Confederate section of the Bloomfield Cemetery.
Two thirty foot flag poles were donated by the
Brown family of Dexter, Missouri. The Brown's daughter-in-law, Robin, is
a descendent of Privates Smith and Stephen Minton of Co. D 6th Missouri
Infantry ( see below). NOTE: On one
flag pole, flies a Confederate battle flag, underneath it flies a battle
flag of Missouri. On the other flag pole is a United State flag and a
Missouri State flag.
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The Stoddard County Confederate Memorial, also known as "Stoddard County Civil War Memorial" was spearheaded by Larry Arnold (member of the Col. Solomon G. Kitchen Camp, No. 1731) of Dexter, Missouri. The project, while not yet completed, has been made possible by using military markers provided by the Veterans Administration, as well as a combination of other resources (i.e. donations from area businesses, Confederate descendants, and thousands of dollars of personal funds donated by compatriot Arnold himself.) While Arnold has sacrificed endless hours of labor, the project's success could not have been achieved without Ruth Wilson (originally of Bloomfield, Mo. ) who handled both paperwork and manual labor with equal devotion. Other Missouri Division SCV members helping with this project were Jim Mayo and Gary Parkin of the Col. A.S. Riley Camp, No. 791 (New Madrid, Mo.). According to Larry Arnold there is still much work ahead, including the installation of six 1861-1865 replica cannons, additional headstones, and a paved parking lot.
[Cemetery Left View] [Cemetery Right View ]
Larry Arnold of Dexter, Mo. had an idea which began about 25 years ago. That idea, through lots of hard work, became reality in the development of the impressive Civil War cemetery which is now a part of Bloomfield Cemetery. Arnold explains how the idea began:
"I was doing some work in St. James, Mo. and was staying with some friends. They knew I was a Civil War buff so they took me to an old cemetery out in the woods where they had found three Confederate Civil War soldier's markers. Two of the stones just had the usual information, name, and dates. But on the back of the third stone was inscribed, 'killed by the Yankees, at the Battle of Booneville, Mo'. "Arnold said that little bit of information on the third stone stayed in his memory. Whenever I would see another military stone, I would always think, "How sad that they didn't put the same information on them."
When Jim McGhee and Jim Mayo published their book, "Stoddard Grays", (an informational book about Confederate soldiers from Stoddard County), Arnold started to get an idea. "I thought it would be neat to order grave markers for the 117 plus Stoddard Countians that died during the war and inscribe where and how they died on the back. When I conceived the idea there was 117 known Stoddard Countians. We now know of 121 soldiers, 9 civilians--'Political' prisoners who died in prison at Alton, Illinois, plus 22 non-Stoddard Countians who are buried in this location; their home counties are inscribed on the back of the stones. We also have 9 markers on order." Even though their bodies lie from Mine Creek, Kansas, in the West, to Petersburg, Virginia, to the East, on the battlefields of the South, and under the former POW camps of the North, their names and sacrifices will once again be remembered and spoken of in their home county they loved so much and were willing to die for.
Larry Arnold then called Glenn Whitener, owner of Whitener Monuments in Kennett and Hayti, Mo. and McHaney Monuments in Blytheville, Ark. (Glenn is also a member of Col. A. C. Riley Camp No. 791). Arnold explained his idea and asked what he would charge to inscribe the historical facts about each soldier's death on the back of their stone. "To my total amazement, Glenn said, 'No charge'. Not feeling that this was fair, I suggested $25.00. After much discussion, Glenn counter-offered with $10. After some more haggling, we finally agreed on $15.00 a stone. The American free enterprise system at work, it's easier to lose money than it is to make it."
I knew this would not even cover the cost of the cutting material. With the help of Ruth Wilson, Arnold ordered the first stone on June 7, 1995, from the Veterans Administration. It takes six months to a year to receive them after they are ordered. As they received the stones, they would take them to Whitener's to be cut, then pick them up and take them to the cemetery where they then set them permanently in concrete. While they were setting out the last of the 104 stones Whitener had cut, Chris Lily, owner of Lily Monuments Company in Marble Hill, Mo., happened to come by. After seeing what they were doing, he offered to help and take some of the workload off the Whitener's.
It didn't take Arnold long to take him up on his offer. On August 11, 1998, he delivered 26 stones to Lily. Three days later, Lily called to tell him the stones were ready. There are presently 152 stones set, cut by both Whitener's Monuments and Lily's Monuments companies. In addition, Lily's cut the sonnet (white marble, 51/2 feet wide, 31/2 feet tall, with 2 inch lettering, delivered and set) and would accept no pay. The residents of Stoddard County owe a debt of gratitude and thanks to Glenn Whitener and Chris Lily for their unwavering generosity in time and money. They have willingly given to this project of honoring our ancestors. It would have been impossible without them. And a special thanks to Ervin Byrd of Whitners.
Most recently an information bulletin board has been installed. Wood materials mostly furnished by Chritian and Dowdy Lumber Company, Dexter, Missouri. Bullet proof glass furnished by Pruitt Glass Co., by owner John Pruitt, who also is the Mayor of Dexter. Cedar shingles installed by Ray Ezzell (Dexter, Mo.). Construction by Barb Ellis, Ruth Wilson and Larry Arnold.
Stoddard County is privileged to have the only Civil War cemetary in the nation with the history where and how each man died during the war is recorded on back of each tombstone.
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Each individual grave marker is engraved on back with an explanation how and where each soldier died. No other cemetery in the nation has this degree of information made available on each grave marker. The above example for noted Guerilla John Bolin, tells that he was captured, incarcerated and hanged on Feb 5, 1864.
"Northbound Highway 25, 4-way stop in Bloomfield, Turn Right on Highway "E", go almost to top of hill, turn right again on County Road Number 517, go 400 yards. You will see the flag poles and markers ahead."
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Click on pictures for full sized images.
Each Confederate memorial day, Ruth Wilson (left) and Larry Arnold (right) decorated Confederate graves with miniature battle flags.
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