BETHEL CEMETERY Columbus Township Section 12, Township 47, Range 27. Quit Claim Deed Dated December 13, 1893. Filed February 8, 1895 in Record Book 95 Page 348 in the Recorders Office at Johnson County, Missouri for Consideration of $1.00. The Parties involved were: James R. Graham and Julia E. Graham, his wife and John J. Farner and his wife. To Henderson Adams, James S. West and John J. Farner, Trustee for Bethel Cemetery and their successors. The description of the property reads: One half acre, being twice as long North and South as it is wide East and West in the Northeast corner of the West 8 acres of the South half of the Northeast quarter of the Southeast quarter of Section 12 Township 47 Range 27 the property of James R. Graham and one acre square in the Northwest corner of the East 12 acres of the South half of the Northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 12 Township 47 of Range 27 the property of John J. Farner. Bethel Cemetery List of stones found in August of 1999 by the family at a Reunion held in Warrensburg, Missouri. ADAMS, Louisa R. age 46 b. 1855 d. 1901 Wife of H. Adams Four Little Children. (see family records) ANDERS, Jas. age 42 b. 1820 d. 1862 ANDERS, Sina age 47 b. 1821 d. 1868 These are separate stones for husband and wife. COCKRELL, Joel age 35Y 1M 7d Died Aug. 16, 1808 Died Sept. 23, 1843 Husband of Francis Brooks COCKRELL, Morgan aged about 55 years. Stone is simply M. C. Note that he was born 1788 in VA and died June 25, 1842 One Administrator of his estate was Joel Cockrell. COLLINS, Richard aged about 58 years. Died May 21, 1851 COMBEST, Charlotte A. Died Oct. 6, 1843 this stone is broken COMBEST, Zarilda A. Died Oct. 20 or 30, 1845 Aged 1Y 4M 8days. DAVIDSON, John I. Died Feb. 1843. Footstone reads J. I. D. DAVIDSON, Nancy A. Died Nov. 8, 1869. Footstone reads N. A. D. DAVIDSON, Thomas Died Oct. 4, 1845. No footstone found. The fourth side has an inscription on this family stone. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord - MANSELL, Rebecca aged 69Y 5M 10days. Born Nov. 15, 1790 Died Mar. 25, 1860 Wife of Samuel Mansell MARCUM, Nancy aged 90Y 2M 25days. Born July 25, 1773 Died Oct. 20, 1863 J. T. H. P. Footstone found without headstone. W. C. P. Footstone found near the other JTHP stone. STEPHENS, Charlate F. dau. of W. A. & M. Stephens age 6Y 3M 11days Born Oct. 7, 1855 Died Feb. 18, 1862 STEPHENS, Christia A. dau of W. A. & M. Stephens age 2Y 7M (1M?) 15days. Born Sept. 25, 1859 Died Apr. 11, 1862 STEPHENS, Margaret Wife of W. A. Stephens age 40Y 4M 12days Born June 28, 1823 Died Oct 10, 1863 The 1850 Census says she was born in Kentucky. STEPHENS, Martha E. dau. of W. A. & M. Stephens age 1Y 11M 24days Born Apr. 20, 1851 Died Apr. 14, 1853 STURGILL, H. C. Born Mar. 1, 1851 Died Dec. 16, 1891 TOLAND, Albert A. aged 22Y 10M 25days born Nov. 30, 1882 Died Aug. 24, 1904 Footstone reads A. A. T. Inscription says: Loved Ones Meet Me In Heaven. TOLAND, Nora F. dau of G. C. & Mary F. Toland Born Oct. 1, 1891 Died Apr. 3, 1892 The sister of Albert Toland. WEST, B. S. Born Mar. 5, 1823 Died Feb. 1898 WEST, Wife Nancy Cockerell Born April 1, 1831 Died Oct. 8, 1906. Many are broken or buried and this cemetery has suffered the crimes of theft and vandalism by strangers. The last burial was Nancy West nee Cockerell in 1906. History books tell us that the first one buried here was the father of Nancy, who was Morgan Cockrell, buried here in 1842. Another section of the cemetery where stones are likely still in evidence was not looked into due to saplings and the end of a long day. A few stones that may still be around but were not located on August 8, 1999 are listed here. ???, John -- Stone crumbled with age. ALUMBAUGH, Eliza D. Born Dec. 23, 1844 Died June 23, 1867 Wife of D. Alumbaugh. COMBEST, ____ Died Sept. 30, 1857 Aged 1yr. 1Mo. G___, Calvin J. Died 1863 aged 2 years Son of P. M. __ _D. HARVEY, John A. Born Dec. 22, 1849 Died Feb. 27, 1863 Stone engraved by W. B. Caton Wkg. JAMES, Nancy A. 1789 SAUNDERS, W. Died June 29, 1863 in the 48th year of his age. PATTERSON, Jane Died August 26, 1883 aged 30 years (see footstone JTHP) One large stone was so covered in earth that only water could clear the surface for reading. It has been left lying on top of the soil for future repair and reading. Several other cut stones were located and are known to be markers. Some are so broken there are no longer words on the existing pieces. Others are simply the bases of larger stones that are obviously removed. An ongoing effort is being made to identify these stones and the history of any of the persons possible. It is the desire of the family that anyone with information about the families buried there make contact so that the records may be maintained and updated. You can email the author of this information at: BHughes721@aol.com