Barry County, Missouri Old Blankenship Cemetery, Shell Knob, Shell Knob Township ( T22N-R25W-S2 ) A family plot maybe? Old unmarked Grave Transcribed from existing headstones January 2004 by Laura Rodrock Cemetery is on private property owned by Laura Rodrock and is only accesible by walking. To visit the cemetery you MUST stop by Laura's house for permission and exact directions. This cemetery may have another name but on the 1909 plat map the same land was owned by William Blankship. His obituary below states he is buried at Blankenship cemetery and the Shell Knob locals call it Old Blankenship. This cemetery is 1/4 acre and only contains three legible stones and about 75-100 that are marked with rocks or so weathered they appear to have never been carved. A few stones are almost illegible, but are fancy with praying hands and a dove.Several graves are surrounded with stacks of rock to make an enclosure NE of Shell Knob, just north of where Y and 39 come together. T22N, R25W, S2 Take 39 to YY (YY is on the north side of the Central Crossing Bridge. There is a log shopping center at the junction ) Take YY to FR 2158 (the 1st left hand turn after the Baptist Church) Take FR 2158 about one mile (you will pass the new Senior Citizens Center) to FR 1258 turn left. Go apx 1/2 mile (you will go over a culvert with a creek running under it) to FR 2200 turn left. Go to the 1st left hand turn. (this is only about 1 tenth of a mile. You cross through the creek and the turn is just on the other side before you go uphill.) Follow this road to Rodrock property. There is an electric gate that will have to be opened before you can continue. BLANKENSHIP William F Maggie M. Jan. 30, 1864 May 4, 1874 Apr. 4, 1942 (Blank) Luquilla E Eperly Daut of A & L.J. Eperly Born Jan 22, 1879 Died Feb 22, 1879 Thomas J. Clark Born Apr. 7, 1829 Died Sept. (unreadable) Aged 53 Ys.7Ms.8Ds Obituary - Cassville Republican Cassville, Missouri, Thursday, April 9, 1942 William F. Blankenship William F. Blankenship, a native citizen of this county, passed away Saturday morning, April 4, at his home, near Shell Knob. Mr. Blankenship was 78 years old. He was born in Barry county, Jan. 30, 1864. He was united in marriage to Maggie M. Willis, Nov. 22, 1891, and to them 11 children were born. Five children preceded him in death. The surviving in addition to his wife are; Eddie Blankenship of Davenport, Okla.; Mrs. Birdie Williamson of near Monett; Mrs. Bessie Smith of St. Louis, Okla.; Mrs. Osie Herman of Big Springs, Tex.; Mrs. Stella Clark of Leavenworth, Wash., Virgil Blankenship of Shell Knob. He leaves, also, 11 grandchildren. At the age of 28 years he professed faith in Christ and united with the Missionary Baptist Church and continued in that faith until death. Last Nov. 22, he and wife celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage. Funeral services were held at Shell Knob Baptist church Sunday afternoon, April 5th. The services were conducted by Rev. Harriman of Exeter. Burial was in the Blankenship cemetery, with the Koon Undertakers of Cassville in charge. Cassville Republican April 9, 1942 - Shell Knob section William Blankenship passed away here Saturday and was laid to rest in a cemetery on Big Creek. Rev. Harriman preached the funeral sermon. He will be missed so much here among relatives and friends. He was 78 and had lived here all his life. © 2004 Lanny & Mary Homesley & Susan Tortorelli All Rights Reserved