Famous File: Max Waldo Schmidt Bishop

Located at Hillcrest Cemetery in Gravette, AR.

This is a cenotaph.

Max

Waldo

Schmidt

Bishop

Oct 30, 1908

Gravette, AR

Nov 18, 1994

Ailey, GA

Buried in

Peterson

Cemetery

Ailey, GA

Bishop

Arkansas

Native Son

Beloved

 Husband

and Father

Blessed are

 the pure in

 heart, for

 they shall

 see God.

Matthew 5:8

Obit from The University of Chicago Magazine December 1995

Max W. Schmidt-Bishop, PhB'32, a former ambassador to Thailand, died November 17, 1994, in Ailey, GA. He was 86. He spent his career with the Department of State, holding diplomatic and military posts throughout Asia. He retired in 1961, having received the Medal of Freedom and a presidential certificate of merit. He is survived by his wife, Jessie; a son; three daughters; and a brother.

You can read more about him at the following link.

Arkansas Gravestones
Sorge

Union Mission Cemetery

While out looking for cemeteries some friends and I came across a sign on the highway that said "Cemetery". It wasn't on our list of the ones we had planned to visit but we are not the type to pass one up that so gladly volunteers. I am so glad we visited this one.

Union Mission, the first mission in Oklahoma, was organized and established in 1820 among the Osage by the United Foreign Missionary Society (Presbyterian Dutch Reformed). The first school in Oklahoma was opened in 1821 at Union Mission (about 5 miles northeast of Maizie in Wagoner County), with four French-Osage children as the first pupils. (Credits)

This is an overview of the main burial ground.

Union Mission

(1820 - 1835)

Was placed on the

National Registry of

Historic Places

Sept 10, 1971 by the United

States Department of

the Interior.

Union Mission Chapter

National Society

Daughters of the

American Revolution

Union Mission was established in 1820 by the

United Foreign Missionary Society as a

mission to the Osage. It was in existence only 15

years but occupies a unique position in

Oklahoma history. It was the pioneer

institution in bringing Christianity and aspects

of western civilization such as education to

Oklahoma. Here was the site of the first

church, the first school, and the first protestant

wedding. The Union Mission Chapter

National Society Daughters of the American

Revolution feels a pride and obligation to

commemorate the brave spirits who labored

here.

November 7, 1992

Persons listed in the "Union Mission Journal"

as having died at this site between 1822 - 1825

and according to tradition who are buried

in Union Mission Cemetery, baby of Abraham

and Phoebe Beach Redfield - February 8, 1822,

Osage woman - October 17, 1822, Osage infant

October 19, 1822, Infant child of Mr and Mrs.

Fuller - March 9 , 1823, Robert Bake - August 20, 1823,

Charlotte Vaille, Child September 6, 1824,

Jane Redfield, Child - September 9, 1824,

Epaphras Chapman, First Missionary to the Osage -

January 17, 1825.

Inside this structure is the following.

The side panel reads:

Erected

by

Northeastern

Teachers College

1932

This is the top portion.

In

Memory of

Rev. Epaphras Chapman

who died Jan 1825

Aged 32

First Missionary to the

Osages.

Stay amoung the heathers, the Lord reigneth.

I found the following in excerpt in "The Christian spectator, Volume 7".

You can read more about Rev. Chapman and the Mission at the following links.

"Chronicles of Oklahoma Volume 10, No. 4 December, 1932"

Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture

American missionary register, Volume 6 By United Foreign Missionary Society
The Missionary herald, Volume 17 by American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions

"We honor their

memory, we call

their names, they

live again."

Choutea Family Graves

Originally located southwest of

cemetery. Desecrated by

vandals, markers discarded

by farmers late 1900. Rescued

and moved for permanent

memorialization Dec 2001.

Dedicated Apr 4, 2002. Joint

project of: Jean Pierre Choteau

descendants, Union Mission

Chapter Daughters of the

American Revolution, Alphs

Co. Thunderbird Younth

Academy and Oklahoma

Historical Society.

Contributors

Calvin Coverdell, Bert &

Arlene Nelson, Bill Kemp,

Rainbow Concrete Co and

Witt Monument Co.

Minerva

Wife of

JA Cheawteaw

Born April 14, 1825

Died

Feb 1, 1856

Musadora

Daughter of

James & Minerva

Chouteau

was born

??? 20, 1819

died

??????

Note: Minerva Rogers  married James Augustus Chouteau, son of Auguste Chorteau and Rosalie Lambert. 

James and Henry Chouteau were names listed on the Osage Treaty  of June 2, 1825.

The following were all field stone markers with name plaques placed in front of them.

Charlotte Osage 1823 - 1824 Adopted orphan of George Requa

Osage Infant Died 1822

Osage Woman Died 1822

Moses Osage 1823 - 1824 Baby of Rev. Chapman

Rev William B. Montgomery 1800 - 1834

Harriett Wooley Montgomery Died 1834

Note: Rev. Montgomery died of either fever or cholera. Harriet, his third wife, died Aug. 27, 1834 at Union Mission also of fever.

Sarah Requa Died 1825 Wife of George Requa

Requa Baby 1825 - 1825 Baby of Sarah and George Requa

Requa Baby 1833 - 1833 Child of Susan and William Requa

Susan Comstock Requa Died 1833

Note: Sarah Clapp was George Requa first wife.

Note: Susan was the first wife of Rev. William Comb Requa. 

Redfield Child 1827 - 1834 Child of Phoebe and Abraham Redfield

Redfield Child 1831 - 1834 Child of Phoebe and Abraham Redfield

Redfield Child 1829 - 1834 Child of Phoebe and Abraham Redfield

Redfield Child 1833 - 1834 Child of Phoebe and Abraham Redfield

Redfield Child 1822 - 1822 Child of Phoebe and; Abraham Redfield

Redfield Baby 1825 - 1826 Child of Phoebe and Abraham Redfield

Jane Redfield 1823 - 1824 Child of Phoebe and Abraham Redfield

Robert Bake Died 1823

Richard Howard Died 1826 Hired Laborer

Unknown

Fuller Baby 1823 - 1823 Child of Mr. and Mrs. Fuller

Freed Infant Slave

Charles McCoy 1829 - 1831 Child of Isaac McCoy

Vaill Child 2 1/2 years old

Charlotte Vaill 1823 - 1824

Across the road from this Union Mission Cemetery stands this marker.

On these Premises...

Union Mission

The first mission in Oklahoma

was founded in 1820

by Rev Eraphras Chapman

The First Press

was established and the fist

book printed in 1835

by

Rev. Samuel Austin Worcester

Erected by

Oklahoma Library Association 1935

More information on Rev. Samuel Worcester can be found at the following links.
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
The life and Labors of Rev. Samuel Worcester, D. D.: former pastor ..., Volume 1
Creating Cherokee Print: Samuel Austin Worcester’s Impact on the Syllabary
Find A Grave

Famous File: Thomas Montague Gunter

Located at Evergreen Cemetery in Fayetteville, AR.

Thomas Montague Gunter

Born Warren Tenn

1824 - 1904

---

Col. C.S.A.

Member of the U.S. Congress

1872 - 1882

Portrait Credits

You Can read more about him at the following links.

Washington County Biographies

Wikipedia

The historic home he built in Fayetteville, AR.

Arkansas Gravestones

Marcella J

Wife of

T.M. Gunter

Born

Mar 17, 1830

Died

Dec 17, 1858

Note: Thomas married Marcella Jackson in Louisiana, Mo., December 4, 1854. Originally buried at Mount Comfort Cemetery but was moved to Evergreen.

Infant Dau of

T.M. & M.J.

Gunter

You Never Know What You Will Find

One never knows what they will find when photographing a cemetery.

One Of My Favorite Monuments

Located at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, PA.

Frederick G. Wolbert, Sr.

 died October 15, 1844.

 

Julia Moliere

 wife of Frederick G. Wolbert, Sr.

died May 2, 1866

My Famous File: Archibald Yell

Located at Evergreen Cemetery in Fayettville, AR.

Archibald Yell

Born in North Carolina, Aug.

1797. A Volunteer in the

battle of New Orleans.

District Judge of Ark.

Territory, 1832. First member

of Congress from the

State Government, 1840.

Elected to Congress again, '44/

Resigned and accepted

Colonelcy of Ark Vols.

During the Mexican War 1846.

Killed at Buena Vista Feb.

22, 1847. A gallant soldier,

an upright judge, fearless

champion of poplar

rights, a sincere friend

and an honest man. 

Note: First he was buried near the battlefield at Saltillo in a tin coffin encasing the wood, remained there only five months then he was disinterred and brought back to Arkansas where he was buried in the family cemetery at Waxhaws. but that was not his final resting place. The Masonic Lodge disinterred all the bodies from this cemetery and reentered in the Evergreen Cemetery in Fayetteville in 1881.

In Honor of Service

In the War of 1812

Archibald Yell

You can read more about Archibald yell at the following links.
The Governors of Arkansas: Essays in Political Biography By Timothy Paul Donovan

The Life of Archibald Yell By MELINDA MEEK

Sacred

 to the memory of

Ann Yell

who departed this life

Oct 7th 1835

aged 32 years.

Note: Ann Jordan Moore was Archibald's second wife. They had three daughters—Artemesia, Jane, and Elizabeth—and a son, DeWitt Clinton.

D.W.C. Yell

Born Oct 15, 1831

Died May 15, 1861

Mary C. Daughter of

D.W.C. & C.M. Yell

Born Jan 1, 1859

Died Aug 1, 1864

Note: DeWitt Clinton Yell, son of Archibald, became a Fayetteville lawyer but died just before the Civil War.

Dedicated

to the memory of

Maria Yell

who departed this life

Oct 14th 1838

aged 33 years

Note: Archibald's third wife,  Maria (McIlvaine) Ficklin, but they had no children. Mary Ficklin was the widow of  Judge Thomas Ficklin who had been an early political leader from Lawrence County.

An Unsolved Accident?

Located at Elm Springs Cemetery in Elm Springs, AR.

This is the family plot marker.

Walter

1880 - 1919

Benton County Record

Bentonville, AR
December 26, 1919

SHERMAN, Walter - Walter Sherman, prominent farmer living near Elm Springs, died at his home early Christmas morning from a fractured skull. What caused the blow which resulted in this death has been left a mystery, with no clue. Mr. Sherman and his wife and daughter had just driven home from the Christmas exercises at the church and after putting his car away, and the family having gone into the house, he went into the barn to turn out his horses and mules. As he did not return to the house immediately his daughter stepped out and called him. Hearing his gasping and attempting to speak, she went to him with her mother and the two helped him into the house. He was bleeding freely from a small wound in the side of his head and a physician pronounced the skull broken. He lived only a few hours. Supposing that one of the mules must have kicked him Mrs. Sherman asked him but he replied in a negative, but could say nothing more as to how he received the wound. Burial took place Saturday at the Elm Springs cemetery. Among the relatives present were his brothers, Rev. Will Sherman of Jonesboro and Rev. Jefferson Sherman of Earle, Ark. and former pastor here in Bentonville.

His wife rests next to him.

Lida

1881 - 1961

An Unusual Garden Plot

My friend Theresa took me to this specific cemetery just to show me this interesting plot.  The pics don't do it justice it's very large and pretty.  It comes complete with a walking path and art work.

Located at Stuckey Cemetery in Johnson, AR.

Twilla Jean Womochil Tyson

Nov 13, 1931 - May 31, 2006

Beloved Mother

Note: Daughter of Howard & Vera Westover Womochil

Wife of Don Tyson who was the CEO and son of the founder of Tyson Foods, John Tyson.

Twila Jean Womochil Tyson, 74, Springdale, Ark., died Wednesday, May 31, 2006; born Nov. 13, 1931, in Elmo, the daughter of Howard and Vera (Westover) Womochil; married Don Tyson in August 1952; survivors include her husband, Don Tyson of Springdale; one son, John Howard Tyson of Springdale; two daughters, Cheryl Jean Tyson of Springdale and Carla Ann Tyson of Fayetteville, Ark.; five brothers, Lyle Womo-chil and Garold Womochil, both of Denver, Larry Womochil of Detroit and Tracy Womochil and Glen Womochil, both of Abilene; and two grandchildren; preceded in death by one sister, Trevia Schneider; private memorial service was held in Springdale (abstract Abilene Reflector Chronicle)

You can see the walking path in this photo.  It completely circles the plot. This section sits in front of the headstone.

This bench sits behind the marker.

How long have they been there? - Graveyard Rabbit Carnival Submission

Here are a few of the oldest headstones I have photographed. I had a hard time deciding which ones to share so I just picked a few and shared them. Hope you enjoy them.

Located at Newberry Cemetery in Alma, AR.
Death Date 1783
This is a cenotaph.

Vinet Fine
1755 - 1783 

Born in Virginia 1755, son of Phillip

Peter Fine. Both fought along with 4

of Vinet's brothers in the American

Revolution 1776-1781. Descendants of

Dutch Settlers New York (New Netherland

at the time 1609- 1664) Vinet and

 brothers moved to Newport, Tenn. 1781

where Vinet was killed by Indians 1783.

His body was placed under ice in what

is now Fines Creek North Carolina. His

body was not recovered and he never

had a proper burial. This monument was

 erected in his memory. He is ancestor

to all Fines and all Fine relatives in this cemetery.

**************

Located at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, PA.

Death Date 1817

McKean Family Vault

Beneath

This Marble

Are

The Remains of

Thomas McKean

One of the Signers

Of the

Declaration of Independence

President of Congress in 1781

Chief Justice

and

Governor

of the

State of Pennsylvania

Born March 19 1734

Died June 24 1817

And the descendant of his

Family

Note: I am not sure if this is the original stone.  I know this particular cemetery is very good at keeping the stones in good repair. This gentleman was Continental Congressman 1774 - 1776, Signer of the Declaration of Independence 1776, President of the Continental Congress 1778 - 1781, Governor of Pennsylvania 1799 - 1808, Namesake for McKean County, PA.

**************

Located at Mount Holly Cemetery in Little Rock, AR.

Death Date 1825

Lieut Col William Lewis

1767 - 1825

Who at the age of 12 years

Joined the Revolutionary Army

In Virginia and is buried

on these grounds.

Erected by

Little Rock Chapter N.S.D.A.R.

1934

To honor the memory of William Lewis and

all other gallant soldiers who fought

for American Independence this marker,

which formerly stood in the old burying

ground at Fifth and Gaines streets, is

placed by the General William Lewis

Chapter, N S D A R and By the Mt. Holly

Cemetery Board in this Bicentennial year

of 1976.

*******************
Located at Leeper Cemetery in Fayetteville, AR.
Death Date 1835

Sacred

to the memory of

 Margaret Leeper

who died on the

14th of September 1835
Aged 68 years

Death Date 1842

 James Leeper
PVT Provisional Army
 Revolutionary War
Sept 1, 1761
Jan 7, 1842

Note These two are in a small cemetery all by themselves. He also has a cenotaph marker at the National Cemetery in Fayettville, AR. (Section 17 Site 122)

**************
Located at Mount Holly Little Rock, AR.
Death Date 1839

 
Sarah Caroline
Daughter of
James Owens
And Wife of
Elijah A. More
who departed this life
one the 24th day of
January 1839
in the 25th year
of her age.
*****************
Located at Mount Holly Cemetery in Little Rock, AR.
Death Date 1840

In

Memory

of

John Cooper

A Native of Scotland

Kinross Shire Who

Depart this life
August 29th, 1840
Aged 28 years
__
Er'd by his friends
Jas McVicar, Sam McMorrin,
& Robt Brownlee

Note:Originally buried at the former cemetery at 5th and Gaines in Little Rock, his body was moved to Mt. Holly Cemetery after it opened in 1843.

***********

Located at Can Hill Cemetery in Cane Hill, AR

Death Date 1845 and 1848

Elizabeth

Died Oct 27 1845

aged 6m
Daughter of JAL & Mary Dyer McColloch

Jesse
Died June 5 1848
age 12m
Son of JAL & Mary Dyer McColloch
************
Located at Goad Springs Cemetery in Lowell, AR.
Death Date 1851

Martha C. Banks

Born Sept 3, 1810

Died Dec 24, 1851

*******
Located at Academy Cemetery in Evansville, AR.
Death Date 1851

In the memory of
Mrs. Jane Latta
Wife of John Latta
Born Sept. 17, 1793
Died July 29th 1851
Age 61 years 10 months and 3 days