Oliphint Chapel Cemetery

Oliphint Chapel Cemetery. . Alfred D. Oliphint came to Texas and received land grants in 1839 and 1844 in Sabine County. He served as Justice of the Peace and County Judge, and in 1879 deeded five acres of land to the Methodist Episcopal Church. This cemetery, located adjacent to the church, dates to at least 1870. Among those interred here are early settlers to the area, many of whom are buried in unmarked graves. The restored cemetery continues to serve the community and is maintained by the Oliphint Chapel Memorial Gardens Association., Supplemental Information - Right Side of Marker , A Brief History Oliphint Memorial Chapel Cemetary , In the year of 1839, Texas was a young Republic. Sabine County was an original county and a main port of entry from the United States. The Sabine River was the dividing line between two counties., James Gaines bought the Charbanan Ferry and moved his family and the ferry to the West Bank in 1819. This river ferry was perhaps the most traveled at that time. In 1821, Stephen F. Austin crossed on this ferry on his way to meet his father, Moses Austin. Tradition says he spent the night in the Gaines home. In 1837, Gaines had the town of Pendleton surveyed., In 1839, Alfred Davenport Oliphint appeared before the Sabine County Land Board, asked for and received a Conditional Land Grant for 320 acres of land. He also bought land from James Gaines, built a home and made preparations to bring his family to the area. In 1844, A.D. Oliphint again appeared before the Sabine County Land Board, asked for and received 640 acres Unconditional Land Grant. He had returned to the United States for his family and many slaves that he and his wife owned. Several members of the Oliphint family plus friends came with him. They all settled outside the Pendleton Town Site and established over a period of time what was called the Oliphint Community. They built the Oliphint Chapel Church. The community school also used the church building. A.D. Oliphint deeded five acres of land to the church adjacent to the cemetery., The Oliphint Memorial Chapel Cemetery is the only known old cemetery in this area. Several epidemics swept through Texas and many graves are in this cemetery. The census, tax, and marriage records, family Bible records, family history, etc., have helped to determine who the early citizens are resting here., We feel that all ancestors are worthy of the respect and loving care this Oliphint Memorial Gardens Committee and other interested persons have shown this Sacred place., The history of Oliphint Memorial Chapel Cemetery has been provided by Ms. Blanche Finley Toole.