Ozark County Missouri, Pontiac Cemetery Headstones ==================================================================== Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm A SURVEY OF OZARK COUNTY CEMETERIES Published by the Ozark County Genealogical and Historical Society, Gainesville, MO 1989 These surveys were done in 1986-1988 and were currant at that time. ______________________________________________________________________________ Prepared by Shirley M. Hassell Henry from the original publication. Used by permission dated 28 Sep 2004. ==================================================================== Pontiac Cemetery Headstone Inscriptions Mrs. Pearlie Poe, Mrs. Beulah Martin and Mrs. Stella Luna compiled this record of Pontiac Cemetery On a level place atop a hill near the Little North Fork and Spring Creek arms of Bull Shoals Lake lies the Pontiac Cemetery. A few yards below the cemetery stands the old Pontiac school and church meeting house which is still used for services, for community gatherings and occasionally for funerals. Further down is the Pontiac post office and old time general merchandise store and still further down is the Pontiac Boat Dock. A short distance up the road from the cemetery is the Turnbo burial ground moved there before the waters of Bull Shoals Lake were impounded in 1952. It was the old location of this cemetery along Spring Creek that led to the dedication of ground for a new cemetery. The story goes that when James David (Jim) Turnbo, an early homesteader, died in 1900, his brother, Newt Turnbo, did not want to see him buried on the low ground of Thrnbo Cemetery. So he requested and received permission from his brother's widow, Chinese Martin Turnbo, for the burial to be made on high ground. Newt had told his sister-in-law if she agreed to the burial on the hill land which he owned, he would set aside land for a cemetery and school house. Newt and James were brothers of Claiborne Turnbo, author of Ozark Fireside stories. The new location proved popular and now, in the summer of 1971, there are some 260 graves in the Pontiac Cemetery and on the fourth Sunday in May, by long custom, relatives of people buried there come to decorate graves, to visit with relatives and friends and to attend church services. Fourth Sunday becomes a homecoming too, as many who return for decoration services live, not only in all sections of Ozark county but in many other sections of Missouri and in other states as well. Fourth Sunday services begin early, as people gather with basket lunches under the trees to visit and reminisce about those who are dead, and to introduce new sons, daughters, grandchildren, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law to relatives and friends. Often the basket dinners bring memories of earlier days of no deep freezers and no fresh vegetables and fruits out of season. It was once quite an honor to have new potatoes and peas, gooseberry pie and strawberry shortcake in the inner basket by the fourth Sunday in May. It was the mark of a successful gardener. And if a person did not like cistern water to drink, the thing to do was to bring along a jug of well water because then there were only cisterns on this hill where the cemetery is located. At decoration time, as colorful plastic wreaths and flowers are placed on graves, another memory is sometimes discussed by those who can recall many hours once spent in making crepe paper flowers which quickly faded in the sun and "wilted" in the rain. In the afternoon, some returned to the church for a communion and foot washing service while others start their long journey home. But before fourth Sunday ends, a donation for the upkeep of the cemetery is made to the chairman of the cemetery committee. Albert Hillhouse of Willhoit, who has long served as chairman, accepts these contributions and sees to it that the cemetery is kept mowed and clean. The markers in Pontiac Cemetery bear these inscriptions: Barnard, Clara, Feb. 11, 1903-Feb. 19, 1971 Barner, ______, Mar. 25, 1923-Oct. 16, 1923 Barner, Ida, Jan. 12, 1903-April 1, 1959 Barner, Landon C., Dec. 31, 1856-May 5, 1935 Barner, Sarah, Aug. 15, 1858-Feb. 25, 1922 Bennett, Anna Marie, (infant) Nov. 27, 1944 Bery, H. H., Oct. 1849-Jan. 3, 1928 Bingold, Dora, 1896-1968 Breedlove, F. W., Jan. 24, 1873-Aug. 14, 1904 Chambers, Mattie Taylor Turnbo, Feb. 11, 1875-Mar. 25, 1956 Collins, Alice, Dec. 19, 1875-Sept. 14, 1949 Collins, Ethel, Feb. 15, 1909-May 24, 1966 Collins, Johney, Feb. 1919, Sept. 28, 1920 Collins, Mary, Nov. 9, 1877-Aug. 1, 1902 Collins, Sarra, June 11, 1871-Dec. 9, 1955 Collins, Steve, Aug. 18, 1873-April 1, 1937 Collins, W. D., April 6, 1876-Feb. 19, 1951 Crabtree, Delie E., Mar. 25, 1889-July 11, 1962 Crabtree, James P., Mar. 18, 1886-Mar. 7, 1967 Crabtree, Malinda J., May 18, 1866-May 26, 1962 Crabtree, Mariah, April 2, 1855-Mar. 11, 1931 Creuling, Lizzie, 1867-1934 Creuling, Will M., 1869-1955 Cummins, ______, 1891-1903 Denton, Jasper, Oklahoma Wagoner Sup. Co. 141 Fld. Arty. WWI, Nov. 7, 1894-April 16, 1965 Ellison, E. E., Mar. 5, 1915-May 1967 Ellison, Imogene, Mar. 8, 1931-Oct. 2, 1931 Ellison, Joe, Aug. 5, 1929-Aug. 5, 1929 Ellison, Laverne, Jan. 5, 1924-Jan. 12, 1924 Ellison, Malinda, May 10, 1840-Aug. 8, 1920 Ellison, Orville, Dec. 1, 1898-Aug. 7, 1955 Ellison, Priscilla, July 29, 1878-July 11, 1944 Ellison, R. T., Aug. 6, 1873-June 1, 1929 Ellison, Vernon, May 20, 1905-Oct. 19, 1918 Ellison, Wilma Christine, Aug. 11, 1930-June 8, 1936 Ford, Infant daughter of J. C. and D. A. Ford, Feb. 6, 1926-Feb. 11, 1926 Ford, James Newton, Mar. 19, 1882-Sept. 3, 1934 Ford, Infant son of J. N. and M. Ford, Aug. 24, 1905-Sept. 2, 1905 Ford, James U., Nov. 27, 1851-Oct. 23, 1929 Ford, Sarah J., May 19, 1855-Dec. 29, 1940 Ford, Zelma Mae, July 29, 1920-Oct. 18, 1922 Foster, Mary L., Oct. 30, 1865-May 1, 1907 Griffin, Infant son of Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Griffin, Oct. 20, 1950 Griffin, Ben F., Sept. 16, 1913-Mar. 16, 1968 Hackler, Donnie, Oct. 25, 1916-Feb. 15, 1939 Herd, Arlin, June 23, 1922-June 25, 1922 Herd, Clara, Nov. 5, 1890-Nov. 10, 1890 (moved from Turnby cemetery) Herd, Elzie E., June 15, 1870-Feb. 5, 1944 Herd, Jessie, E., Oct. 10, 1867-Sept. 7, 1945 Herd, Infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Otis Herd, June 7, 1930 Herd, Thelma M., Nov. 19, 1922-Mar. 5, 1924 Hicks, Kate B., 1900-1934 Hickman, Mrs. Wallis, Mar. 27, 1896-1927 Hillhouse, two infants of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Hillhouse, May 23, 1921 Hillhouse, Alford, Dec. 27, 1932-Sept. 2, 1938 Hillhouse, Bonnie Ray, May 25, 1927-July 2, 1935 Hillhouse, Elza, Missouri - PFC 63 Inf. WWII, Mar. 4, 1921-Jan. 18, 1945 Hillhouse, Ida May, April 21, 1874-May 4, 1957 Hillhouse, Iva N., 1886-1965 Hillhouse, Jane, May 17, 1845-Jan. 2, 1923 Hillhouse, Richard L., 1883-1966 Hillhouse, Samuel E., Dec. 31, 1870-Mar. 4, 1951 Hillhouse, Troy, Aug. 28, 1931-Aug. 1, 1968 Hillhouse, Velma, Oct. 6, 1917-Jan. 30, 1969 Hillhouse, Wm. F., Feb. 10, 1835-Feb. 5, 1910 Jenkins, Jerry G., Jan. 16, 1864-Mar. 4, 1942 Jenkins, May 23, 1875-Mar. 18, 1965 Johnson, A. J., Dec. 10, 1874-Oct. 27, 1949 Johnson, Dora Susan, June 12, 1896-Jan. 8, 1919 Johnson, Everett Z., Dec. 9, 1888-May 23, 1967 Johnson, Hansel R., Jan. 23, 1918-April 11, 1918 Johnson, Jane, April 16, 1879-Mar. 8, 1959 Johnson, Lelar Livesay, July 8, 1894-Dec. 27, 1917 Kosek, Frank, Oct. 15, 1885-May 20, 1969 Livesay, James T., Oct. 21, 1853-May 15, 1919 Livesay, Sarah E. Blackwell, Aug. 17, 1858-Feb. 6, 1920 Mallonee, Alberta, Jan. 9, 1884-Oct. 10, 1968 Mallonee, James M., May 9, 1877-Oct. 24, 1957 Mallonee, Nancy, Dec. 11, 1883-May 24, 1959 Mallonee, Zana, June 19, 1908-July 10, 1909 Mahan, Arthur E., June 22, 1914-Jan. 27. 1969 Mahan, Ellen C., July 15, 1870-May 13, 1914 Mahan, Emma Livesay, May 7, 1885-Jan. _____ ______, ______, Nov. 27, 1843-Oct. 31, 1912 Mahan, Jullie A., Oct. 4, 1884-Aug. 23, 1904 Mahan, M. H., Dec. 14, 1860-July 15, 1939 Mahan, Magie C., June 27, 1921-Dec. 13, 1922 Mahan, Margarett E., Oct. 24, 1873-June 2, 1955 Mahan, Mary M., Dec. 12, 1847-June 1, 1905 Mahan, Newt, Dec. 28, 1873-Nov. 15, 1943 Mahan, W. C., Pvt. Co. H 350 Inf. WWI, April 25, 1889-April 5, 1956 Mahan, William, Jan. 42(?), 1847-Feb. 9, 1919 Martin, Bessie, Aug. 28, 1901-July 27, 1902 Martin, Estella Upton, May 14, 1896-Feb. 13, 1914 Martin, Irene Livesay, July 19, 1887-Mar. 5, 1963 Martin, Isaac Newton, Oct. 13, 1889-Oct. 3, 1970 Martin, Jess E., Jan. 10, 1883-June 6, 1971 Martin, Mable, Oct. 26, 1904-Feb. 19, 1905 Martin, Mary, born and died Oct. 27, 1904 Martin, Melva, Aug. 1, 1917-Sept. 13, 1918 Martin, Onie, Dec. 1, 1883-Nov. 10, 1904 Martin, Perry H., Co. B. 16, Reg. U.S. Calv.,(Jan. 13, 1864 to July 1, 1865), Dec. 20, 1845-April 18, 1941 Martin, Polly, wife of P. H. Martin, Sept. 29, 1848-April 27, 1914 Martin, Polly, daughter of William Martin, Nov. 21, 1897-Oct. 23, 1918 Martin, Thomas, Nov. 30, 1877-Mar. 6, 1968 Martin, Tommie Gene, Feb. 4, 1927-July 2, 1939 Martin, William L., July 26, 1875-Feb. 18, 1961 Martin, Virgil Y., Mar. 29, 1885-Mar. 8, 1905 McGinnis, Conley L., born and died Nov. 30, 1933 McGinnis, Harold, Jan. 18, 1929-Jan. 27, 1929 Nave, Jake A., April 3, 1884-Oct. 29, 1969 Nave, Martha S., April 21, 1886-Aug. 29, 1946 Nave, Tan B., Aug. 4, 1919-Jan. 14, 1939 Owen, Isaac, Nov. 5, 1882-April 23, 1967 Owen, Nancy E., May 28, 1885-May 9, 1964 Owen, Olive J. Turnbo, 1901-1963 Pettit, Ronald Eugene, Aug. 7, 1936-Aug. 15, 1936 Piland, Guy R., Mar. 4, 1910-Dec. 31, 1969 Piland, Hettie, 1873-1943 Piland, J. W., 1872-1947 Piland, Walter, 1888-1954 Pitts, Clyde, Mar. 4, 1903-June 19, 1968 Richmond, Mollie Barner Dye, May 23 1894 (no death date) Richmond, Sam G., Feb. 2, 1897-Dec. 20, 1959 Rigsby, Ike, Dec. 8, 1897-Jan. 16, 1971 Rhodes, Clarence M., June 11, 1905-April 23, 1949 Rhodes, Cleo M., Aug. 7, 1931-Mar. 12, 1933 Rhodes, Fred, Jan. 29, 1911-Aug. 31, 1911 Rhodes, Ollie May, Feb. 2, 1886-Jan. 6, 1961 Rhodes, Roy, May 7, 1909-Aug. 5, 1910 Rhodes, Troy L., Sept. 2, 1909-Nov. 26, 1909 Rhodes, Vernie, April 17, 1917-Feb. 8, 1971 Rhodes, Infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Rhodes, Dec. 17, 1913 Rhodes, William J., Mar. 31, 1882-Sept. 14, 1968 Robbins, Infant daughter of R. F. and Ikie Robbins, Jan. 21, 1936 Sanders, Bill, died 1922, grave unmarked Sanders, Erther, Aug. 7, 1890-Nov. 11, 1962 Sanders, Henry, Mar. 23, 1863-April 3, 1947 Sanders, Hiram, 1894-1963 Sanders, John Thomas, May 23 1885-Aug. 13, 1968 Sanders, Martha Eliza, April 19, 1891-June 6, 1970 Sanders, Martha J., Dec. 17, 1867-Nov. 20, 1951 Sewell, Jesse, Feb. 1913-April 1913 Five unmarked graves are close to Jesse Sewell Shaw, Alvin, Mar. 22, 1904-Oct. 16, 1920 Shaw, Coy, Nov. 20, 1908-Jan. 16, 1911 Shaw, Dan, 1925-1925 Shaw, David H., 1879-1942 Shaw, Eliza J., Nov. 22, 1880-Feb. 5, 1908 Shaw, Emily J., Oct. 19, 1855-April 3, 1934 Shaw, Hazel, May 5, -July 22, 1918 Shaw, Helen, Nov. 23, 1892-Mare. 19, 1920 Shaw, Jess, Nov. 29, 1882-Mar. 16, 1938 Shaw, Sandreno, Nov. 14, 1913-Dec. 30, 1918 Shaw, Mary R., April 3, 1925-Jan. 22, 1947 Shaw, Nancy E., 1894-1938 Shaw, Prentice, April 17, 1919-June 1, 1919 Shaw, R. A., Dec. 16, 1889-April 15, 1939 Shaw, Robert, Nov. 11, 1845-Feb. 27, 1904 Shaw, Rubie, 1906-1968 Shelton, Lillie A., 1881-1932 Shelton, Samuel E., July 16, 1878-Spril 16, 1944 Sisney, Alma Ruth, Mar. 20, 1933 (only date given) Sisney, Arvist, 1926-1927 Sisney, Doy, Aug./ 12, 1901-Oct. 29, 1932 Sisney, Edward, May 12, 1904-Oct. 7, 1929 Sisney, Effie, 1891-1963 Sisney, Eli William, Mar. 22, 1877-Nov. 18, 1960 Sisney, Ella Jane, April 7, 1878-Mar. 18, 1938 Sisney, Everett, Mar. 24, 1925-May 31, 1942 Sisney, Jessie, Sept. 12, 1905-Feb. 20, 1916 Sisney, Joe, Feb. 23, 1907-April 25, 1931 Sisney, Joe, 1862-1937 Sisney, Lester W., July 21, 1918-June 23, 1967 Sisney, Infant sons of Mr. and Mrs. Marion Sisney, no date Sisney, Newt, Feb. 8, 1887-Aug. 20, 1955 Sisney, Troy R., Jan. 15, 1903-Feb. 3, 1958 Smith, Amanda, Dec 8, 1828-July 10, 1906 Smith, Donnie, July 10, 1904-Dec. 29, 1906 Smith, Finis, Mar. 30, 1851-Jan. 9, 1924 Smith, Ollie, Nov. 25, 1887-April 29, 1902 Smith, Rebecca A., Sept. 25, 1869-Nov. 18, 1959 Stanley, Billey, (no date) Strong, Homer L., June 1, 1886-Oct. 1, 1967 Strong, Margie, April 1916-Jan. 1917 Strong, Oather Andrew, Mar. 17, 1913-Jan. 15, 1914 Strong, Ruthaa, Jan. 14, 1893-Aug. 113, 1966 Terry, Alva, 1914-1967 Terry, Cora Jane, Feb. 22, 1888-Sept. 19, 1964 Terry, Ervin, Aug. 5, 1912-Feb. 17, 1946 Terry, John, Feb. 16, 1858-April 22, 1943 Terry, Lizzie, Nov. 10, 1917-July 4, 1943 Terry, Louis K., June 23, 1889-April 7, 1954 Terry, Marget I., Mar. 8, 1885-Mar. 31, 1941 Terry, Mary J., Nov. 30, 1858-May 2, 1947 Terry, William, Jan. 1, 1856-Aug. 23, 1902 Terry, William E., Jan. 1, 1881-Jan. 5, 1969 Turnbo, A. J., Oct. 15, 1863-June 12, 1946 Turnbo, Hulda, Mar. 24, 1846-Jan. 30, 1907 Turnbo, Isaac, Mar. 4, 1874-April 19, 1905 Turnbo, J. N., Mar. 26, 1847-Dec. 12, 1925 Turnbo, James David, Feb. 10, 1860-Sept. 23, 1900 (first one buried in cemetery) Turnbo, John N., Jan. 24, 1888-Nov. 3, 1923 Turnbo, Lessie Jane, Jan. 24, 1908-April 4, 1926 VanMeter, Elcie Turnbo, Oct. 27, 1884-Dec. 4, 1913 VanMeter, Eunice, Feb. 26, 1903-Nov. 12, 1905 VanMeter, Josie, 1877-1914 VanMeter, Pollie Turnbo, Oct. 15, 1881-April 19, 1917 VanMeter, William S., Nov. 14, 1870 The name Wilbanks was also spelled Willbanks. Willbanks, Alice, June 15, 1881-Mar. 2, 1930 Wilbanks, Infant of M. C. and Alice Wilbanks, Feb. 11, 1905 Wilbanks, Barton, Oct. 30, 1857-Aug. 27, 1958 Wilbanks, Infant son of D. N. Wilbanks, June 28, 1919 Wilbanks, Dolph, 1899-1937 Wilbanks, Matthew Cartwright, May 6, 1876-Nov. 14, 1963 Willbanks, William M., Oct. 12, 1898-June 11, 1915 Willbanks, Ann, Sept. 15, 1890-April 15, 1904 Willbanks, Georgia, Feb. 23, 1916-Sept. 26, 1917 Willbanks, Luzinda, Jan. 1, 1872-Sept. 20, 1917 Willbanks, Mary E., April 14, 1883-Nov. 20, 1957 Willbanks, Ollie May, Sept. 7, 1903-Dec. 7, 1904 Willbanks, Sarah F., Aug. 28, 1838-Jan. 22, 1919 Willbanks, Thomas, Sept. 14, 1868-Nov. 15, 1918 Willbanks, William H., Oct. 5, 1842-Mar. 15, 1927 Willbanks, Winford, Dec. 9, 1903-Mar. 29, 1904 Wisdon, Sarah L., Jan. 19, 1856-April 4, 1944 Winters, Mabel, Oct. 27, 1906-Aug. 1, 1917 Wray, Averill Doy, April 15, 1915-Mar. 9, 1932 Wray, Henry J., Oct. 21, 1894-Maar. 1, 1971 Wray, Josie, June 30, 1893-Nov. 9, 1965 Wray, Lula, Nov. 19, 1913-Dec. 1, 1913 Wray, Neata Paulette, July 9, 1947 (no other date given) Yates, Jack, 1892-1960 There are 22 graves without markers.