Christopher or Sexton Cemetery Barry County, Missouri   Capps Creek Township     S1, T25N, R29W

5.9 miles west of the Monett Missouri city limits sign on Highway 60 and just before the Newton County Line. Located, canvassed and research in Spring of 2005 by Jay Trace The driveway is 5.9 miles west of the Monett, Missouri city limits sign on Highway 60.  The lady that owns it is named Billie Wormington.  Her address is Rt. 3 Box 475, Pierce City, MO, 65723.   She and her husband, Amos, bought the property 50 years ago from a man named Bill Sexton.  Mr. Sexton was 90 years old at the time, and died a few years later.  (She said he is buried in Pierce City )  The house had been vacant for 9 years prior to the Wormington purchase.  It was overgrown, and it needed work.  While chopping down enormous weeds, Mr. Wormington tripped over the gravestones.  They had no idea there was even a graveyard there.  They contacted Mr. Sexton, and he said a couple of his kids were buried there.  I presume those were the two Sexton child graves there.  Mr. Sexton also had two more boys that were raised there.  She said that at some point, they got really mad at their Dad, and burned the house down!  The one there now was what they rebuilt afterwards. Mrs. Wormington said that between 9 and 14 years ago, Mr. Sexton's MUCH younger 2nd wife (maybe named Lola) and the two living sons came from California to view the graves.

 

---

The following children were on the same stone-two interlocking hearts with an inscription on each.

Sexton Children

William L.                              Infant son of
Son of William                      William and
and Sarah Sexton                Sarah Sexton
Born Nov. 27, 1887             Born Apr. 1, 1890
Died July 14, 1889               Died Apr. 1, 1890

Mary Smith
Born May 8, 1835
Died Feb., 1909
Age 73 yrs 9 mos 17 days

Each of the next two were obelisk-shaped stones, both removed from their bases.

Jesse Christopher

Born July 15, 1802
Died Nov. 27, 1888

Susan Christopher

Born May 14, 1813
Died Dec. 7, 1888

The following was the Government-issue stone that has been identified as Union Army.

Wm. Christopher

Co. K
2 MO L.A.

There were several flagstones, presumably erected as markers.  One had the letters "R. W. C." on it.

I have copied an e-mail from a relative that may have identified this grave as well.  The following is a copy of her e-mail.

Thanks for your fast reply.

About the headstone marked R. W. C.  I'd guess that is Richard Christopher, younger brother of William Christopher.  My data shows William Christopher born in 1845, and Richard Christopher born in 1846. (see my notes on the Christopher board)

I am related through the first child of this Jesse and Susan Christopher, James Christopher.  He is abt 12 years older than the William whom you say served in the Civil War.  My guess is that James removed himself back to Tennessee,  possibly avoiding the war. In 1860 he is found with his wife and 5 small children on the Williamson Co TN census.

I shall quickly try to get a copy of William Christopher's Civil War records, any applications, etc., which might shed some light on this Jesse and Susan Christopher.

Maybe by Fall I can generate some interest in some distant cousins (whom I have met over the Internet) and we can try to visit the grave site.

Thanks ever so much.
Dona
_______________________________________________________

William Sexton was Jesse's grandson, and I'll bet the Mary Smith buried at that graveyard is Mary Christopher!  This is from the 1880 census on the LDS family search site.  It would also put William Sexton as born in 1865, which would be consistent with selling the property in the 1950's while in his 90's.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Household:
 Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
 Jesse CHRISTOPHER Self M Male W 77 TN Farmer IRE UNKNOWN
 Susan CHRISTOPHER Wife M Female W 68 VA Keeping House VA VA
 Mary CHRISTOPHER Dau S Female W 40 TN TN VA
 Martha SEXTON Dau W Female W 42 TN TN VA
 William SEXTON GSon S Male W 15 MO Farming KY TN
 John CHRISTOPHER Son S Male W 23 MO Farming TN VA
 Source Information: Census Place Capps Creek, Barry, Missouri
 Family History Library Film 1254672 -  NA Film Number T9-0672 -  Page Number 222C
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Look who lived 5 houses away from the Christopher family in 1880!

 
 Household:
 Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
 Jesse CHRISTOPHER Self M Male W 40 TN Farmer TN VA
 Fannie CHRISTOPHER Wife M Female W 38 MO Keeping House OH OH
 James CHRISTOPHER Son S Male W 10 MO At Home TN MO
 Josephine CHRISTOPHER Dau S Female W 8 MO TN MO
 William CHRISTOPHER Son S Male W 6 MO TN MO
 Laura CHRISTOPHER Dau S Female W 4 MO TN MO
 Martha CHRISTOPHER Dau S Female W 1 MO TN MO
 James DRIVER Son S Male W 10 MO TN MO
 Cathorine DRIVER SDau S Female W 9 MO TN MO
 George CHRISTOPHER Son S Male W 13 MO TN MO
 Jessie CHRISTOPHER Son S Male W 11 MO TN MO
 Source Information: Census Place Capps Creek, Barry, Missouri.  Family History Library Film 1254672