Oklela Beverlin Dunlap was the son of Madison Dunlap and Martha Hanna McKee. He married Kate Reynolds Mebane (1862 - 1930) on 12 Oct 1882 in Rockbridge Co., Virginia.

They had 6 known Dunlap children in Virginia:

Henrietta Campbell, 12 Jul 1884, below

Lula Strain, 11 Aug 1886, below

Charles William Reynolds, 19 Nov 1888

Mary Kerr, 19 Nov 1888 (Osbourne Overton Heard), below

Walter Mebane, 7 Jul 1891 (Helen Bennett), below

Jennie Milton, 7 Jul 1891, below

I've found several different spellings of his first name, Oklela, Okela, Oklala, etc. I'd love to hear the origin, of his name. I have used the spelling from the Dunlap Family Record, 1775 - 1897, lent by my dear cousin, JMH. Also in 1981 correspondence, Margaret S. Seebert referred to Uncle Oak, Oklala Beverlin Dunlap. His gravestone says Oklela, so that's good enough for me. The John T McKee bible also says Oklela Beverlin Dunlap.

On the 1860 Kerrs Creek, Dist. 5, Rockbridge Co., Virginia census, I found farmer Madison Dunlap, 51 with $20K in real estate, plus other Dunlaps: (female) M. Henderson (Hanna), 48; (the rest are male Dunlaps) J. Wm. (Jno M), 23; S. Mackey (Saml McKee), 17; Wm M., 13; M. Kyle (Milton P.), 9; W. White (Walter Wharton), 7 and O. Benj. (O Beverlin), 5 plus a seamstress, etc.

On the 1870 Kerrs Creek, Rockbridge Co., Virginia census, I found farmer (male) M. Dunlap, 51 with $24,400 in real estate and other Dunlaps: Martha H., 58; Laborers: Samuel, 27; Wm M., 23; Milton, 20; Walter W., 17 and Oklelia B., 15, all Virginia born. Other laborers and probably domestic with her young children resided with them. R K Dunlap and family lived nearby.

On the 1880 Kerrs Creek, Rockbridge Co., Virginia census, I found farmer W W Dunlap, 27; wife Sarah J Dunlap, 23 and brother and farmer O.B. DUNLAP, 25, all Virginia born.

Okela B. Dunlap, age 28, single, born Rockbridge, lives Rockbridge, a farmer, the son of M. and M. H.

Dunlap, & Kate R. Mebane, age 20, single, born Cross Co., Arkansas, lives Rockbridge, the daughter of J. S. and N. E. Mebane were married on 12 Oct 1882, by D. A. Penick. Louise M. Perkins, Rockbridge County Marriages, 1851-1885, 1989. p 108.

On the 1900 South River, Rockbridge Co., Virginia census, I found farmer Ora? (sic) B Dunlop, 45, born Apr 1855; wife of 17 years Kate R, 39, May 1861, had 6 kids, all living; daughters or sons: Henrietta, 15, Jul 1884; Lula S, 13, Aug 1886; Charlie W, 11, ? 1888; Mary C, 11, Nov 1888; Walter M, 8, Jul 1891 and Jennie M, 8, July 1881, all born in Virginia (sic).

Lexington Gazette, 245 Jul 1900, The regular annual meeting of the Board of Supervisors was held at the Court House on Monday, July 23rd, every member of the Board being present. The Board made a settlement with Mr. O.B. Dunlap, superintendent of the Alms House.

On the 1910 Lexington, Rockbridge Co., Virginia census. I found farmer Oklela B Dunlap, 54; wife of 27 years Kate R, 47, had 6 kids, all living; daughters of sons: Henrietta C, 25; Lula S, 23; Charlie W R, 21; Mary K. 21; Walter M, 18 and Jennie M, 18, all Virginia born.

Richmond Dispatch, 25 Oct 1901, p 4, Extract Works at Buena Vista, Departure of O.B. Dunlap. Lexington, Oct. 24, ….Mr. O. B. Dunlap, the manager of the Rockbridge almshouse, and farm located at Timber Ridge, left suddenly this week for parts as yet unknown. He purchased a ticket from Timber Ridge to Harper's Ferry. Before going, he wrote a letter to the County Board of Supervisors, in which he said he was disheartened and determined to seek something else to do. He left all the books and papers concerning the management of the farm. They had since been overhauled and found correct. ….. Mr. Dunlap left a large family, all of whom are living in Lexington at present, in order that the children may attend school. He wrote his wife that they would hear from him later.

Lexington Gazette, dated 28 Aug 1902 includes Scholarship Winner, Miss Nettie Dunlap, daughter of Mrs. O.B. Dunlap of Lexington. She won the scholarship for the next session at the State Female Normal School at Farmville at a recent competitive examination, in Lexington.

The Times Dispatch, 30 Dec 1905, p 4; Family Reunion. (Special to The Times Dispatch.) Lexington, Virginia, Dec. 29 - A family reunion of the Dunlaps, a well known family of Rockbridge, was held Tuesday at the home of the oldest brother, Mr. Robert M. Dunlap, on Whistle Creek. There were present Mrs. Margaret Strain, of near Brownsburg; Messrs. Samuel M. Dunlap, Milton P. Dunlap, William M. Dunlap and O.B. Dunlap, all of Rockbridge.

All the Dunlap siblings got together, except Walter: From the Times Dispatch of Richmond, Virginia, dated 1 Jan 1906. The Dunlap family of Rockbridge county, held a family reunion in the home of Mr. Robert M. (sic) Dunlap, of Whistle Creek last Tuesday. There were present Mrs. Margaret Strain, of near Brownsburg, Messrs. Samuel M. Dunlap, Milton P. Dunlap, William M. Dunlap, and O.B. Dunlap, all of Rockbridge (See photo on Robert M. Dunlap's site).

Lexington Gazette, 28 Jun 1911, p 5: Mr. Wm S Hileman and Mr. O. B. Dunlap last week sustained painful injuries while uploading a monument in the cemetery to be erected in memory of the late Prof. A.L. Nelson. Mr. Hileman was struck on the head over the right eye and Mr. Dunlap received a lick on the jaw, from the breaking of a pole. Prompt surgical attention was rendered and both gentlemen were out again in a few days.

Lexington Gazette, 6 Nov 1912, p 5; Mr. Charles W. R. Dunlap of Lewisburg, West Virginia, is visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. O. B. Dunlap.

On the 1920 Lexington, Rockbridge Co., Virginia census, I found cemetery sexton OKELA B. Dunlap, 64; wife Kate M., 56; daughters or son: teacher Henrietta C, 35; legal stenographer Lorda S, 33; hardware store salesman Charles W, 31 and Jennie M, 29. Kate was born in Arkansas and the rest in Virginia.

"DEATHS. Mr. O. B. Dunlap. Mr. Oklela Beverlin Dunlap died here last Thursday April 22. He was the son of Madison Dunlap and Martha Hanna McKee Dunlap, and was born April 18, 185E at Kerrs Creek. He married Miss Kate Reynolds Mebane on October 12, 1882. He is survived by six children, Misses Henrietta C. Dunlap, Lula S. Dunlap and Jennie M. Dunlap, ol Lexington; and Mr. Charles W. Dunlap of Lexington, Mrs. Osborne O. Heard, of Baltimore, Md., and Dr. Walter M. Dunlap, of East Orange, N. J.; three brothers also survive him Mr. Samuel McK. Dunlap and Mr. Milton P. Dunlap of Kerrs Creek, and Mr. William M. Dunlap, of Washington, D. C. The following relatives attended the funeral: Mr. W. M. Dunlap, Washington, D. C.; Mr. Osborne O. Heard, Baltimore, Md.; Mrs. A. E. Woody, Baltimore, Md.; Mrs. J. D. Lowman, and Miss Mary O. Dunlap, Millboro, Va. All the children, were present at the funeral except Dr. Walter M. Dunlap, who was in Pasadena, California, doing post-graduate work and Mrs. Osborne O. Heard, detained at home by illness. The pall bearers were Mr. S. M. Dunlap, Mr. H. A. Dunlap., Mr. G. T. Dunlap, Mr. C. M. Dunlap, Dr. J. E. Seebert, Mr. Robert D. Moore, Mr. Morton McCorkle, all nephews, and Mr. J. D. Varner. Funeral Services were held from the home on Edmondson Avenue on Saturday at 4 p. m., Rev. J. J. Murray assisted by Rev. Morton officiating. Burial was made in the Lexington Cemetery." Published in the Lexington Gazette, Vol 122, #17, dated 28 Apr 1926 (see photo).

"Mr. O. B. Dunlap Died Thursday Afternoon On Edmondson Avenue, Lexington. Mr. Okela Beverlin Dunlap died Thursday afternoon the 22nd, at 3:30 o'clock at his home on Edmondson avenue, Lexington. He was stricken with heart disease in March of Iast year and was unable afterwards to leave his home. His illness was acute for some days before his death. Mr. Dunlap had for twenty years been a resident of Lexington, coming here to accept the position of sexton in the Presbyterian cemetery the community cemetery, a position he held up to the time of his death. Much of the beauty of the old cemetery was due to his taste and care. His courtesy, kindness and knowledge of the people buried in the cemetery made his services to all who had the occasion to visit it most agreeable. He enjoyed a very large acquaintance and made many friends. Mr. Dunlap was born and reared and, in his earlier life, engaged in farming, on Kerrs creek in this county. He was the youngest son of Madison Dunlap. His mother was before marriage Miss Martha Hannah McKee. He was born April 18, 1855, and therefore lived to be a little more than seventy-one years of age. He married Oct. 12, 1882 Miss Kate Reynolds Mebane, who survives him with four daughters and two sons: Miss Henrietta C. Dunlap, Miss Lula S. Dunlap, Miss Jennie M. Dunlap, and Charles W. R. Dunlap of Lexington; Mrs. Osborne O. Heard of Baltimore, and Dr. Wialter M. Dunlap of East Orange, N. J. There survives of his father's family three brothers: Samuel McK. Dunlap and Milton P. Dunlap of Kerrs Creek, and William M. Dunlap of Washington city. Mr. Dunlap was buried Saturday afternoon in the cemetery here. Funeral services were held at 4 o'clock at the home. Rev. James J. Murray, pastor of the Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Dunlap was a communicant, and Rev. W. W. Morton, assistant pastor of the church, officiated. The casket was borne by seven nephews and great-nephews of the deceased: Harry A. Dunlap, Samuel M. Dunlap, George T. Dunlap, Clarence Dunlap, Joseph E. Seebert, Robert D. Moore, and Morton McCorkle. The grave was mounded with beautiful flowers. Among the relatives from a distance attending the funeral were: Mr. William M. Dunlap of Washington, Dr. Osborne O. Heard and Mrs. A. E. Woody of Baltimore, Mrs. J. D. Lowman and Miss Mary O. Dunlap of Millboro." Published in the Rockbridge County News, Volume 42, Number 26, 29 April 1926 (see photo).

Oklela Beverlin Dunlap was born on 18 Apr 1855 in Kerrs Creek, Rockbridge Co., Virginia, to parents Madison Dunlap and Martha Hanna McKee. His wife was Kate Mebane Dunlap. On 22 Apr 1926, he died in Lexington, Virginia. The informant was Miss Henrietta C Dunlap. Virginia CD #10741.

The 18 Jul 1936 WPA survey documented the Home of O. B. Dunlap, #ROC-382, 8 mlles north of Lexington, built about 1800 by Samuel Dale, who sold it in 1825 to Alexander Dale. It's a 2 story log dwelling. M. Dunlap et al vs Alex. Dale and Madison Dunlap purchased it. Madison Dunlap deeded it to Wm Dunlap on 29 Apr 8176 in DB HH, p 32. Wm M Dunlap deeded it to O. B. Dunlap on 24 May 1884 in DB YY, p 70. EG Johns vs CB Dunlap sold it to L. L. Wilson on 20 Oct 1806. It has a photo of the home in about 1836.

Oklela's grandson William B Dunlap, "as an old man with one artificial leg, string-trimmed at McKee Cemetery for several years and paid a local monument company to repair 9 headstones there." Thanks D.

Bio researched and written by kin LSP, all rights reserved