Abbott began in 1881 when the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad built a line through a new town on land owned by G.M. Dodge and named it for Hill County resident, lawyer, and U.S. Congressman Joseph Abbott. Winston W. Treadwell soon opened a general store managed by L.C. Barnett, who built and occupied the town's first residence. Ten years later, the community supported a school, several businesses, a post office, and three churches. Abbott suffered major fires at the turn of the 20th century, but its residents rebuilt. Today, its history is maintained through religious and educational institutions, as well as cemeteries that chronicle the lives of generations of area residents.