Category Archives: DeKalb County

Bradford, Jasper E.

Jasper E. Bradford, a farmer of Jackson Township, was born at this present location on April 21, 1842. His is a son of James and Hephzibath (Griffith) Bradford. The father was a native of Northampton County, Va., born May 11, 1802; the mother, originally of Bourbon County, Ky., was born on February 25, 1806. They were married in Kentucky December 22, 1825, but about 1840 came to Andrew County, being among the first settlers. Upon reaching that county they settled where our subject now resides, and engaged in farming. They were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The father was a Democrat in politics. He died July, 1881, in his seventy-ninth year. The mother is in her eighty-first year, and is living with her son, Jasper E., who is one of eleven children. He spent his juvenile days on the farm, and finished his education at Manhattan College, Kansas. After leaving school he began farming at the place of his birth. He now owns 320 acres of land. On March 25, 1887, he was united in marriage with Miss Sadie Black, of Holt County, Mo. Mr. Bradford is a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

Source: History of Andrew and DeKalb Counties, Missouri (St. Louis and Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co. 1888), pp. 192-193.

Blair, Samuel T., M. D.

Samuel T. Blair, M. D., a well-known physician of Osborne, was born in what is now Loudon County, Tenn., on May 3, 1838. He is the son of Rev. James and Jane G. (Blair) Blair, both of Scotch descent, and natives of what was afterward Washington County, Tenn. After their marriage in Monroe County they located on a farm on the Tennessee River, where they resided till their deaths. The father died in March, 1871, in his fifty-eighth year, and the mother in the spring of 1859, in her fifty-third year. The father was a minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for nearly forty years, and served as pastor of different charged in Monroe and adjoining counties. Samuel T. is the third of seven children. He grew to manhood on his father’s farm, and his education, begun in the country schools, was finished at Ewing and Jefferson College, in which college he afterward served as professor for a short time. In the fall of 1861 he entered the Confederate States army, enlisting in the First East Tennessee Artillery. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Chickamauga and numerous lesser engagements. After the battle of Shiloh he was transferred from artillery to cavalry, and served subsequently in the Second Tennessee Cavalry, under Co. H. M. Ashby. He received a serious wound on the Dalton and Atlanta retreat, and was never able to re-enter the service. After his return home in 1865 he began the study of medicine under Dr. Benjamin Franklin, now of Cameron, Mo. He graduated from the medical department of the Nashville University in March, 1867, and the next May began to practice at Lenoir’s Station, Loudon County. The following fall he entered the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, and graduated the next March. In the spring of 1870 he removed to Loudon, Tenn., where he continued the practice of his profession until May, 1881, when he immigrated to Missouri and located at Osborne. After coming to Osborne, Dr. Blair filled the chair of obstetrics for four consecutive years in the Northwestern Medical College of St. Joseph, Mo. He is now a member of the Northwestern Medical Society of St. Joseph. On October 11, 1870, he wedded Miss Louisa M. Osborne, a native of Loudon County. They have had eight children—two sons and six daughters—of whom one son and three daughters are dead. Dr. Blair is a Democrat. Himself, wife, son and daughter are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Source: History of Andrew and DeKalb Counties, Missouri (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1888), pp. 548-549.

Atterbury, I. F.

I.F. Atterbury, a prominent young attorney, abstracter and loan agent, was born in De Kalb County, on November 14, 1858. He is the elder of two children born to G. B. and Elizabeth (Dalton) Atterbury. The father was born in Howard County, Mo., in 1839. He was the son of G. B. Atterbury, Sr., and is now engaged in merchandising in the town of Maysville. The mother was born in Missouri in 1840, and died in 1863. I. F. was reared on a farm, and in Maysville. His education was begun in the public schools, but completed in the Kirksville Normal School, from which he graduated with the degree of A. M. in 1881. After graduating he entered the law department of the St. Louis University, attending one session, and taking an irregular course. He then located at St. Joseph, Mo., where he was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1882. In March, 1883, he located in Maysville, where he has since practiced his profession. He is a member of Integrity Lodge, No. 204, I. O. O. F., and was a member of the Good Templars Lodge. In June, 1885, he was united in marriage with Miss Ida Lancaster, who was born in De Kalb County, in 1861. She is the daughter of Judge Manfred Lancaster. One son was born to them—Lloyd, born April, 1886, died July 1887, in Boulder, Colo., where he was buried.

Source: History of Andrew and DeKalb Counties, Missouri (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1888), p. 548.

Atterbury, G. B.

G. B. Atterbury, of the firm of Meek & Atterbury, general merchants, was born in Howard County, Mo., on September 10, 1839. His father, G. B. was born in South Carolina in 1799, and was the son of James Atterbury. About 1803 he removed with his parents to Kentucky, where he resided until 1817, when he immigrated to Missouri. For three years he lived in Cooper County. He then crossed the river into Howard County, which was his home until 1844, when he came to De Kalb County; he died in 1883. His wife, Elizabeth Butler, was born in Georgia in 1802, and was the daughter of William Butler, who immigrated to Kentucky, and thence to Missouri. He arrived in the latter State in 1822, and located in Howard County. The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm, and received such an education as could be obtained in the frontier schools. He was engaged in farming in De Kalb County until the beginning of the Civil War. On March 2, 1862, he enlisted in the Federal army, joining Company H, of the First Regiment, Missouri State Militia (Cavalry), with the rank of orderly sergeant. Near the close of the war he became adjutant of the regiment with the rank of first lieutenant, and after his return home he reorganized the militia of De Kalb County. He followed farming until 1885, since which he has been engaged in merchandising. In 1859 he married Elizabeth Dalton, who was born in Illinois in 1841, and died in August 1863. She was the mother of two children, one of whom is living. Mr. Atterbury chose for his second wife, Catherine Deppen, a native of Ohio, to whom he was married in 1867. They have three children. Both he and wife are members of the Christian Church.

Source: History of Andrew and DeKalb Counties, Missouri (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1888), p. 547.

Allen, Josephine (1883-1901)

AIR OF MYSTERY IN HOSPITAL DEATH
Miss Josephine Hall [sic] of Union Star Succumbs to Peritonitis
Josephine Allen, eighteen years old, died at noon yesterday at the Ensworth Deaconess Hospital. Death was due to peritonitis. The girl was taken to the hospital last Monday morning in charge of her sister. They came from Union Star, Mo., where their father, George Allen, is a prosperous farmer. The girls were unaccompanied, so far as known to the hospital authorities. Miss Allen was then in a critical condition. She grew rapidly worse until the time of her death. Her father was with her when she died. Her physicians say that they are not positive as to what led up to her condition at the time she came to St. Joseph. Coroner Doyle has not taken any action in regard to her death. The body will be sent to Union Star this morning.

Source: St. Joseph Gazette-Herald, 31 March 1901, p. 4, col. 3

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Mount Carmel Cemetery

Mount Carmel Cemetery
Adams Township
Township 58, Range 30, Section 13
DeKalb County, Missouri

North of Cameron on 69 Highway, north on EE Highway, east on SE Grindstone. Located at the NW corner where SE Grindstone and SE Heimbaugh intersect. (Kelly was not able to find this cemetery from these directions.)

On 27 August 1874, the land was deeded from James M. Hunt and his wife, Lena, to David Smith, David Heimbaugh and T. B. France, Trustees.

Information about the burials in this cemetery from “DeKalb Co. Cemetery Census 1845-1971.” As of November 2010, we haven’t been able to locate this cemetery. If anyone can provide further information, it would be much appreciated.

From the “Dekalb Co. Cemetery Census 1845-1971”: Only two stones found at this neglected site of the old church, Mt. Carmel. About 1940, a man from King City came to the Blackburn home with a small casket and Helen Blackburn’s father helped him to dig up the body of his small son. She did not know the name of the gentleman, nor where the body was reburied. Agnes Bender wrote there was an epidemic of scarlet fever and three young women were buried in the same grave. Her grandfather, Oliver Lewis, was buried in this cemetery for 19 years. After the grandmother saw that the cemetery was neglected, she had the body removed to the Packard Cemetery in Cameron. Today, the readable stones, along with several crumbled stones are in a tangled mass of weeds, brush, and grass. It is not fenced and cattle are free to roam among the stones.

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Irwin Cemetery

Irwin Cemetery
Adams Township
Township 59, Range 30, Section 30
DeKalb County, Missouri

According to the cemetery book issued by the DeKalb County Historical Society (1971), this cemetery was fenced and well-maintained. However, in October of 2011, it was very overgrown and not maintained, so much of it was inaccessible.

Kelly and Kris took the photos of this cemetery.

Updates, corrections and additions:

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Groomer Cemetery

Groomer Cemetery
Dallas Township
Township 60, Range 30, Section 11
Weatherby, DeKalb County, Missouri

West of Weatherby on 6 Highway, north on D Highway, east on NE King Road. Located on a farm 1 mile NE of Round Top School.

We were unable to locate this cemetery in 2011. The burials recorded are from the DeKalb County Cemetery Census from the DeKalb County Historical Society.

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Ellis Cemetery

Ellis Cemetery
Sherman Township
Township 58, Range 32, Section 4
DeKalb County, Missouri

North of Stewartsville on N Highway at Alva Gilbert Farm. The graves are located in a pasture 1/2 mile west of N Highway. There were originally four graves in the Ellis Cemetery, two infants and two adults. Only two remain: Daniel Ellis (1801-1861) and his brother, John W. Ellis (1820-1854).

Dice Cemetery

Dice Cemetery
Adams Township
Township 58, Range 30, Section 12
DeKalb County, Missouri

North of Cameron on 69 Highway, north on EE Highway. Cemetery is in a fenced area on private land east of EE Highway.

This cemetery is on private property. On purchase of the place, the current owners (as of October 2011) found the tombstones stacked near the garage. With help from local residents who grew up in the area, and old photographs, they attempted to re-establish the site. It is now fenced and well maintained, though the markers may not be in the original locations.

This cemetery was founded in the 1840s and discontinued shortly after the Civil War. There are approximately twenty graves, mostly infants of related families: Dice, Ward and Stewart.

Kelly and Kris took the photos of this cemetery.

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DeKalb Cemetery

DeKalb Cemetery
AKA McKee Cemetery and Black Cemetery
Washington Township
Township 57, Range 32, Section 5
DeKalb County, Missouri

In Cameron, from Walnut and Hwy 36, proceed west on Hwy 36 approximately 14 miles, turn right and head north on Sharp Road (this is a gravel road) about 1.5 miles. The cemetery will be on the left side of the road. In St. Joseph, from I-29 and Hwy 36, proceed east on Hwy 36 approximately 15 miles, turn left and head north on Sharp Road (this is a gravel road) about 1.5 miles; the cemetery will be on the left side of the road.

DeKalb Cemetery is approximately two miles north of Stewartsville, Missouri on Sharp Road. It is a small cemetery, maybe half an acre, and there is no sign. Of the death certificates found for the people interred here, the cemetery is also referred to as McKee cemetery, and Black cemetery. Many Missouri death certificates that indicate “DeKalb cemetery” as the place of interment actually refer to West Lawn cemetery, which is in the city of DeKalb and located in Buchanan County.

Kelly submitted the photographs for this cemetery.

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County Poor Farm Cemetery

County Poor Farm Cemetery
Adams Township
Township 58, Range 30, Section 6
DeKalb County, Missouri

The county “Paupers’ Home” was in operation from 1874 to 1905. Reportedly, there is one marker, “The DeKalb Co. Poor” in a poorly fenced area that we were unable to locate in 2011. To date, no record of burials has been located.

Prior to the year 1874, the poor and indigent class of DeKalb County were supported by private individuals at so much per pauper. In that year, however, a tract of land of eighty acres, three miles southeast of Maysville, in Adams Township, was purchased for a poor farm, the necessary buildings upon which were subsequently erected. The expense for maintaining paupers has never been very great, the county having been remarkably free from that unfortunate class. (History of Andrew and DeKalb Counties, Missouri, Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1888.)

East of Maysville about a half-mile stands a big house with many windows in it. It stands high up on the hill and can be seen from afar. About it are beauty and the grandeur of nature. About it is a big farm crowned with the farm conveniences of the times. That farm is the county poor farm. That finest of all impulses, the impulse to hold out the hand of tenderness and kindness to the afflicted of earth, found a proper lodgment here some years ago ; and while some counties permitted their helpless and their poor to suffer from a motley aggregation of bad farm conditions, to be harried by neglect and reduced by the sloth of their keepers, DeKalb County bade farewell to the rude methods of coarser days, moved out into modern light, and fitted up a farm and built a home for the poor, exhibiting all the physical elements of a real home. And the county farm stands out today as one of the institutional things of which the people are justly proud. (A History of Northwest Missouri, Walter Williams, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914.)

Clarksdale Cemetery

Clarksdale Cemetery
Washington Township
Township 58, Range 33, Section 23
DeKalb County, Missouri

Clarksdale Cemetery is located approximately one mile northwest of the town of Clarksdale. From Clarksdale, from Hwy 6/31, go west on State Route P 3/4 mile to Bray Road, a gravel road on the north, or right, side. This will be as you come over the top of a hill and is easy to miss. Go north on Bray Road 1/2 mile and turn right, east, onto Wamsley Road. As you come around the jog in the road the cemetery is right there on the north, or left, side of the road. It is easily visible with a dirt track that runs around the east side of the cemetery.

Credits: Kelly Alvarado submitted the photographs for this cemetery.

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Christian Chapel Cemetery

Christian Chapel Cemetery
Adams Township
Township 58, Range 30, Section 11
Weatherby, DeKalb County, Missouri

Christian Chapel Cemetery is approximately four miles south of Weatherby in DeKalb County, Missouri. The church itself is no longer standing, but there is a memorial stone at the site. The cemetery has a nice white vinyl fence around it, with a small driveway and parking area, and a gate on the south side.

From Cameron, at the intersection of Hwy 36 and Hwy 69, drive north on Hwy 69 about one mile (passing the state prison on the right). At the fork in the road, bear left onto County Hwy EE and follow it for approximately 5 miles. (The road, as country roads often do, will take a 90 degree turn to the east, and then 90 degree turn back to the north, go for about a mile, and then take another 90 degree turn to the east.) At that second turn to the east, you will want to go straight onto SE Willow Road, which is a gravel road. Immediately after you are on the gravel road, on the west/left side, you will see the church memorial stone, then a small copse of trees, and then the cemetery.

On 28 May 1877, the land was deeded from William West and his wife, Nancy to Jacob Taylor, William Wood, John Bradford, Trustees. The board members were Cecil Wright, Oscar Bradford, Clarence Bradford, John Drice, and the caretaker was H. O. Whitaker.

Credits: Kelly Alvarado submitted the photographs for this cemetery.

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