Antioch

Lee County, TX

Status: Located – Needs More Research

Year Established: 1800s

Council of Governments: CAPCOG

Public History: Antioch is eleven miles east of Giddings on Farm Road 141 in southeastern Lee County. The community was settled during Reconstruction when the offer of inexpensive land brought Blacks from Washington, Burleson, and Fayette counties. Antioch quickly became the largest Black community in Lee County. Some of the settlers supplemented their income, which presumably came from farming, by working periodically at neighborhood plantations such as Black’s Quarter. The post office, general store, and cotton gin at nearby Nunnsville served residents of Antioch. The Antioch Juneteenth celebration was held at the Mays Road Park with all-day festivities. In 1898 the Antioch school had 156 students. Church services were also held in the one-room schoolhouse until the congregation built the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. In 1953 the Antioch school was consolidated with that of Post Oak. The Antioch Missionary Baptist Church continued to serve afterward as the center of the community.

Community History: “According to the THSA Handbook of Texas, Antioch was founded during Reconstruction and became the largest Black community in Lee County. Eventually, the post office and businesses in Nunnsville served the community at Antioch. Antioch Baptist Church and Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery continue to serve the community. According to Sitton and Conrad’s “”Freedom Colonies: Independent Black Texans in the Time of Jim Crow””, citing an interview with George and Vivian Francis, in 1890 twelve families from Antioch founded nearby Sweet Home.

Cemetery: Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery

Church: Antioch Missionary Baptist Church