STEELE CEMETERY
Copyright 2002 by Debra Blackard
"Graphics by Jelane"

Located south of I-40, Section 35 Township 10 North Range 25 West on private property. The cemetery receives no regular maintenance but some families have fenced plots to prevent damage from farm animals. These fences show signs of damage and deterioration. Many of the stones have been seriously damaged.  Gene and JoAnn Hardgraves  retain all rights to the photographs and following inventory. Contact the Hardgraves for more information.

The chain link enclosure for the Arbaugh family plot has sustained considerable damage. Vines and briars mask the burial place of some of Johnson County's earliest settlers.

 Gene and JoAnn Hardgraves report twenty six rocksand headstones in this fenced area.

    Cattle roam among the gravestones of Steele Cemetery. An estimated ninety-three graves lie outside of fenced burial plots. Most of these graves are marked by native field stones.

Francis
Arbaugh
Died
28 Oct 1844
In his 88 Yr.

 

Mary M.
Wife of
Francis
Arbaugh
Died
10 Feb 1850
Aged 75 yrs.

 

Conraud
Arbaugh
Died 
10 Oct 1840
Aged
36 Years.

 

Elizabeth
Arbaugh
Died
2 Apr 1834
Aged
34 Years.

 

F. H. Arbaugh
Died 
10 Aug 1893 
[footstone] 
FHA

Lavina
Wife of
F.H. Arbaugh
Died
7 May 1890 Aged about 65 yrs.

 

Alice E.
Dau. of 
F.H. & Levina
Arbaugh
Born
28 Apr 1858
Died
10 Mar 1867

 

Gertrude
Dau. of
F.H. & Levina
Arbaugh
Born
15 Jan 1855
Died 9 Aug 1858

Infant Dau.
of 
F. H. & Levina Arbaugh
Died
1 Dec 1865
Aged
4 Mo

 

 

Mary F.
Dau. of
F.H. & Levina
Arbaugh
Born
13 Jul 1861
Died
23 Jul 1867

 

Sarah
Dau. of
F.H. & Levina
Arbaugh
Born
30 Nov 1848
Died
5 Sep 1854

William P.
Son of
F.H. & Levina
Arbaugh
Born
27 Aug 1851
Died
10 Aug 1863

 

T.S.
[Footstone]  

Louisa Jane
Dau. of 
Jim & Jennie 
Steele
3 Sep 1887
23 Jun 1889

Cicro
Whitfield
son of
Dr. R.W. & Mary S.
SENTER
Born
2 Jul 1869
Died 23 Aug 1869

 

There are many small burial grounds scattered over Johnson County that need the attention of family members and persons interested in preserving the remnants of a frontier past. 

    What can you do?

  • Join the Johnson County Historical Society. 
  • Become involved in the cemetery associations where your ancestors are buried.
  • Contact the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program for conservation and restoration guidelines and adopt a neglected cemetery.
  • Inventory a cemetery and place your inventory in the local library and Historical Society.
  • Arrange for professional repair of damaged stones.
  • Photograph tombstones in neglected cemeteries.
  • Teach others about the important role of cemeteries as outdoor museums and local history archives.

Mary M. C.
Daughter of
R.W. & M.S. Senter
Born
26 Aug 1871
Died
5 Jan 1873
Aged
1 Y. 4 M, 9 D.

 

 

Sacred to the Memory of
Dr. R. W. Senter
Husb. of 
Mary S. Senter
Born 
19 Jan 1837
Died 
30 Nov 1872

 

 

 Weathers graves in a fenced enclosure.

WEATHERS
IN MEMORY OF OUR
ANCESTORY
RESTORED 3, 1969
BY CELIA,  JACKIE, CHARLES, LEE ROY, EDITH, BOBBY, 
TOM BLACKBURN

 

    Henry J.
    Weathers
    Born
    8 Apr 1818
    Died 
    14 Apr 1886

    For more information about this neglected frontier cemetery contact:
    Gene and JoAnn Hardgrave

     
 

Joshua
Weathers
Born
22 May 1846
Died
3 Dec 1885

 

Tenesee Ann
 wife of
J. Weathers
Born
9 Apr 1858
Died 
3 Apr 1884