Westlake in Denton County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Roanoke I.O.O.F. Cemetery
Although few records exist of the Roanoke I.O.O.F. (Independent Order of Oddfellows) Lodge No. 421, it is known that lodge members purchased land at this site in 1897 for use as a burial ground. Consisting of approximately five and one-half acres, the cemetery always has been maintained as a public graveyard and never was limited to the families of lodge members. Memberships in the Roanoke Lodge eventually were transferred to Denton along with those of other rural I.O.O.F. Lodges.
The first person buried here was James DeWitt Pressley, who died in 1897. One tombstone bears an earlier date, however. Mrs. Calvin Abner Sams was buried on family property upon her death in 1882, but she was reinterred in the Roanoke Cemetery in 1914. Near the trunk of the "Hanging Tree" in the northeast section of the graveyard is the burial site of an alleged horse thief, who was hanged there in 1906. Another section was reserved for the families of the crew who worked on the railroad here during the 1920s. A reminder of the area's early history, the cemetery contains the graves of many pioneers, including members of the Sams, Fanning, Cowan, Seagraves, Buell, Lassen, Boutwell, Taylor, Mitchell, and McMahon Families.
Erected 1985 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 4285.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1897.
Location. 32° 59.421′ N, 97° 12.74′ W. Marker is in Westlake, Texas, in Denton County. Marker is on JT Ottinger Road east of Highway 170, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3101 JT Ottinger Road, Roanoke TX 76262, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Roanoke Water Tower (approx. 1.1 miles away); Roanoke (approx. 1.1 miles away); Silver Spur Saloon (approx. 1.1 miles away); Roanoke Lodge No. 668, A.F. & A.M. (approx. 1.1 miles away); Westlake and the Circle T Ranch (approx. 1.2 miles away); Pioneer Stone Burial Cairns (approx. 2.9 miles away); Mount Gilead Cemetery (approx. 2.9 miles away); Mount Gilead Baptist Church (approx. 2.9 miles away).
Credits. This page was last revised on October 25, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 25, 2021, by J Frye of Fort Worth, Texas. This page has been viewed 294 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 25, 2021, by J Frye of Fort Worth, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.