History of the Cemetery
Oakwood Cemetery had its beginning circa 1859, although many unmarked graves in the oldest section indicate people were buried there before that date. The first cemetery acreage, originally one half mile north of Jacksboro city limits, was from the original J.W. Buckner Survey of 1,000 acres, 100 of which were given by Buckner to the City of Jacksboro as a townsite, first called Los Creek Community, then Mesquiteville and later in October of 1899, changed to Jacksboro. The present cemetery was established through gifts of land totaling approximately 16 acres: first, 3 1/3 acres from John Collier Lindsey and his sister on June 21, 1883; 5 1/4 acres from Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Aynes in 1904; 6 acres from J.W. Knox in 1916; 1.29 acres from the City of Jacksboro in 1955; an alley from Mrs. Eula Craft and her heirs in 1954.
Until 1899, groups of interested persons gave of their time and money to maintain the grounds. Mrs. Jeanette D. McConnell, assisted by ladies of Jacksboro, worked to get the land cleared and enclosed with a barbed wire fence, as well as to see to its upkeep. A few Indians, Fort Richardson soldiers (later moved to Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio) and early pioneers were buried there before 1899.
With the coming to Jacksboro of the first undertaker in Jack County in 1882, concern was generated in regard to the organization of a cemetery association for the care and supervision of the cemetery grounds. Crumel Oric Hess, the first undertaker, asked the ministers of the four churches of Jacksboro to appoint a lady representative from each church to meet with other interested citizens for the purpose of forming an organization. Thus, on August 22, 1899 the Jacksboro Cemetery Association was formed and it’s Constitution and By-Laws were adopted the following September. The First Officers were Miss Alice Rogers, President; Mrs. W.E. Taylor, Vice President; Mrs. Frances Duke, Secretary-Treasurer; C.O. Hess, Superintendent and General Manager of Grounds; Frank Ward, Sexton.
An Endowment Charter was obtained on May 2, 1907 for the purpose of providing permission for the perpetual care of the 16 acres and any other land which might be added in later years. The first charter for the Association, allowing it to operate as a non-profit organization, was issued January 30, 1908. On June 19, 1911 the charter was amended, changing the name to Oakwood Cemetery Association, Inc. This charter was renewed on January 7, 1958 for another fifty years.
From the beginning, the Association was diligent in soliciting funds from patrons and citizens and in raising money through dinners, suppers, ice cream socials on the Courthouse lawn on election days or other special occasions, series of Lyceum Courses presented at the Opera House, bazaars of local women’s handwork, plays and other entertainment by various clubs and groups, summer sponsorship of Chautauqua Series, special movie showings which were made possible by the generosity of C.A. Worthington, owner of the Opera House, offerings collected at annual Easter Convocations of Knight Templars, special contributions for other clubs, organizations and lodges, and assistance of city and county through use of their heavy equipment and maintenance materials.
Until 1914, there had been no cost leveled on burial spaces. The cemetery was a free burial ground with free selection of spaces. The Association began to recognize the need to create some order out of chaos and to provide some regular source of income. Sections of lots, roads and walks were formed. The first spaces were sold for $4.00 each; eight spaces could be purchased for $30.00 or could be paid at $2.50 per month if necessary. Captain George Spiller assisted the Association on a voluntary basis by receiving money for lots, preparing deeds and filing them in his office.
Lacking sufficient leadership in 1943, by a vote of those present at a called meeting on March 16, 1943, the Association determined to transfer its charter, records and funds to the Jacksboro Garden Club for the purpose of continuing maintenance supervision of the cemetery, with the stipulation that Mrs. H.J. Hensley be made honorary chairman of its Board. Mrs. Hensley had served the Association continuously since before 1908 until 1943 as Grounds Improvement Chairman, Vice President and President on two occasions.
Later, resuming its status and purpose as Oakwood Cemetery Association, the corporation voted on December 31, 1946 to begin a fence fund. A black wrought iron fence replaced a chain link fence on the South and West. It was completed on January 16, 1949 at a cost of $7,200 ($4.00 per foot). It was also determined by the corporation on January 2, 1948 to create a fund known as Oakwood Cemetery Endowment Fund for the perpetual care of the cemetery. Through some continuous generous gifts and a general campaign the fund began to grow after the fence cost was paid. With additional gifts and memorials through the years since that date, the fund has made a worthy source of income for maintenance and special needs when sale of grave sites and annual fund gifts are insufficient.
Until 1946, records reveal that the Association had been directed by women. Since that time, men began serving as directors. In 1954, an ornamental iron pavilion was erected at a cost of $1,584. On May 30, 1969, the cemetery was the recipient of a historical marker by the Jack County Historical Survey Committee. In 1975, the Association received Jacksboro’s Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award for 76 years of continuing community service. Many women were liberal with their time and resources again and again as records reveal. Several ladies served multiple decades of service to the Association.
Since the 1950s, Hawkins Funeral Home generously assisted the Association in its activities by selling grave spaces, recording deeds and preparing maps. Beginning in January 1959 through 1960, Mr. Leon Hawkins, owner and funeral director prepared maps of the cemetery, establishing and marking lots and sections. With the establishment of the Maddox-Marrier Funeral Home in 1985, a Grounds Secretary was employed by the Association to sell spaces, record and deliver deeds to patrons. Also in 1985, an additional 7 acre expansion to the north was made. Today, Coker Funeral Home has continued the tradition of assisting the Association with selling graves sites on behalf of the Association.
Many improvements have been made to the cemetery grounds over the recent years including replacing all of the asphalt driveways with concrete driveways. The entire water hydrant system has been replaced with all new pipe and hydrants throughout the cemetery. Two new sections were established. One, a legacy section was established for patrons that want bigger lots allowing for large monuments marking family sections. The second is a section for cremains for those that don’t want to purchase a full size lot to bury their loved ones. An additional 10 acres of land to the north of the cemetery was donated to the Association by Mike and Margaret Sue Cherryhomes to help meet future needs of the cemetery.
It is noteworthy that so many of the persons who have served Oakwood Cemetery Association through the years have been descendants of previous officers, directors and members, as many as five succeeding generations. They have seemed impelled to perpetuate the memory, goals and traditions of family members as well as serve their community through the Association. Each generation of volunteers has built upon the decisions and accomplishments of the preceding generations and within the physical and financial limitations set for it.
