Souder Cemetery lies on a beautiful wooded slope on land dedicated by the George SOUDER family.When SOUDER set aside land for the cemetery, there were several graves there marked by piles of rocks, probably made by the Indians.

Next to the cemetery is the Souder Church of Christ built in 1912. Names gathered from these markers represent the pioneers, a number of them Civil War veterans, who settled in northern Ozark County and their descendants.

GARDNER, Claude Albert, 1936-1937

PLASTER, Loran Dwain, 1937-1938

ESLICK, Veta Gwendolyn, 1924- 1933

ESLICK, Chloe A., 1899-1963

GARDNER, Lenora, 1874-1963

GARDNER, George W., 1874-1944

LINIGER, Mary M., 1871-1956

LINIGER, August G., 1866-1937

PROCK, O’Neil, 1936-1936

PROCK, Neil, 1886-1960

LINIGER, James, 1929

PENDERGRAFT, Richard, 1871- 1928

SMITH, Edd, 1886-1920

ARNOLD, Frank

HOOVER, Maud L., 1880-1957

HOOVER, Issac, 1870-1941

PLASTER, Marshel, 1864-1927

PLASTER, Elizabeth, 1845- 1930

PLASTER, Alexander, 1839-1906

VINCEN, Flora E., 1891-1924

RATLIFF, Malinda E., 1855-1928

RATLIFF, William H., 1852-1927

RATLIFF, Mary, 1829-1905

MURPHY, Martha J., 1845-1930

MURPHY, Peter T ., 1840-1915

MURPHY, Ora P., 1875-1960

COOK, J. A., 1827-1906

COOK, Mary A., 1829-1910

LAMAR, Martha P., 1846- 1913

BUNNER, Amanda M., 1846-1898

COOK, Cinda, 1870-1915

COOK, Jim, 1868-1932

HARRIS, F. M., 1893-1895

HARRIS, James Arthur, 1881-1958

HARRIS, Missouri A., 1849-1932

HARRIS, John. R., 1843-1913

LUNA, Lou E., 1889-1834

HARRIS, Joseph B., 1872-1899

UPTON, Sadie, 1883-1907

UPTON, John F., 1864-1943

UPTON, Sarah L., 1884-1933

TAYLOR, Beula, 1894-1900

PARKER, Mary A., 1886-1938

PARKER, A. G., 1862-1923

TAYLOR, Lockey, 1902-1923

TAYLOR, Burnell, 1922-1925

KASTNING, Mintie G., 1891-1907

KASTNING, Mary, 1858-1919

KASTNING, J. W., 1852-1924

KASTNING, Willie, 1889-1934

ROGERS, Frank, 1899-1938

MILLER, Lemuel E., 1865-1937

PRICE, Annie, - 1927;

BROWN, Alva L., 1925-1926

MILLER, Minnie, 1891-1911

BROWN, Zack R., 1884-1931

BROWN \, Mary, 1892-1914

WADE, Lytha

HARRIS, Benjamin G., 1868-1923

BEASLEY, Ettie Ann, 1877-1958

BEASLEY, Robert Wiley, 1871-1961

GROWLEY, Phillip L., 1905- 1907

BYERLEY, Phillip D., 1861-1949

SMITH, Lelah, 1907-1908

WALKER, Ollie Ellis, 1919-1922

SMITH, Maudie, 1894-1925

GARNER, J.H., 1870-1959

GARNER, Nancy C., 1876-1946

COOK, James Charles, 1954-1954

SMITH, Mary, 1891-1930

MOSS, George W.

TAYLOR, George W., 1866-1940

TAYLOR, Hannah E., 1869- 1955

TAYLOR, Floyd Buoy, 1896-1942

BEACH, Charlie A., 1882-1946

BEACH, Maud A., 1883-1919

MARTIN, Thomas R., 1844-1909

MARTIN, Mary E., 1848-1909

STOUT, Hannah, 1831-1921

BURDEN, Silvia O., 1893- 1923

HARDWOOD, J. Jessie, 1892-1913

HANDY, Rachel, 1836-1917

MAHAN, Georgia Ann, 1858-1952

MAHAN, William, 1848-1936

MAHAN, Fred, 1893-1927

MAHAN, Eddie, 1886-1908

BOLGER, Lon, - 1908

MORRIS, Byron V., 1848-1932

MORRIS, Eliza J., 1849-1932

MORRIS, Frank B., 1877-1947

BURDEN, Della Franklin, 1917-1930

GARDNER, Monroe, 1889-1959

KEMPER, Anna M., 1871-1953

KEMPER, Herman, 1865-1953

DECKER. Ida, 1871-1903

DECKER, Phillip, 1855-1939

McKAY, Pernettie J., 1860-1901

BEACH, Cecil, 1912-1912

BEACH, Willard E., 1887-1948

BEACH, Stillman A., 1838-1902

BEACH, Eliza H., 1844- 1928

BEACH, J. L. 1867-1930

BEACH, Pearl, 1870-1940

BEACH, Doyle, 1921-1921

BEACH, Marcella, 1939-1939

LEEK, Eliza J., 1864-1962

LEEK, John R., 1854-1901

WALKER, Charles G., 1874-1957

WALKER, Earl, 1935-1936

ROWLETT, Allice, 1866-1935

HARRIS, Sarah M., 1865- 1893

PORTER, John, 1859-1901

HERNDON, Marion, 1855- 1932

HERNDON, Nancy, 1852-1933

HERNDON, Athron, 1912-1913

HERNDON, Velma, 1905-1906

HERNDON, Otis Alvin, 1882-1963

CURTIS, Lowell T., 1922-1942

HARRIS, Riley A., 1874-1938

YOUNG, May Harris, 1876- 1960

GARTON, L. K., 1850-1913

GARTON, Thomas

GARTON, Mary Alice, 1878-1893

GARTON, Fredrick, - 1899

GARTON, Ima F., 1881-1900

EDWARDS, Dorman Lynn, 1959-1959

HICKS, W. W.,

EDWARDS, F. A.

LUNA, Bluford M., 1873-1945

WALKER, Thomas G., 1868-1948

WALKER, Mary J., 1866- 1944

McKAY, , 1829-1906

SILVA, Ollie M., 1866-1927

SILVA, J. D., 1862-1932

STRONG, G. Sigle, 1864-1948

SCOTT, Rose Etta, 1880-1959

SCOTT, William D., 1873-1954

SOUDER, Edgar E., 1880-1956

SOUDER, E. T., 1880-1929

ALTISER, Silas, 1871-1958

SOUDER, J. L., 1926-1929

SOUDER, Mac, 1928-1930

BROWN, David F., 1934-1939

J. S. G., - - (unreadable)

J. J. G., - -; (unreadable)

JAMES, Mary, 1849-1931

WALKER, Lula W., 1885-1925

WALKER, Taylor E., 1887-1925

EXLINE, Polly A., 1867- 1931

EXLINE, Samuel A., 1858-1931

HIGH, Oickie, 1931-1934

HIGH, Rata E., 1908-1934

SMITH, Walter, 1887-1952

SMITH, Gale, 1931-1944

PENDER, John, 1868-1933

BROWN, Jane, 1854-1941

SNELSON, Lora, 1885-1919

TRANTHAM, Lou N., 1866-1912

TRANTHAM, Don, 1914-1916

TRANTHAM, Ralph, 1907-1908

TRANTHAM, Walter, 1887-1959

PLASTER, Minnie B., 1903-1959

PLASTER, George W., 1873-1958

PLASTER, Minnie Welch, 1879-1924

PLASTER. John R., 1831-1921

PLASTER, Clarence, - 1921

SNELSON, George J., 1871-1944

GARDNER, T. P., 1871-1955

GARDNER, H. V., 1868-1940

SNELSON, Alta Gilbert, 1903-1929

SNELSON, Pearl Stever, 1901-1922

SNELSON, Alyda, 1916-1920

SNELSON, Marshel, 1840- 1917

JAMES, W. M., 1830-1915

JAMES, H. G., 1869- 1942

JAMES, M. R., 1877-1960

JAMES, Dona, 1907- 1907

JAMES, Louise A., 1869-1917

DAVIS, Linda C., 1948-1948

MARTIN, Martha J., 1846-1934

MARTIN, T. R., 1857-1924

INGRAM, Nathan Russell, 1909-1915

WADE, Douglas Perry, 1947-1947

LEEK, Lydia J., 1879-1940

LEEK, George W., 1879-1955

BYERLEY, Charles Jr., 1930-1943

MACKEY, Charolett, 1940-1950

MACKEY, Dorothy Lee, 1943-1950

MACKEY, Ralph C., 1912-1960

MACKEY, Arch, 1889-1960

VARNER, Grady C., 1894-1944

MACKEY, Monroe H., 1938-1962

SMUTH, G. W., 1850-

SMITH, H. E., 1853-1931

SMITH, Harrison, 1811-1862

BROWNING, Ollie, 1881-1962

BROWNING, Mary E. - - 1933

PARNELL, Thomas, 1861-1863

ENLOE, Cora A., 1877-1957

ENLOE, Allen C., 1864-1945

SOUDER, Louisa A., 1869-1870

SPRIG, Margaret, 1818-1897

SMITH, Elizabeth C., 1852-1903

SMITH, George W., 1849-1923

SMITH, Dora, 1879-1947

SMITH, Margaret J., 1871-1944

HALE, Irven, 1882-1948

HALE, Cora, 1886-1963

HALE, Andrew J., 1884-1940

HALE, Izzie F., 1894- 1953

CONLEY, Mary A., 1878-1942

CONLEY. Harve, 1874-1943

WELCH, Marshal, 1857-1928

PENDER, Ellen, 1876-1937

PENDER, Geraldine, 1930-1935

HATFIELD, Clare W., 1895-1896

WELCH, Annie, - -

BYERLEE, Laura Edith, 1915-1915

GARDNER, Mary Ann, - - 1912;

GARDNER, Jackson, - - 1884

GARDNER, Thomas A., 1887-1928

GARDNER, Sarah E., 1869-1950

GARDNER, A. J., 1864-1900

HAYNEW, J. W. A., 1830-1890

THORNBURG, Sarah J., 1850-1916

VAUGHN, Mary, 1862- 1904

VAUGHN, J. F., 1868-1945

BELL, Jessie, 1888-1889

BELL, Tom, 1862-1894

SOUDER, Carrie Ann Gentry, 1885 -1954

SOUDER, James H., 1880-1926

SOUDER, Dora, 1874-1959

SOUDER, H. N., 1876-1945

ELIFF, J., 1850- 1883

DYE, Bettie, 1856-1933

WALKER, Bettie, 1855- 1927

BYERLEY, Mrs. J., 1825-1878

BYERLEY, Floyd J., 1887-1888

BYERLEY, Marion W., 1865-1920

BYERLEY, Mary E., 1865-1929

BYERLEY.\, William M., 1855-1938

BYERLEY, Charley, 1896-1955

HAWKINS, R. G., 1856- 1937

HAWKINS, Mary B., 1855-1933

HAWKINS, Eunice, 1887-1910

HAWKINS, Clyde L., 1896-1898

DAVES, Pernelope A., 1889-

HAWKINS, Faney A., 1873-1873

HAWKINS, A. G., 1831-1890

HAWJ\KINS, Mary A., 1831-1919

HAWKINS, Melissie Ann, 1858-1882

MACKEY, Penelony, 1833-1909

MACKEY, Cora, 1890-1909

MACKEY, Mable, - -

MAKCEY, Don, 1917-1917

LEEK, Edith, 1886-1905

MACKEY, Monroe, 1818-1936

MACKEY, Martha, 1863-1933

PITCOCK, Ella, 1874-1947

PITCOCK, George, 1868-1951

SHANKS, Grace, 1889- 1922

PITCOCK, Fern, 1911-1911

SOUDER, Sarah, 1857-1913

SOUDER, Otta, 1854-1934

SOUDER, Nora E., 1889- 1899

MAHAN, Donna Marie, 1922-1925

MAHAN, Esca Rachel, 1902-1903

WALKER, Mary M., 1840-1919

MAHAN, Alonzo, 1880-1962

MAHAN, Ross, 1899-1958

HARRIS, L. J., 1888-1888

NAUGLE, Elizabeth, 1849-1936

NAUGLE, Carmon Otis, 1901-1903

NAUGLE, Emery Clyde, 1904-1907

LEACH, Richard, - -

NAUGLE, Walter O., 1899-1899

NAUGLE, Elmer H., 1892-1898

MORRIS, Cleo Morris, 1885-1885

GARNER, Elizabeth, 1844-1934

SOUDER, Horace E., 1904-1926

SOUDER, Alice, 1870- 1911

SOUDER, George W., 1869-1936

SOUDER, Osa D., 1892--1960

BYERLEE, Linda Carol, 1946-1946

BYERLEE, Louis Wm., 1879-1942

BYERLEE, Roy Earl, 1942-1942

BYERLEE, Troy Wm. Byerlee, 1934-1935

SHINDLER, Elizann, 1833-1918

NYERLEE, Mary R., 1858-1935

BYERLEE, George S., 1849-1937

SOUDER, Jackie D., 1935-1936

SOUDER, Jimmy B., 1944-1944

SOUDER, Benjamine, 1860-1875

SOUDER, Lily, 1874-1877

SOUDER, Eliza, 1877-1880

SOUDER, Louisa, 1841-1883

SOUDER, Beula, 1901-1930

SOUDER, G. C., 1833-1906

SOUDER, Isabell, 1860- 1920

SOUDER, Cleo, 1886-1920

SHERMAN, Ruth Souder, 1900-1923

NAUGLE, Polly, 1843-1888

NAUGLE, Nicholas, 1842-1925

NAUGLE, Nariges E., 1848-1920

NAUGLE, Neety R., 1880-1930

YOUNG, Mary E., 1869- 1956

YOUNG, Samnel J., 1860-1924

NAUGLE, Nancy M., 1880-1953

BROWN, O., 1866-1925

NAUGLE, B. L., 1866-1899

NAUGLE, Lena B., 1922-1923

NAUGLE, Mildred N., 1924-1926

NAUGLE, Logan, 1890-1946

SHINDLER, George A., 1883-1851

BREEDING, Leta, 1913-1918

SOUDER, Clark, 1922-1924

People known to be buried in the Souder Cemetery that do not have monuments.

VARNER, Gradie, 1944

BROWN, Walter, 1944;

GUNTER, Jesse, 1944

WELCH, Mary J., 1944

GUNTER, Mr., 1945

SMITH, Ruth, 1948

ALLEN, Dell Baby, 1948

BARLEY, Otto, 1950

HARRIS, Cecil, 1950

CURTIS, Glenda, 1951

LINIGER, Lyle Baby, 1952

SMITH, Sanborn, 1952

MARTIN, Mrs. Bill, 1952

SMITH, Andy, 1954

COBLE, Norse, 1954

CURTIS, Grace, 1955

GUNTER, Charles, 1956

MILLER, Ola, 1958

CONLEY, John, 1958

STRONG, Ida, 1958

CONLEY, Buford, 1959

SMITH, Carl Baby, 1960

JAMES, J., 1961

BUSHONG, Lander, 1961

Mahan Baby, 1961

SOUDER, Fannie, 1964

MURPHY, Max, a member of the Souder Cemetery Committee, has listed the names and dates from all of the headstones in the Souder Cemetery.

Souder Cemetery lies on a beautiful wooded slope on land dedicated by the George SOUDER family. Mr. and Mrs. Lyle MURPHY, parents of Max MURPHY, now live on the land homesteaded by George SOUDER.

Mrs. Ora P. MURPHY, who has attended every decoration held there since 1898, says that the church building was built as the community began to grow to give protection for meetings, singings and funerals. Mrs. Murphy in reminiscing about the cemetery writes:

"When I was a little girl, there were four or five graves in the lower corner of the cemetery. I have been told that they were there before the Civil War and that they had rocks on them. People said that they were Indian graves.

The first decoration was in 1898. There were two platforms with an organ on each and there were two singing classes. One was the Brixey class and Ryley and May HARRIS led it. The other was the Spring Creek class and Dave THOMAS led it.

In February 1912, Grandma Mary GARDNER'S funeral was held in the church, and it was not quite finished. Hers was the first funeral in the church. I attended the first recoration in 1898 and have been there every year since. I will be 78 years old this September 23 (1965).

The first decorations were different from today. Flowers were all in baskets and Uncle Ramath THORNSBURG and Grandad Peter MURPHY would make talks. All of the old soldiers would take flags and march around and put them on the soldier’s graves. Then the crowd would march after them and decorate all the graves with flowers from their yards. After the soldiers made their talks there was singing and pieces spoke by groups from different places. The crowd sat on seats made by putting boards over logs.

In 1911, when Minnie PRICE was buried, it rained so much a donation to build a church was begun and a year later funerals were held in the churchhouse."

Mrs. Murphy was born Carrie NAUGLE, the daughter of Ben and Delevine (Loftis) NAUGLE on Sept. 23, 1886. Other daughters of the Naugles are Letty STONE and Ruby SHANKS of Almartha. Carrie NAUGLE was married to the late Ora. P. MURPHY and to them two sons were born, Lyle and Joe.

Source: Souder Cemetery Records
Compiled by Ruby M. Robins
Max Murphy, member of Souder Cemetery Committee
White River Valley Historical Quarterly
Volume 2, Number 4, Summer 1965