Today’s article is about Richard Hooper who came to the area of what would become Texas in February of 1836. This information was compiled and shared by Dr. Duane Hooper. 

Richard Hooper was born March 29, 1783, in Halifax, Virginia. He was the oldest son of Obediah Hooper II and Sally Gates.  He married Isabella (Ibby) Shaw according to the Franklin County, Georgia marriage records on December 23, 1806.

He moved his family to Coahuila Y Tejas.  At the time of the arrival of Richard and his family, Texicans, or Texans, as they preferred to be called, had already been resisting government tyranny at places like Anahuac, Gonzales, and San Antonio. He served The Army of The Republic of Texas from July 6 until October 6, 1836, as commander of a company of cavalry from San Augustine until he was released to attend Congress. He was elected to the First Congress of the Republic of Texas as a representative from Shelby County. After his service in Congress, he returned to Shelby County, where he was elected county surveyor.

Richard’s homestead was located approximately 14 miles southeast of present-day Center close to the Attoyac River near what is now Waterman community. Three counties, Shelby, San Augustine, and Nacogdoches come together near the location of his homestead. No townships existed within the Teneha municipality at the time of Richard’s arrival, only such small communities as Shelbyville and East Hamilton, near the Sabine River. The township of Center did not exist until 1866. The largest towns near the proximity of Richard’s homestead were San Augustine and Nacogdoches.

Historical confirmation regarding Richard’s activity between the time he arrived in Shelby County and when he received his commission as captain of a cavalry company in the Texas Army on July 6, 1836, remains somewhat in the dark. However, while such desirable historic information through correspondence, family records and such continue to be sought an archival record of a battlefield roll for Burleson’s command at San Jacinto serves to suggest Richard’s battlefield presence at San Jacinto for April 21. It is found in the “Texas State Archives Online Index, subseries: ‘Texas Revolution Military Rolls, 1838-1836, 1842’, Richard is listed on page 14 by Wm. Gorham, Clerk, as a part of Burleson’s Command at the Battle of San Jacinto on April 20 and 21. Burleson's Command, was of the First Infantry which was placed opposite the Mexican breastworks and was the first to charge them, capturing Gen. Almonte.

One should not be surprised concerning Richard’s involvement in patriotic military action during the Texas War for Independence, considering his father, Obediah Hooper II, was a patriot in the American War for Independence and twice wounded in the Battle of Brandywine.

For his three months service in 1836, he received 320 acres of Bounty land in 1840. He used it to receive a patent of 90 acres in Panola County on the Murvalis Bayou. He received a headright certificate for aleague and labor in Shelby County on February 1, 1838.

Captain Hooper served additional in the army from July to October 6, 1836. He had just enough time to travel to Columbia, Texas to attend the First Session of First Congress of the Republic of Texas as a representative from Shelby County.

Richard was elected Shelby County surveyor in 1839, 1840, 1848, and 1850. During his 1840 service as surveyor, Richard marked the county line between Shelby County and the newly formed Panola County. In the 1850 agricultural census, taken five years before his death, Richard was listed as farmer and stock raiser. He was known for being involved in legal matters, explaining why he was also listed as a member of the East Texas Bar in 1850.

Richard Hooper was, at that time, one of the largest landowners in Shelby County. In the 1840 census, his net worth was listed as $20,476.00, seven town lots, one slave, thirty head of cattle, and one gold watch. In the 1850 census, Richard was credited as having the greatest monetary worth in Shelby County at $28,500.00.

Richard's death was reportedly while in route to Shreveport, LA from Shelby County with a load of cotton on died June 18, 1855. His body was returned to Shelby County for burial, and he was buried in the Hooper-May Cemetery.

Note: We are working on a new exhibit for the museum and need your help. The exhibit will be “Old Tools” so if you have any old tools,you would be willing to loan for this exhibit it would be greatly appreciated. We would like to borrow any planer, hammer, drill, saw, square, or special tool you might have laying around. We would also like to borrow any antique farm equipment you have.  Please bring it to the museum as soon as possible. We are open Monday-Friday from 1-4pm. If you have any questions, call me at 936-332-4847 or email me at martin.vickie.1@gmail.com.  We need your help!!!