Dallas Co. TX - Old Oak Cliff Cemetery and Historic Plaque From: Peg Bostick ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, 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. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** I didn't see any listings for the Old Oak Cliff Cemetery listed in Dallas, Dallas County. I only have a 11 names of people who are buried their, but would like to submit them if possible. There are two Oak Cliff Cemeteries and this one is referred to as "Old Oak Cliff Cemetery". This cemetery has a large Historic Plaque which sits right inside the entrance. I have a photo of the plaque and have transcribed it. I included the transcription below, so you could judge if it's worth having this cemetery listed on the web page. I visited this cemetery in June of 2000 and it is not maintained very well. Several of the graves have caved in or have trees and bushes growing right on top of the graves and headstones. In certain areas the weeds, trees and bushes have grown up so that it's almost impossible to move around and look for tombstones. Is there some organization that looks after old cemeteries like this. I hate the thought that pretty soon the big bush that is gowing on my GG Grandmother's grave will totally distroy it. Then she will be lost forever. The cemetery is located on the corner of 8th and Corinth Streets in Dallas and has a large iron arch over the entrance that reads "Oak Cliff Cemetery". The following is the transcription of the Historic Plaque: OAK CLIFF CEMETERY Kentucky native William S. Beaty came to Texas during it^Òs early days as a republic and received a grant of 640 acres of land. He and his brother, Josiah, who arrived in 1836, settled along the Trinity River in what is now Dallas County. The settlement that developed around their property first was called Hord^Òs Ridge and became known as Oak Cliff in 1887. In 1846, William Beaty deeded 10 acres of his land for a public burial ground and indicated in the deed that his brother, Josiah, already had been interred on the site. The deed also specified that the cemetery should be subject to no one sect but should forever remain open to all. The oldest marked grave in the cemetery, that of Martha A. Wright, is dated 1844. Many prominent Dallas County Pioneers and citizens have been buried here, including Judge William Hord, for whom Hord^Òs Ridge was named. Two former Dallas Mayors, George Sergeant and George Sprague, and a son of Gen. Sam Houston, Col. William Rogers Houston, are buried here. Oak Cliff cemetery remains a valuable and historic link to the early settlement ofDallas. (1985) I also have a couple of questions for you, if you are going to include Oak Cliff Cemetery on your web site. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Peggy Bostick La Mesa, California David, I added a little information about Julia Rule and Julia Washam that wasn't on their tombstones. Hope that was alright, if not let me know and I'll know not to do it again. Thanks for your help. Peg Bostick Oak Cliff Cemetery Rule, John W. , June 3, 1883 - June 22, 1968 Rule, Julia N. (Washam), Mar. 23, 1887 - Oct. 22, 1967 w/o John W. (note headstone has "67", death certificate has 1968) Rule, John William, 1922 - 1979, Sgt. US Army WWII, s/o John W & Julia N Rule, Joseph Edward, 1917 - 1979, PFC US Army WWII, s/o John W & Julia N Rule, Ole H., July 18, 1913 - Aug 18, 1956 - s/o John W & Julia N. Rule, Rodell F., Feb 13, 1911 - Nov. 4, 1889 (hard to read), s/o John W. & Julia N Rule, Wesley N., Sept 24, 1907 - Jan 2, 1975, Pvt. Co H 144 Infantry Texas, s/o John W & Julia N. Washam, Arthur, Aug 6, 1889 - Apr. 11, 1946, s/o Julia Washam, brother of Julia N. Rule Washam, Julia (Smith), Jan 22, 1853 - Feb 22, 1898, m/o Arthur & Julia N. Washam Rule (Note: Julia was married twice, 1st to Samuel V. Cook in 1868 & 2nd to William Neil Washam in 1882) Unrelated to above families: Jennie B. Copeland, Mar 14, 1894 - Aug 6, 1917