Photo taken in 2000 of Oakland Post Office courtesy of Paula Hoffman
The History of Oakland
The following article written by Miss Bernice Calhoun on December 8, 1922 was originally published in the December 8, 1922 Weimar Mercury and again published on December 7, 1972.
[Editorial additions by Ernest Mae Seaholm.]
Oakland, the second oldest town in Colorado county, situated on the Navidad River, was settled in 1856 by the Townsend brothers, the Tooke brothers and Mr. Jones. This town was on the stage line running from Columbus to San Antonio. It was known as Prairie Point until 1860, when the postoffice, which was across the river on the [Amasa] Turner farm, was moved here; then it was changed to Oakland.
Our first postmaster was Mr. A. Schrimsher; next Mr. J. H. Mullin; then Mr. J. P. Mayes, Jr., and sister Mrs. H. Schott. Our present post-mistress is Mrs. Oscar Obenhaus.
Colonel [A. E.] Hereford owned most of the land in this town. In 1860 Mrs. T. E. Ivey, my great-grandmother, bought it and settled here. She donated the land where the Oakland school house now stands to the school. Several parties were donated lots by her. She sold the remainder. A two-story building was erected on the land donated for the school, 1876. This building burned down in 1893. It had been used for school purposes, a Masonic lodge, Sunday school and church.
Professor McMurry was the first teacher in Oakland. He taught in the year of 1859 in a building situated where the colored parsonage now stands. A few year[s] later this school building was wrecked by a storm. Among the early teachers after McMurry were Professors Hargon, [John R.] Harris (my grandfather), [James W.] Holt, McNiel, [W. A.] Pitts , Miss Hattie Simpson, Mrs. [Zachariah] Payne [nee Gertrude Harris], and Mrs. Grobe. There is now a modern school building in this town. This school is taught by three talented teachers: Mr. J. A. Moore, Mrs. F.[Francis] Grunewald and Miss Marie Fussell.
The first store was opened in 1857, by David Neer and T. H. James. The next merchant was Mr. Henry Bock. He and Mr. [Leopold] Steiner had a store and butcher shop combined. Mr. Franklin had a saloon and store. In 1859 Messrs. [Rupert] VanWagner and [Joe] Andrews opened a store. Two years later Mr. Andrews [in Terry's Texas Rangers] went to the Civil War and was killed [at Shiloh]. His partner followed one year later, and returned from the war in 1865, continuing his business until his death in the year 1912. This is the only store that is in the hands of the heirs, the other stores having changed from one person to another.
Mr. T. H. James donated the land for the Methodist Church. This building was erected in 1887 by Messrs. Watson and Bennett. We now have a good Sunday School conducted by my aunt, Mrs. I. A. Strunk. Rev. J. C. Wilson is our pastor.
Mr. J. P. Mayes and Miss Eliza Fowlkes were the first couple married in Oakland. The first child born was Marcus Hervy Townsend.
Although Oakland has not grown very much, it is still a thriving little town. It has two up-to-date stores, a postoffice, two meat markets, a drug store, two cold drink stands, a bank, blacksmith shop and garage.
Mr. Bill Townsend had the first hotel here, in 1857. Mr. Edwards kept a hotel for a long time afterwards. The war took a great number of citizens from Oakland. The only ones living here that returned from the war are Mr. J. A. Fowlkes, who lives with his family on their plantation, and Mr. J. P. Mayes, Sr., who lives with his son and daughter.
The first gin was owned by Mr. J. C. Kindred. The next owner was Mr. Jeff Rhodes, father of one of our present prominent citizens, Mr. M. Rhodes, Mr. C. Laas succeeded Mr. Rhodes in owning the gin. We now have an up-to-date gin, owned by the Seifert Brothers.
Among the early physicians were Drs. [Thomas T. ] Degraffenreid, [Thomas M.] Laidley, Hutchins and [John Duff and John Duff, Jr.] Brown. One of the later ones was Dr. R. E. Pridgen, who was once a leading citizen of Oakland. Our present physician, Dr. V. R. Havens, is a very learned man.
Oakland in the Colorado County Sesquicentennial Commemorative Book
Historical Markers
Oakland Oakland Normal School Strunk - Woolsey House
It Was in the News
Miscellaneous items from area newspapersRemembering Oakland
Reminiscences of some of those that lived thereArticle at the Handbook of Texas Online
Oakland
