Oak Island Cemetery History, San Antonio, Bexar Co. Tx Submitted by Brent Stahlman *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit; or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations; desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain; the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Gloria B. Mayfield, LadyTexian@tcainternet.com TX Tombstone Project Manager The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** HISTORY OF OAK ISLAND CEMETERY The history of Oak Island Cemetery begins with the history of one of the most famous persons buried there, Rev. John Wesley DeVilbiss. Rev. DeVilbiss, a young Methodist minister, volunteered to come to the Republic of Texas as a Methodist Circuit Rider in 1842. For nearly 40 years he tirelessly traveled around Southern Texas, spreading the Word of God (Graves, pp. 39-40). In his "Reminiscences of a Superannuated Preacher, Number 3", Rev. DeVilbiss states that in 1844 he and Presbyterian minister Rev. John McCullough conducted services in English in the County Clerk's Office in San Antonio (Graves, p. 23). Rev. DeVilbiss's sermon is widely considered to be the first Protestant sermon given in English in San Antonio (Graves, p. 95).As early as 1858, Rev. DeVilbiss and his family lived near the small settlement of Oak Island, South of San Antonio. In 1867 or 1868, he and members of several area families organized Oak Island Methodist Episcopal Church South. Services were originally held in a rough picket church approximately 2 miles north of the present location (Oak Island Historical Book). In a deed dated March 25, 1871, Jesse and Mary Applewhite donated the land for the current site of the church and cemetery. They deeded approximately 6 acres to the trustees of the church, "For and in consideration of our regard for the cause of Christianity and our love and esteem for the Methodist Episcopal Church South," (Bexar County Records, Volume 72 Pages 30 and 31). Area parishioners erected a stone church which was completed in time to hold school in the fall of 1872, and the Eastern portion of the property was set aside for a cemetery. Oak Island United Methodist Church continues to hold worship services in the original stone church. The Applewhites donated additional land to be used for a school and a parsonage in deeds dated December 21, 1876 (Bexar County Records Volume 8 Page 219) and July 17, 1886 (Bexar County Records Volume 48 Pages 514 and 515). The church recently purchased an additional 6.5 acres to add additional space to the nearly-full cemetery. Although he never served as its pastor, Rev. DeVilbiss served as presiding elder and remained an active member of Oak Island Methodist Church until his death on January 31, 1885 (Historical Book). He built the pulpit and lamp stands, and assisted his son, John W. DeVilbiss, Jr., in building the pews, all of which are still in use today. The cemetery is the final resting place for many original settlers of the Oak Island area. Five Methodist ministers are buried there, including Rev. DeVilbiss and another pioneer preacher, Rev. J. K. Harper. There are at least 2 Texas Rangers, James Putnam and William G. Jett, buried in the cemetery. Another historical figure buried in the cemetery is Aunt Cloe Stevens. She was born a slave in South Carolina in 1794 and was later owned by the Philip Dever family in Liberty County, Texas. In the harrowing days immediately preceding the Battle of San Jacinto, she arranged for the Dever children to join a caravan to safety in Louisiana, then stayed with Mrs. Catherine Dever at the family home to help her with the imminent birth of her child. Soon after the birth of the child, Aunt Cloe, Mrs. Dever, and the child safely arrived in Louisiana to join the other children. Aunt Cloe remained with the Dever family until 1865. She was one of the 8 charter members of Oak Island Methodist Church, and remained active in the church until her death in 1901 (Travers, pp. 26-28 and 26-29). Oak Island United Methodist Church is still an active parish. It was designated as a Texas Historical Site in 1967, and as Methodist Historic Site No. 1 in 1969. In addition, the grave of Rev. DeVilbiss was designated a Methodist Landmark in 1966 by the Southwest Texas Conference of the Methodist Church. A marker in front of the church honors the memory of Rev. DeVilbiss. SOURCES to History Author unknown. Oak Island Church Historical Book. 1934. Bexar County Records. County Clerk Office, San Antonio, TX. "DeVilbiss, John Wesley." The Handbook of Texas Online. [Accessed Oct 17 2000]. Franklin, Sammie. "Oak Island United Methodist Church celebrates 130 years." Pleasanton Express. September 23, 1998, p. 10. Graves, Rev. H. A., Compiler. Reminiscences and Events in the Ministerial Life of Rev. John Wesley DeVilbiss, Deceased. Galveston: W. A. Shaw & Co., Stationers and Printers, 1886. Transcribed copy by Robert M. Perryman, 1993. Jackson, Ruth G. John Wesley DeVilbiss. San Antonio: privately printed, 1967. Jett, Ruth Clarinda. Memoirs. Undated letter at the United Methodist Center, San Antonio, Texas. Springer, Sylvia. "Oak Island Church Now Texas Shrine." San Antonio Express. June 1, 1967, p. 10-F. Travers, Douglas N. Dever Family. San Antonio, TX: Oakhill Publishers, 1997.