Oak Lawn Cemetery was
officially established in 1878 when William T. Perry deeded property
to R. M. Collins, the mayor of Decatur, for a public burial ground
for area residents. At that time however, at least one marked grave,
that of Eli Lindley (d. 1867), existed, indicating that a private
cemetery had first been established here. Other marked graves dating
as early as 1857 are believed to have been relocated to this site
after the public cemetery's founding. The city of Decatur managed
the cemetery between 1878 and 1928. During that time, local residents
C. and Caroline Harmon generously donated land to the city on four
occasions to enlarge the cemetery property. In 1928, in response
to the recent formation of a cemetery association by E. P. Gibson,
W. P. Thurmond, and T. J. Dillehay, the city ceased its management
of Oak Lawn. Between 1928 and 1986, the cemetery association maintained
the burial ground, which was again enlarged in 1947 and 1960. In
1986, after the dissolution of the association, the City of Decatur
resumed responsibility for the graveyard. Now consisting of over
forty acres of property, Oak Lawn Cemetery is the final resting
place of over 3,700 area residents.
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