The above named Farm is currently better known as on the C. C. Paterson or Wandfluh farm. It is located about five miles west of Savannah, Missouri, in the Hackberry Ridge Community, Lincoln Township of Andrew County.  It is also in the area of the earliest settlement of Andrew County. At least two decades ago someone decided that Andrew County had some old neglected, sometimes brush covered, cemeteries not being used for burial now.. Some had been publicly and legally set aside, while others had been started by a caring landowner for himself, relatives, and neighbors use.  They are often tucked away in remote locations and they contain people that were enterprising and colorful during their time.  These grounds have now become very old, some having reached the age of about one hundred twenty or thirty years of age.  There is now an interest to preserve, kindled by a national movement and the desire of people to learn something of their roots.  In the early 1970's the members of the Andrew County Historical Society took to the field with pen and pad, to do a county wide inventory, stone by stone, of all the cemeteries that could be located. The results were printed into book form, a priceless piece of work.

Our subject is a family burying ground on farm that was never set aside as a public cemetery.  It must be made clear there were never any encumbrances set up placing any landowner of the farm responsible for its preservation.  At this writing it is in state of deterioration, no standing stones, a victim of time.  The last burial that we can confirm is in the 1880's.  The contents of this paper will contain items of interest on the pioneer owners of the farm and what we could find about some of the folks buried there.

My motivation to write this article came from a love of history, and two people buried in the Cemetery; ------ a Hard Shell Baptist Minister, the Reverend John Edwards and his wife Narcissa Shipp Edwards.  They are the maternal great great grandparents of this writers wife, Mary L. Showalter Howes.

This cemetery lies in the south east corner of a pasture, less than an acre in size, now supporting a crop of nice walnut trees.  From the Amazonia Route CC and K, Exit ~0 from Interstate 29, north and west about two miles is its general location  The farm is now owned by Sharon Wandfluh, and there is no public access to it.  This cemetery is not to be confused with the nearby Hackberry Ridge Primitive Baptist Cemetery, which is .l mile north, west side of the road, via the same exit and route. The Hackberry Ridge Primitive Baptist Cemetery dates back to at least to 1845, and the Primitive Baptist Church the first frame church built in Andrew County once stood here.

EARLY 1970's
INVENTORY OF GRAVE STONES
Peters Farm Cemetery
recorded by the
Andrew County Historical society
The below list is the inventory of stones as recorded by the Andrew County Historical Society members in the early 1970's.

 Edwards, Narcissa
 wife of Rev. John Edwards
 D. May 19, 1860

Schmidt or Schnitt

B. France

 Ellington, Jno. Wilson,
 Died Nov. 27, 1872
 Age 76 yr. Died Sept. 16, 1860
 
Mary Bell
Daughter. of J. W. & Harriet Wilson
Age 6 yr. 4 mo. 9 da.

 Smith, Elizah W.
 Died Aug. 2, 1873
 Age 87 yr. 9mo. 20 da

 Foot stones, initials only
 M. B. W.
 M. S.
 J. E.
 S. E. P.
 E W W

A rock carved with initials B. W.

We were very sure there were more people buried in the Peters Farm Cemetery than we have been able to account for.  There is a strong possibility that the area may contain some graves of slaves.  As we have said there are no standing stones now, and thru time markers have gotten broken off, and some were taken away.  And of course some burials never got marked.  There is a story by the late Mrs. C. C. Paterson that stones were-used-to make a walkway.  There also may be broken stones that thru the years may have become sodded over.

INVENTORY OF BURIALS
Peters Farm Cemetery
NOT inventoried by the
Andrew County Historical Society

VERIFIED by the RESEARCH
of
FLOYD V. HOWES

Bowland, John D., --- March 4, 1798 - Dec. 25,1864 --- grave not marked.

Bowland, Mary Frances, died February 16, 1849 --- grave not marked.  Daughter of John D. Bowland

Bowland, infant son of Merritt Tillery and Verlinder Hart Bowland--Died 1878. Grave not marked.

Bowland, William Woodford --- 1834-1850,  son of James Bowland of Clay Co., Mo., nephew of John D. Bowland, Fielding and Margaret Bowland Peters --- grave not marked.

Bowland, Duff, son of Merritt Tillery and Verlinder Hart Bowland, grave unmarked.

Edwards, Rev. John, March 16, 1778 - June 8, 1850.  The footstone with initials J. E. believed to belong to him. Peters Farm Cemetery.

INVENTORY OF BURIALS
Peters Farm Cemetery
not inventoried by the
Andrew County Historical Society
but believed to buried there
by the RESEARCH
of
FLOYD V. HOWES
but with no factual proof.

Culp, Nathan--1800-l874 -- Owned farm that joined that of Fielding Peters to the south.  Was from South Carolina.  His estate settlement authorized $30.00 for a head stone.

Culp, wife of Nathan --- apparently died before 1850, may also be buried there.

Peters, Margaret --- Wife of Fielding --- Sept. 1804 - 1869.

Peters, Fieldlng --- 1799 - no date for his death --- Was alive in July of 1873.  First owner of the farm and presumed to have allowed the cemetery on his land.  We have to assume that he is buried in the cemetery.

Sebree, Laban ---1812 - March, 1841.

Sebree, Miranda B ---born August, 20, 18l5 - died Aug. 27, 1867 --- Wife of Laban. Daughter of Rev, John and Narcissa Shipp Edwards.  The Sebree farm joined her fathers farm.  The Sebree's had no children.  At the probate of her estate, her brother Jeptha D. Edwards, requested money be spent for a tombstone like her husbands.  $36.00 was the cost of the stone.  There is no evidence that this couple were buried in the Hackberry Ridge Primitive Baptist Cemetery.
 

Fielding Peters, a native of Woodford County, Kentucky, moving first to Clay County, Missouri.  He was apparently the first owner of the farm wherein the Cemetery lies. The records of the Pattonsburg Land Office show that in 1843, Fielding Peters was issued a patent for 150 acres located in the Northwest quarter of Section 14, Township 59, Range 36. At this time the township was known as Nodaway; -- now Lincoln.  He paid the standard price for federal lands at that time, $1.25 per acre.  There are some records that show Peters settled in this section of Andrew County before 1840.  However, Census records of 1840 show him still a resident of Clay County.  No doubt he had pre-empted his land choice before that year, which was legal to do and carried a generous intent to purchase time limit.
 

The ancestry of Fielding Combs Peters is quite colorful and worthy of brief mention.  His middle name came from his grandmothers side of the house.  Elizabeth Combs Ashby, the wife of Col. John Ashby of Virginia.  Their daughter, Elizabeth Ashby, born July 7, 1742, married Col. John Peters of Farquier County, Virginia.  She died in Woodford County, Kentucky in 1830.  Col. Peters was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, born about 1738, and died in Virginia on Oct. 4, 1781.

Col. John Ashby was a soldier of the French & Indian Wars-1755-58 and for this service received a large grant of land in Woodford County, Kentucky, which contained some 2,000 acres.  Between 1790 and 1309 a number of the Peters family came to these lands, expelled the squatters and established their homes. They built a carding mill, grist mill, and a brick kiln.  The group owned a large number of slaves.

The children of Col. John and Elizabeth Ashby Peters, were Nathaniel, John, James, Lewis, William, Nimrod, Sarah and Nanoy, and all came to Kentucky.

Nlmrod Peters, married in Virginia on November 3, 1791 to Anne Railey, and came to Woodford, County, Kentucky.  By 1825 the family had moved to Clay County, Missouri.  Nimrod may have been deceased by the families arrival in Missouri, but Anne was still living.

Probate Case #242-File 3, Box 46, Clay County Records dated July 3, 1847 gives a list of the children entitled to the estate of Anne Peters.  They were: Ashby; John R.; Ira; William; Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Oliver; Margaret, wife of Robert Johnson of Clinton County, Missouri; Fielding, living in Andrew County, Missouri; and Thomas Peters, whose address was unknown at the time.

The 1850 U. S. Census of Andrew County, Missouri shows Fielding's property valued at $3,000.00;  he is age 51; born in Kentucky;  wife Margaret, age 46, born in Kentucky;  a son James B. Peters, age 15, born in Missouri.  Also in the household are two children of Margaret's deceased brother, James Bowland.  William W. and Harriet E Bowland, ages 15 & 12, both born in Missouri.. There was a Jackson Hudgens, age 20, born in Kentucky, listed as a farmer living with the Peters.

The 1850 U. S. Census of Slave Owners of Nodaway Township of Andrew County, taken on August 13th, shows: Fielding Peters owning six slaves, whose names were not listed:  1 female age 6; 1 male age 5; 1 mulatto female age 4; 1 male age 2; 1 female born in Oct. of 1849; and 1 female age 30.

Fielding Peters was in sympathy with the southern cause during the Civil War.  For this he was put on the disenfranchised list by the Union Army, along with some of his neighbors.

The 1850 U. S. Agriculture Census states Fielding Peters owned 7 horses, 1 mule, 4 milk cows, 11 other cattle, 20 sheep, and 30 hogs;  that he raised 200 bushel of wheat, 1,200 bushel corn, and 250 bushel of oats.

The 1860 U. S. Agricultural Census reveals he had; 10 horses, 1 mule, 2 milk cows, 2 oxen, 1 other cow, 6 sheep, 31 hogs; that he  raised 1,000 bushel of corn, 20 bushel of potatoes, and had 18 lbs of wool production.

Fielding Peters and wife Margaret show in the 1860 U. S. Census of Andrew County, he was age 61; she was age 56;  their son James, his wife Ann, and baby Sarah, also as members of the household.  Fielding's near by neighbors were Nathan Culp, Elisha Cameron, and John Ellington.

As time passed, Fieldlng Peters sold a part of his land patent of 160 acres.   He        ended up with 100 acres. Those property lines are still intact today, as shown by Andrew County Deed Records.

Fielding Peters seems to have been plagued with money problems.  In 1863 he lost his 100 acres for non-payment of debts.  It is said that he had formed some kind of company, with at least two partners  What the company may have been set up is not known.

Following is a brief account of how loss of the farm occurred.

On September 8, 1859, Fielding Peters, William Trapp, and John W. Wilson borrowed $313.78 on a promissory note, which was to be repaid before April 1, 1800.  By October 23, 1861, they had managed to repay only $10.00 on the note. The money was borrowed from the Estate of a deceased Aaron Wilson, by consent of Elias Cromer, the guardian of Aaron Wilson's minor sons, Paul, Henry, James and John Wilson and from their share of their fathers estate.  Details can be found in Case #1797 File 31, Box 22 -- Andrew County Recorders Office.

Aaron Wilson's farm was located about 2 1/2 miles west of the Peters Farm.  Aaron was not known to be related to the John Wilson. who was on the note.  On April 1, 1862, Elias Cromer filed a petition for judgment with the court to collect the note from the three men.

The John W. Wilson on the note, had married Harriet Bowland, the niece of Margaret Bowland Peters.

William Trapp was a minister  The history of Andrew ~& DeCalb Counties, states he organized a Christian Church in Amazonia about 1860. He was born in Layfette Co. Missouri, moved to Jackson County in 1828, to Platte in 1833, and early in Andrew County.  He died in Fillmore September 13, 1878, at age 59.  His wife was Mary Ann Garner.
The record in Deed Book 12 of Andrew County, Missouri, Page 283, states that on April 17, 1862, the court granted a judgment in favor of Elias Cromer and against Wilson, Trapp and Peters.

In March of 1863, Sheriff Edward Russell of Andrew County, Missouri,. seized the right and title to the following personal property of the three men:

 4,240 pounds of tobacco  65 head of stock hogs
 3,000 pounds of bacon 2 horses
 1 stack of wheat one wagon and harness
 1 crib of Corn 1 stack of Barley
 1 Buggy 1 stack of rye

or as much thereof as may be sufficient to satisfy the execution and costs and is to be sold at the residence of John W, Wilson in Nodaway Township to the highest bidder at public out cry.  The Sheriff had seized the right and title to the farms of all three men.  In addition to being on the Note with Trapp and Peters, John W, Wilson had been hit with four other judgments.

The Sheriff on the 21st day of March 1863, sold the listed personal property, with the exception of the tobacco, which was sold by the Constable of Nodaway Township on an older order from the court, than the execution held by the Sheriff---as per advertisement for the sum of $203.50.  But, there was yet another execution older than the Sheriff's, granted in favor of a judgment brought by James B. Atkins and against John W. Wilson, and rendered in Atkins favor, for the sum of $171.90, plus interest, leaving nothing to satisfy the Sheriffs executions for. the Estate of Aaron Wilson and minor children.

Therefore on October 6th of that year and by order of the court, the judgment by Elias Cromer, as guardian of the Wilson minors, and against Wilson, Trapp, & Peters was executed by Sheriff Russell at the Courthouse to the highest bidder, By this time, the amount of the note had risen to $482.28, principal, interest, and costs.  Fielding Peters farm of 100 acres was put on the block and the highest bidder was a John Breckenridge, and the Sheriff transferred the farm to him on November 7, 1863 --- Deed Book 12, Page 283. --- Breckenridge became the second owner of the 100 acres.  His bid was the amount of the note.  Breckenridge was apparently a man of some wealth, as there are records where he loaned money to neighbors.

On November 25, 1865 the Fielding and Margaret Peters bought five acres from their neighbor, Nathan Culp, for $125.00.  The purchase was made in Margaret's name and joined the 100-acres on the south --- Deed Book 15, page 31 --- Andrew County Records.

There are no records of a will, or estate probates, in the Andrew County records showing the disposal of the estates of either of the Peters.

Fieldlng and Margaret Peters had only one known son, James Bowland Peters, born July 14, 1834, in Clay County, Missouri, died July 15, 1921, and is buried in the Union Chapel Church Cemetery east of Helena, Missouri.  He married Ann Culp, daughter of Nathan Culp, in Andrew County, Sept. 5, 1858.  She was born in 1837 and died in 1890.  Their oldest Daughter, Sarah Elizabeth is buried in the Peters Farm Cemetery.  The grave marked by a footstone---S E P.  She died after 1860. Other children were Bell, Eva, and Viva.

In 1877, James Peters is shown as the owner of 40 acres just west of their home place.

Deed Book 20 -- Page 159 -- A Quit Claim Deed dated May 29, 1868, was given by John Breckenridge and his wife Elise to Fielding Peters for lands in the East 1/2 of the Northwest Quarter of Section 14, and a part of the Northeast of the Southwest Quarter of Section 14, containing 100 acres, in Township. 59, Range 36, for t he sum of $600.00.  The deed was dated and recorded the same day.

On that same day, May 29th, 1868, and indenture was made between Fieldlng Peters, Margaret Peters and John W. Wilson for $2,800.00, paid by the Wilson's for the 100 acres, (same description as above).  In the transaction Fielding reserves the grounds that are enclosed as burial.  Deed Book 17, page 609.  Here Fielding Peters buys his old farm back and sells it to his niece and nephew the same day.  John Wesley Wilson and Harriet Bowland Wilson become the third owners of the 100 acres.  The above mention is the first reference made about the cemetery on the Peters farm.

John Wes1ey Wilson was born February 2, 1830 in Garrard County, Kentucky, and came to St Joseph, Missouri, in 1851 with his father, Garrard B. Wilson.  His father was a carpenter and builder.  John Wesley removed to Andrew County and went into farming.  He returned to St Joseph in 1863 to work the carpenter trade he had learned from his father.  But, he returned to Andrew County again.   Likely close to the time he bought the Peters farm.  Notice of his marriage appeared in the Liberty Tribune of Clay County, Missouri, on June 23, 1855.  Their children were Henry W., Annie E., James B., Fielding, Viola, Hattie, John W., Garrard, and Sophia. Daughter Mary Bell died in 1860, her stone is among those found in the farm cemetery.  John Wesley and his father built a number of homes in Savannah and St Joseph, Missouri.  There is a sketch on the family on page 942 of one of the Histories of Buchanan County, Missouri.  It is believed that the couple lived in St Joseph at the close of their life.

John Wesley Wilson was on the list of names who were in sympathy with the Confederate cause during the Civil War, loosing his right to vote thru the conflict.

Harriet E. Bowland Wilson, wife of John Wesley, was the daughter of James and Mary Bowland of Woodford County, Kentucky,. and Clay County, Missouri.  She was born in 1838, and died in 1874.  Harriet's father, James Bowland, died in Clay County, Missouri, on or about November 3, 1838.  John D. Bowland and Clayton Tillery were made administrators of the Estate.  James Bowland owned 157 acres of land in Clay County that he had purchased from Fielding Peters.  His estate also contain two negro women and children.  James Bowland left three small children, William Woodford, Ann Maria, and Harriet. Their mother, Mary, appears to have died before 1850.  John D. Bowland was made guardian of them, and all were brought to Andrew County to live with Aunts and Uncles.  William Woodford died and is buried in the Peters Farm Cemetery.  In June of 1850, John D. Bowland made a request of the court to be allowed reimbursement from Mary Bowland's Estate for $10.00 that he had palled for the coffin to bury William in Andrew County.

From the Liberty Tribune, on May 16, 1851, Francis Mintor, of Clay County, Missouri married Miss Anna Maria Bowland of Andrew County, Missouri.

From Clay County, Missouri, Probate Records concerning the estate of James Bowland---John W Wllson and Harriet E. Wilson, daughter of James Bowland deceased, takes possession of the following negro slaves left by James Bowland's Estate:
 Old Sophia  valued at $250.00
 Fanny  valued at $500.00
 Ellen (who is now dead)  valued at $425.00
 Lucinda  valued at $325 00
 Mary Jane valued at $300.00
 Margaret valued at $200.00

Delivered by John D. Bowland, Guardian on Jan. 13, 1857.

In December of 1882, John Wesley Wilson, then living in Buchanan County, Missouri, sold the 100 acres to Frederick Steinman for $2,800.00, subject to the clearing of a deed of trust given to John Breckenridge in 1874 for $1,600.00.  Wilson is to give possession in March of 1883.  In the transaction John W. Wilson reserves the right of using the ground enclosed for burial purposes.  This seems to be about the last mention of the cemetery on the old Peters 100 acre Farm. --- Deed Book 48, Page 108, and Book 27, page 492.

Frederick Steinman became the fourth owner of the farm.  He was a part of the Swiss German group who had settled in the Hackberry Ridge Community.  In 1911,   Frederick and wife, Maria Anna, sold the 100 acres to their son, Ernest and wife, Jane.  Fred and his wife are buried in St John Cemetery near Amazonia, Missouri.

In 1922, Ernest and Jane Steinman sell the farm to Norman and Zola Ecreman.  By 1932, the Ecremen's, then living in New Mexico, deeded the farm back to Ernest Steinman.

Since that time the owners of the 100 acres have been C. C. "Lum" Paterson and the Wandfluh family.  Presently owned by Sharon Wandfluh.

John D. Bowland, born March 4, 1798, died Dec. 25, 1854 and is buried in the Peters Farm Cemetery in an unmarked grave.  John D. was a brother to Margaret, wife of Fielding Peters  He was also had a brother James, that pre-deceased him.  All these folks were born in Woodford County, Kentucky.  John D. was in Clay County, Missouri. by 1830, where on October 18, 1831, he married Catherine Adkins.  Their marriage  record is found in Book "A", Clay County Marriages.  She was listed as "Kitty."  She was born in Virginia, on Dec. 20, 1811, and in 1814, removed to Kentucky.  She came with her parents to Clay County, Missouri.  She died October 12, 1899 and is buried in the Hackberry Ridge ( Primitive Baptist ) Cemetery.

John D, Bowland is said to have removed to Andrew County, Missouri, in 1837.  This is the year the Platte Purchase was negotiated, well before the land of Andrew County had been surveyed.  He therefore had ample time to pre-empt a land claim of his choice.  In 1844, he purchased a land patent of 160 acres  . It was located in the Southwest corner of Section 10, Township 59, Range 36.  This was then Nodaway Township, now Lincoln Township.  This 160 acres was located about 1-1/2 miles west of the Hackberry Ridge Cemetery, and about 5 or 6 miles west of Savannah, Missouri. The family at the time owned two slaves, Sofie and Joe.  John D. Bowland was one of, if not the first, school teachers in the area.  He was very instrumental in the formation of the Nodaway Primitive Baptist Church, which stood by the Hackberry Ridge Cemetery.

John D. Bowland has descendants living today in the Hackberry Ridge Community, not far from his old land patent.  The Bowland's are the only family that has remained in continuos residence in the community from the 1840 period of settlement to this day.

The 1850 U. S. Census of Slaves in Andrew County, shows that John D. Bowland at the time owned five;  1 female, age 32;  1 male, age 28;  1 male, age 3;  1 female, age 2;  and 1 female born in June of that year.

The 1850 U. S. Agriculture Census shows:  he owned 4 horses;  4 milk cows;  2 oxen;  7 other cattle;  24 sheep;  20 hogs;  and he raised:  70 bushel of wheat;  750 bushel of corn;  produced 60 pounds of wool;  50 bushel of potatoes;  and 15 bushel of sweet potatoes.

John D. Bowland is not shown on the list of names in sympathy with the Confederacy, but his son, Merritt Tillery Bowland, is so listed.

John D. and Catherine Adkins Bowland had four children:

Fielding Peters Bowland, born 1832 and died 1920, and settled in California by 1860.

Merritt Tillery Bowland, born 1836 and died 1901, buried in Hackberry Ridge Cemetery.

Mary Frances Bowland, born 1834 and died 1849, buried in the Peters Farm Cemetery.

Martha Ann Bowland , 1850-1926.

A more extensive history of this family has been compiled by a great grandson of John D. Bowland. --- Donald L. Bowland living presently in Savannah, Missouri. This Bowland Family History may be found in print in Andrew County. This writer is very appreciative of the help extended to us in completing this work.  It is very worthy of mention that Donald has voluntarily mowed the grass and tenderly cared for the Hackberry Ridge Cemetery for many years, and does so at this time.

John D. Bowland, died in 1864 with out leaving a WiIl.  In 1865 a Public Sale of his Estate was held. ---Following is a list of a few of the items offered, along with the names of buyers:

 1 - Harrow Richard S. Edwards $5.50
 Shovel plow Wm. R. Trapp $2.25
 l-Frow Wm. Pittman $.40
 Harness Catherine Bowland $2.00
 Red Cow Catherine Bowland $10.00
 l-Pied cow Richard S. Edwards $11.75
 (means spotted)
 2 Calves  James B. Peters $4.00
 5 -Sheep, 1st. choice Wm. R. Trapp $25.50
 1 mowing Scythe  Merrltt T. Bowland $.50

Known to be buried in the Peters Farm Cemetery, the grave marked only by a foot stone, J. E. is the Reverend John Edwards, Minister of the Primitive Baptist Church.  His wife, Narclssa, is also buried there.  She once had a fair sized stone, at least at the time of the 70's inventory.  We will take up that matter later.

Rev. John Edwards, was born in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, on March 16, 1778 and died at his farm home on June 8, 1850.  He was the son of John and Dorothy Gatewood Edwards.  He came to Woodford County, Kentucky, with parents in 1792;  to Clay County, Missouri, in October of 1826;  and to Andrew County in 1844. In Kentucky on August 12, 1802 he married Narcissa Shipp, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Doniphan Shipp.  He began preaching in 1800 and served for 50 years. He was also, a farmer, and was schooled in blacksmith and carpentry.  His obituary was printed in the Weekly Tribune at Liberty, Missouri, on July 12, 1850.  It tells that Rev. Edwards was a tall spare man , more than six feet high. It also reported that he had a sudden attack on Tuesday evening;  closed his labor on Saturday evening;  buried on the following Lord's Day surrounded by an immense concourse of brethren, neighbors, and friends;  not far from his own meeting house.

The Rev. John pastored several churches in Franklin and Woodford Counties,, Kentucky.  In 1813 he was called to the Glens Creek Church and removed from there to Missouri in October of 1826, bringing his family with him.  He patented a 160 acre farm in Fishing River Township in 1827.  He served as pastor of the Clear Creek Baptist Church and for several years co-pastored the Church in Liberty, Missouri,  with Rev. Henry Hill.  This all happened in Clay County, Missouri.

Children of
John and Narcissa Shipp Edwards
All born in Kentucky:

Eliza Gatewood Edwards Brasfield;  born 1803;  died 1873;  lived in Clay County, Missouri

John Edwards Jr.; born 1805; died 1846; lived in Liberty, Missouri;  Cabinet Maker; buried at William and Jewell College.

William Edwards;  born 1807; died 1873, Nebraska City, Nebraska;  Wagon Maker and Blacksmith.

Wiley Roy Edwards;  born 1909;  died 1900;  Winston, Missouri;  Storekeeper.

Anderson Doniphan Edwards;  born 1811;  died 1850;  Cabinet Maker;  lived in Liberty, Missouri;  buried at William and Jewell College.

Elizabeth D. Edwards Roberts;  born 1813;  died 1883;  came to Andrew County

Miranda B. Edwards Sebree;  born  1815;  died 1867;  came to Andrew County.

Richard S. Edwards;  born 1817;  died 1893; came to Andrew County; Mechanic and Gunsmith.

Jeptha Dudley Edwards;  born 1819;  died 1899;  came to Andrew County;  Farmer;
Great Grandfather of Joe Liggett Edwards,, 160 Pine Canyon Road, Salinas, California 93908

Margaret S. Edwards;  died at infancy.

Katherine S  Edwards; born 1824;  died 1909;  never married, lived with brother Richard;  came to Andrew County.

In 1844 the Reverend John Edwards, wife Narcissa, sons Richard S., Jeptha D., daughter Katherine removed from Clay County, Missouri, to the Hackberry Ridge Community.  Daughter Elizabeth D. and her husband, Obadiah Roberts, and daughter Miranda B. and her husband Laban Sebree also settled in the community.

In October of l846 the Reverend John was asked to pastor the Nodaway Primitive Baptist Church, which stood by the Hackberry Ridge Cemetery.  He served as pastor until his death.  In September of l847 he patented 160 acres of land in the Northeast Quarter of Section 10, Township 59, Range 36.  This farm was located about 1-1/4 miles north of the Church and Cemetery and l mile west.

Reverend Edwards died intestate, leaving a fair sized Estate.  In September of 1850 a sale of his Estate was held.  He owned no slaves.  Following are buyers, items, and price of a few of the sale items:
 Laban Sebree one bell  $1.50
 Fielding Peters one log chain  $1.50
 Laban Sebree one plow  $8.00
 Fielding Peters one lot, clapboards  $2.75
 Laban Sebree one hemp hook $.85
 Elias Comer one draw knife $.65
 George Carter one fore $.50
 Laban Sebree 3 spades $.45
 Joseph Walker one hoe $.20
 Anderson Carson   320 feet dressed floor Plank $2.10
  per hundred feet
 James Wharton Chalmers Sermons $.50
 Laban-Sebree Military History $.70
 James Wharton Gills Divinity $.80
 William Leggett Dictionary of The Bible $1.25
 James Wharton Large Dictionary $.40
 E. Van Buskirk life of Scott $.50
 Joseph Walker one sideboard $40.00
 Joseph Walker clock $14.00
 E. VanBuskirk one secretary $25.00
 Richard Edwards  one rifle gun,
  shot pouch
  and powder horn $1.00
 William Truman one pied cow & calf $14.50
 James Howell one yoke of Oxen $39.00
 Fielding Peters 22 pieces of studding $1.15
 Mrs. Edwards (widow) one sorrel horse $15.00
 Mrs Edwards (widow) 1 acre of corn 2.00
 Laban Sebree 1 hemp brake $1.35

Narcissa Shipp Edwards, wife of the Reverend John, was born in Caroline County Virginia, June 29, 1780, died May 19, 1860, and is buried in the Peters Farm Cemetery.  She was the daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Doniphan Shipp, came to Kentucky in 1793.

Her Grave Stone is not in the cemetery of burial, having been removed by a James Eldon Edwards of Topeka, Kansas.  He is now deceased, stone was broken, taken to James' cemetery lot #25 Section C, Mount Sidney Cemetery, of Linwood, Kansas and set there.  James is a descendent of Rev. John and Narcissa. We will comment no further on this move.

Of greater interest is that Narcissa had a younger sister, Emma Grant Shipp, who on August 27, 1808 in Woodford County, Kentucky, was married by the Reverend John Edwards, to William Truman.  Their son, Anderson Shipp Truman came to Missouri, and is the grandfather of Harry S. Truman, 33rd President.
We have raised the question as to why would the Reverend John choose to be buried in the Peters Farm Cemetery over Hackberry Ridge Cemetery, which adjoined his Church yard.  Both were close to his farm home.  The true answer will never be known, but there is indication of a strong friendship tie to the Peters Family.  A recently found item reveals that Reverend John in 1820 baptized John R. Peters, and elder brother of Fielding Peters, at the Glenns Creek Baptist Church in Woodford County, Kentucky.  John R. Peters lived in Clay County, Missouri.  There was also a division developing among the membership of his Hackberry Church over fundamental issues, which later caused the formation of nearby Mount Carmel Baptist Church.

Known descendants of the Reverend John and Narcissa Edwards, living in the area, at this writing, are Jimmie Edwards of Savannah, Missouri,;  Lonita McCarty of Savannah;  Lynn Showalter of Helena, Montana;  Mary Showalter Howes;  Nadine Showalter Hendrix; of St. Joseph, Missouri;  and no doubt others whom we are not aware of.

John Ellington, died Nov. 27, 1872, age 76 years, buried in the Peters Farm Cemetery.  His stone was inventoried by the Andrew County Historical Society in the 1970's.  His wife was Permelia Reynolds, who he married in Andrew County, Missouri, on August 22, 1850.  Both were middle aged and had been married before and had children by first marriages.  It is not known when Permelia died, nor, if she is buried in the same cemetery as her husband.  They were married by Rube Reynolds, a Justice of the Peace in the Hackberry Ridge Community.

Permelia, by her first marriage, was the owner of the farm that she and Ellington lived on.  She had been married first to Benjamin Reynolds, who on August 5 1847, bought from James Florence, 80 acres in the North 1/2 of the Southeast 1/4 of Section 15, Township 59, Range 36, which was located a short distance southwest of the Peters farm.  Benjamin gave $150.00 for the farm --- Deed Book 2, Page 413.  By 1848 Benjamin was deceased---his probate papers are missing from the court files however.

Deed Book 29, page 91, shows that Permelia Ellington (Legatee of Benjamin Reynolds) sold the land, described above, to Susan Shenk for $1,000.00.  The Warranty Deed was dated March 5, 1873.  The sale occurring after Ellington's death.

John Ellington was listed as a Confederate sympathizer, on the Andrew County list.  Both he and Permelia were born in-Kentucky.

John Ellington died intestate, and his estate was appraised Dec. 7, 1872, by George Carter, John Hart, and Dave Ent.  James Jackson is named administrator.  The Estate sale was held on January 4, 1873.  Listed below are some items, buyers and prices of that day:

 Candle Molds Casper Maag $.10
 1 box wagon grease H. Dunigan $.15
 1 grain cradle  $.30
 Oats at .15 cents bushel Fielding Peters $3.22
 1 tow wagon J. Cameron $20.00
 600 lbs meat J. Hart $33.00
 200 lbs meat J. Hart $10.50
 160 lbs lard J. Hart $8.80
 1 revolver H. Singleton $4.05
 1 keg vinegar and 5 Chairs  R. Berry $3.30
 1 looking glass J. Leggett $.20

The 1860 U. S. Census shows a James Reynolds living with Permelia and John Ellington.  He is more than likely the son of Permelia.

Nathan Culp - 1800 to 1874, born in South Carolina, early settler of Andrew County.  Was said to have planted the first orchard in Andrew County.  His farm joined that of Fielding Peters, immediately to the south.  His wife's name is unknown.  She seems to have died before 1850.  We believe they are both buried in the Peters Farm Cemetery, but proof is lacking.  The 1850 U. S. Census of Slave states that he owned a 15 year old male and a 10 year old female.  On October 29, 1855 at the courthouse in Savannah, Missouri he purchased two Negroes, one, named Edwin for $485.00 and one named Joseph for $370.00, ages 5 and 2 years, sold from the Estate of a John Wilson (father of Aaron).  Both Wilson's, are deceased.

Nathan Culp's Estate Sale was held Feb. 20, 1875.  The Probate Court allowed $30.00 for a head stone.  His known children were Elisha, Elias, Sarah who married Daniel Hudgens, and Ann, who married James Bowland Peters, and John C, Culp.

There is a stone in the cemetery marked or inventoried as reading Schmidt or Schmitt --- born France.  In the Andrew County records there is a note of one George Emil Schmitt, who on Sept. 25, 1871, declared his intent to become a U. S. citizen. His former allegiance was to the King of Barvaria.  This may be the same man.

Sebree --- Miranda & Laban.  She was the daughter of Reverend John and Narcissa Edwards.  They held Land Patent #207, from the Savannah Land Office, dated June 6, 1847, for 80 acres, located in the Southeast quarter of Section 10, about 2 mile west of the Hackberry Ridge Cemetery.  On it's north lay the farm of Reverend John Edwards.  This couple had no children of their own, although there were times when a Frances Sebree and a John S. lived with them.  These being those of a deceased brother of Laban, Edmund Sebree, a tailor by trade who lived in Liberty, Missouri.  The 1850 U. S. Census shows Laban and wife, Miranda, had one negro girl, age 11, named Katherine.  On April 12, 1858 a Sheriffs Sale, brought about to settle a family petition, made by the heirs of one John Wilson, deceased, (father of Aaron).  Laban Sebree at the courthouse made purchase of one negro girl, Celey, for $805.00.  Laban Sebree, died in 186l, and a claim against his Estate reveals that Dr. Hamilton Smith, followed up a series of visits to his bedside with a final stay overnight on March 23, 1861.  For which the Doctor's charge was $30.50. His Estate was appraised on May 3, 1861, and entered into probate as Case #495.  His wife, Miranda was named administrator.  His Estate was appraised by Joseph Brock, Henry Seckel, and John D. Bowland.

Miranda Sebree, died on August 27, 1867.  Her brother who lived next to them, on the west, did on September 2, 1867, present a petition in the name of Jeptha Edwards, to the Public Administrator for that office to take charge of property left by the deceased, Marinda Edwards Sebree, which was not being properly cared for and may be lost. This became Probate Case #720.  Her estate sale was held September 2O, 1867.  It is interesting to note that a set of tools of the tailor trade was sold.  The 1850 U. S. Census had listed the occupation of Laban as being a tailor. The farm was rented out by the Public Administrator. In August of 1868, Richard S. Edwards, Catherine Edwards, Obadiah and Elizabeth D. Roberts, request that the Probate Court authorize that a stone be erected over the grave of Miranda Edwards Sebree, who was formerly their sister.  Said stone is to be the same kind as over the grave of her husband, Laban Sebree.  The stone ended up costing $36.00.  The records do not state the cemetery it was erected in, as they seldom do.  It is our conjecture that they rest in the Peters Farm Cemetery. This opinion is based on the footstone found there, marked M. S. ---------.  There is no evidence of them being buried in the Hackberry Ridge Cemetery, although this cemetery does contain the  graves of Obadiah and Elizabeth Edwards Roberts, and some children, as well as Jeptha Dudley and Ann Brock Edwards, and some of their children.

In October of 1869 Richard S. Edwards, Catherine Edwards and William Edwards, heirs at law, of Miranda Sebree, formerly their sister, request that they be paid a one ninth share of all her Estate, after all debts are paid.  This was honored in December of that year.  The William Edwards mentioned, was at the time, a resident of Nebraska City, Nebraska.

Elizah W. Smith, died August 2, 1873, age 87 years, 9 months, 20 days.  His stone was recorded in the Peters Farm Cemetery by the Andrew County Historical Society in the 70's.

There is no will or probate record of his estate.  He is found in the household of Mary F. Smith, age 40, along with Thomas E., age 20, Joseph H., age 17, Lavina, age 15, Samuel M., age 9, and Ida, age 7.  All presumed to be the children of Mary. Eliza is shown as age 84, born in Tennessee.  We assume that Elizah Smith is the father-in-law of Mary, and living out his years in the home.  A farm ownership Atlas of Andrew County, 1877, shows that Mary Smith owned 80 acres in Section 15 of Township 59 located about 1/2 mile west of the Peters farm.

Deed book 13, page 555, Andrew County records, show that one Vincent L. .Smith, on March 10, 1865, bought the 80 acres from Oliver A. and Serelda A. Sandusky for $1,900.00, the west l/2 of North East 1/4, of Section 15, Township 59, Range 36.  Vincent was the husband of Mary F. Smith, the family is believed to have previously lived in Centre Township, Buchanan County, Missouri.

Probate Case #682, indicates that Vincent Smith died that same year.  Likely in October of 1885.  On January 1, 1866, an appraisal of his Estate was made by Henry Seckels, George Carter and Richard Brand,  In his small Estate, valued at $238.00, was a deed for the 80 acres, plus five acres in Doniphan County, Kansas.  The Court ordered the Estate be assigned to Mary Smith, to support her and her 6 small children.  I suppose it is logical to think that Vincent may be buried on the Peters Farm Cemetery, also.

On March 3, 1878, Mrs. Mary F. Smith was married, to a John L. Smith, by the Reverend William R. Trapp --- Marriage Record Book. C., #137, Page 30.  It is not known if John was related to Mary's first husband or not.

On Dec. 29, 1884, Mary F. Smith and her husband John L. Smith, of Brown County, Kansas sold her 80 acres, to Gottlieb Miller for $1,850.00.  Deed Book 54, Page 36, Andrew County Records.

May 29, 1993
As we approach our National Day of Memorial to our dead, it 1s my hope that this paper will be a very small Contribution to keeping the-heritage of our pioneer citizens alive. It is worthy of noteing, that Mr. Carl Rudolph, a long long time resident of the Hackberry Ridge Community, related to this writer, that as a boy he used to walk by this old cemetery, and at that time (about 1916-17), there was an iron fence around it.

Researched and recorded by
Floyd Howes
St Joseph, Missouri 64506

My thanks for the help of many in this labor.

Informational Sources

Probate Court Records, found in the Archives of the Andrew County Historical Society, Andrew County Museum Building.
Records found in the Office of Andrew County, Missouri, Recorder
Clay County, Missouri, Historical Society Archives at Liberty, Missouri
Railey's, History of Woodford County, Kentucky
Peters' Family Records in possession of Virginia Brown, 3043 Shawnee Place, Grand Junction Colorado --- a descendent of William Peters, son of Nimrod Peters
Bowland Family Records of Mr. Don Bowland of Savannah, Missouri --- a descendent of John D. Bowland
Selected material from this writer's publication --- "A History of One Edwards Family In America"