Unknown Mitchell, d. February 23, 1890

Waynesville Democrat: A very sad accident occurred at this place Sunday afternoon, in the drowning of the two-year-old child of Mr. and Mrs. Dave Mitchell. Mrs. Mitchell with her two children and a young girl, all on one horse, started to cross the creek here at the upper ford, and when about half way across the horse stumbled and fell throwing them all into the water. By what seems almost a miracle, Mrs. Mitchell and the girl succeeded in reaching the shore with the babe, but the other child drifted down with the current about a hundred yards and sank. All Sunday afternoon, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday the creek was dragged and drifts torn away in search of the body but up to the time of going to press it had not been found.

Rolla Herald

February 27, 1890

Henry Gator 1815-1890

Uncle Henry Gator has gone to rest.  A familiar figure was this old colored man, known by all our citizens and visitors at Waynesville.  He died on last Saturday night and was buried near his little cabin home on Monday.  In coversation with him a short time before his last illness he informed us that he did not know his age but thought he was 72 and said his old master calculated his age from the Battle of New Orleans.  He did not know this date which is January 8, 1815, and it would make him 75 years old.  He was married several times during slavery days and was sold and resold many times, thus parting him from his families.  He belonged to the Campbelite Church.  Peace to his ashes.

William Ousley 1815-1890

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 1882-1912.

Bro. William Ousley was born in Campbell Co., Tenn., March 25th 1815, died near the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Pulaski Co., MO, March 19th 1890, aged 74 ys. 11 ms. and 24 days. A funeral sermon was preached from Isaiah 48 X 10 at the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church by J.J. Watts, Sept. 14th 1890 at 11 a.m., Sun. Widow, 2 child. living, 19 grand children, 9 great grand children, 3 brothers and 2 sisters.

***Note: William and his first wife, Mary, were buried at the Big Piney River Cemetery. The cemetery later flooded and their gravestones were moved to the Dry Creek Cemetery in Pulaski County, Missouri. Information from the Owsley Family Historical Society, Floyd Owsley.