The land that Oak Grove Cemetery is located on was originally a part of the land grant of Empresario Haden Edwards, who was the leader of the 1826 Rebellion and is&nbsp;buried on&nbsp;the grounds. Graves from the Spanish cemetery of Nacogdoches were moved to Oak Grove when the county courthouse was constructed there in 1912. The oldest grave that was relocated is&nbsp;labeled, "Father Mendoza" and is recorded for the year 1718. Additionally, Oak Grove is known to be the final resting place of numerous well known individuals, such as&nbsp;Thomas Jefferson Rusk, a judge, statesmen, and President Sam Houston's secretary of war, as well as Texas Declaration of Independence signers Charles Stanfield Taylor, John S. Robers, and William Clark, Jr. The cemetery includes many other notable statesmen as well as former slaves, a Texan millionaire (Frost Thorn), writers, and the city's master architect.

This historical marker describes the history of the cemetery.

Website

Oak Grove Cemetery, which was first called American Cemetery, is one of the most famous cemeteries in all of Texas. Only measuring two acres, there are a great number of historical figures that have been laid to rest on the grounds. Some gravesite of well known individuals include Thomas Jefferson Rusk, Charles Stanfield Taylor, John S. Robers, and William Clark, Jr., just to name a few. The cemetery also includes graves from the former Spanish cemetery grounds on which the county courthouse is now located.

Oak Grove Cemetery

This walking tour begins at the Nacagdoches Railroad Depot and makes a short loop through the downtown with stops at landmarks such as the Blount House and the Sterne-Hoya Museum.

Future plans for the depot include a museum depicting the importance of all transportation in the early development of Nacogdoches.

The Nacogdoches Railroad Depot was built by Southern Pacific Railways to replace the original wooden depot and opened on April 3 of 1911. The wooden depot was built in May of 1910 and burned to the ground less than a year later, after it was struck by lightning. The railroad depot is the only surviving passenger station on the old Houston East and West Texas rail line. The first train passed through Nacogdoches in 1883, bringing with it a number of changes. After World War II, cars became more common, indicating a decline in the need for the railroad, and in August of 1954 Southern Pacific terminated passenger services through Nacogdoches. The depot was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. 

Nacogdoches Railroad Depot

Charles' father was a German immigrant who arrived in Nacogdoches in 1836 along with his three brothers. He owned a farm near the town and eventually bought the Stern-Hoya House, which is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, around 1869. Charles, who was twelve when the family moved in, lived in the house until he got married in 1887 to a woman named Fraces Meisenheimer. He built the house across the street.Charles trained to become a land surveyor and worked in this role for the county. He decided to build the land office to provide a safe, fire-proof location to house survey and land records. The building features double-brick walls and a reinforced floor and ceiling. Its location in the heart of the city was appropriate given its proximity to the main square, the county courthouse and businesses.In addition to his survey work, Charles also provided loans and, with two partners, opened a bank (the Stone Fort National Bank) and became its first president. As a result of these activities, Charles became a well-known local figure. After he passed away in 1926, his son-in-law took over the land office. Until the 1940s and 1950s, downtown was the city's main commercial center. To attract and retain customers, many businesses modernized their buildings. The land office building, however, did not suffer this fate and is one of the best preserved structures in Nacogdoches. Today, the building is now home to a law office.

Erected in 1897, the Hoya Land Office Building is historically significant for its association with the man for whom it is named, Charles Hoya (1848-1926), and the fact that it has remained largely unchanged. The building is a simple two-story brick structure featuring some decorative brickwork and a wood canopy on the front facade. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992 and now serves as an attorney's office. 

Hoya Land Office Building

According to the city&nbsp;of the Nacogdoches website, the citizens of Nacogdoches organized the first volunteer fire and rescue in 1907 but it&nbsp;was disbanded the same year. On February 29, 1908, the Nacogdoches Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 was reorganized with Ira Link Sturdevant as chief. &nbsp;The constitution and by-laws were adopted March 14, 1908. In 1909, the city constructed a new city hall and fire station giving the department a permanent home.&nbsp;The first bell was purchased in 1908 from the Baptist church. It was placed on top of the Perkins Building on the north side of the square – the former home of Kennedy’s Jewelry.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Located behind the historic Central Fire Station (built in 1952), this small museum was created in 1996. Although the museum is not open regular hours, tours are available by appointment while visitors may also walk-in during many downtown events. The museum contains the city's first fire engine, many old tools and fire equipment, historic photos, and fire and rescue memorabilia.

Nacogdoches Fire Museum

What is now the state of Texas was in 1832 a part of Mexico, which had won its independence from Spain in 1821. Despite being sovereign Mexican territory, settlers from the United States started to move into Texas. In fact, many had actually already settled in the territory between 1815-1821, as the Spanish government in Mexico encouraged this immigration to help secure the northern territory. After 1821, however, to regulate this influx of people, the Mexican government passed colonization laws and also awarded land grants to agents (empresarios) who served as land contractors (the first empresario was Stephen F. Austin). The Colonization Act of 1825, which offered favorable terms to potential settlers, attracted large numbers of settlers.Unsurprisingly, tensions arose between Mexicans and the Texans, as the settlers had come to be called. Many settlers did not swear allegiance to Mexico or abide by agreements with the government. Disagreements over land grants, especially among empresarios, added to the unease. One of these empresarios was a man named Haden Edwards, who owned land grants around Nacogdoches. He, like many other empresarios, refused to honor older land grants. He also intruded in Nacogdoches politics. As a result, the Mexican government terminated his land grants. In response, Edwards led a short and failed uprising called the Fredonia Rebellion.Additionally, over time as the number of settlers increased in Texas so did their political influence and hold onto the territory. The Mexican government, which feared that the United States would encourage an uprising in Texas for the purpose of eventual annexation, passed the Law of April 6, 1830 in an attempt to reassert its authority. The law was comprised of a number of articles including one that limited immigration from the United States and another that prevented settlers from bringing in more slaves. Settlers were also upset at provisions of the law that dealt with custom duties, land titles, and military authority (the Mexican government stationed troops and customs collectors in Texas to enforce the law). Violent confrontations broke out between settlers, who were unhappy with the new law, and Mexican authorities.It was in this context that José de las Piedras, who wanted to prevent further confrontations and maintain order, directed all residents to surrender their guns to him. The Texians rejected this order and instead formed the militia. During the battle, the militia and Mexican forces fought in downtown Nacogdoches. The militia eventually captured the Old Stone Fort and other buildings. Realizing that the battle was lost, Pierdas ordered a retreat on the morning of August 3rd. However, the Texians captured him and around 300 troops, and they were marched back to town. Pierdas was paroled and went back to Mexico.

This historical marker commemorates one of the most important events in Nacogdoches' history. On August 2-3, 1832 a fierce battle occurred here that some consider an opening salvo of the Texas Revolution (1835-1836). A Texian militia numbering around 300 men from the surrounding area marched into Nacogdoches on the morning of the 2nd and demanded that the commander of the local Mexican force (around 380 men), José de las Piedras, rescind his order that all citizens in the area give up their arms. Neither side backed down, resulting in a battle that began early on the afternoon of the 2nd and continued until the next day. The militia was victorious; only four Texans were killed while over 40 Mexican soldiers died and 300 were captured. The battle was significant because Mexican troops were never stationed in East Texas again, thus ending the Mexican military rule of the region.   

Battle of Nacogdoches Historical Marker 

In 1958, the Hoya family donated the house to the city which converted it into a library. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.&nbsp;

The Sterne-Hoya Museum is a historic house museum and library featuring local historic artifacts donated by the Hoya family, the second family to live here. The house was built in the 1830s by Adolphus Stern, a merchant and prominent leader in the fight for Texas Independence. Notable historical figures associated with the house include Davy Crockett, who was a guest, and Sam Houston, who was baptized in the house. The museum focuses on the history of the Sterne occupancy during the Texas Revolution as well as the Victorian Period of the Hoya family. The house also features a library, one of the earliest wine cellars in the state, and is furnished with period antiques and family heirlooms.

Sterne-Hoya Museum

Stephen Blount was born to a prominent family in the town of San Augustine in 1845. His father was also involved in politics, serving as one of the three local representatives at the Convention of 1836, during which the Texas Declaration of Independence (from Mexico) was drafted and signed at what is now a ghost town called Washington-on-the-Brazos. The Constitution of the Republic of Texas was also written and signed at the convention.Stephen earned a Bachelor's degree from the Kentucky Military Institute in Lexington, Kentucky and the studied law at Cumberland University in Tennessee. After graduating from Cumberland, he went back to San Augustine and started a law practice and got married as well to a woman named Mary Price. Stephen built a solid reputation in East Texas. He practiced from the second floor of a store building and, even though was never elected to a judgeship, he nonetheless earned the title judge. And as stated above, he served one term in the Texas legislature.Mary lived in the house for a few years after Stephen passed away in 1928. She moved to Huntsville where their daughter, Emma, lived. The home became a rooming house for a time before becoming a funeral parlor. It remained a funeral parlor, under different names, at least through the late 1980s. It is not readily apparent what became of the house in the years that followed, but Fortney Home moved in the house in late 2018.

The Stephen William and Mary Price Blount House is one of the most beautiful homes in Nacogdoches. It was built in 1897 by prominent lawyer and judge William Blount (1845-1928), who also served one term in the state legislature. In terms of architecture, the house is an excellent example of the Queen Anne and Eastlake styles. It was designed by local architect Dietrich Rulfs, who also designed other large homes in the area, including the Eugene Blount House. The house features many interesting elements, including an asymmetrical design, several gables, stained glass, intricate exterior woodwork, a wrap-around porch on the first floor, and a porch on the second floor. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. Today, the house is now a home furnishing store called Fortney House, which sells antique furniture, art, decor, and other items.

Stephen William and Mary Price Blount House

<div>Except for brief periods the university remained in operation until 1895. During the Civil War the buildings were used for a hospital and quarters for Confederate soldiers, and during Reconstruction the buildings served as headquarters for a federal regiment.&nbsp;When the original charter expired in 1870, the Catholic Church took over the management of the university until the charter was renewed on February 11, 1873. In 1875 Milam Lodge Number 2 assumed control. In 1887 the property was leased to Keachi College. In 1889 the name Keachi College was dropped and that of Nacogdoches University was resumed.</div> When the second charter of the university expired in 1895, it was apparent that instruction could no longer be maintained on the university level. &nbsp;In 1904 the property was deeded to the Nacogdoches Independent School District. The main building was used by the Nacogdoches public schools until the 1930s. After years of disrepair, it was restored in the 1960s and converted into a museum featuring early Texas furniture, vintage clothing, manuscripts, deeds, silver, and other relics. In 1962 the structure became a Registered Texas Historical Landmark; in 1971 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The institution's charter, dated February 3, 1845, provided that "no religious, sectarian tenets or doctrines shall be inculcated in the course of instruction," and that "the institution shall be equally open to the education of the children of persons of all classes, without regard to their religious belief."&nbsp;The school began its career with an endowment of 29,712 acres of land and $2,700 in personal property. The "Red House," former officers' quarters of the Twelfth Permanent Battalion, was its first home.&nbsp;

The Republic of Texas chartered Nacogdoches University in 1845. As a result, Nacogdoches University was probably the first non-sectarian institution of higher learning in Texas. 
The institution purchased the Temperance Hall in 1852 and shortly thereafter Washington Square. In 1858 it erected this large Greek Revival building with a two-story end portico and cupola.Today the building is used as a museum and as a place to hold special events. Nacogdoches Federation of Women’s Club operates the building and gives free tours of the building, including the upper level which holds a museum that shows the building's history from holding a university to serving as a Confederate hospital. The museum also has displays that depict a typical classroom in the l9th century.

Nacogdoches University-Old University Building and Museum

The house is also unique in that it stands on its original site. The property was once a large tract of land, first owned by Andres de Acosta beginning, it is believed, sometime around 1779. A dozen owners have lived here and the house was named after&nbsp;two of them: Lawrence S. Taylor and Joseph Durst. Taylor's descendants owned the house until the late 1980s, when an organization called the Mckinney Foundation bought and restored it, and then deeded it to the city in late 1990s.

The Durst-Taylor Historic House was built in 1835 and is the second-oldest building in the city. It is a rare surviving example of from that period and is somewhat unique in that was built out of wood rather than the more common adobe construction. It was home to many early civic leaders such as Thomas Rusk. Today, it is a house museum and includes a chicken coop, heirloom gardens, smokehouse, Blacksmith shop, and a sugarcane mill. 

Walking Tour of Nacogdoches, Texas

Oak Grove Cemetery

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information