. Walker County had a 2020 population
of about 76,400, with Huntsville as the primary urban center. The site
is unincorporated and rural, with the cemetery maintained as a
historical landmark. It attracts visitors interested in history,
genealogy, and paranormal tourism, but remains quiet and
out-of-the-way.
Sources and Further ReadingInformation is compiled from historical
associations, markers, and local accounts. For more, consult the Texas
State Historical Association, Texas Almanac, or the Walker County
Historical Commission.
William Robinson
William Robinson was an early settler in southeast Texas during the
1830s. Along with his wife Elizabeth, he donated land for the
establishment of a Methodist campground, church, and school at what
became Martha's Chapel in Walker County, Texas. This donation was made
to Rev. Littleton Fowler around 1839, making the site a key early
center for Methodist activity in the region. The area was initially
known as Robinson's Settlement and hosted interdenominational
services. He had two sons-in-law who were Methodist
preachers, further tying his family to the religious community.
Joseph Vehlein
Joseph Vehlein (also spelled Velein) was a German-born merchant and
empresario based in Mexico City. He received three colonization
contracts under the Coahuila and Texas colonization law of March 24,
1825, allowing him to introduce 300 families into a large area of east
Texas, including parts of present-day Walker County. His grants were
later transferred to the Galveston Bay and Texas Land Company in 1834
due to his inability to fulfill the contracts. In 1859, Vehlein signed
the first recorded deed for the property at Martha's Chapel, as he
owned the surrounding acreage. Vehlein's efforts contributed to
early Anglo-American settlement in Texas, though his colonies faced
challenges from Native American raids and logistical issues.Rev.
Littleton FowlerLittleton Fowler (18031846) was a prominent Methodist
minister and missionary, born in Smith County, Tennessee, as the fourth
son of Godfrey and Clara (Wright) Fowler. He joined the Kentucky
Methodist Conference in 1826 and was ordained a deacon in 1828 and an
elder in 1830. Appointed as a missionary to Texas in 1837, he became
superintendent of the Texas Mission after Martin Ruter's death in 1838.
Fowler recruited ministers like Jesse Hord and organized early
Methodist congregations, including McMahan's Chapel, the oldest
Methodist church in Texas. At Martha's Chapel, he received land from
William and Elizabeth Robinson in 1839 to establish a campground,
church, and school, solidifying it as a Methodist stronghold. He died
in 1846 and is buried under the pulpit at McMahan's Chapel.
Isaac Strickland
Isaac Lemuel Gillespie Strickland (18091839) was a pioneer Methodist
missionary born in Livingston County, Kentucky, to James and Ann
(Gillespie) Strickland. Admitted to the Tennessee Methodist Conference
in 1833 alongside Jesse Hord, he served circuits in Tennessee before
volunteering for Texas in 1838. In Texas, he organized early Methodist
societies, including one in San Augustine. At Martha's Chapel, he was
among the early clergy who visited and served the congregation in the
late 1830s. Strickland died young in 1839 from yellow fever and is
buried in San Augustine.
Jesse Hord
Jesse Hord (also spelled Hoard, 18091886) was a foundational figure in
Texas Methodism, born in Tennessee. Licensed to preach in 1829, he was
admitted to the Tennessee Conference in 1833 and volunteered for Texas
in 1835, crossing into the republic on November 29, 1835. He organized
the first Methodist congregations in Texas, including in Richmond
(1839) and Goliad, and served as president of the board for Paine
Female Institute. At Martha's Chapel, Hord was an early visiting clergy
member in the 1830s1840s. He later held pastoral roles across Texas
until his death in 1886.
Joseph P. Sneed
Joseph Perkins Sneed (18041881) was a pioneer Methodist preacher born
in Davidson County, Tennessee, to James and Bethenia (Perkins) Sneed.
Licensed in 1828, he served in Tennessee before visiting Texas in 1834
and returning as a missionary in 1838. Appointed by Bishop Thomas A.
Morris, he established churches in Brazoria and later in Waco (the
first Methodist church there). At Martha's Chapel, Sneed was among the
early clergy who visited and served in the 1830s1840s. He held various
presiding elder roles and died in 1881.
Bishop Thomas A. Morris
Thomas Asbury Morris (17941874) was a Methodist Episcopal bishop
elected in 1836. He played a key role in early Texas Methodism by
appointing ministers like Joseph P. Sneed to the Texas Mission District
and sending correspondence to Littleton Fowler. At Martha's Chapel,
Morris visited and served as early clergy in the 1830s1840s. He
authored works on church governance and traveled extensively to support
missions.
Rev. Moses Speer
Moses Speer (17681840) was a Methodist circuit rider born in Maryland.
He joined the Kentucky Methodist Conference in 1793 and preached in
circuits around Nashville by 1804. After serving in Kentucky and
Tennessee, he moved to Texas around 1837, settling near Montgomery and
serving local Methodists. At Martha's Chapel, he is noted for presiding
at the dedication of the second sanctuary in 1867though this date
conflicts with his recorded death in 1840, suggesting a possible
historical discrepancy or reference to a different individual. He died
on July 11, 1840, in Robinson's Settlement.
Bishop James O. Andrew
James Osgood Andrew (17941871) was a Methodist Episcopal bishop
elected in 1832. He presided over the Fourth Texas Methodist Conference
at Martha's Chapel in 1843. Andrew's ownership of slaves contributed to
the 1844 schism in the Methodist Church, leading to the formation of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He ordained several Texas
ministers, including John Wesley DeVilbiss and Oscar Murray Addison.
Martha Palmer
Martha Almira Dougherty Palmer (18231853/1854) was born in Mississippi
and married Anthony C. Palmer in 1842. She died around age 30 and was
the first person buried in the cemetery behind the new church building
at Martha's Chapel in 1854. The church and surrounding area were named
Martha's Chapel in her honor. She is buried in Martha's Chapel
Cemetery.
Anthony C. Palmer
Anthony Claiborne Palmer (18181861) was born in Missouri to Martin and
Sarah Margaret (Hardwick) Palmer. He served as a church trustee at
Martha's Chapel during the 1850s and was the husband of Martha Palmer,
after whom the chapel was named. Palmer married Martha in Newton,
Texas, in 1842 and later remarried after her death. He owned land in
the area and is buried in Martha's Chapel Cemetery.
Rev. James G. Johnson
James G. Johnson (18121887) was a Methodist pastor who returned to
Martha's Chapel in 1863 amid declining attendance during the Civil War.
During his tenure, the church was temporarily known as Johnson's
Chapel. He built a smaller structure and, upon his death, bequeathed
funds to complete the third and final church building, dedicated in
1887. Johnson also served as presiding elder in Parker County and other
Texas districts.
Miss Ona Randolph
Miss Ona Randolph was one of two teachers employed at the Martha's
Chapel school in 1896, alongside Miss Mary Sterne. The school operated
sporadically from the site's founding in the 1830s until its closure in
1936. No additional biographical details are available, but she
contributed to education in this rural Walker County community.
Miss Mary Sterne
Miss Mary Sterne was one of two teachers at the Martha's Chapel school
in 1896, working with Miss Ona Randolph. The school was part of the
original establishment at the site. She may be Mary Taylor Sterne
(18701959), born in Huntsville, Texas, to John Edward Sterne and Mary
Elizabeth Taylor, though this connection is unconfirmed. Her role
supported local education until the school's closure in 1936.
Bishop W.W. Duncan
William Wallace Duncan (18391908) was a bishop in the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, elected in 1886. He dedicated the third and
final church building at Martha's Chapel on October 18, 1887, using
funds bequeathed by Rev. James G. Johnson. Duncan served in various
conferences and was known for his administrative roles in Southern
Methodism.
Martha's Chapel, a church community also known as Johnson's Chapel,
Trinity Church, and Robinson's Settlement, was seven miles southwest of
Huntsville in south central Walker County. The site is on an unimproved
road midway between Farm roads 1374 and 1791. The Methodist church,
probably the first church in the county, was initially built in the
1830s on land provided by William Robinson and his wife Elizabeth. It
became a part of the neighborhood locally known as Robinson's
Settlement.
The church shared its building with other
denominations. In 1843 the fourth Texas Methodist Conference held its
annual meeting there. Sometime after the conference the local
congregation adopted the name Trinity Church. In 1855 John C. Black
added twenty acres to the original Robinson grant, and a new building
was erected near the old church. The original log structure was then
moved and turned into a barn. The designation Martha's Chapel was
possibly derived from the name of the first person interred in the new
church's cemetery, Martha Palmer, wife of church trustee Anthony C.
Palmer. During the Civil War
attendance at Trinity Church declined, and Rev. James G. Johnson, only
recently returned to Martha's Chapel in 1863, constructed a smaller
building that was known for a while as Johnson's Chapel.
The
surrounding rural neighborhood also maintained a school, though the bell
rang only sporadically in the early years. In 1896 the Martha's Chapel
school employed two teachers, Miss Ona Randolph and Miss Mary Sterne.
The schoolhouse remained as late as 1936 but was closed soon thereafter.
In 1990 only the cemetery remained at the site. TSHA
Texas State Historical Association
https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/marthas-chapel-tx
The Historical Marker Database
https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=195026
Ghost Texas
https://ghosttexas.com/bowden-road-aka-demons-road-and-martha-chapel-cemetery/
Find a Grave
https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/5045/martha's-chapel-cemetery
My East Texas
https://myetx.com/marthas-chapel/
Texas Escapes
http://www.texasescapes.com/DanaGoolsby/Demons-Road-in-Huntsville.htm