It is said that Luis de Moscoso was the first European to see East Texas about 1542. He had been a member of Hernando de Soto's expedition to the new world but de Soto died in Mississippi before arriving. De Moscoso continued on his land route looking for a route to Mexico.
In 1685 the Frenchman Robert Caveleir Sieur de la Salle set about exploring the Louisiana territory for the French government. He was looking for the Mississippi River but missed it and continued west into East Texas. His path may have come close to where Oak Grove Cemetery currently lies.
On the Lanana Creek, just east of Oak Grove Cemetery, Father Antonio Margil de Jesus is said to have ended a drought by striking his staff against the rock bank and two springs began to trickle into the dry creek bed. Currently these springs are known as Los Ojos de Padre Margil, The Eyes of Father Margil. They can still be seen from the walk along the creek.
The land for Oak Grove Cemetery was donated by Haden Edwards, from land originally granted to him by the Spanish government. The original cemetery only encompassed the southwestern portion of the current cemetery and expanded as the community needs expanded.
In 1900, the Cum Concillo Club raised money for the wrought iron fencing which borders the Cemetery and Lanana Street. Later, this same club joined with other forces to preserve the rock of the Old Stone Fort.
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