Rockett   Rockett is located on FM 983 about eight miles northeast of Waxahachie.  The community was once known as Liberty (See Liberty-Sylvania church).  When Hans Smith stopped to water his team at a spot on Red Oak Creek near (present) Rockett's location, he apparently felt the spot would be a good place for his home and business. Records show that he opened a grocery and dry goods store there in 1846.  Smith was a man of many talents, well educated, and a fluent speaker.  He was the head speaker in 1851 for the event honoring Ellis County's formation in 1850.  He is buried in Smith Cemetery about two miles southeast of Rockett. The community was named for John Rockett who came to the area about 1852.  His wife is buried in Bell's Chapel Cemetery just north of Rockett.  Other early families were Hartesy, Wicker, Coffey and Sullivan.  The community grew slowly and in 1894, received a post office, which was closed in 1907.  In 1933, there was a store, gin and the Christian church.  The population was 150 at this time, and declined very little; however, there were no stores until recent years.  The Liberty or Rockett Christian Church, which moved to this location from Brushy Creek in 1901, became inactive for a period of time. In August, 1983, a group of concerned Christians met in the old building, discussed its preservation, and began meeting again in October, 1983. In Sept. 1861, Parson's Brigade was organized at Rockett.  The unit was trained and commanded by Col. William H. Parsons, Mexican War veteran, colorful duelist, editor, merchant and lawyer.  Besides fighting in Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana and Indian Territory, the Brigade was famous for attacks on federal ironclad ships in the Red River Campaign of 1864. The old gin still stands, the Christian church is in use each week, and there is also a grainery.  Graves Cemetery is located just north about half a mile on Bell's Chapel Road.  It has recently been restored, is still in use, and has a Texas Historical Marker which was placed there in 2001. As we see in a number of these old communities, new homes are springing up, and Rockett is beginning to grow once more.  The old store is now a restaurant, and farther east at the cross roads, there is a new filling station and convenience store. References: Ennis Press, March 15, 1894, "Vignettes from the History of Ellis County." A Memorial and Biographical History of Ellis County, Texas, Lewis Publishing Co. Chicago, 1892 Historical Marker "Parson's Cavalry C. S. A." Waxahachie Daily Light, June 5, 1987 Ellis County History, compiled by Mrs. A. L. Feltenberger, 1955   Copyright © 2002-2016, Ellis County TXGenWeb. All Rights Reserved. This page was last modified: Monday, 10-Sep-2018 10:23:32 MDT