HistoricSiteMarkers
Early Republic

Oakville Cemetery

Oakville, Live Oak County, Texas

Marker Inscription

Donated in 1857 by Thos. Wilson, who also gave land for Main Town Square. The property was originally part of the 1831 McMullen McGloin land grant from Mexico. Among graves are those of J.T. James, the founder of Oakville; early pioneers; and organizers of Live Oak County.

Erected by Texas Historical Commission

The Story

When Thomas Wilson donated this ground in 1857, the land had already passed through the hands of empire — it was originally part of the 1831 McMullen-McGloin colony granted under Mexico. As the young community of Oakville took shape, its cemetery became the resting place of the county's founding generation, including town founder J.T. James and the organizers of Live Oak County. The graves here read like a roll call of the pioneers who settled this stretch of South Texas.

Why it matters

The cemetery preserves the memory of the Mexican land-grant settlers and county founders whose work turned a frontier crossing into an organized American community.

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Related people

  • · Thomas Wilson
  • · J.T. James

Themes & tags

Westward ExpansionFrontier HistoryLandmark

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