Ozark County Missouri, Loftis Cemetery A SURVEY OF OZARK COUNTY CEMETERIES NINETY-ONE BURIAL SITES INVENTORIED 1986 – 1988 By: Connie Lyons With Cemetery Histories by Various Contributors And A Miscellaneous of information This Volume includes a Reprint Of Twenty-Four Cemetery Inventories Published in 1985 Published by the Ozark County Genealogical and Historical Society Gainesville, Missouri 1989 -------------- Prepared by Willa-Beth Olson and Shirley Henry from the original publication. Used by permission dated 28 Sep 2004. ==================================================================== Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Submitted to the USGenWeb Archives by: © Willa-Beth Olson © Compiled by: Ozark Co. Gen. & Historical Society ==================================================================== Loftis Cemetery Records Date to Burial of Swearengin Baby in 1887 By Jean Melton Loftis Nestled in the heart of the hills of Ozark county lies the Loftis Cemetery, just north and east over the hill from the Willhoit store, and about 10 miles north of Gainesville. The cemetery lies, along what used to be the main traveled road from Willhoit to the Brixey area, which passed through what is now the Caney Mountain Wildlife refuge. The story goes that the cemetery dates from 1887, the year an infant burial was made at this place. A family by the name of Swearengin, was traveling through this part of Ozark county in a covered wagon when their baby became sick "of the fever" and died. They furied the child near their camp in what is now the Loftis Cemetery. About a year later, James Marion and Josephine Summerville Loftis' infant daughter, Mina M., died and they buried her close by the Swearengin baby. At that time, Logan H. Loftis set this spot aside as a cemetery, which was then named for him. Through the years it has become the custom for the Loftis family and friends to serve pot luck at noon o Memorial Day on the cemetery grounds, with everyone being invited. Family members come from far and near to participate. This year approximately 100 persons were present during the day. Several years ago money was taken from the cemetery fund and markers were bought for all graves. All were identified but eight, on which "unknown" markers were placed. There are 147 graves in the cemetery at the present time. Members of the volunteer cemetery committee are Everett Beasley, Olin Loftis and R. E. Terry. The markers in the cemetery are: Allen, Ruth, no dates or unreadable dates Avers, Anna, Aug. 16, 1824-April 27, 1896 Avers, Barcus 1886-1900 Beasley, Eva, no dates or unreadable dates Beasley, Frankie L., Aug. 15, 1875-April 11, 1899 Beasley, Martin, no dates or unreadable dates Beasley, W. R., Aaug. 10, 1867-Dec. 2, 1944 Bohannan, Elijah P., Feb. 22, 1853-Aug. 15, 1909 Campbell, Benton, no dates or unreadable dates Cantrell, I. E., 1859-_____ Cantrell, Mary I., 1860-1937 Cantrell, Virgie, May 16, 1864-March 29, 1909 Daves, ______ no dates or unreadable dates Davis, _______ no dates or unreadable dates Davis, Iva, Dec. 25, 1895-July 7, 1971 Dorman, Clara, June 26, 1895-Jan. 28, 1942 Dorman, William, Jan. 31, 1883-April 18, 1942 Duckworth, Austus M., Aug. 7, 1887-______ Duckworth, Emmie, April 15, 1882-July 3, 1962 Dunnegan, A. J., no dates or unreadable dates Fuller twins April 18, 1957-April 19, 1957 Gentry, Adelie, Oct. 15, 1875-Oct. 15, 1907 Gullett, Dora, Feb. 6, 1883-July 22, 1961 Gullett, Elizabeth A., April 25, 1885-Jan. 4, 1912 Gullett, John, Nov. 22, 1872-June 13, 1941 Gullett, Peter, no dates or unreadable dates Gullett, Will, 1878-1950 Hampton, Addie, no dates or unreadable dates Hancock, Dollie, 1865-1897 Harley, Adaline, Oct. 13, 1848-June 26, 1900 Harley, Albert, no dates or unreadable dates Harley, Claud, Feb. 15, 1912-Feb. 15, 1912 Harley, Daniel, no dates or unreadable dates Harley, Encil G., March 10, 1889-July 18, 1930 Harley, James W., July 25, 1887-Nov. 20, 1961 Harley, Leslie, no dates or unreadable dates Harley, Ollie, no dates or unreadable dates Harley, Ozina, Sept. 6, 1884-March 22, 1965 Harley, W. E., June 28, 1850-March 24, 1930 Hickman, William F., Aug. 15, 1912-Feb. 7, 1956 High, Cora A., 1879-1967 High, Cora, no dates or unreadable dates High, Dorothy E., Aug. 6, 1911-March 31, 1954 High, Dovy, Aug. 17, 1877-Dec. 2, 1967 High, Elmer, no dates or unreadable dates High, Genevia, April 26, 1909-May 12, 1909 High, John I., July 24, 1861-Feb. 5, 1929 High, John I., no dates or unreadable dates High, Lee, Dec. 29, 1880-Jan. 12, 1953 High, Lena, Aug. 25, 1920-Sept. 7, 1948 High, Ray, no dates or unreadable dates High, Velma, no dates or unreadable dates High, William B., 1879-1966 Howard, Pearl, no dates or unreadable dates Hudson, J. L., Oct. 1, 1865-Feb. 28, 1919 Hudson, Kinley A., 1901-July 4, 1964 Hudson, Lou A., 1890-Feb. 11, 1967 Jones, Charles R., no dates or unreadable dates Kitter, _______ no dates or unreadable dates Loftis, Arthur W., 1958-1959 Loftis, B. W., no dates or unreadable dates Loftis, Clyde, no dates or unreadable dates Loftis, Frank W., Sept. 10, 1884-March 3, 1939 Loftis, Fred, 1888-1966 Loftis, J. M., Marach 5, 1860-May 19, 1931 Loftis, J. T., no dates or unreadable dates Loftis, James L., Feb. 2, 1889-April 8, 1950 Loftis, James, Nov. 25, 1937-June 25, 1910 (dates switched?) Loftis, Josephine, Aug. 24, 1869-Dec. 24, 1930 Loftis, L. H., March 1, 1829-Sept. 23, 1896 Loftis, Llooyd B., 1903-1965 Loftis, Loyd W., June 11, 1900-Dec. 24, 1900 Loftis, Malinda, May 8, 1830-Jan. 26, 1917 Loftis, Martha Alma, 1918-1970 Loftis, Mina M., Sept. 1887-Aug. 1888 Loftis, Noah, no dates or unreadable dates Loftis, Perlitha, Sept. 11, 1852-Nov. 26, 1921 Loftis, Ralph, 1895-1966 Loftis, Sampson, Jan. 25, 1877-Dec. 7, 1907 Loftis, Viola, June 18, 1888-Marach 12, 1908 Loftis, William J., Feb. 18, 1845-July 15, 1914 Loftis, Willos, Oct. 3, 1904-Oct. 23, 1904 Luna, _______ no dates or unreadable dates Lyons, Joy, Feb. 19, 1915-Dept. 15, 1936 Martin, Claud, July 4, 1900-April 18, 1936 Martin, Jube, Sept. 3, 1882-April 16, 1966 Mayberry, Elcaney, 1862-1944 Mayberry, Preston, 1862-1932 Naugle, Earnest, Sept. 10, 1916-Oct. 9, 1916 Naugle, Ida Mae, 1875-1965 Naugle, Melvis E., Dec. 2, 1895-March 1, 1960 Naugle, William R., Jan. 12, 1962-Jan. 13, 1962 Pere, Nellie, June 7, 1893-Feb. 13, 1931 Perigin, Harlin, no dates or unreadable dates Power, James R., Nov. 1, 1832-April 3, 1917 Power, Mary E., 1845-March 1, 1932 Power, Scott, no dates or unreadable dates Price, Ben, no dates or unreadable dates Price, Cena, no dates or unreadable dates Price, John, no dates or unreadable dates Raimes, Will, no dates or unreadable dates Rice, Francis, no dates or unreadable dates Rickel, Elmer, April 28, 1891-July 31, 1897 Rickel, Nettie, June 19, 1900-April 25, 1901 Roof, Hessie E., May 8, 1883-Aug. 1, 1896 Smith, G. P., April 20, 1835-Dec. 11, 1921 Smith, Susie, Dec. 26, 1862-June 8, 1919 Strong, Della, no dates or unreadable dates Strong, Mary A., Aug. 15, 1871-April 28, 1947 Terry, Donald H., March 26, 1933-May 30, 1950 Tribbit, Lige, no dates or unreadable dates Waller, Logan, no dates or unreadable dates Webb, _______ no dates or unreadable dates Wesley, Peter, no dates or unreadable dates Whisnant, Jimmy, Oct. 14, 1959-Feb. 6, 1966 Babies graves marked just by the family name only are: Swearengin Wed Sweet (2) John I. High W. R. Beasley (3) Mayfield Silas Beasley (2) Elmer High B. W. Loftis (2) Ike Malone Ollie Harley (2) W. M. Gullett Elijah P. Bohanan Peter Gullett Carl MacCallister Jack Hall After reading the Loftis Cemetery records in the Times, Mrs. Cora Blisard of Gainesville, reported that she knew the names of six of the eight unknown burials. They are: Will Waller babies (3) Fate Bohanan baby Scott Price baby Nelson Rickels baby