Oakwood Cemetery

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Out here in Jack County, there's a piece of ground that's been holding the stories of this community for well over a century. Oakwood Cemetery.

The oldest graves date back to 1859, which means before the Civil War had even run its course, somebody was already laying their people to rest right here in this soil. That is a long memory for a piece of land to carry. The land itself came from old settlers, given over a span of years running from 1883 to 1904.

Not one grand gesture, but a series of them, neighbor by neighbor, across two decades of quiet generosity. Now, a burial ground can exist on goodwill alone for only so long before it needs something more formal. Something with structure.

And so on August 22, 1899, the Oakwood Cemetery Association was organized. Miss Alice Rogers stepped in as its first president. Think about that for a moment.

A woman at the helm of this community institution at the turn of the century, tending to the most solemn of responsibilities a community has. The association pressed forward, and in January of 1908, a charter was issued. Official.

On the books. Then came October 5, 1947, when an endowment fund was started, making sure the work of caring for this ground could carry on beyond any one generation's effort. The marker itself was given in memory of the association's pioneers, by Ruth Hensley Richards, who served as president.

One president honoring the ones who came before her. That's the whole story of Oakwood Cemetery, really. People taking care of people, even after everything else is done.

What the marker says

Burial ground for over a century-- graves dating from 1859. Land was given by old settlers, 1883-1904. Maintained by Oakwood Cemetery Association, organized August 22, 1899, with Miss Alice Rogers first president. Charter was issued January 1908. Endowment fund started October 5, 1947. (1968) Incising on base: Given in memory of association pioneers by Ruth Hensley Richards, Pres.