Volume 2, Number 4 - Summer 1965
Souder Cemetery Records
by Ruby M. Robins
Max Murphy, a member of the Souder Cemetery committee, has listed the names and dates from all of the headstones in the Souder Cemetery. The names gathered from these markers represent the pioneers, a number of them Civil War veterans, who settled in northern Ozark county and their descendants. Mr. Murphy’s work was carried out during the summer months.
The cemetery lies on a beautiful wooded slope on land dedicated by the George Souder family. Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Murphy, the parents of Max Murphy, now live on the land homesteaded by George Souder. When Souder set aside land for the cemetery, there were several graves there marked by piles of rocks, probably made by Indians.
Next to the cemetery is the Souder Church of Christ built in 1912. Mrs. Ora P. Murphy, who has attended every decoration held there since 1898, says that the church building was built as the community began to grow to give protection for meetings, singings and funerals.
Mrs. Murphy in reminiscing about the cemetery writes: "When I was a little girl, there were four or five graves in the lower corner of the cemetery. I have been told that they were there before the Civil War and that they had rocks on them. People said that they were Indian graves.
"The first decoration was in 1898. There were two platforms with an organ on each and there were two singing classes. One was the Brixey class and Ryley and May Harris led it. The other was the Spring Creek class and Dave Thomas led it.
"In February 1912, Grandma Mary Gardner’s funeral was held in the church, and it was not quite finished. Hers was the first funeral in the church.
"I attended the first recoration in 1898 and have been there every year since. I will be 78 years old this September 23. The first decorations were different from today. Flowers were all in baskets and Uncle Ramath Thornsburg and Grandad Peter Murphy would make talks. All of the old soldiers would take flags and march around and put them on the soldier’s graves. Then the crowd would march after them and decorate all the graves with flowers from their yards.
"After the soldiers made their talks there was singing and pieces spoke by groups from different places. The crowd sat on seats made by putting boards over logs.
"In 1911, when Minnie Price was buried, it rained so much a donation to build a church was begun and a year later funerals were held in the churchhouse."
Mrs. Murphy was born Carrie Naugle, the daughter of Ben and Delevine (Loftis) Naugle on Sept. 23, 1886. Other daughters of the Naugles are Letty Stone and Ruby Shanks of Almartha. Carrie Naugle was married to the late Ora. P. Murphy and to them two sons were born, Lyle and Joe.
Here follows the cemetery record gathered by Max Murphy from the Souder Cemetery headstones:
Claude Albert Gardner, 1936-1937; Loran Dwain Plaster, 1937-1938; Veta Gwendolyn Eslick, 1924- 1933; Chloe A. Eslick, 1899-1963; Lenora Gardner, 1874-1963; George W. Gardner, 1874-1944; Mary M. Liniger, 1871-1956; August G. Liniger, 1866-1937; O’Neil Prock, 1936-1936; Neil Prock, 1886-1960; James Liniger, - 1929; Richard Pendergraft, 1871- 1928; Edd Smith, 1886-1920; Frank Arnold, Maud L. Hoover, 1880-1957; Issac Hoover, 1870-1941; Marshel Plaster, 1864-1927, Elizabeth Plaster, 1845- 1930; Alexander Plaster, 1839-1906; Flora E. Vincen, 1891-1924; Malinda E. Ratliff, 1855-1928; William H. Ratliff, 1852-1927; Mary Ratliff, 1829-1905; Maratha J. Murphy, 1845-1930; Peter T .Murphy, 1840-1915; Ora P. Murphy, 1875-1960; J. A. Cook, 1827-1906; Mary A. Cook, 1829-1910, Martha P. Lamar, 1846- 1913; Amanda M. Bunner, 1846-1898; Cinda Cook, 1870-1915; Jim Cook, 1868-1932; F. M. Harris, 1893- 1895; James Arthur Harris, 1881-1958; Missouri A. Harris, 1849:1932; John. R. Harris, 1843-1913; Lou E. Luna, 1889-1834; Joseph B. Harris, 1872-1899; Sadie Upton, 1883-1907; John F. Upton, 1864-1943; Sarah L. Upton, 1884-1933; Beula Taylor, 1894-1900; Mary A. Parker, 1886-1938; A. G. Parker, 1862-1923; Lockey Taylor, 1902-1923.
Burnell Taylor, 1922-1925; Mintie G. Kastning, 1891-1907; Mary Kastning, 1858-1919; J. W. Kastning, 1852-1924; Willie Kastning, 1889-1934; Frank Rogers, 1899-1938; Lemuel E. Miller, 1865-1937; Annie Price, - 1927; Alva L. Brown, 1925-1926; Minnie Miller, 1891-1911; Zack R. Brown, 1884-1931; Mary Brown, 1892-1914; Lytha Wade - - ; Benjamin G. Harris, 1868-1923; Ettie Ann Beasley, 1877-1958; Robert Wiley Beasley, 1871-1961; Phillip L. Growley, 1905- 1907; Phillip D. Byerley, 1861-1949; Lelah Smith, 1907-1908; Ollie Ellis Walker, 1919-1922, Maudie Smith, 1894-1925; J. H. Garner, 1870-1959; Nancy C. Garner, 1876-1946; James Charles Cook, 1954-1954; Mary Smith, 1891-1930; George W. Moss, George W. Taylor, 1866-1940; Hannah E. Taylor, 1869- 1955; Floyd Buoy Taylor, 1896-1942; Charlie A. Beach, 1882-1946; Maud A. Beach, 1883-1919; Thom
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as R. Martin, 1844-1909; Mary E. Martin, 1848-1909; Hannah Stout, 1831-1921; Silvia O. Burdan, 1893- 1923; J. Jessie Hardwood, 1892-1913; Bachel Handy, 1836-1917; Georgia Ann Mahan, 1858-1952; William Mahan, 1848-1936; Fred Mahan, 1893-1927; Edgie Mahan, 1886-1908; Lon Bolger, - 1908; Byron V. Morris, 1848-1932; Eliza J. Morris, 1849-1932; Frank B. Morris, 1877-1947.
Della Franklin Burden, 1917-1930; Monroe Gardner, 1889-1959; Anna M. Kemper, 1871-1953; Herman Kemper, 1865-1953; Ida Decker, 1871-1903; Phillip Decker, 1855-1939; Pernettie J. McKay, 1860-1901; Cecil Beach, 1912-1912, Willard E. Beach, 1887-1948; Stillman A. Beach, 1838-1902; Eliza H. Beach, 1844- 1928; J. L. Beach 1867-1930; Pearl Beach, 1870-1940; Doyle Beach, 1921-1921; Marcella Beach, 1939-1939; Eliza J. Leek, 1864-1962; John R. Leek, 1854-1901; Charles G. Walker, 1874-1957; Earl Walker, 1935-1936; Allice Rowlett, 1866-1935; Sarah M. Harris, 1865- 1893; John Porter, 1859-1901; Marion Herndon, 1855- 1932; Nancy Herndon, 1852-1933; Athron Herndon, 1912-1913; Velma Herndon, 1905-1906; Otis Alvin Herndon, 1882-1963; Lowell T. Curtis, 1922-1942; Riley A. Harris, 1874-1938; May Harris Young, 1876- 1960; L. K. Garton, 1850-1913; Thomas Garton, - 1897; Mary Alice Garton, 1878-1893; Fredrick Garton, - 1899; Ima F. Garton, 1881-1900; Dorman Lynn Edwards, 1959-1959; W. W. Hicks, - -; F. A. Edwards, - -; Carl Edwards, 1879-1919; Infant of J. P. Edwards, - -; Mary F. Edwards, 1866-1941; John P. Edwards, 1847-1943; Charley F. Alms, 1887-1963; Edgard Beach, 1893-1959.
Lillian Hesterlee, 1909-1936; Elpha N. Graham, 1886-1947; William M. Graham, 1881-1953; Denton Beach, 1919-1923; Hazel M. Beach, 1912-1949; Della J. Luna 1881-1912; Bluford M. Luna, 1873-1945; Thomas G. Walker, 1868-1948; Mary J. Walker, 1866- 1944; Robinson McKay, 1829-1906; Ollie M. Silva, 1866-1927; J. D. Silva, 1862-1932; G. Sigle Strong. 1864-1948; Rose Etta Scott. 1880-1959; William D. Scott, 1873-1954; Edgar E. Souder, 1880-1956; E. T. Souder, 1880-1929; Silas Altiser, 1871-1958; J. L. Souder, 1926-1929; Mac Souder, 1928-1930; David F. Brown, 1934-1939; J. S. G., - -; J. J. G., - -; Mary James, 1849-1931; Lula W. Walker, 1885-1925; Taylor E. Walker, 1887-1925; Polly A. Exline, 1867- 1931; Samuel A. Exline, 1858-1931; Oickie High, 1931-1934; Rata E. High, 1908-1934; Walter Smith, 1887-1952; Gale Smith, 1931-1944; John Pender, 1868-1933; Jane Brown, 1854-1941; Lora Snelson, 1885-1919; Lou N. Trantham, 1866-1912; Don Thantham, 1914-1916; Ralph Trantham, 1907-1908; Walter Trantham, 1887-1959; Minnie B. Plaster, 1903-1959; George W. Plaster, 1873-1958; Minnie Welch Plaster, 1879-1924; John R. Plasters, 1831-1921; Clarence Plaster, - 1921.
George J. Snelson, 1871-1944; T. P. Gardner, 1871-1955; H. V. Gardner, 1868-1940; Alta Gilbert Snelson, 1903-1929; Pearl Stever Snelson, 1901-1922; Alyda Snelson, 1916-1920; Marshel Snelson, 1840- 1917; W. M. James, 1830-1915; H. G. James, 1869- 1942; M. R. James, 1877-1960; Dona James, 1907- 1907; Louise A. James, 1869-1917; Linda C. Davis, 1948-1948; Martha J. Martin, 1846-1934; T. R. Martin, 1857-1924; Nathon Russell Ingram, 1909-1915; Douglas Perry Wade, 1947-1947; Lydia J. Leek, 1879-1940; George W. Leek, 1879-1955; Charles Jr. Byerley, 1930-1943; Charolett Mackey, 1940-1950; Dorothy Lee Mackey, 1943-1950; Ralph C. Mackey, 1912-1960; Arch Mackey, 1889-1960; Grady C. Varner, 1894-1944; Monroe H. Mackey, 1938-1962; G. W. Smith, 1850-; H. E. Smith, 1853-1931; Harrison Smith, 1811-1862; Ollie Browning, 1881-1962; Mary E. Browning? - - 1933; Thomas Parnell, 1861-1863; Cora A. Enloc, 1877-1957; Allen C. Enloe, 1864-1945; Louisa A. Sowder, 1869-1870; Margaret Sprig, 1818-1897; Elizabeth C. Smith, 1852-1903; George W. Smith, 1849-1923; Dora Smith, 1879-1947; Margaret J. Smith, 1871-1944; Irven Hale, 1882-1948; Cora Hale, 1886-1963.
Andrew J. Hale, 1884-1940; Izzie F. Hale, 1894- 1953; Mary A. Conley, 1878-1942; Harve Conley, 1874-1943; Marshal Welch, 1857-1928; Ellen Pender, 1876-1937; Geraldine Pender, 1930-1935; Clare W. Hatfield, 1895-1896; Annie Welch, - -; Laura Edith Byerlee, 1915-1915; Mary Ann Gardner, - - 1912; Jackson Gardner, - - 1884; Thomas A. Gardner, 1887-1928; Sarah E. Gardner, 1869-1950; A. J. Gardner, 1864-1900; J. W. A. Haynew, 1830-1890; Sarah J. Thornburg, 1850-1916; Mary Vaughn, 1862- 1904; J. F. Vaughn, 1868-1945; Jessie Bell, 1888-1889; Tom Bell, 1862-1894; Carrie Ann Gentry Souder, 1885 -1954; James H. Souder, 1880-1926; Dora Souder, 1874-1959; H. N. Souder, 1876-1945; J. Eliff, 1850- 1883; Bettie Dye, 1856-1933; Bettie Walker, 1855- 1927; Mrs. J. Byerley, 1825-1878; Floyd J. Byerley, 1887-1888; Marion W. Byerley, 1865-1920; Mary E. Byerley, 1865-1929; William M. Byerley, 1855-1938; Charley Byerley, 1896-1955; R. G. Hawkins, 1856- 1937; Mary B. Hawkins, 1855-1933; Eunice Hawkins, 1887-1910; Clyde L. Hawkins, 1896-1898; Pernelape A. Daves, 1889-; Faney A. Hawkins, 1873-1873; A. G. Hawkins, 1831-1890; Mary A. Hawkins, 1831-1919; Melissie Ann Hawkins, 1858-1882; Penelony Mackey, 1833-1909; Cora Mackey, 1890-1909.
Mable Mackey, - - ; Don Mackey, 1917-1917; Edith Leek, 1886-1905; Monroe Mackey, 1818-1936; Martha Mackey, 1863-1933; Ella Pitcock, 1874-1947; George Pitcock, 1868-1951; Grace Shanks, 1889- 1922; Fern Pitcock, 1911-1911; Sarah Souder, 1857-
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1913; Otta Souder, 1854-1934; Nora E. Souder, 1889- 1899; Donna Marie Mahan, 1922-1925; Esca Rachel Mahan, 1902-1903; Mary M. Walker, 1840-1919; Alonzo Mahan, 1880-1962; Ross Mahan, 1899-1958; L. J. Harris, 1888-1888; Elizabeth Naugle, 1849-1936; Carmon Otis Naugle, 1901-1903; Emery Clyde Naugle, 1904-1907; Richard Leach, - -; Walter O. Naugle, 1899-1899; Elmer H. Naugle, 1892-1898; Cleo Morris, 1885-1885; Elizabeth Garner, 1844-1934; Horace E. Souder, 1904-1926; Alice Souder, 1870- 1911; George W. Souder, 1869-1936; Osa D. Souder, 1892--1960; Linda Carol Byerlee, 1946-1946; Louis Wm. Byerlee, 1879-1942; Roy Earl Byerlee, 1942-1942; Troy Wm. Byerlee, 1934-1935; Elizann Shindler, 1833-1918; Mary R. Byerlee, 1858-1935; George S. Byerlee, 1849-1937; Jackie D. Souder, 1935-1936; Jimmy B. Souder, 1944-1944; Benjamine Sowder, 1860-1875; Lily Sowder, 1874-1877; Eliza Sowder, 1877-1880; Louisa Sowder, 1841-1883; Beula Souder, 1901-1930.
G. C. Souder, 1833-1906; Isabell Souder, 1860- 1920; Cleo Souder, 1886-1920; Ruth Souder Sherman, 1900-1923; Polly Naugle, 1843-1888; Nicholas Naugle, 1842-1925; Nariges E. Naugle, 1848-1920, Neety R. Naugle, 1880-1930; Mary E. Young, 1869- 1956; Samnel J. Young, 1860-1924; Nancy M. Naugle, 1880-1953; 5. O. Brown, 1866-1925; B. L. Naugle, 1866-1899; Lena B. Naugle, 1922-1923; Mildred N. Naugle, 1924-1926; Logan Naugle, 1890-1946; George A. Shindler, 1883-1851; Lleta Breeding, 1913-1918; Clark Souder, 1922-1924.
People known to be buried in the Souder Cemetery that do not have monuments.
Gradie Varner, 1944; Walter Brown, 1944; Jesse Gunter, 1944; Mary J. Welch, 1944; Mr. Gunter, 1945; Ruth Smith, 1948; Dell Allen Baby, 1948; Otto Barley, 1950; Cecil Harris, 1950; Glenda Curtis, 1951; Lyle Liniger Baby, 1952; Sanborn Smith, 1952; Mrs. Bill Martin, 1952; Andy Smith, 1954; Norse Coble, 1954; Grace Curtis, 1955; Charles Gunter, 1956; Ola Miller, 1958; John Conley, 1958; Ida Strong, 1958; Buford Conley, 1959; Carl Smith Baby, 1960; J. James, 1961; Lander Bushong, 1961; Mahan Baby, 1961; Fannie Souder, 1964.
Anyone knowing of any other graves in the Souder Cemetery are asked to send the information to Max Murphy, Souder, Mo. This will enable him to complete the cemetery directory. It will be completed as soon as all available information can be compiled.
Other records from other Ozark county cemeteries will be carried in the Times as they are compiled by local committees or other interested persons.
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