Taken from Springfield News-Leader, December 2, 1983 - Descendant wants to groom rural cemetery Shows picture of Guy Murray of Willard, stands amid the gravestones of ancestors and Confederate soldiers in a grass-choked cemetery west of Willard. He wants to clear away the weeds. By Roger Snell - The thick prairie grass that fed livestock and once was cleared to make room for pioneer homes now is tangled around the graves of the Murray family and Confederate soldiers who were buried near Willard. Guy Murray, whose great-grandparents are buried there, wants to make the resting place more presentable by clearing out the grass and weeds. This family cemetery was recognized as a local, historic landmark, earlier this week (Dec 02, 1983) The Greene County Historic Sites Board, of which Murray is a member, recognized the cemetery because it contains graves of more Confederate soldiers than any other in the county except National Cemetery. "I don't think the Murrays would have allowed Union soldiers to be buried here," Murray said. He has traced his family's roots back as far as Ireland and Scotland, but in the Civil War years the family was tied more closely to the South and the Confederacy. Forty of 150 graves are those of Confederate soldiers who died at Wilson's Creek Battlefield. The rest of the graves are of Murray ancestors or other neighbors who shared the cemetery. Some of the graves are hard to find, buried under weeds seemingly as old as the markers that date back to the mid-1800's. "From the stories I've heard, you could hear the battle from here," Murray said, pointing off toward Wilson's Creek several miles away. "It sounded like popping popcorn." Murray's home is on Farm Road 68, not far from Z Highway. He lives about as close to downtown Willard as he does to the cemetery, which is located on Farm Road 88 just southwest of the Willard city limits in Murray Township. The entrance to the cemetery is marked by a modest arch, dated 1845. The cemetery is a tangle of tall grass and weeds, surrounded by a spring-fed lake, a quiet farm road and pastures. An endowment fund was started at the Commerce Bank of Willard with the idea of using interest to pay for maintaining the cemetery, Murray said. About $2,000 has been raised so far. "The goal is to get $3,000 so that interest of $300 a year could keep it mowed," Murray said. (1983 rates, not 2002 rates!) He has had help from people in the community, has run advertisements and mailed letters seeking donations. Much of the land around the cemetery was owned by John Murray, Guy's great-grandfather, who settled here in 1834. "I've been told the prairie grass was way over a horse's belly," Murray said. Murray has spent long hours piercing together his family history, both by reading history books at the main library and by listening to relatives. >From what Murray can tell, his grandfather owned a lot of land. He bought much of it for $1.25 an acre and later sold off at least one parcel of 160 acres. Early settlers in this area looked for timber and springs for abundant water, Murray said. His ancestors apparently found that in Willard. The same spring has slowed to a trickle, due to wells that were dug in the area. The water isn't as good either, probably due to leaky septic tanks, Murray said. Murray raises cattle on this 94-acre farm and also is a Realtor. "I was born and raised here. I was the first $10 baby," explaining the night that he was born, the doctor collected $10 for his delivery and moved on to the neighbor's house to deliver twins. "He probably made 20 bucks that night and delivered two for the price of one." For his later years, Murray said, "I haven't decided where I'd be buried. I don't want to be left like this. I'd like to get the cemetery taken care of." ****************** I am no relation to any Murray's but found this article in my possessions as I care about old cemeteries. The person who contacts me that would like the article I will mail to them as otherwise I will throw it away. Thanks Susan