WILLIAM ARTHUR page 29 Barnabas Arthur came to Missouri from Kentucky around 1820. He married Nancy Vaughn of Kentucky and they had one son, John, before Nancy's death. John married Elizabeth Hyer and most of their family settled around the Dry Fork and Lake Springs area. William Arthur, brother to Barnabas, came to Missouri in 1828. William was born on November 16, 1796 in Bedford County, Virginia. He married Sarah Adams, daughter to Coonrod and Martha E. (Benton) Adams. Sarah Adams was born on January 13, 1800 in Kentucky. William bought land in what is now Phelps County in 1837 in the Liberty Township on Corn Creek and Little Piney River. He was noted for being a champion hunter of bear, deer and large game. William (Billy) died on January 16, 1885 and his wife Sarah died on January 17, 1863. They are bured in King Cemetery on land now owned by Claudia Mathis on Little Piney River. He was the first of the Arthur line to be in Phelps county. To this union eight children were born: 1. Elizabeth: born @ 1820. Married James Brown. 2. Mary, born @ 1821. Married John Glasby Case. 3. Nancy, born @1823. Married James Messer and 2nd Wright. 4. Barnabas, born @1826. Married Rhoda Caroline Dodd. 5. John, born @1827. Married Mary Ann (Polly) Brown. 6. Sarah Jane, born October 5, 1829. Married William Dority Melton. 7. Keziah, born on Nobember 29, 1831. Married William Henry Baker. 8. William David 'Dick' born on October 16, 1837. Married Elizabeth Padgett. Melton - Ramsey page 267 Joel M. Melton was born in 1798 in North Carolina, the son of Garland Anderson Melton and Nancy Richardson. He married Maribah Ramsey (09-Sep-1800 in Hart County, Kentucky - 10-Dec-1859 on Corn Creek) 27-November-1822. After her death Joel M. married Sarah Daniels Roberts. Sarah and Joel both died on 22-October-1863 and are buried in the Smith Cemetery. To Joel and Maribah ten children were born as follows: 1. Lewis Hayden Melton was born September 10, 1823 in Hart County, Kentucky and died January 21, 1872. He married Margaret Riley Welch on October 20, 1846 at Beaver Creek and eight children were born. 2. William Dority Melton was born on September 10, 1825 in Crawford County, Missouri. He married Sarah Jane Arthur on February 19, 1850 and they had eight children. 3. Nancy Jane Melton was born August 16, 1827 and died May 28, 1895. 4. James Wilson Melton was born April 15, 1830 and died January 6, 1863. James was killed during the Civil War in Arkansas. 5. Caroline Melton was born May 18, 1832 and died September 21, 1893. 6. Hyrem Jet Melton was born August 1, 1834 and died December 26, 1845. 7. Garland Anderson Melton was born August 27, 1836 and died October 15, 1838. 8. Eli Mills Melton was born August 22, 1839 on Beaver Creek in Phelps County and died on 14-August-1902. He married Sarah Evans Randolph. 9. Mary Armin was born on August 22, 1842 on Beaver Creek in Phelps county and died 1921. 10. Julie Ann Elizabeth Melton was born April 13, 1845 and died in 1921. Most of this family are buried at the Smith Cemetery at Flat, Missouri. The older children are buried in the Beaver Creek graveyard near Rolla, Missouri. Maribh Ramsey Melton was the first person buried at the Smith Cemetery near Flat, or five miles west of Edgar Springs, Missouri. submitted by Wanda Melton Fields God Bless America