Oakland Cemetery (Dallas, Texas)

The Oakland Cemetery is a historic cemetery in Dallas, Texas, USA. Since its establishment in 1892, 30,000 people have been buried in the cemetery. Burials include many Confederate veterans, Klansmen and prominent politicians, including three mayors and two congressmen.

History

The Oakland Cemetery was built on land which Thomas Lagow, a veteran of the American-Mexican War, had received from the Republic of Texas for his service.^[1] By 1892, he sold it to George Loudermilk, a businessman who hired Benjamin Grove to build the cemetery.^[1] While old oak tress were kept, andscape gardeners added rose bushes and graveled pathways to the land.^[2]

By 1923, the cemetery was taken over by the Oakland Cemetery Lot Owners Association, and a trust fund for maintenance costs was established.^[1]

In 1937, 28 tombs were vandalized.^[3]

Notable burials

Around 30,000 people are buried in the cemetery, including many Klansmen.^[1] It also includes the tombs of fifteen blacks.^[1]

The cemetery is home to many Confederate veterans. For example, Richard Montgomery Gano, a Brigadier General in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, was buried here.^[1] James Bruton Gambrell, a Confederate veteran who served as the President of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1917 to 1920, was buried here.^[4]

Notable burials include three mayors of Dallas. Henry Ervay, who served as the Mayor of Dallas from 1870 to 1872, was buried here.^[5] Another mayor, Winship C. Connor, who served from 1887 to 1894, was buried here. Additionally, Franklin Pierce Holland, was served as Mayor from 1895 to 1897, was also buried here. ^[6]

Two congressmen were buried here. Edwin Le Roy Antony, who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1892 to 1893, was buried here. James Andrew Beall, a Congressman from 1903 to 1915, was also buried here.

Notable baseball players who were buried here include Harry Kinzy and Oscar Dugey.

References