HISTORY OF MEREDITH CAMPGROUND - Henderson County, TX Submitted to the USGenWeb Archives by the East Texas Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 6967, Tyler, TX 75711 20 January 2004 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ***************************************************************** EAST TEXAS FAMILY RECORDS, VOL. 11, HO. 4, WINTER 1987, page 19 HENDERSON COUNTY - "HISTORY OF MEREDITH CAMPGROUND" by Ruby Coker Jensen-Rasco and Barbara Rasco James The community or place known as the Meredith Campground some 12 miles slightly northwest of Athens, Texas, had its beginning when Cyrus Meredith moved into this locality. The exact year is not know. His nephew, Eber Meredith, came later, probably in the early 1850's. The deed records of Henderson County show that Mr. Meredith bought 320 acres of land from Silas S. and wife Julia Ann Roher, September 1859. On December 3, 1863, be bought 160 acres from P. F. Price. Mr. Eber Meredith's Bible shows that he was born in North Carolina, moved to South Carolina, married Miss Caroline Matilda Ross. The moved to Polk County, Texas, then to what is now known as the Meredith Campground. Uncle Eber, as he was called, states in his Bible that a Mr. Zachery began to preach in 1876 and organized a society in the schoolhouse. He preached also in 1877. An open tabernacle with paling fence around it to keep the stock from underneath it was built. Reverend Flower preached in 1878. This was the first camp meeting to be held here. Volume U, page 323, Deed Records of Henderson County shows that Mr. Meredith deeded 10 acres of land for the church and camp meeting place. This deed was made to the Methodist Conference and the trustees of the church. The family Bible also shows that the school began in 1875, with Wayne Meredith as teacher. Names of the pupils were furnished by Mrs. Jennie Coker Riddle; Miss Gene Baker, Fannie Ballard, Callie Carroll, Cora Carroll, Fannie Carroll, Joseph Coker, Alf Coker, Henry Coker, Charlie Coker, Burt Coker, Hattie Coker, Tobe Copeland, Lou Gentry, Fannie Gentry, Mattie Fulton, Gooch Fulton, Jim Meredith, Elisha Meredith and Mollie Meredith. The Cemetery was given by Mr. William Gentry and deeded to J. C. Fancher and Richard R. Carmichael. These men were trustees of the church. This was two acres of land west of the tabernacle. This is recorded in Volume U, page 238, Headright Survey of Henderson County, Texas. The first person to be buried in the Cemetery was W. A. Barber, who it is said, expressed a desire to be buried near the tabernacle. He died 16 April 1876, and after this, the present tabernacle was built in the year of 1890. Mr. Meredith leased a sawmill from H. T. (Tweed) Knight to cut the first timber. His lease ran out before he finished cutting the timber because the creek dried up where he was getting the water. He persuaded Mr. Knight to give him more time. He dug a hole near the boiler to haul water and fill to finish the timber cutting. The next morning water was boiling up in the hole. Mr. Knight said the Lord had given water. Mr. Meredith's Bible states that between the years 1880 and 1890, more than 2,000 people attended the camp meetings, coming in ox wagons from a great distance. At the present time, each year, on the Saturday before the second Sunday in May, a memorial service is held at the Old Campgrounds. Relatives and friends gather to enjoy a church service and picnic lunch, to remember loved ones buried at this cemetery, near the Tabernacle. On the second Sunday in August each year, there is the annual all day singing, attended by Meredith descendants and other local people. Before this event the cemetery is spruced up and thoroughly cleaned. The all day singing evolved from an event in much earlier years when the area farmers had put their crops by and were ready for some relaxation. They would attend a week long revival and family reunion at the campgrounds. Each family had built their own cabin to sleep in during the week. A central kitchen under an arbor supplied a place for preparation of meals and a place to eat. This event was mainly attended by the descendants of Eber Meredith and their children. The name of "Campgrounds" came from this event, families camping for the week away from their home.