Live Oak County Historical Commission
Live Oak County Historical Commission

Live Oak County Cemeteries - A Treasured Heritage                                                                

"Our cemeteries are often the only link between the past and the present. In the early days of our county, with the lack of roads and great distance pioneers had to travel, it was often mandatory to bury the dead in the pasture. Therefore, there are quite a few unmarked and unknown graves in our area. Someone remarked that there were graves on every large ranch. Many families had their own burial grounds and descendants now care for them." Thelma Pugh Lindholm-The History of the People of Live Oak County Texas, p. 33. 1982.

 

Cemeteries established in towns and communities grew from the generosity of far-sighted and generous pioneers. Cemetery preservation is a priority with the LOCHC. Below is a list of many of the county's cementeries. Please inform the webmaster of others. This site is interactive with sites which list individual graves. Most come from Find a Grave. For proper maintenance and care of gravestones check out the interactive link provided here.

 

Asterisks below indicate cemeteries registered with deed verification at the Live Oak County Courthouse and are therefore protected by law. The county also registers them with the state. Cemeteries not registered must first complete a Notice of Existence of a Cemetery as shown on this link.

 

Cemeteries 50 years old or more have then completed the first step toward receiving the Historic Texas Cemetery Designation and are ready to complete the designation process with forms and samples located on link above. A double asterisk below represents a cemetery with its designation complete. In favor of Historic Texas Cemetery Markers, subject markers are no longer granted to cemeteries by the THC.  (Note: Some LOC cemeteries are unnamed on their deeds and remain so with the state. These include one North of George West, one at Argenta, one West of Argenta, and one at Ray Point. Others may have recently filed with the county but are not yet placed in the THC Atlas.) 

 

At this point in time, Live Oak County has four THC designated Historic Texas Cemeteries: Lagarto Historic Texas Cemetery, Oakville Historic Texas Cemetery, George West Historic Texas Cemetery, and Weston-Chapa Historic Texas Cemetery. Lagarto and Oakville both had Texas Historical Markers before the THC Historic Texas Cemetery(HTC) designation program and were grandfathered into the HTC program. George West Historic Texas Cemetery and Weston-Chapa Historic Texas Cemetery leaders did the work to receive their designation. George West Historic Texas Cemetery was approved by THC Staff and awaits THC Board approval before text is sent to the marker foundry. Weston-Chapa placed their request to LOCHC Marker Chair, Richard Hudson, who is working with them to complete narrative and all requirements for 2021 Texas Marker Application Period beginning March 1-May 15, 2021.

 

Live Oak County Cemeteries

 

Highlighted cemeteries below are linked to "Find a Grave" for user convenience.

 

Anna Rose Cemetery Sometimes known as Weston, Chapa, Old Chapa, or Alegria Cemetery. The community nearby is still called Anna Rose. THC awarded the combined title of Weston-Chapa Cemetery for its Historic Texas Cemetery Designation in 2019.* LK-C017.

Argenta Church of Christ Cemetery

Balania Cemetery* LK-C003

Buck Ranch Cemetery

Chapa Cemetery** LK-C017 Now Weston-Chapa Cemetery. (See Anna Rose Cemetery above and Weston-Chapa Cemetery Below) THC awarded the combined title Weston-Chapa Cemetery for its Historic Texas Cemetery Designation because Weston appears on the original deed. Chapa is the name of numerous second and third generation heirs. Pinkie Chapa, daughter of Tom and Zella (McCampbell) Weston, and her husband, Romano Chapa, were among the best known Anna Rose inhabitants during their lifetime, and the cemetery was called Chapa Cemetery after they were buried there. It has also been known as Anna Rose, Old Chapa, and Alegria Cemetery.

Cheatham Cemetery

Clegg Cemetery* LK-C001

Corpus Cemetery

Dobie McWhorter Cemetery

Fort Merrill Cemetery (After closing of the fort, 31 soldiers' graves were moved by the                                        government to San Antonio. A state marker was placed on the

                                 site in 1936 during the Texas Centennial. Shipp,

                                 Sparks, and Givens appear on headstones remaining. See

                                 Shipp Cemetery below.)

George West Historic Texas Cemetery** LK-C011 Historic Texas Cemetery Designation 2018. Historic Texas Cemetery Marker approved by THC Staff 2020 pending THC Board Approval 2021.

Goynes Cemetery

Gruver Ranch Cemetery of George West

Gussettville Cemetery* LK-C009 This cemetery is mentioned on the Gussettville Subject                                      Marker located at the church and cemetery yard.

Guy James Cemetery* LK-C008 (Also known as Old Gussettville Cemetery below)

Harris Family Cemetery

Jones Simonson

Joseph A. Bartlett Gravesite

Lagarto Cemetery** LK-C002 Historic Texas Cemetery Designation 1998. Famous Texas Ranger Hall of Famer, Charles Henry Vanvalkenburg Fusselman, is buried there beneath a Texas Hero Obelisk. Fusselman Canyon in the Franklin Mountains outside El Paso bears a Texas Historical Marker in his honor. John Polla, who fought in the Texas Revolutionary War is also buried in the Lagarto Cemetery

Lagarto Historic Texas Cemetery-Byler Addition

Latham Cemetery Also known as Anna Rose Cemetery.

Lebanon Cemetery* LK-C006

Longoria Cemetery-a cemetery located within the Three Rivers Cemetery fenced perimeter and managed by its own cemetery association. Access is available from Texas State Hiway 72 and Old Oakville Road.

Nell Cemetery* LK-C014

Old Gussettville Cemetery* LK-C008 (Also known as the Guy James Cemetery) 

Oakville Historic Texas Cemetery** LK-C016 Historic Texas Cemetery Designation - Medallion unveiled December 15, 2018. Marker unveiled 1968. This cemetery was part of the original McMullen-McGloin Land Grant from Mexico. J.T. James, the founder of Oakville, the first Live Oak County Seat, is buried here.

Pleasant Hill Cemetery

Ramirena Cemetery (See Latham Cemetery)

Range Ranch Cemetery

Ray Point Cemetery* LK-C012

Saint George Cemetery* LK-C010 

Shipp Family Cemetery (See Fort Merrill Cemetery)

Simmons Cemetery* LK-C007 

Sinclar Cemetery

Three Rivers Cemetery

Weston-Chapa Historic Texas Cemetery** LK-C017 (Sometimes called Chapa, Old Chapa, Anna Rose, or Alegria Cemetery above) Zella McCampbell Weston, a freed slave daughter of Rancher Jim Anderson McCampbell of Goliad County, married Tom Weston. Weston, also a freed slave son from South Carolina. Tom, Zella, and their heirs inherited a 2,000 acre ranch in Live Oak County from Jim McCampble upon his death. Jim brought Tom and Zella with him from Goliad County to live on the ranch which was near a small community called Anna Rose. See Chapa Cemetery above for Chapa information. Weston-Chapa Cemetery received Historic Texas Cemetery Designation in 2019. LOCHC's application for Weston-Chapa Historic Cemetery Marker has been approved by the THC staffr and is in process for THC Board approval for THC 2021 Marker Application period.

White Creek Cemetery

Wright Cemetery* LK C004

Ybanez Family Ranch Cemetery

Live Oak County Courthouse

The Honorable Jim Huff, County Judge for Live Oak County, welcomes you to the Live Oak County Historical Commission (LOCHC) Website. The Live Oak County Historical Commission is an arm of the Live Oak County Commissioners' Court; appointees are selected at the beginning of odd numbered years and serve two year terms. Judge Huff and the Live Oak County Commissioners support and approve actions of the LOCHC in coordination with the Texas Historical Commission (THC).

 

Live Oak County Commissioners:

Precinct 1: Richard Lee

Precinct 2: Donna Kopplin Mills

Precinct 3: Mitchell Williams

Precinct 4: Emilio Garza

The Commissioner's Court is committed to the preservation of our county's history. Judge Huff and your local commissioner welcome suggestions.

The Honorable Jim Huff, Live Oak County Judge.

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