Coming Home to - City of Gladstone

they restin peaceamong usAs modern cities replaced the farms and communities of thepast, much of our visible history was lost. Remarkably, in andaround the Gladstone area, valuable resources linking us to the pasthave remained with the pioneer cemeteries that have been sparedduring the development of the area. Nestled here and there amongthe subdivisions and shopping centers lay the early pioneers andtheir families. These cemeteries date back to the earliest days in ClayCounty and tell the stories of families who bravely came west andsettled the vast wilderness into lively communities, productive farmsand plantations.Some of these cemeteries are well known and maintained whileothers are hidden and have deteriorated over time. These cemeteriesare directly related to those that owned and lived on the land, orthe churches they were associated with. They show us relationshipsbetween families and communities that otherwise may never beknown. These final resting places hold our history and sometimesa little mystery. Here are the stories of just a few of these pioneercemeteries and the people that rest within them.By Krislin FennerCraig-Williams CemeteryHidden in the middle of a subdivision is the Craig-Williamsfamily cemetery. It is situated in the Highland View subdivisionoff of Barry Road. The public access easement to gain entrancehas been blocked by privacy fences enclosing the backyards of thehouses built around it. Long neglected and grossly overgrown, onewould never know it existed. It is not visible from the streets andaccess can only be gained if one navigates through backyards andover fences. The original rock wall marking the perimeter of thecemetery still stands and on the inside, several large monuments,yucca plants and other fallen markers covered with leaves andbrush mark the final resting place of these early pioneers. This tinycemetery holds the story of two families who settled here early onand built their homes nearby.Jane Williams came to Clay County in 1823. She was a widow andwas accompanied by several of her sons. Among them it is knownthat Johnson, John, Elisha, William, and Hearis came with her asthey are all named in the will of Johnson Williams. Jane, Johnsonand John received land grants for land along Barry Road, east of N.Oak. Here they built a successful hemp plantation consisting ofover 300 acres. When Johnson Williams died in 1844 he left hisland to brothers Elisha and John. They are the only two brothersthat married. He also provided that his mother be cared for in thefamily home. She then died in 1845.1909The Kansas City Fire Department takes its first step into the automotive agewith the purchase of two Pope Hartford cars for use by Fire Chief J.C. Egnerand First Assistant Chief Alex Henderson.23 | Spring 20091911Keeping pace with other city departments, the Health Department converts from horsedrawnto motorized ambulances. When General Hospital converts to motorized vehicles,crank-start engines pose a challenge for drivers.