Nockenut Wilson County Texas is located on FM 1681, 3.2 miles from intersection of State Highway 123. Nockenut's main street would intersect the pavement at the edge of the post oak belt in the M.C. Wing survey where the road and Ecleto Creek part company. The community of Nockenut grew up around the Ecleto Creek, which was a spring-fed creek that ran year-round. A sawmill, gin and grist mill were built by Henry Solomon Hastings after he and his father, Green Hastings, purchased 1,280 acres from the heirs of M. C. Wing, one of the drawers of a black bean in Mexico as part of the Meir expedition. The community was named Nockenut by H. S. Hastings combining the names of two trees, the Hickory (hickernut) and Anaqua (nockoway), which abounded in the area. H. S. with his Mississippian and added Texas slang, called the community Nockernut, later Nockenut. A post office was established in 1858 with postmaster William Cockrum. H. S. served as postmaster after the Civil War and his daughter, Sallie, became postmistress in 1889. The town contained two stores, a saddle shop and blacksmith shop. At one end of the thoroughfare on the creek were the mill and gin, and the post office was at the other end. A two-story building was the site of the Masonic Lodge #362, with 10 charter members. The lodge served the community until 1873. A school named Cleto School as well as 2 churches, the Methodist and Bethel Baptist were here. The Rev. Preston Hobbs held the Methodist services. He gave the land for the school and church. The Methodist building was moved from its original site to Pandora in 1909. The Bethel Baptist Church held services in a building north and east of the Leach Cemetery atop a hill that overlooks the area. Numerous Hastings are buried in the cemetery including Green and Henry Solomon Hastings, the founders of Nockenut. The original homestead of Henry Solomon is approximately ¼ mile north of what was Nockenut facing the Ecleto Creek.

Written by Bobby & Jo Hastings

Wilson County Sesquicentennial 1860-2010 Book