Robin Radcliffe

Veronica Robinson, Licensed Manager

Celebrating 140 years.

Annie Francis Cottle was 10 years old in 1882 when she took ill and died of measles. Her parents, Francis Marion and Harriet Kennedy Cottle, both from Oakdale and Langworth pioneering families, laid her to rest in the Langworth cemetery. According to their grandson, Frank Cottle, they found the long distance from their Oakdale Ranch to the Langworth cemetery very disheartening. They decided to donate six acres of land in Oakdale for a cemetery, so they could honor Annie with a headstone at the Oakdale location.

At a meeting of the Oakdale citizens, February 11, 1883, arrangements were made to survey the land donated by F.M. Cottle for a cemetery. Each person in attendence donated $10.00 to help defray cemetery expenses, and also entitled them to a lot. This is documented in a notation in Mary B. Hoisholt’s diary of that date. 

Under the date of May 27, 1883, the following notation was made: “Mr. and Mrs. McLeod’s only child was the first to be buried in the new cemetery, now known as Oakdale Citizens Cemetery.”

Historical stories have been contributed by Cindy McAnally Webb – sourced from her postings to Oakdale Citizens Cemetery Facebook page.