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Oak Knoll LbNA #54863

Owner:Baby Bear
Plant date:Jul 31, 2010
Location:
City:Bellville
County:Austin
State:Texas
Boxes:1
Found by: Chrivid
Last found:Dec 6, 2014
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFFaa
Last edited:Jul 31, 2010
Difficulty: Easy
Distance to Letterbox: 20 yards

***** Part of the Texas Imagrants series


********REPORTING MISSING - Not confirmed *************

The "Oak Knoll" letterbox is located in Oak Knoll cemetery in Bellville, Texas. The Historical marker says.. Frederick William (1800 - 1854) and Marie Louise Starke (1827 - 1894) Luhn purchased 697 acres here in 1848. When Frederick died in 1854, he was buried on this homestead just east of their log home. A year later Marie married John Siegfried (1821 - 1898). As the need arose, the Siegrieds offered the use of hte site for burials. In 1870, a small parcel was deeded to the fathers of three interred children. In 1889, as more burial plots were sold, an association was formed that has, since those early days, overseen the funding, the layout, the growth and the care of the site that chronicles the lives of generations of Bellville's Citizens.

While hiding the box I found some interesting graves and there are probably many more. One if of Michael Robert Pilley. Pilley was a memeber of the Mier Expedition in 1842 (which he survivied). Also near the letterbox is the grave of Herman Luhn (possible relation to Frederick above) who served as part of Waul's Legion during the Civil War.

Directions:
From Bellville, and intersection of Hwy 36 and 529, go east on Hwy 529. About .3 miles after crossing the railroad tracks, turn right into cemetery under the iron archway. Historical marker is on the right. Go straight until the 1st paved road and turn right. Go about half way across the cemetery until a large pine on your right (about 10 yards off road). Stop in this area.

To the Letterbox:
Walk across the road from the pine tree and find the grave for Michael Pilley, which has a Star and Crest on it. Standing with your back to his headstone, go forward and a little right to a large pine tree (just left of a large cedar). Just before the tree is a cement border that the tree has lifted a section out of place. **** Update, someone moved the box to a hole 6 feet up in the Cedar Tree ******