Brevard Leaders Buried in Oak Grove Cemetery

B.C. Lankford

The Oak Grove Cemetery on the Asheville Highway across from Blue Ridge Community College is the burial place of two men who played a major role in the formation of the Town of Brevard.

When Transylvania County was established in 1861 a supplemental act stated that the county seat would be named Brevard and located within five miles of W.P. Poor’s store.  Commissioners were to “purchase, or receive by donation, a tract of land of not less than fifty acres” between May 10 and June 10, 1861.  On June 8, 1861 L.S. Gash, B.C. Lankford, and Alexander England sold 50 acres for this purpose to the Chairman of the Court of Pleas and Quarters of Transylvania County for $1.00.  

Braxton Caldwell Lankford was 37 years old in 1861.  He was a successful businessman and farmer.  His home and Valley Store, located across the road from Oak Grove Methodist Church and cemetery, was the site of the first meeting of the court for the newly formed county on May 20, 1861. 

Lankford family graves at Oak Grove Cemetery

Lankford would go on to hold various county offices, serve as Brevard’s postmaster from 1881-89 and mayor in 1892-93.  He was a Master of the Dunn’s Rock Masonic Lodge.  B.C. Lankford died on August 24, 1895 and is buried beside his first and second wives, who were sisters, at Oak Grove Cemetery.

The England family plot is at the door step
of the former Oak Grove Methodist Church.

Alexander England was 39 years old in 1861.   Although he lived on the same plot of land his entire life, England was born in Buncombe County, spent his early adulthood in Henderson County and was instrumental in establishing Transylvania County.  He served as mayor of Brevard in 1893-94.  England died March 6, 1896 and is buried at Oak Grove Cemetery. 

The cemetery, which is owned and maintained by St. Timothy United Methodist Church, covers less than 4 acres.  It includes the former Oak Grove Methodist Church and has approximately 1000 graves.  The oldest marked tombstone is Amanda Thomas Lankford, 14-month-old daughter of Braxton and Amanda Lankford.  She died on May 9, 1861.  Her mother died three years later and is buried beside her.

Family names in the cemetery include Aiken, Allison, England, English, Fortune, Lankford, Lyon, McMinn, Meece, Morris, Neely, Norton, Pickelsimer, Reece, Rogers, Siniard, Tinsley, and many more.  The privately owned “annex” on the southwest corner has about 49 gravesites.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library.  Visit the NC Room during regular library hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional photographs.  For more information, comments or suggestions contact Marcy at marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-1820.