Welcome to the Hopkins County Genealogical Society!
Sulphur Springs, Texas

On behalf of our board and members, we are delighted to have you visit our site, where history comes alive through our extensive resources and community of passionate genealogists. Whether you are just beginning your family history journey or have years of research experience, our society offers valuable tools, including access to a vast library, unique archival materials, and expert guidance. We invite you to explore our online records, participate in our events, and consider joining our society to connect with fellow researchers and support the preservation of Hopkins County’s rich heritage. Membership brings exclusive benefits, and we look forward to welcoming you to our growing community!

HCGS is proud to be a Partner Society of the Texas State Genealogical Society. TIGR 2025 is June 16-20.

Join us for Lunch & Learn Wednesday, March 26, 2025. More info. . .

From Hopkins County History

Sunday, March 9, 1924. Page 1 of 8 Sulphur Springs To Have New Residence Section On East Side Arrangements have been made by Louis H. Gould to put on a lot sale on what will be known as the Smith addition to the city of Sulphur Springs. It consists of seventeen acres and faces College and New Jefferson streets. The demand for residence lots makes it necessary. The land in the new addition is high and sightly and will make a very desirable residence section.This is the property owned and occupied by Ben Smith. A number of lots have already been spoken for. The street on the east will be opened into a boulevard, and will connect with New Jefferson Street. It will put College, New Jefferson, and Jefferson streets on the loop.Monday, March 10, 1924. Page 1 of 4 Much Uneasiness About Fruit CropThe fruit growers of Hopkins County are very uneasy about the fruit crop since the cold norther Sunday and Sunday night. Mr. Baxter, the weather man, says the thermometer went down to 30 degrees. J.D. Junell, who lives on the Como Road just south of town, and who is one of the largest Elberta growers in the county, is very uneasy about the fruit and berry crops. He says that he is fearful that not only the peaches and plums have had a close call, but that early strawberries have been badly damaged. Last year Mr. Junell predicted that there would be very little fruit made after the cold wave in the spring, while many people claimed that the cold weather had not killed the fruit. The May drop caused the crop to be almost a failure.It will require several days to determine the damage, according to those who are making a study of fruit growing in the county.

Discover the Legacy of Jonathan Knight: A Pioneering American Engineer

The Hopkins County Genealogical Society proudly offers a book by Patrick F. Chase, a long-time member and former board member. This 237-page paperback, filled with full-color pictures, is available for $25. A portion of the proceeds supports our society.

Jonathan Knight 1787-1858 explores the life of an influential American figure. Born in Philadelphia during the drafting of the Constitution, Knight played pivotal roles in early American infrastructure. As a surveyor and commissioner for the Department of War, he developed the National Road, the first U.S. Interstate, stretching from Maryland to Illinois. As Chief Civil Engineer for the B&O Railroad, he helped establish America’s first commercial railroad, impacting the nation’s economic and cultural landscape.

Knight, a self-taught mathematician and civil engineer, was also a devout Quaker and anti-slavery advocate. He and his wife, Ann Heston Knight, raised seven sons. Knight was a farmer, founder of agricultural societies, and an innovator in modern farming techniques. He served in the Pennsylvania State Senate and the 34th U.S. Congress.

Discover why Knightstown, Indiana, a town on the National Road, was named after this remarkable Pennsylvanian.

To purchase, visit our library at 611 N. Davis St., email hcgstx@suddenlinkmail.com for a PayPal invoice plus shipping, or send a check to PO Box 624, Sulphur Springs, TX 75483 (contact us for shipping costs). For more information, call (903) 885-8523.

Back Issues of Hopkins County Heritage

We are now offering for sale  ALL of the Hopkins County Heritage back issues on a single flash drive!! (Includes every issue from the beginning in 1984 to June 2017). Each flash drive contains two folders – one folder contains individual issue PDFs and one folder contains a single PDF of the complete set. It is word searchable so that you can easily locate surnames or search terms in any single issue or in the complete set! And travels with you easily to libraries or on research trips!

The cost is $50 (plus $4 for shipping and handling) and can be purchased by contacting  the HCGS library.

About The HCGS Research Library

Over 8,000 Titles

The HCGS Research Library houses original county records, maps, family collections, scrapbooks, 1000’s of photographs, and numerous original materials. Note, current Saturday hours – open 2nd Saturday of each month from 9:30am to 1:00pm.

Click here for more details about the HCGS Research Library.

FamilySearch.org Affiliate Library

The HCGS Research Library is an affiliate library of the LDS in Salt Lake City, Utah, which houses millions of digitized restricted records covering most counties in the US as well as worldwide. These restricted images, viewable from our computers, allow our patrons to travel to locations and view many records including court house records such as deeds, wills, probate cases, etc. from the convenience of our HCGS library. Use their catalog to discover what records might be of interest. (FamilySearch Help Center topic 55954 helps to explain how to use their catalog.) And if your county/country of interest has not yet been digitized you can contact FamilySearch to request that they digitize specific films. You may request up to 5 rolls of films in one interaction. For specific details on how to do this by phone, chat, or email go to FamilySearch’s Help Center and view help topic 469883.

Hopkins County Texas Research Guide

Professional genealogist and former Hopkins County resident Cyndi Harlin has graciously shared her Hopkins County Texas Research Guide. This expertly created guide gives numerous tips  and areas to explore to help aid your  research in Hopkins County. Check out this useful and  beautiful booklet by clicking here.

Rescue Mission

“Genealogy is a kind of rescue mission, one that often remains hidden. Not everyone can see that our ancestors need to be rescued. Not everyone has the ability or desire to rescue them. But we, as genealogists, see the need and set off on the mission, sure of the merit of our goal. We give voice to our ancestors buried in the silent archives of history. . .”^[1]

^[1] Margaret R. Fortier and Mary Kircher Roddy, “Editors’ Corner,” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 112 (Dec 2024).