The listowner hath returned (or whatever). We had a great trip. However, I was unable to access Moss Springs Cemetery in Jasper County, MO. The Midwest has suffered from so much rainfall, the fields are standing in water. Naturally, Moss Springs was buried in grasses and I didn't want to blaze a trail getting down to that cemetery. However, my trip was otherwise successful. I was able to go to Butler Creek Cemetery in Benton County, Arkansas. This Cemetery sits on the state line, just barely across the Arkansas state line. And I found the graves of my 3rd great grandparents: Joel O. Hood and Nancy Haskins Hood. Nancy's gravestone had fallen off its mount and was broken in two places. But it was quite readable. Joel's tombstone still stands proudly, and I was able to read that also. The Hoods left Missouri in 1866 when Missouri passed laws depriving Southern people of their rights. I also discovered that part of the Jones family moved to Benton County, Arkansas apparently with the Hoods. Samuel Spence's sister, Milly Catherine Spence, married Lewis Jones in Tennessee in 1820. One very interesting stone next to Nancy Haskin Hood's belonged to a Martha Jones who was born in 1805 and who died in 1815. Apparently, her parents returned to Tennessee to "get her" and had her reburied in Benton County, Arkansas with them. The name "Martha" strikes my interest. Joes Hood's mother was Martha Owensby Hood. So I am now wondering about possible Jones/Hood connections. I was also able to go to the Jane Cemetery in Jane, Missouri. Many of those tombstones have been demolished over the years. However, the tombstone for the old guerilla fighter, James H. Bunch, and his wife, Milly Catherine Spence, proudly stands. Milly died in 1896; James H. died in 1923 (not 1929, as the cemetery record states). He still lived a long life. These people were my 3rd great uncle and aunt. I also found George Triplett's grave in Fidelity Cemetery in Jasper County, MO. He married Rebecca JANE Spence, the oldest daughter of Samuel Spence (1800-1859) and Elizabeth Inman (1809-1872) in 1858. (I learned that her middle name was Jane after arriving home and reading a letter I had received from Mora Spence in Oklahoma. That further purports my "grandmother theory" for Rebecca's name. I had long speculated that her first name (Rebecca) was derived from Elizabeth's mother (Rebecca Graham) and that her second name was possibly Jane, derived from Samuel's stepmother, Jane Bell Spence. However, I now have another theory about the first name "Rebecca." Some of the Spencer records I have been uncovering suggest that Elisha Spence's first wife, Susannah Spencer, may really have been Rebecca Susannah Spencer. So Rebecca Jane Spence may have been named for Samuel's mother (Rebecca Susannah) and Samuel's step mother, Jane Bell Spence. Rebecca Jane Spence died in childbirth; the child died also. George appears alone on the 1860 Census for Jasper County. He fought in the Civil War on the side of the North (opposite his former brother-in-law, James Bunch, who headed a Confederate Home Guard Unit in Jasper County). George was captured in Lexington MO, but that was early in the war when prisoners were exchanged by the time each side had an equal number. Unfortunately for George's former brother-in-law, Newton Jasper Spence, "finders" became "keepers." Newton Jasper spent a year in Alton prison and another dreadful year at Fort Delaware. (We visited that site last year). George remarried after the Civil War and I believe that he lived until 1909. I think that his second wife may have been Matilda ???. At least a Matilda is buried next to him. But there is something interesting about these Tripletts besides the Rebecca/George connection. Samuel Spence and Elizabeth Inman's youngest daughter was Sarah Elizabeth Spence, who married John Hull. She eventually resided in Canon City, Colorado. After that, the record in Canon City concerning the Hulls fades into the sunset. However, while I was reading the old microfilm of the Jasper County newspaper microfilm, I ran across an obituary for an Arthur Triplett ca. 1911 or 1912. The obituary stated that his wife Sarah E. had died some eight years previously. It is possible that this is Sarah Elizabeth Spence Hull Triplett. John Hull may have died in Canon City; Sarah returned to Jasper County and married Arthur Triplett, who was possibly George Triplett's younger brother or cousin! Also, Graham records I have recently acquired suggest that Elizabeth Inman's mother was Sarah Graham. If so, then Rebecca Jane Spence was named for Samuel's mother and stepmother and Sarah Elizabeth was named for Elizabeth Inman's mother and for Elizabeth. The Spences had another daughter who died in Tennessee (I think). I do not know her name. It was also in Fidelity Cemetery in Jasper County where I encountered one of the worst cases of grave destruction I have ever seen in all my years of "cemetery tromping." The heavy rains there have made the ground quite soggy. Some "yo yo" with a heavy vehicle (possibly a 4-wheeler) thought it would be fun to do a "yahoo" across the center of that graveyard. You can see where his/her tracks went in and left. Apparently, the vehicle "bogged down" on top of the Gilbert graves in the middle of the cemetery and had a "whee" of a time getting out of there. People had already placed flowers on those graves. Flowers were thrown everywhere. I ventured as close to the chaos as I dared. As badly torn up as these Gilbert graves were, I was afraid I would fall inside some hole if I ventured any closer! Needless to say, I would like to wring the neck of the person(s) who did this! I'm not related to the Gilberts, but I hate to see this sort of destruction. Shortly after our visit to Fidelity, we drove down a side road where we encountered our humorous event of the trip. As we drove down the road, I saw what appeared to be an elephant standing in the middle of a field. Now this is ridiculous, I thought. I had read about Jasper County, Missouri's Republican past, but an elephant in the field??? Impossible!!! That's when the elephant moved and we realized that it was real. "Now, how did some farmer get permission to put an elephant in his field?" my husband wondered. We quickly discovered the reason: the elephant belonged to a circus and not to the Republican Party! Back to genealogy! In Center Cemetery (Jasper County, MO), I found a few tombstones missing that I had photographed several years ago. One belonged to a Mary Spence. When I photographed it, the stone had fallen from its base and was lying on the grass. I remember standing on the base to photograph the stone. This time, both stone and base were gone. However, I did discover one place in Center that attracted my attention. At the rear of the cemetery is a large plot. It could hold approximately four to six graves. No name identifies the plot. A Bradley stone stands approximately two to three feet from it, but the Bradley stone seems disconnected from it. Here's my theory: this is the resting place for Samuel Spence, Elizabeth Inman Spence, Daniel Spence, Mary Polly Pewitt Spence and quite possibly Lewis Jones and Milly Catherine Spence Jones. My reasoning follows. Lewis Jones died in 1847. He was probably buried in Moss Springs. Daniel Spence died after the 1850 Census was taken and before 1859. He was probably buried in Moss Springs. Samuel Spence died in 1859. He was probably buried in Moss Springs. Elizabeth Inman Spence died in Arkansas in 1872. I believe that the James Bunch family (with whom she lived) returned her to Jasper County, MO. However, (as my mother related when I visited her on this trip), the lower, older section of Moss Springs always flooded whenever the creek was high. So, Daniel, his wife Mary, and Samuel were reburied in Center (which is high and dry), and Elizabeth was buried with her husband. Lewis Jones may have also been relocated to Center. Milly Catherine Spence Jones did not die until 1876. So she would have been the last one buried in the plot. As I said, this plot is large enough to house six graves, and I think that this is the resting place for these people. Dr. Moss, one of the pioneers of Jasper County, who was well acqainted with these people, is also buried in Center Cemetery. I found his grave. So, if Dr. Moss is buried in Center--the possibility exists that these other people are also buried in Center. I have yet to uncover any record of them as being buried in Moss Springs. I have a picture of this large plot. If anyone is interested, let me know. I will scan it and send it to you via e-mail. I was also able to visit with Laura Todd Spence, my great aunt who is 93 years old. She was my grandfather (William Franklin Spence--1884-1973)'s sister-in-law and was married to one of his younger brothers, Ivan Spence. We had a wonderful visit and she showed me some wonderful pictures that she has. I have a picture of the Salathiel Monroe Spence family that I took from one of hers. However, I am going to have to do some things with it in order to make it clear. One thing I learned from the picture: my grandfather and his younger brother, Walter, definitely took after their mother's side of the family (Josephine Virginia Kessler). His brothers Claude and Ivan were both dead ringers for their father, Salathiel Monroe Spence. I think their sister, Nettie Mae, may have favored the Spence side and I am still unsure about their young brother who died, Lester. Aunt Laura showed me his picture that was taken just before his death in 1905. One "wild" thing came out of my visit with her and I am still trying to grasp it. She showed me a picture of her great grandson, Con, who is a dead ringer for our little 3-year old grandson, Jason. When I first saw the picture, I almost asked: "How did you get a picture of Jason?" But it wasn't Jason; it was her great grandson! The resemblance is uncanny. (Pictures certainly fill in the gaps for some of these genealogical questions!!!) Aunt Laura's only son, Lester Spence, died of the old Spence curse (heart disease) in March of this year. He was 73 years old. Her own husband (my great uncle Ivan) died in 1978. She told me that she didn't think she would ever live so long. But she is quite active for her age of 93. So, that's the sum and substance of our trip. When I arrived home, I found a long letter from Mora Spence (a descendant of Newton Jasper Spence, who is mentioned above). She forwarded some information that she had. Okay, Inman List. Here goes. One section states: "Another group of notes. I don't know who gave me these. The Spences migrated from Tenn. to Mo. THE INMANS WERE FROM GERMANY. Tehy were wealthy people, but left all their wealth and came to America. Elizabeth Inman had a brother, Jefferson Inman." I know that once upon a time, someone on the Inman list told me that Meshach Inman came from Germany. Will you please get in touch with me and re-inform me of all of this. I have an idea that the 3 brothers, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, may have been educated in Germany. Heidelburg (sp) was a big place for this type of thing. My theory: nothing to substantiate it as yet. The Inmans were of English origin. Does anyone know anything about a Jefferson Inman? Anyway, I'm back. I have 97 messages waiting for me. Let's continue. Barbara