Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-04-13
gENTON'S GRAVE.

Great Senator is Neglected.
1t is nearly twenty-five years now
since the mortal remains of Thomas III.
Benton, that illustrious Missourian.
whose name is forever linked with the
history of his state, were consigned to
the narrow grave in Bellefontaine
cemetery. 1t was ON the 10th of April,
1858. that the funeral of the great
statesman, who had died in Washing
ton OF a "cancerous Affection" took
place from his st. Louis home. The
procession which accompanied the
hearse was, without doubt, the largest
which has ever passed through the
city. Every suitable vehicle in the
town was utilized to carry the mourn
ers to the scene of the interment. Dele
gatiens Of sympathizing friends from
every part of the country who had
known the dead senator at one or an
other period of his long public career
crowded the cemetery grounds, and
with barred heads the vast multitude
which had assembled within the en-
closures of the cemetery paid their last
tribute of respect and reverence to him
who in life had exerted so powerful an
influence in the nations affairs. Since
that day the grave of Thomas III. Ben
ton has been but seldom visited, even
by the curious sight seers who take a
pleasure in noting the splendid monu-
ments which crowd upon the view in
every part Of the beautiful, we'll or
dered Bellefontaine. The gorgeous
mausoleum of some prosperous money
prince who in life devoted his whole
energy to the accumulation of dollars,
attracts the attention of every visitor,
while the simple headstone which
marks the spot of Benton's entomb-
ment is overlooked, or. if noticed at all,
it is accompanied by the inquiry, "Why
have not this great mans fellow citi-
zens marked the place with some splen-
did monument BETTING his greatness p
Why, indeed? The spot chosen for
Benton's grave is in that portion of
the cemetery appropriately named
''Memory Hill" 1t is at point about
a half mile due west from the old
cemetery entrance on Dellefontaine
road, and is somewhat remote from
the newer sections of the cemetery.
The lot in which the grave lies is about
forty feet in length by thirty in depth
and is surrounded by a rusted, much
dilapidated iron fence. The lot origin.
ally had two gates, one in the north
the other in the south, but the south
ern gate is now missing. The lot is
or was jointly owned by the Benton
and Brant families, the southern hall
being used as burial places for the Ben.
tons, while the northern part contains
the graves of some members of the
Brant family. Mrs. Brant was Mr.
Benton's sister. In the center OF
the Enclosure stands shaft of pure
white marble about twenty feet
in height. On the southern side
of the shaft and quite near the pedi-
ment the name Benton" is cut in
bold Roman characters, while on
the northern side at the same
portion of the monument is engraved
the single word Brand" About six
years ago all but three of the members
of the aforementioned family were
removed to the Mcdowell lot, which
is in the same part of the cemetery,
and not very distant from the Benton
Brant burying place. Two of the
three which are suffered to remain are
the graves of Sarah Benton Jacobs,
who died at the early age of sc, and
Henry Leavenworth, the infant son
of Henry B. and Matilda Brant, and
appropriate headstones designate the
places where these dead ones lie. The
third grave is entirely unmarked, and
then the cemetery authorities are un-
able to toll The name or history of the
person who sleeps there. In the Ben
ton portion of the lot are the nine
graves of the following members of
that distinguished family, to-wit: Nc
Dowell Jones, Thos. III. Benton, Mrs
Elizabeth Benton, Mrs. Ann Benton
Mary Benton, Annie Fremont, Benton
Fremont and John Randolph Benton.
The graves are in a straight line from
west to east, and are marked by a paral-
lei line of headstOneS, upon each of
which is engraved only the name of
the person who slumbers beneath. Nc
date of birth or death, no brief state.
ment of the relationship existing among
the dead in short the customary curt
biographical history which is found on
almost every other monument, however
humble, in the cemetery, is totally
lacking on these tombstones. The
curious desiring to learn more thar
the simple Christian and surnames OF
these dead will be obliged to consul,
the cemetery records or else 60 with
their thirst for information on the sub
ject unquenched. Many Of these nine
headstOnes are loose and can be moved
back and forth by slight pressure o.
the hand. That which markes tn,
resting place of the Richelieu Of earl,
Missouri politics is however, held in {
firm embrace by some Of that sol
which he loved so well, and canno
be stirred unless by the exertion o.
unusual force. The cemetery authori
;; ties state that very few persons in
quire their way to Benton's buria
place. The lot is much neglected, ans
receives no special attention or care a