McLennan Co. TX - Oakwood Cemetery Uploaded to TXGenWeb by Diane E. Wilson, McLennan County Coordinator ********************************************************************** 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/ *********************************************************************** Oakwood Cemetery This is a listing of the Oakwood Cemetery Index that was published by the Central Texas Genealogical Society, Inc, This is being provided on this web page because of a tremendous effort on the part of the volunteers at CTGS. The format is shaky right now - and it is easiest to search using the "Find" key within your browser. Improvements will be made to this as time permits. If you would rather have a CTGS Volunteer look up the information you need - please click here. THIS IS A HUGE CEMETERY and these pages will take a while to load. Please note that these pages were scanned in using an OCR Reader. Some listings may contain stray marks or misinterpreted numbers. that the editor did not find or delete. ALSO...note that an update to this guide is in development. If you are searching for someone you know is at Oakwood Cemetery in Waco - and can not find them here, please e-mail me as I have the current database on my system and have been given permission from the Caretakers to assist in look-ups. I will be uploading these files to this site soon. McLENNAN COUNTY, TEXAS CEMETERY RECORDS Volume III OAKWOOD CEMETERY Waco, Texas Compiled by John M. Usry Published by CENTRAL TEXAS GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY, INC. Waco-McLennan County Library 1717 Austin Avenue Waco, Texas 76701 Publication Committee: Miss Peggy Scott Mrs. Dudley Layne Mrs. Virginia Bovo Thompson Dr. D. D. Tidwell DEDICATION This book is dedicated to John M. Usry by the members of the Central Texas Genealogical Society for his unremitting dedication and labor during more than two years. Almost single-handedly he has copied, checked, consulted every available source for information beyond that on headstones, typed and indexed this compilation so that it is believed to be the most accurate and complete book of its sort ever published. Copyright, 1979 by Central Texas Genealogical Society, Inc. Waco, Texas 76701 INTRODUCTION This is the third volume of the McLennan County Cemetery Records, published by the Central Texas Genealogical Society, and deals exclusively with the old and large 157-acre Oakwood Cemetery of Waco. This cemetery was established one hundred years ago in October of 1878. There are approximately 22,450 burials in this cemetery, many of them being for famous and prominent Waco people. These include former U.S. senators, governors of Texas, Confederate generals, mayors of Waco,presidents of Baylor University, newspaper editors, prominent business men, and others. Many of these are listed in the index under the appropriate category. The task of accumulating data on this cemetery started Saturday, October 20,1973. Several ladies of the Society, with the permission of the Oakwood Cemetery Association, microfilmed the lots records showing the location by blocks or sections, lots and spaces, of the known interments in Oakwood. This work was done by Mrs. Lora Layne, Mrs. Larue Hall, Miss Peggy Scott, and Mrs. Virginia Bovo. The microfilm was processed and held in readiness by Mrs. Bovo. Early in 1976 this compiler transcribed the microfilm record, lot by lot, onto loose-leaf notebook paper. This required eight notebooks of approximately four hundred pages each. The work o£ copying the names and dates on all of the tombstones, monuments, and other types of markers, was begun starting with lot No. 1 of Block No. 1. The transcribed microfilm records were used to assist in identifying the lots and spaces by number. It was found that several hundred of the interments did not have any marker that could be found. Many of the burial places are marked with a small copper plate mounted on a small concrete block. Some of these had sunk below the surface and had to be dug up. Also, many of the small concrete blocks found did not have the copper plate with names and dates. It is believed that many of these never had a copper plate, and that others were misplaced or stolen. Names and dates were copied from all of the markers and monuments found. Some names were found on two or three different markers, tombstones, and monuments. In the compilation in this book, however, each person is usually listed only once, the listing being a composite of the data from the markers found. Several months were required to complete this work. The copying was done in the notebooks mentioned above; adjacent to the data copied from the microfilmed lot records. Next, the compiler worked through the cemetery again, checking the names and dates obtained before, trying to locate and correct any errors of copying. As mentioned above, several hundred o£ the people buried in Oakwood do not have any type of marker. Also, many of the copper-plate cemetery markers were found to have the date of burial instead of the date of death. Many of the permanent tombstones and monuments were found to show the year of death, but not the month and day. Because of these several types o£ deficiencies, the decision was made to supplement the data copied in the cemetery with additional data from the office records. Several months were spent in searching the burial and burial-permit records in the Oakwood Cemetery Association office. A considerable number of the missing dates of death were found. However, it was found that the burial records for the older part of Oakwood begin on January 2, 1917. It is said that a fire in the office destroyed the burial records before 1917. The burial records for the newer part of Oakwood Cemetery, formerly called Park Lawn, are complete from March 25, 1914, when Park Lawn was established. It was separate from older Oakwood until 1928. III It is estimated that there were about 2800 burials in Oakwood Cemetery in the period between October 1878 and January 1917. Some of these were reburials from other cemeteries, especially from the old First Street Cemetery. The burial records at Oakwood do not have any data on these early burials. There are tombstones or monuments in Oakwood Cemetery for the majority of them, but there are several hundred with no marker and no data. In an attempt to get information on these unrecorded burials, it was decided to do research in other record sources, namely: Fall & Pucket Funeral Records, 1892 to 1932 Compton Funeral Records, 1908 to 1917 Various early Wa¢o newspapers, daily and weekly Early Wa¢o city directories Biggerstall Tombstone Inscriptions Available family records Masonic records for Texas Official Texas death records and indexes Handbook of Wa¢o and McLennan County Methodist Home records The funeral records and the early Waco newspapers were especially useful because they usually showed the name of the cemetery. The data very rarely mentions the exact lot in Oakwood where burial took place, and the uncertainty of identification cannot be neglected. There were often several people with the same name. For this reason, data in this compilation will often show a question mark if the information was taken from a record source and the identification is not certain. Data was obtained for several thousand deaths with burial at Oakwood. Most of this data was from, Fall & Pucket Compton, and the Waco newspapers. A complete search was made of old Waco newspapers available in the Waco Public Library, dating from 1878 to 1917. However, there are gaps of several years in the collection. A smaller amount of data was taken from the other record sources listed above. In many cases the exact location of the burial site in Oakwood Cemetery could not be deduced, and these burials are listed in the appendix starting on page 449. In this compilation, data taken from record sources is shown in parentheses. Usually, the name of the source is indicated. If the source is not indicated, the data was taken from the cemetery office records, in most cases. See a list of abbreviation on page x. The compiler is grateful for the assistance of a number of people: the ladies who microfilmed the lot records in 1973; Mrs. Ina Mae Staton and Mr. Lemuel Jones, who assisted briefly in copying the data from tombstones; Mr. Howel Woodfin, who aided with checking of some early Waco death records; Rev. Dr. D. D. Tidwell, who spent a lot of time looking for Masonic records on some of the people reportedly buried in Oakwood Cemetery; Miss Peggy Scott, who assisted by ordering the paper for this book and attending to details in connection with the, printing; Mr. James Evans, Executive Secretary and Treasurer of Oakwood Cemetery Association; Mrs. Dorothy Whaley, office secretary for Oakwood; and others. These cemetery records are complete through December 31, 1977. Waco, Texas, October 4, 1978 John M. Usry, Compiler HISTORY OF OAKWOOD CEMETERY In the early days of Waco, there seems to have been two cemeteries: one on the east side of the Brazos river called East Waco Cemetery or 5th Ward Cemetery, and one on the west side of the Brazos usually called City Cemetery, located at the south end of First Street. By 1878 the population was only about 6850, but the City Cemetery seems to have become inadequate. It was not very large in area, and vacant lots were no longer vailable . Many of the people of Waco felt the need for a new cemetery. From the Waco Daily Examiner, Sunday, Sept. 15, 1878: "Mayor E. A. Sturgis, having consummated a purchase for the city of the fair grounds property for cemetery purposes, was on the streets yesterday interviewing citizens with reference to sale of lots. When the reporter last saw the list, fifty or more had placed their names upon it for lots 15 x 25 feet, at twenty-five dollars each. The grounds contain fifty acres, are beautifully situated at just the proper distance from town, and are susceptable of being made as handsome as any in the state. The cost, $4000, will be repaired by the sale of lots. Mr. W. C. Dodson, the architect, has kindly consented to survey and lay off the grounds into lots, walks, drives, etc., and will commence work next week." Mayor Sturgis, who after discussing the matter with individual members of the council, had purchased from Mr. P. B. Jourdon for four thousand dollars the fair grounds property for a city cemetery, informed the body officially of what he had done, and his actions in the premises were unanimously endorsed. McLennan County Deed Records, Book 22, page 82: "P. B. Jourdan and F. M. his wife, of McLennan County, for a note for $1000 in 30 days, by the City of Waco, and assumption of two promissory notes for $1000 each due from said P. B. Jourdon to Jno. F. Sedwick, described in deed dated Aug. 31, 1877, in 21-214, and promissory notes due Oct. 1, 1878, and bearing 10% interest from Oct. 1, 1878. To be used by the City of Waco for the burial of the dead of said city. Description: beginning at W. corner of 68 acre survey to A. K. Taylor, thence South 45 East 600 varas to S. Corner, thence N. 45 E. 464 varas to E. corner, thence N. 45 W. 600 varas to N. corner, thence S. 45 W. 463 varas to beginning; containing 49.5 acres of land. Dated Sept. 14, 1878; notarized Oct. 8, 1878." In the Waco Daily Examiner, Tuesday, Sept. 25, 1878, an advertisement: "Fair Grounds buildings at auction. Will be sold tothe highest bidder, at public outcry, on the spot, Wednesday, October 2d, a number of the late Waco Fair Grounds improvements, including the Agricultural Hall, the Main Exhibition Building, and two or three smaller structures; also the lumber of the stables, stock sheds, etc., and several hundred cedar posts and railings on them. In a word, all of the appurtenances and fixtures of the grounds, except a few reserved for special purposes. Sale to begin promptly at ten o'clock. By order of the City Council, E. A. Sturgis, Mayor, and J. G. Brinkerhoff, Recorder." In October, about the 18th, the mayor was authorized to exchange 24 acres of the rear portion of the cemetery grounds for 15 acres fronting towards town. Wednesday, Oct. 23, 1878: "Died at the family residence on S. 3rd St., of scarlet fever, Tuesday, Oct. 22, at 1 p.m., Rose Scott, eldest daughter of R. B. and Alice Parrott, in the 3rd year of her age." Thursday, Oct. 24, 1878: "The remains of little Rose, the bright and beautiful three year old of Mr. and Mrs. Parrott,were yesterday interred in the new city cemetery, the first interment on those consecrated grounds." According to a family source, Rose's mother was Alice, a daughter of Major Wm. Wood Downs. Alice H. Downs was married to John H. Farmer on Jan. 24, 1866. He died in 1867. Alice Downs Farmer was married to Robt. B. Parrott on June 12, 187B. See item in Lot 34, Block 1, on page 6 of this book. According to an item in a Waco newspaper, Thomas Y. Baird was the first adult buried in Oakwood Cemetery, on Nov. 11, 1878. According to the 1870 census, he was born in 1854, a son of Clement and Mathilde Baird, and was aged 24 years when he died. He has a stone in Lot 69, Block 1, page 11: "Thos. Baird 1878." The cemetery was first called new city cemetery to distinguish it from the old city cemetery. There was a suggestion that it be called Rosewood Cemetery in honor of Rose, the first child buried there. However, it was soon called Oakwood Cemetery, some time before 1882, presumably from the oak trees in the area. Tombstones in Oakwood show a total of 176 persons buried there who died before the cemetery was opened. It must be presumed that these 176 persons were moved there from other cemeteries, although it is possible that some of these markers are merely memorials. Many are said to have come from First Street Cemetery in Waco, probably soon after Oakwood opened. Evidence from the arrangement of block numbers in Oakwood, and the dates of death on the stones, suggest that Blocks 1, 2, 3, and 4 were laid out first. There were burials in Block No. 1 in 1878. Blocks 5 and 6 were laid out on the NW side, and Blocks 7 and 8 on the SE side, probably within a few weeks after the first survey. There were burials in Blocks B and 5 in 1879. In general, the southwest side was used first, being higher. The newspaper for Sept. 30, 1882, notes that: "Shade trees are now being planted in Oakwood Cemetery. It had been treeless. The cemetery is now free of debt." Late in December of 1882, Sexton John O'Cleary reported a total of 172 white and 74 colored interments for 1882 in the four cemeteries: East Wa¢o, First Street, Catholic Cemetery, and Oakwood. He was the sexton in charge of all, and lived at Oakwood; he dug graves and buried the dead. In 188B, the matter of a water supply for Oakwood was discussed. The cemetery had a water well, but it was not adequate for watering the grounds. A windmill was proposed, but it was decided to lay water pipes from the city to Oakwood. In Nov. of 1883, the fence around Oakwood was reported in bad condition. In February of 1894, A. Ockander began grading and gravelling of streets and alleys of Oakwood. In the first twenty years of operation, Oakwood Cemetery had possibly one man, aside from the sexton, to care for the grounds and to dig graves. It appears that the grounds became somewhat neglected. Early in 1898 there was discussion of the matter of forming a cemetery association to take care of Oakwood. In Feb. of 1898 the Oakwood Cemetery Association was chartered, with no capital stock, and no compensation for the officers and directors, the directors to be women. The first directors were as follows: Mrs. G. B. Gerald, Mrs. Richard Coke, Mrs. Waller Baker, Mrs. Julia A. Boggess, Mrs. J. W. Weaver, Mrs. Jennie Holmes, Miss Mollie Oliver, Mrs. Louis Crow, Mrs. J. G. Fall, Mrs. Jas. I. Moore, Mrs. Belle Hamilton, Mrs. Marian C. Hutchins, Mrs. A. Symes W. C. Brann, editor of Brann's Iconoclast, and Capt. Tom E. Davis, real estate man, died of gunshot wounds after a street fight April 1, 1898. The trouble dated back to Brann's attack on Baylor. Davis was aged 42, and left a wife and six children. Brann, aged 43, left a wife and two children. He was buried at Oakwood Cemetery, Lot 19, Block 9. See page 111. On March 10, 1898, the Waco city council passed an ordinance accepting Oakwood Cemetery Association and giving it possession of the cemetery effective April 14. Although the ladies named to the board of directors of the association were prominent in the city, considerable Opposition to the plan developed. Geo. W. Dowdy petitioned Judge M. Surratt to hold up the transfer. He said that he was a lot owner and would be injured by the plan. The judge granted a temporary injunction. On April 18, the judge lifted the injunction and ruled that the city had not given up any title or right in the cemetery, and that the Oakwood Cem. Assn. would merely act as agent of the city. The controvery continued, however. By April 25, the cemetery had two sextons: Mrs. White appointed by the mayor, and Mr. Ammerman appointed by the Cem. Assn. On April 30, 1898, the cemetery was sequestrated and placed in the hands of the Sheriff. Will Parrish, old-time sexton, was placed in charge. On June 18 the 54th District Court ruled that Oakwood Cem. Assn. would take charge of the cemetery. The Association was to use the proceeds of sale of lots to build up a permanent fund; interest from the fund would be used for maintenance. Initially, however, the directors persuaded many of the lot owners to clean up their own lots. Sept. 14, 1898, two marble statues were unveiled at Oakwood: Hon. Richard Coke in lot No. 66, and Dr. D. R. Wallace in lot No. 95, both in Block 1. The men depicted in the statues were placed facing each other, about eighteen feet apart. Richard Coke had died in May of 1897. Dr. Wallace was still living. Jan. 13 1899, it was reported that 761 lots in Oakwood had been disposed of, and there were 553 vacant lots. On June 13, 1899, it was announced that the Association was free of debt and had some money to loan. June 16, the Sexton and assistants were granted police power to enforce ordinances and keep peace in the cemetery. Due to rains and flooding early in July, 200 monuments were leaning. They had been placed back in an upright position by July 6. In the first annual report, Dec. 24, 1899, Mrs. Julia Boggess, president of Oakwood Cemetery Association, reported the permanent fund had $1902.79. By warranty deed June 7, 1906, the City of Waco bought from C. C. McCulloch and wife, 20.19 acres of land lying immediately to the southeast and adjoining old Oakwood Cemetery. This was laid out into lots 25 x 25 feet at $25 each. This purchase apparently brought the cemetery up to its final size, except for the acquisition of Park Lawn in 1928. An Oakwood Cemetery Association report for February 1911 shows $20,338.05 in the permanent fund. This was a sizeable increase in the fund from the start in 1898, but the interest from this fund was probably very inadequate to provide the maintenance needed to keep Oakwood Cemetery in first class condition. In July and August of 191B, a new cemetery plan emerged. It was announced that Wa¢o Cemetery Association, headed by F. M. Compton, planned a new cemetery near Oakwood, to be called Oakwood Annex. The name was later changed to Park Lawn. The new cemetery was to be laid out in curved sections and was to feature a perpetual care plan. There was discussion of a plan to have Park Lawn take over old Oakwood Cemetery. This was rejected by the Oakwood Cemetery Association. The new cemetery was to be located immediately across Gurley Avenue from Oakwood Cemetery, on its southeast side. The owners probably planned to have a passageway between the two cemeteries, but the Oakwood Cemetery Association would not agree to this. The first interment in Park Lawn Cemetery took place on March 25, 1914, for Mrs. Julia A. Stowe, aged 44 years. The new cemetery received many compliments, especially from prominent out-of-town visitors. On July 14, 1914, Oakwood Cemetery Association reported a permanent fund of $23,377 and stated that this provided insufficient revenue to maintain Oakwood without assistance. Lots care was provided at the rate of $10 per lot per year, but many lot owners failed to pay. In November of 1914, Mayor J. H. Riggins suggested an entrance through Oakwood to Park Lawn, so that visitors could avoid the inconvenience of having to detour around Oakwood. On. Dec. 16, 1914, Oakwood Cem. Assn. reported 268 unsold lots in Oakwood, priced at $25 to $100. The Association also declined again to open a gate to Park Lawn. This report was signed by: Mesdames Wm. W. Kendall, W. D. Lacy, Laura Cornish, F. M. Gardner, W. J. Wigley, W. H. Thompson, W. W. Massey, Minnie C. King, H. M. Lanham, John Fall, M. C. Ashburn. Within a few days, the Waco City Council ordered that a gate be opened to Park Lawn. By April of 1917, there were comments in the Waco newspapers about the need for additional cemetery land for Waco, and the possibility of buying Park Lawn. The Waco Cemetery Association offered to sell Park Lawn for about $56,000, including the permanent fund. On May 17, 1917, the City of Waco purchased 200 acres of land at $250 per acre, possibly for cemetery purposes, located one-half mile southwest of Oakwood. In 1918, the Oakwood Cem. Assn. decided to adopt the perpetual care by endowment fund. The first endowment was made on July 1, 1918, by Mrs. W. W. Kendall. Lot owners could not be compelled to pay the endowment fee for lots already owned, but many lots owners did buy the endowment, and by 1978 about 95% of the old part of Oakwood was endowed for permanent care. This greatly increased the permanent fund and permitted a higher level of maintenance that has resulted in the very good appearance in recent years. On May 12, 1928, the City of Waco purchased the 58.63-acre Park Lawn and its upkeep fund, for $32,000. Park Lawn had operated exclusively on the perpetual care plan, and was a welcome addition to Oakwood. The first interment by Oakwood personnel in the new part was on May 20, 1928. The main street through Oakwood Cemetery was paved some years ago. In 1970, the remaining streets in Oakwood were paved. Also in 1970, some of the passageway ground between groups of lots, in all of old Oakwood, was converted to burial use. This had the effect of adding 840 lots of six spaces each. Many of these are still vacant and available for sale in the older and grander part of Oakwood Cemetery. There are also many acres in the new part of Oakwood still not developed and available for future use. The lady directors of the Oakwood Cemetery Association have done a very good job during the past eighty years, considering the difficulties they encountered. Although not specifically prohibited in the older part of Oakwood Cemetery, the burial of negroes in the cemetery did not begin until September 18, 1976. ABBREVIATIONS b. born Big; Biggerstaff Tombstone Inscriptions; C Compton Funeral Records; cm Cemetery marker; small copper plate with name and date; CSA Confederate States of America; d. died; di disinterred; Dir. Waco city directory; dm double marker; tombstone for two persons; DR official Texas death record; F&P Fall & Puckett Funeral Records; fhm Funeral home marker of a temporary type; FR Family record source; ((G)) Masonic emblem; HB Handbook of Waco and McLennan County -;I interred; MH Methodist Home records; MR Marriage record; Mon. monument; usually in memory of a person buried elsewhere; N Waco newspaper item; O Oakwood cemetery office record; qm Quadruple marker; tombstone for four persons SB stillborn; tm triple marker a tombstone for three persons;