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. Join us for the 2024 TxSGS Family History Conference, Nov 1-2

October Meeting Join us for our October Meeting John Sellers – The FamilySearch.org Experiment October 17, 2024 at 7:00pm In-person or via Zoom. More info. . .

Free Genealogy Seminar – In-Person or Online! On Friday, October 18th, HCGS will host four genealogy presentations from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with a two-hour break from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Attend at the library or online! The presentations are only available on Friday 18Oct. More details. . .

If Headstones Could Talk…City Cemetery Walk Join us on Sunday, Nov 3rd on a guided tour as we honor some of the residents of City Cemetery who served our country in their day. Our volunteers will bring them back to life through stories and costumes in anticipation of Veteran’s Day 2024. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about the past in a unique and engaging way! Come discover the history hidden in the gravestones. It’s a walking tour you won’t want to miss! For more information and to RSVP, please visit our Special Events page.

From Hopkins County History

Sunday, September 14, 1924, page 1 Sulphur Springs Has Water In Abundance  At 11 o’clock Saturday morning W.B. Baxter, local weather reporter, stated that the rainfall up to that hour from the time of beginning on Thursday night, was 3.66 inches, and it was still raining. Water Commissioner T.C. McCorkle, at that time stated that more than two feet of water had been caught in the city lake and the water was still running in. Superintendent Brice Raney of the Water Works Department went to Dallas Friday morning with a sample of the water from White Oak for examination before pumping any of the water into the city lake. Mr. Raney carried it to the Southwestern Laboratories and Dr. Hammet examined the water. At noon Saturday a phone message to Mayor L.E. Gee from Dr. Hammet stated that the water was pure. Immediately on receipt of the news from Dallas stating the White Oak water was pure, the city pump was turned on and the water is being pumped into the city lake at the rate of one million gallons per day. Sulphur Springs is now over the longest drouth in the history of the town and the city again has water for all purposes. The City Dads say turn on the hydrant and “let her flow.”Thursday, September 25, 1924, page 1 Plan Paving On North Davis North Davis street citizens are planning to continue paving from the end of the paving now beyond the Cotton Belt railway to where the street turns, beyond the school building. A mass meeting of the taxpaying citizens of the street has been called for tonight at 8 o’clock with the city commission at the city hall, to further consider plans for beginning the work.

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.