Nestled on a quiet dead-end road about four miles west of Jefferson City lies a smaller cemetery with an unusual configuration.
The cemetery is located midway between the settlements of Cole Junction and Scott, south of Boonville Road along Smith Road.
The cemetery has three distinct sections. The northern section contains members of the Buckner and Crandall families, along with others who lived or worked in the area. To the south is a concrete walled section that is the final resting place for members of the E.C. Smith family. Behind the Buckner-Crandall section is a wooden rail fence that separates the final resting place for the Negroes, many who lived and worked primarily on the Robert Buckner farms. Unfortunately, most in this section were buried with only rocks marking their final resting place, with only about seven actual headstones.
The cemetery was close to the schools, with the education, religious and social center being the Pleasant Grove School, about a mile west, and the Negro School at the north end of Smith Road. Over the years, the cemetery has been referred to by various names (and spellings), including Crandall, Cole Junction, Scott Station, Davison Graveyard, and Grays Creek Cemetery.
The current deed for the cemetery references a one-acre tract for a cemetery and graveyard; no name given. The earliest known burial belongs to Elizabeth Clarissa Buckner, the 12-year-old daughter of William and Elizabeth Buckner. She died on May 3, 1851. Interestingly, the Buckners never owned the property the cemetery is on.
In 1851, the land was owned by William N. Lundy. The earliest name found for the cemetery was in the 1883 death record for Christoph Earnest Buckner, who died April 18. He was buried in the Pleasant Grove Yard. Then, in 1889, a survey was performed for The Trustees of The Pleasant Grove Cemetery that marked out the boundaries of a one-acre tract of land that contained the cemetery.
But who are those buried in the worker section? Find a Grave and Billion Graves list 21 burials. Information for an additional 14 burials has been found in obituaries and death records. There are probably other family members buried there, just no proof. Only a handful had been slaves, with most having been born after the Civil War. The earliest known burial was for Victoria Duncan, who died on Aug. 18, 1883. She was the 15-year-old daughter of George and Vina Duncan.
All of the known burials are descendants of one of three families; George Duncan, Harvey Cole and Allen Kelly. Two of George Duncan's daughters married one of Allen Kelley's sons; one of George Duncan's daughters married a son of Harvey Cole; two of Harvey Cole's sons married two of Allen Kelley's daughters. Some of the other family names buried there include Campbell, Flax, Jenkins, Miles, Miller, Steel and Strickland, all related.
George Duncan was born in Louisville, Kentucky, around 1820. By 1850, he was living in Callaway County and in Cole County by 1864. His wife, Vina Vaughan Duncan, who died Dec. 31, 1904, is buried there, along with their son, George, who died in 1890. Vina was born in Virginia in 1825. They lived on Boonville Road across the road from the former Pleasant Grove School. Unfortunately, no proof of George's place of burial has been found, but he is likely buried with his wife in the worker section. He died Aug. 29, 1888. Five of their eight known children are buried there. George was also one of the founders of the Early Workers' Lodge 164, Knights of Tabor in Jefferson City.
Harvey Cole was born in Kentucky about 1833. By 1855, he was living in Callaway County and in Cole County by 1862. Harvey died June 17, 1917. He is buried in the worker section. His wife, Mildred Ann Little, or Williams, was born in Virginia in 1834. Her death and burial are unknown. She is likely buried with Harvey. Three of their seven known children are also buried there.
Allen Kelly was born in Tennessee in 1811. His death and burial are unknown, but his wife, Francis Jimpson Kelly, who was born in Virginia and died Dec. 29, 1919, is buried in the worker section. By 1856, Allen was living in Camden County. By 1880, his widow was living in Cole County. Three of their six known children are buried there. Both the Cole and Kelly families lived close to the Duncans.
Many lived and died in the area, while some later moved to town where many lived and worked in The Foot area. Descendants of these three families still live in our community. Even without actual headstones, all are worthy of remembrance.
Detailed information on each one of these burials is available at the Cole County Historical Society.
Gary Elliott is a retired land surveyor. One of his many interests is in family history. He has authored several historical books.
The tombstone for Adeline Duncan is one of the few burials in the worker section with a headstone.