Benton Cemetery, Dallas County, Arkansas *********************************************************** * Submitted by: Anne Burnside Date: 1 May 2007 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** Finding Benton Cemetery Benton Cemetery is located off Arkansas Hwy 9 between the Jacinto and Eaglette Communities in Dallas County, Arkansas. It is about halfway between Princeton and Holly Springs Arkansas. From Camden, Arkansas; Take US 79 East to Eagle Mills, Arkansas Turn Left on Arkansas Hwy 9 to Jacinto, Arkansas Turn right on Dallas County Road # 105 From Fordyce, Arkansas: Take Arkansas Hwy 8 toward Princeton/Arkadelphia. Turn left at the intersection Arkansas Highways 8 and 9 onto Hwy 9. Stay on Hwy 9 to Jacinto, Arkansas In Jacinto turn (right if coming from Camden/Left if coming from Fordyce) at the Historical Information Sign onto County Road # 105 (or left if coming from Princeton) As you turn you will see Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church through the trees on your left and the Jacinto Community Building on your right. Almost immediately you will see Mt. Carmel Methodist Church on your right. Continue 1 ½ - two miles. Turn right at the Benton Cemetery Sign. The cemetery is about ¼ mile on your right. History of Benton Cemetery As is true of many old Arkansas cemeteries, the real history of Benton Cemetery is lost in its past. My research convinces me that the following history of Benton Cemetery is as close as is possible for us to know.. In the late 1830 and 1840 settlers from the east began their great migration to find land in the vast western United State. Many stopped in various states for a period of time in other eastern and southern states. The Owen(s), Steelman, and Nutt families as well as others made their way via Tennessee to Dallas County sometime in the Middle 1840's just as Dallas County, Arkansas was being created as a county in 1845. William Owen(s), the first elected county judge of Dallas County settled in what was Clark County in the 1830's from Smith County Tennessee where he and his wife's family members purchased a large amount on land on the Ouachita River. By 1845 he had sold his part of the plantation to his brother-in-law and settled on land in what is now known as the Hollywood Community, just across Tulip Creek from what is now the Jacinto Community. His land became a part of the new county. Research and court records in Smith County indicate that he was probably the older brother of a large number of siblings. By the 1850 census, several of these siblings has moved to Dallas County. Several settled on land and eventually purchased land near the location of the present day Benton Cemetery along the old Military Road that was to become a major road between Little Rock and Camden by the time of the Civil War. Princeton, the new county seat of Dallas County was located about 5 miles west of the land they purchased. Benton Cemetery is located on land originally purchased by a son of Thomas Owen(s). It is the belief of this writer that Thomas was the first person buried in the present Benton Cemetery. He died sometime between the time of their arrival in Arkansas after 1840 as he is listed in the Smith County Census of 1840. His wife, Elizabeth, is listed as the head of household in the Dallas County Census of 1850. Mary Sims, daughter of William Owens, mentions the death of one of her uncles between 1845 and 1848. The area has been a part of the Holly Springs Township with Holly Springs being the largest city/community in the township. There are number of graves marked as Owen(s) graves in the area where the earliest settlers are buried. I believe that most of those graves are the Owen(s) family members that moved here from Smith County as all graves of immediate family branch of Malcolm G. Owen(s) moving to Dallas County with him have identified graves. His wife, Sarah (Suite) Owens, died sometime between 1860 and 1863 (I have found a deed sign by her in 1860 and proof of the marriage of Malcolm G. Owens to Emily Roads in 1863). Her marker which was placed during the 1900's by her grandson simply reads , "Grandma Owens, 1800's). Malcolm G. Owens (Grandpa Owens, 1800's) died in February of 1870 with consumption according to the 1870 c ensus of Dallas County. The Benton Cemetery Working is held each year on the Saturday before the 1st Sunday in August. According to tradition it began when Amanda Owens, wife of Mack Owens began to take her children there for a picnic. Amanda lost several children tragically by accident and illness during the period between 1870 - 1890. Using the premise that perhaps her older children were about 10 years old, the Benton Cemetery Working has met for more than 120 years. To our knowledge, it has never been canceled. In the beginning it was a "work" day. Presently it is more a "reunion" of Owens, Steelman, Nutt, Jones, Green, Hollis, Sharrick, and connected families that continue to celebrate the lives of those that have passed before us! The name, Benton Cemetery, probably comes from the fact that the land was later sold and later owned by the Benton Family who lived just up the hill from the cemetery. The Benton Family is a well-known Dallas County Family. They deed the property on which the cemetery is located to the Benton County Cemetery Association in 1929. As for as known to me, this list is current as of May 1, 2007. Adair Adair, Josephine Allen, Erma Ruth July 6, 1930 Allen, Freddy Joe Infant Andreyev, Dovie Shairrick Jan 28, 1927-Aug 22, 2004 Andreyev, Michael July 25, 1916-June 30, 1995 Bowers, G.W. March 15, 1834-Feb. 16, 1899 In Memory Of Bowers, John May 16, 1810?-Dec 19, 1899 Bowers, Slatiha H. Died 1876 Age: 22 years, 10 months, 13 days Wife of G.W. Bowers Cleaver, Vickie July 2, 1939 Cleveland, Raymond Edward Date of Death June 25, 1965 Daniel, Billy Andrew July 5, 1928-October 29, 1990 Daniel, Elder Joe December 27, 1881-November 5, 1963 Daniel, Margy August 31, 1915-August 22, 1946 Daniel, Mark Lawrence April 3, 1934- September 22, 1935 Daniel, Mary Frances Sept 13, 1926 No other information Daniel, Pearl August 1890- December 4, 1969 Daniel, Ricky Allen Sept 25, 1959- December 5, 2002 Garner, Abbie Owens September 24, 1909- April 18, 1998 Green, 2 Funeral Home Markers with no names in the Green Section Green, Ann 1853-1929 Green, Annie 1905-1906 Green, Ed 1884-1896 Green, Fronie Walthall 1867- Oct. 10, 1909 Green, Grandma Green, Jim 1865-1911 Green, Loyd 1892-1904 Green, W. P. M 1849-1931 Hallman, Milas Virgil June 16, 1889-November 5, 1953 Hallman, Ruby Oree August 16, 1909- May 16, 2006 Harp, Christine Doherty March 29, 1921-February 10, 2003 Harp, Helen October 29, 1912- November 5, 1942 Harp, Iveybell January 20, 1930- January 1936 Harp, Joe Ted October 29, 1947-June 26, 1999 Harp, Mag 8, 1854- May 13, 1925 Hollis, C. Ella 1875-1934 Hollis, Calvin Infant No dates Hollis, Charlie September 8, 1877-December, 19, 1969 Hollis, Charlie H. 1868-1955 Hollis, Claude M. October 31, 1907- March 15, 1982 Hollis, Daisy Feb 19, 1910- Dec 11, 1916 Hollis, De 1894-1927 Hollis, Effie Lee October 13, 1918-July, 1924 Hollis, Howard B. December 5, 1902-December 14, 1973Hollis, Ida E. July 8, 1881-November 27, 1927 Hollis, Ida Lee Nutt May 15, 1892-September, 27, 1982 Hollis, James Jewell September, 16, 1891- June 1, 1930 Hollis, Jimmie Lee March 30, 1919 Hollis, Joseph Feb 7, 1918-Feb 7, 1917 Hollis, Lemera Duncan April 21, 1884-Feb 21, 1965 Hollis, Mamie Nutt Feb 14, 1899-May 26, 1991 Hollis, Minnie E. January 1, 1912-January 8, 1986 Hollis, Ozella December 20, 1014-December 27, 1939 Hollis, Truman July 12, 1911- August 3, 1981 Hollis, William John Jan 28, 1881-August 6, 1963 Jones, Agnes R Dec 6, 1883-August 30,1974 Jones, Aubrey Jim November 15, 1917- April 7, 1993 Jones, B 1918 Funeral Home Marker Only Jones, Baby daughter of Aubrey Jim and Ruth Jones August 4, 1942 Jones, Henry Jones Nov 27, 1881-Nov 18, 1947 Jones, Infant Funeral Home Marker Only No first name Jones, Infant Daughter of T.D. and L.A. Jones August 1882-September 1982 Jones, James H. March 24, 1877- Dec 14, 1963 Jones, Knockie Oct 26, 1876-July 16, 1951 Jones, Lucy A. 1859-1882 Jones, Ola Lee Funeral Home Marker only No Dates Jones, Ruth Reynolds May 1, 1920- August 2, 1995 Karraker, Gracie 1913-1965 Mother Karraker, Mary Jean Dau of Mr. & Mrs. J.W. Karraker November 11, 1955-November 29, 1956 Kemp, Grandma 1800's Lamb, Infant Lee, Neva Louise Steelman June 29, 1918- June 24, 1988 Triplet MacNichol, Mary Hollis May 25, 1940- June 10, 2004 Melton, Blank Funeral Home Marker in Melton Section Melton, Ellen Wife of W.H. Melton August 25, 1849- March ?, 1918 Melton, W. M. Funeral Home Marker Only Miles, 2 stone markers with only Miles on them Miles, Ann Sue Jones, Daughter of Jim & Knockie Jones Moore, George D. July 8, 1898- January 24, 1981 Moore, John Bell 1873-1964 Moore, Lucille G. June 2, 1905- June 5, 1983 Moore, Sarah Frances Adair 1876-1899 Moore, William "Billy" November 1939- May 2004 Nutt, Peggie Ruth Daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Bill Nutt October 7, 1927-June 27, 1930 Nutt, William C. 1886-1936 Nutt, William D. April 20, 1917-July 4, 1985 Nutt, Vivanaye Owens Jan. 27, 1925 Owens, 7 markers with only last name Owens, 4 marked Owens only Owens, Ada Muckleroy May 3, 1916- November 11, 1987 Owens, Amanda May 26, 1851- November 28, 1914 Owens, Ben Fred June 16, 1913-April 2, 1987 Owens, Ben H. "Dyke" July 25, 1894-March 13, 1987 Owens, Bennie Roland November 3, 1938-March 25, 1967 Owens, Billy Henry October 6, 1931-February 18, 1997 Owens, Dillard Lee 1881-1896 Owens, Espen Jack June 5, 1910-August 29, 1963 Owens, Henry M. April 9, 1879- July 5, 1949 Owens, Infant Son 1874 Owens, James Edward Oct 20, 1961 Owens, James William 1875-1875 Owens, Jeanette June 29, 1888-September 18, 1932 Owens, John Milton 1884-1898 Owens, Laura Hester 1891-1898 Owens, M. Lucille Beeson June 2, 1918-February 17, 1998 Married Odas Owens Sept 2, 1936 Owens, Mack G. February 25, 1851- March 14, 1911 Owens, Mahalia Nutt June 3, 1885-May 1928 Owens, Odas M. "Pete" January 16, 1911-August 3, 1986 Owens, Onie Shairrick April 25, 1901-December 11, 1993 Owens, Roy S. May 24, 1943-April 25, 1969 Owens, Sallie Jane 1872-1875 Owens Grandma 1800's Sarah Suite (Suit) Owens, Virginia Infant daughter of Ben H. & Onie Owens July 8, 1923- October 28, 1923 Owens, Welburn 1889-1889 Owens, Willis M. October 26, 1876-October 25, 1953 Pharr, Andrew "Andy" January 7, 1911-August 20, 1999 Pharr, Mary E. West July 20, 1896-May 7, 1976 Purdy, Elizabeth Steelman Reynolds, Donna M. May 21, 1932-October 20, 2004 Reynolds, Fern November 7, 1921-January 18, 2005 Reynolds, Henry A. March 12, 1886-December 22, 1959 Reynolds, John W. Jan 16, 1919-Dec 6, 1989 Reynolds, Roy Henry February 6, 1916- October 27, 1923 Reynolds, Viola February 9, 1887-July 19, 1957 Shairrick, E.N. 1889-1933 Shairrick, E.N. June 6, 1889-November 6, 1980 Shairrick, Enoch Richie March 3, 1912-August 9, 1995 Shairrick, Jessie V. 1934-1934 Shairrick, Lattie Sept 8, 1894- Feb 25, 1980 Shairrick, Orvile 1906-1920 ? Shairrick, Violet O. Nov 20, 1916- Shikle, Murry August 4, 1909-November 8, 1982 Shikle, Nellie L. Hollis Sims, H.B. June 28, 1909-April 22, 1968 Sims, Ruby L. Owens Nov 10, 1906-Jan. 29, 1974 Smith, Zettie May Owens Steelman 1905- 1977 Sparks, Sarah F. January 11, 1891- October 5, 1981 Steelman, Elizabeth Born Sept 11, 1830, Died April 17, 1908 Steelman, Harmon Toney Sept 12, 1911-July 25, 1988 Steelman, James Harman October 15, 1935-January 12, 1936 Steelman, John A. April 18, 1851- April 1, 1941 Steelman, Katherine Beatrice Brown Jan 7, 1919-Dec 16, 2002 Steelman, Laura Elizabeth "Sweetie" June 15, 1915-June 4, 1917 Steelman, Maggie November 28, 1880-January 13, 1921 Steelman, Nathan Born 1832-Jan. 6, 1879 Steelman, Nathan May 30, 1867-October 27, 1958 Steelman, Nolin Lewis Triplet CPL U.S. Army World War II July 29, 1918-January 14, 2006 Steelman, Nathan Lorine July 29, 1918-March 31, 1977 Steelman, William "Hickey" November 12, 1903-March 14, 1948 Still, Winnie Jeanette August 25, 1939-October 23, 1997 Thrope, I. Edward, Jr July 19, 1944-November 19, 2002 Vice, Joe M. Daniel Sept 15, 1939 Watt, Amy "Gal" June 14, 1903-January 23, 1975 Watt, Dock December 3, 1901- April 14, 1981 Watt, Ronald Douglas U.S. Army Korea Vietnam Sept 20, 1928-January 16, 1998 Watt, Rowell Henry August 24, 1924-November 11, 1969 Webb, Frances Lorean September 25, 1923-August 9, 1996 Webb, Infant Daughter of Mr. & Mrs. J. L. Webb July 27-1948-July 27, 1948 Webb, John Lewis May 3, 1926- January 5, 1997 White, Jessie Williams, Billie Lee Sparks January 21, 1927-December 24, 1977 Williams, Henry S. 1957-1942 Williams, Isabella 1856-1949 Williams, Jessie Otto September 4, 1928-November 23, 1983 Williams, Maggie Daughter of Isabelle & Henry Williams 1889-1900 Williams, ??RP Shares a marker with Maggie 1886-1900 Witherington, Kristopher M. July 11, 1984 Witherington, Philip Wayne July 11, 1984-August 2, 1986