Samuel George Koonce d. 5 October 1941

SAMUEL GEORGE KOONCE DROWNED IN INDIAN CREEK

Samuel George Koonce, citizen of this community for only past months, committed suicide by drowning in Indian Creek, only a short distance from his home Sunday morning. Mr. Koonce had for long-term of years been an honored citizen of Bloodland, serving as postmaster and was a citizen who stood high in that community. With the passing of Bloodland into the Fort Leonard Wood Area, Mr. Koonce came to Houston and purchased of Jess Hilterbrand his desirable farm home two miles south of Houston on Indian Creek. During recent weeks he had been gloomy and worried. Early last Sunday morning he slipped out of the house, went to a bluff of rocks on Indian Creek where there was a considerable pool of water; there he hung his coat on a bush, fastened a large stone onto his body and jumped in the creek. Search was soon made but as the water was muddy the body was not at first found, but aided by the family dog, the search was soon rewarded by finding and recovering the body from the water.

Officers were called and Coroner Hubbard determined that no inquest was necessary.

Samuel George Koonce came from Bloodland, where he had long resided, only five or six months ago. He was the son of George and Emma Koonce, born in Chicago, Illinois, and was 66 years, 4 months and 1 day of age.

Funeral services were conducted at the Elliott Funeral Home here Tuesday at 2pm. Rev. J.R. Halbrook conducted the funeral service and the remains were conveyed to Bloodland cemetery under auspices of Elliott Funeral Home.

Obituary

Samuel George Koonce was born in Chicago, Illinois, June 4, 1875, and departed this life October 5, 1941, at the age of 66 years, 4 months and 1 day. He came with his parents to Pulaski County, Mo., in 1889, located near Bloodland, Mo., which place was his home until a few months ago, when he bought and moved to the Hilterbrand farm near Houston, Mo.

Mr. Koonce had been in failing health since having to give up his old home, which was taken over by the government and became a part of Fort Leonard Wood camp area. He worried a great deal about the change he had made and the strain and worry was more than he could bear.

He had many close friends in an around Bloodland, as he was  man highly respected by all who knew him; his counsel was sought by many and his assistance freely given. He served as postmaster at Bloodland for 23 years. Friends bear out the reputation that Mr. Koonce was a good man and a good citizen.

He was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Deaton at Bloodland, MO., December 3, 1902, and to this union six children were born: Lois Kinnaird, of Roby, Mo.; Vance Koonce, of DEnver, Colorado; Dorothy York, of Hughson, California; Lena Maude Koonce, of Hughson, California’ Edyth McAtee, of Carthage, Mo.; Rosemary Smith of Houston, Mo.

Mr. Koonce professed faith in Christ early in life and for a time was affiliated with the Methodist denomination and was quite active in religious service. He read his Bible and lived a consistent Christian life.

Those who survive him are the wife, the children above mentioned and ten grandchildren; one brother, Arthur Koonce, of Eagle, Colorado, many distant relatives and a host of friends. Obituary contributed.

The Houston Herald

Houston, Missouri

9 October 1941

Page 1

St. Anne Cemetery

St. Anne Cemetery was relocated to Bloodland Cemetery in 1942.

St. Anne Cemetery's original location has not been established.

Hicks Cemetery

Hicks Cemetery was relocated to Bloodland Cemetery in 1942.

Routh Cemetery

Routh Cemetery was relocated to Bloodland Cemetery in 1942.

Bloodland Cemetery

Click Picture for a more detailed view of Bloodland Cemetery’s location in Pulaski County

Bloodland Cemetery on Iowa Avenue, Fort Leonard Wood, MO. Photo by Pulaski County Obits.

Bloodland Cemetery is located in Pulaski County, MO., at the former site of the town of Bloodland. The town was razed in the early 1940’s to make way for the Fort Leonard Wood military installation. It is located on Fort Leonard Wood, about 3 miles south of the airport, across the road from the Bloodland Range House near Range #11.

Bloodland Cemetery was originally a graveyard in the town of Bloodland, Missouri. The town was razed by the government to build Fort Leonard Wood. Fort Wood has named Bloodland Range Control to honor the once thriving town in Pulaski County.

According to Tombstone Inscriptions of Pulaski County this cemetery also includes graves that were previously located in Routh Cemetery, Hicks Cemetery, and St. Anne Cemetery, which were reburied here, under authority of a government contract in 1942. This graveyard has approximately 40 unmarked graves, and is the subject of local legends that speak of haunting and odd events which supposedly occur here, dating back to 1942.

According to the Fort Leonard Wood newspaper, The Guidon, Bloodland Cemetery "holds a prohibitionist, a Mason and a man who served with Company C, 151st Pennsylvania Infantry, most likely during the Civil War."

Latitude: 37.6914309
Longitude: -92.1512745
Township 34-Range 11-Section 04

Bloodland Cemetery is the location of the graves that were moved from St. Anne, Routh, and Hicks Cemeteries. Photo by Pulaski County Obits, September 2009

Blanche T. Montgomery Woods 1848-1931

MRS BLANCHE WOODS DIES AT AGE 82
Funeral Held at Bloodland

Blanche T. Montgomery Woods was born in Gleaner, Ill in 1848, and died in Centralia, Illinois, at the home of her son, J.E. Woods, January 16, 1931, aged 82 years, 6 months and 16 days.

She was united in marriage to G.M. Woods, in Waynesville, in 1867, and to this union 8 children were born, all of whom are living, as follows: J.E. Woods, of Centralia, Illinois, Alice Dean, of Waynesville, W.A. Woods of Richland, E.T. Woods of Waynesville, Mrs. Anna McClellan of St. Louis, Mrs, Myrtle Brown of St. Louis, Ellen Thomson of St. Louis, and Mrs. Mary Hudgens of Tribune, Missouri.

Besides her children she leaves to mourn her departure 30 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, a host of other relatives, neighbors, and friends.

She was converted many years ago but did not unite with any church, but she often spoke of death as going to meet her Saviour, and lived a devoted Christian life.

She had been seriously ill for several months, and for 6 weeks before her passing, was helpless, death being caused by a complication of diseases.

Funeral services were conducted from the Methodist Church at Bloodland by Rev. Smith, after which interment was made in Bloodland Cemetery.

A large crowd was in attendance among which were her 8 children.

Arnett Shields 1890-1908

This entry is from the J.J. Watts collection. John J. Watts hailed from Warren, Maine and moved to the northern Ozarks of Missouri sometime after the Civil War. He was a circuit-riding Baptist Minister and his territory covered Phelps, Pulaski, and Texas Counties and parts of Maries and Dent Counties. He established a cemetery, Watt’s Lawn, which is located 1 mile West of J Highway, near the Pulaski County-Phelps County line. This collection covers 1878-1912.

Arnett, son of Peter S. and sis Nancy Catherine Shields, died at his father's home near St. Anne Ch. July 19th 1908 at 6 p.m., aged 18 ys, 6 ms. & 8 ds., sick 4 ms. & 9 days with pneumonia fever. He was of a family of 11 children, all living but 2, Lolie May & Arnett. All present but John Harvey who is in Nevada. 2 grand parents living, grandfather John Prock and Grandma Shields. Burial & funeral sermon at St. Anne Ch. & cemetery, July 20, 1908.

11 January, 1890 - 19 July, 1908

***St. Anne Cemetery was moved to Bloodland Cemetery on Fort Leonard Wood, by a government contract in 1942