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Oakwood Cemetery (Austin, TX)
Encyclopedia
Oakwood Cemetery, originally called City Cemetery, is the oldest city-owned cemetery
in Austin, Texas
. Situated on a hill just east of I-35 that overlooks downtown Austin, just north of the Swedish Hill Historic District
and south of Disch-Falk Field, the once-isolated site is now in the center of the city.
attack whose bodies were laid to rest on the same hill.
The cemetery was renamed Oakwood in 1907 per city ordinance. It spreads over 40 acres (161,874.4 m²), including an annex across Comal Street to the east, and includes sections historically dedicated to the city's black, Latino, and Jewish populations. Paupers were historically buried in unmarked graves on the cemetery's south side. Graves without permanent markers were subject to reburial after a given period.
The cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1985; its annex was added on October 30, 2003. Despite its protected status, the cemetery has been subject to crime, vandalism, and decay for decades.
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. Situated on a hill just east of I-35 that overlooks downtown Austin, just north of the Swedish Hill Historic District
Swedish Hill Historic District
The Swedish Hill Historic District is a former Swedish enclave that is now a residential area of downtown Austin, Texas.Development of this area began in the 1870s when a large number of Swedish immigrants erected homes near their downtown businesses. The first to build his home there was S. A....
and south of Disch-Falk Field, the once-isolated site is now in the center of the city.
History
The cemetery dates from the mid-1850s. It may have begun even earlier, as legend states that its first tenants were victims of a ComancheComanche
The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose historic range consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado, northeastern Arizona, southern Kansas, all of Oklahoma, and most of northwest Texas. Historically, the Comanches were hunter-gatherers, with a typical Plains Indian...
attack whose bodies were laid to rest on the same hill.
The cemetery was renamed Oakwood in 1907 per city ordinance. It spreads over 40 acres (161,874.4 m²), including an annex across Comal Street to the east, and includes sections historically dedicated to the city's black, Latino, and Jewish populations. Paupers were historically buried in unmarked graves on the cemetery's south side. Graves without permanent markers were subject to reburial after a given period.
The cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1985; its annex was added on October 30, 2003. Despite its protected status, the cemetery has been subject to crime, vandalism, and decay for decades.
Notable burials
- Wilmer AllisonWilmer AllisonWilmer Lawson Allison, Jr. was an American amateur tennis champion of the 1930s...
(1904–1977) - Tennis Player - Richard Bache, Jr.Richard Bache Jr. (Texas politician)Richard Bache, Jr. , was a Representative to the Second Texas Legislature in 1847 and assisted in drawing up the Texas Constitution of 1845, the first of Texas' five state constitutions.-Early life and ancestors:...
who represented Galveston in the Senate of the Second Texas Legislature in 1847 and assisted in drawing up the Texas ConstitutionTexas ConstitutionThe Constitution of the State of Texas is the document that describes the structure and function of the government of the U.S. State of Texas.Texas has had seven constitutions: the constitution of Coahuila y Tejas, the 1836 Constitution of the Republic of Texas, the state constitutions of 1845,...
of 1845. He was also the grandson of Benjamin FranklinBenjamin FranklinDr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
, one of the Founding FathersFounding Fathers of the United StatesThe Founding Fathers of the United States of America were political leaders and statesmen who participated in the American Revolution by signing the United States Declaration of Independence, taking part in the American Revolutionary War, establishing the United States Constitution, or by some...
of the United States of AmericaUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and Deborah ReadDeborah ReadDeborah Read Franklin was the spouse of Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, and a prominent inventor, printer, thinker, and revolutionary.-Life Before Second Marriage:...
. - Albert S. BurlesonAlbert S. BurlesonAlbert Sidney Burleson was a United States Postmaster General and Congressman. Born in San Marcos, Texas, he came from a wealthy Southern family. His father, Edward Burleson, Jr., was a Confederate officer. His grandfather, Edward Burleson, was a soldier and statesman in the Republic of Texas and...
(1863–1937) - United States Postmaster GeneralUnited States Postmaster GeneralThe United States Postmaster General is the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Postal Service. The office, in one form or another, is older than both the United States Constitution and the United States Declaration of Independence...
(1913–1921) - Oscar Branch ColquittOscar Branch ColquittOscar Branch Colquitt was the 25th Governor of Texas from January 17, 1911 to January 19, 1915. He was a member of the Democratic Party. Gov...
(1861–1940) - Governor of TexasGovernor of TexasThe governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
(1911–1915) - Jacob Carl DeGress (1842–1894) - First State Superintendent of SchoolsTexas Education AgencyThe Texas Education Agency is a branch of the state government of Texas in the United States responsible for public education. The agency is headquartered in the William B...
(1871) and Mayor of Austin (1877–1880) - Susanna Dickinson (1814–1883) - AlamoBattle of the AlamoThe Battle of the Alamo was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna launched an assault on the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Béxar . All but two of the Texian defenders were killed...
survivor - John Henry FaulkJohn Henry FaulkJohn Henry Faulk from Austin, Texas was a storyteller and radio show host. His successful lawsuit against blacklisters of the entertainment industry helped to bring an end to the Hollywood blacklist.-Early life:...
(1913–1990) - Radio Personality - Thomas GreenThomas Green (general)Thomas Green was a lawyer, politician, soldier and officer of the Republic of Texas, and rose to the rank of Brigadier General of the Confederacy during the American Civil War. Tom Green County, Texas was named after him....
(1814–1864) - American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
GeneralGeneralA general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given.... - Andrew J. HamiltonAndrew J. HamiltonAndrew Jackson Hamilton was a United States politician during the third quarter of the 19th century. He was a lawyer, state representative, military governor of Texas, as well as the 11th Governor of Texas during Reconstruction.-Early life:Hamilton was born in Huntsville, Alabama on January 28, 1815...
(1815–1875) - Governor of TexasGovernor of TexasThe governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
(1865–1866) - Morgan C. HamiltonMorgan C. HamiltonMorgan Calvin Hamilton was an American merchant, politician from Texas, and brother of Andrew Jackson Hamilton. For six years, 1839–45, he served in the war department of the Republic of Texas, first as clerk and in 1844–45 as secretary of war. One of the few Texan abolitionists, he fought for...
(1809–1893) - U.S. Senator (1870–1877) - John HancockJohn Hancock (Texas politician)John Hancock was U.S. judge and politician. As a member of the Texas Legislature he opposed the secession of Texas during the American Civil War...
(1824–1893) - Member of the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
(1871–1885) - Ima HoggIma HoggIma Hogg , known as "The First Lady of Texas", was an American philanthropist, patron and collector of the arts, and one of the most respected women in Texas during the 20th century. Hogg was an avid art collector, and owned works by Picasso, Klee, and Matisse, among others...
(1882–1975) - Philanthropist - James S. HoggJim HoggJames Stephen "Big Jim" Hogg was a Texas lawyer, doctor and statesman, and the 20th Governor of Texas. He was born near Rusk, Texas. Hogg was a follower of the conservative New South Creed which became popular following the U.S. Civil War, and was also associated with populism. He was the first...
(1851–1906) - Governor of TexasGovernor of TexasThe governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
(1891–1895) - Elisha M. PeaseElisha M. PeaseElisha Marshall Pease was a U.S. politician from the 1830s through the 1870s. He served as the fifth and 13th Governor of Texas .A native of Enfield, Connecticut, Pease moved to Mexican Texas in 1835...
(1812–1883) - Governor of TexasGovernor of TexasThe governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
(1853—1857, 1867–1869) - Porter, Infant of W.S Porter; (1888)- Son of writer, O. Henry
- Oran M. RobertsOran M. RobertsOran Milo Roberts , was the 17th Governor of Texas from January 21, 1879 to January 16, 1883. He was a member of the Democratic Party. Roberts County, Texas, is named after him....
(1815–1898) - Governor of TexasGovernor of TexasThe governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
(1879–1883) - Ben ThompsonBen ThompsonBen Thompson was a gunman, gambler, and sometime lawman of the Old West. He was a contemporary of Wyatt Earp, Buffalo Bill Cody, Doc Holliday, John Wesley Hardin and James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickock, some of whom considered him a trusted friend, others an enemy.Ben Thompson had a colorful career,...
(1842–1884) - City Marshal of Austin, TexasAustin, TexasAustin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in... - William M. WaltonWilliam M. WaltonWilliam Martin Walton was a prominent lawyer in Austin, Texas. During the Civil War, Walton was a Major in the Confederate Army. After the War, he was elected Attorney General of the state and also headed the state Democratic Party...
(1832–1915) - Attorney General of Texas (1866–1867) - Charles S. WestCharles S. WestCharles Shannon West was an American jurist and politician in the state of Texas, serving as a state representative, the Texas Secretary of State, and an Associate Justice of the Texas Supreme Court....
(1829–1885) - Texas Supreme CourtTexas Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for non-criminal matters in the state of Texas. A different court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, is the court of last resort for criminal matters.The Court is composed of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices...
justice and Secretary of State of TexasSecretary of State of TexasThe Secretary of State of Texas is one of six state officials designated by the Texas Constitution to form the executive department of that U.S. state... - Dr. Annie Webb Blanton (1870–1945) - First woman elected to statewide office in Texas. Served as State Superintendent for Public Instruction from 1919-1922.
External links
- Austin Chronicle - "City of the Dead"
- at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...
- Austin History Center, Oakwood Cemetery Database