Randolph County, Missouri Genealogy Trails

Sugar Creek Cemetery, Moberly, Randolph County, Missouri

 Burials listed below are taken from obituaries, not from onsite transcription
Mistakes can be made so please use as a guide
May not be a complete list
Transcribed for Genealogy Trails by Shauna Williams - 2009

*Some question about burial in this cemetery

May 23, 1957
Moberly Monitor Index
Moberly Missouri
Sugar Creek Cemetery North of Moberly Is 120 Years Old
    The Sugar Creek Cemetery, one and a half miles northwest of the present city limits of Moberly, is 120 years old, according to records which Walter C. Buchanan, a member of the cemetery board has kept. The first body buried in Sugar Creek Cemetery, Oct. 15, 1836, was a member of the family of the late Jesse W. Rubey, a former Moberly boy, who later located in Kansas City and died in 1956. He also was buried in the Sugar Creek Cemetery.
    In the 1830's, a Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized and established at a place one and a half miles northwest of the present city of Moberly. A tract of land was secured, one part set apart for building and a church yard, another part reserved for use as a cemetery. A third part, which was on the north side of a public road which ran through the acquired land, was used for public school purposes.
    This church, cemetery and school became known as the Sugar Creek Church, the Sugar Creek Cemetery and the Sugar Creek School. As this and the surrounding communities grew and developed, other churches were organized, each of which took members from and weakened the mother church at Sugar Creek. But the population of the Sugar Creek Cemetery increased, thus creating a demand for more burial space. Also, it was evident that there was need for better school facilities, Therefore, in 1892, a new school building was erected a short distance east of the old one which was later torn down. And the road which ran between the church and school grounds was changed to run south and east of the church and cemetery grounds.
    The land, made available by these changes, was laid off into lots and offered for sale for burial purposes. For many years  a few interested persons would take a day off each year or two and clean up the cemetery. In 1919 a movement was started to create an endowment fund the proceeds of which would be used for the upkeep of the cemetery. by chance Jesse W. Rubey, a former Moberly boy, who at this time was a businessman in Kansas City, came to Moberly primarily to learn some things about his family, some members of which were buried in the Sugar Creek Cemetery.
Finds Two Things
    He was told two things which seemed to be of special interest to him. First: A member of his family was the first buried in Sugar Creek Cemetery. Second a movement was under way to create an endowment fund for the cemetery. He insisted that the efforts be continued and that he be notified when the organization was completed. After some delay a Charter was issued to the Sugar Creek Cemetery Association by Charles U. Becker, Secretary of State, Jefferson City, Mo., on March 28, 1922. The Bilaws(sic) of the association call for an official board of 11 members. The charter members of that board were G.L. Jenkins, Mrs. Lena P. Terrill, Miss Laura Horner, J.F. Gulekunst, E.F. Rais, E.H. Halterman, Warren Esry, Thomas J. Esry, J.J. Breusch, O.A. Buchanan and W.C. Buchanan. Only four of them now remain.
    Contact with Rubey resulted in a liberal contribution. That and a similar one from the heirs of the Logan Cunningham estate, together with pledges from members of the board, became the foundation of the endowment fund. Other contributors, and money from investments have been good, and the proceeds used to maintain the cemetery. There are other improvements which should, and would, be made if funds were available. And again there has been an increase in the population of the cemetery to the extent that burial space is limited.
    In the meantime the old church building was burned, Nov. 11, 1923. The cause of the fire was not learned and the house was not rebuilt, last year, in order to provide more burial space, the old church yard was surveyed and a large number of nice new lots were made available for that purpose.
Rubey Buried There
    Last year in September about three weeks before the anniversary date of the cemetery, the body of Jesse W. Rubey was brought here and buried in Sugar Creek Cemetery, midst those of other members of his family, one of which was placed there 120 years ago.
    An anniversary meeting was to have been held last October but weather conditions were not favorable. This article is intended to give a delayed recognition of the 120th anniversary of the cemetery and to acquaint interested parties with a brief history of the cemetery, as well as the operation and needs thereof.
    The present members of the official board are Mrs. Tom Patton, Huntsville; Mrs. Anna Hardin, Mrs. Atha Haynes, Mrs. E.O. Lyons, John F. Gutekunst, Roy Gutekunst, E.F. Rais, E.H. Halterman, Earl Esry, Waller Terrill and W.C. Buchanan, all of Moberly.
    Representatives of the board will be at the cemetery most of the day, Thursday, May 30. They will be glad to assist in locating graves, if necessary, and will also show lots which are now for sale. Your presence, as well as contributions to the endowment fund will be appreciated.

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