Austin's Oakwood is the oldest city owned cemetery was started in 1839, with the burial of its first tenants that were victims of a Comanche attack.
Many pioneers and builders of Austin are buried here.
Mignonette Carrington Pearce
April 16, 1838-March 4, 1902
Sweet mockingbird sings sweetly there,
Green grass, dear flowers, lie light, lie light,
Breeze, sunshine, rain touch gently here,
Sweetheart good night, dear heart good night.
Roses can mean condolence, sorrow; the brevity of earthly existence; it can also indicates how old the person was at the time of death: Just a bud - normally a child 12 or under. Partial bloom - normally a teenager. Full bloom - normally in early/mid twenties. The deceased died in the prime of life
Hands in some form are very common on grave markets. Symbol of leaving -Hands, clasped: Many times
these hands all seem to be in the same, but look for a number of interesting characteristics. First, most of the hands show the right hand in a grasp with fingers overlapping the other hand while the left hand is open. This could symbolize that the devotion of these two is not destroyed, a close bond between individuals, unity and affection even after death. Clasped hands are also symbolic of a farewell or last good-bye. Look at the cuff to distinguish between a man's or woman's hand (woman would have a frilly cuff.) The person who died first holds the other's hand, guiding the spouse to heaven.
These were very big in the 19th century. Besides marking out plot lines the actual railings and fences around grave sites actually started with a more practical purpose in mind - keeping the animals out.
William Custard 1810-1895
Jane Smyth Baker 1819-1869
Grapes and leaves mean Christian Faith and the blood of Christ.
James C. Illingsworth 1857-1887
A precious one from us has gone
A voice we loved is stilled
A place is vacant in our home
Which never can be filled.
God in His wisdom has recalled
The boon his love had given
And though the body slumbers here
The soul is safe in Heaven.
A broken blossom, whether a rose or another flower, indicated that someone had died too young.
A horse signifies courage or generosity.
The Beth Israel Cemetery is located within Oakwood.
Mama
Papa
A hand holding a wilted flower or bouquet symbolizes the mortality of life, as once a flower is cut from its stem, it dies. A lily is the virgin’s flower, also the symbol of innocence and purity.
Henry Koppel...a husband...1841-1888
Johanna Wolff 1872-1888
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