Big Piney River Cemetery

The stones in this cemetery have been moved to Dry Creek Cemetery. Only an empty field, and the slightest indentions in the ground let you know that there are burials six feet below. A fence used to mark the perimeter. Near Ferrell Bluff. Grave sites confirmed by Freddy Gray JR.


N37 55.162 W -92 14.487 (GPS Coordinates by Pulaski County Historical Society 12-6-2010)

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.