I started at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery south of Aldrich. Buried here are many of my Mann and Stiles ancestors. My great grandparents Willis
and Ethel Mann are here. I remember Granny Mann quite well. She was a diminutive white haired lady who lived in a house on the corner of some street in Fair Play. I was 11 years old when she died. I was only 2 when Willis died so I don't remember him. Also buried here
and just a couple of rows away are Ethel's parents Oliver Perry and Mary Ellen Stiles. I never met either one of these but I've read lots of stories about them. O. P. was a Justice of the Peace and I have been able to find some of the cases he heard. There are quite a few other relatives buried here including my Granddad's brothers Orval and Elva and his sisters Gracie and Dorothy. I remember all of them well.Next I went to Lindley Prairie at Bear Creek where my grandparents Harry and Mary Mann are buried. I can't say enough about these two people. What fun it was to listen to Granddad t
ell his stories about hunting, fishing and trapping. He was one awesome guy. And Granny 
was such a good cook. She always had a plate of cookies on the table when we visited, usually molasses or banana cookies. Boy were they good. Granddad was a blacksmith, first in Fair Play and then in Caplinger Mills. Granny was his helpmate. Also buried here is Granny's grandmother, my great-great grandmother, Hannah Cowan. Again, there are many other relatives in this cemetery, including my Mom's brother and her brother-in-law. I discovered another Campbell in this cemetery today. Don't know how I missed it before--it's my Granny's uncle. After leaving this cemetery I stopped by my aunt's house and visited for a while. I surprised her! I wasn't sure that I would stop so I didn't want to tell her I was coming. We had a nice visit and she identified some pictures I had with me.I then drove on to Caplinger Mills where my grandparents were living when Granddad died. I hadn't been there for probably 25 years. It really hadn't changed much except that several of 
the buildings were in bad disrepair. I took pictures of the blacksmith shop, or what was left of it anyway. It was so much smaller than I remembered it being! While I was taking the pictures an elderly gentleman came up to talk to me. He told me all about the building, who built it, what kind of businesses had been in it. When I asked his name I was shocked to hear who he was, Fred Mitchell. He and his wife were
friends of my grandparents! I never dreamed that I would meet someone there who knew them. I have cards that they sent to my grandmother! What a joy it was to talk with him! I then went to the bridge to look at Sac River. I remember walking from my grandparents house many times to walk across the bridge and watch the water go over the dam. I never played in the water because I was scared of it! The house that my grandparents lived in burned down a couple of years ago, according to Fred. I was disappointed in hearing that. I had been thinking about making this trip for quite a while. Now I wish I had done it sooner.
the buildings were in bad disrepair. I took pictures of the blacksmith shop, or what was left of it anyway. It was so much smaller than I remembered it being! While I was taking the pictures an elderly gentleman came up to talk to me. He told me all about the building, who built it, what kind of businesses had been in it. When I asked his name I was shocked to hear who he was, Fred Mitchell. He and his wife were
friends of my grandparents! I never dreamed that I would meet someone there who knew them. I have cards that they sent to my grandmother! What a joy it was to talk with him! I then went to the bridge to look at Sac River. I remember walking from my grandparents house many times to walk across the bridge and watch the water go over the dam. I never played in the water because I was scared of it! The house that my grandparents lived in burned down a couple of years ago, according to Fred. I was disappointed in hearing that. I had been thinking about making this trip for quite a while. Now I wish I had done it sooner. My next stop 
was the Dunnegan Cemetery. Many of my Campbell ancestors are buried here including my great grandparents, George W. and Flora, and great-great grandparents, Matthew G. and Sarah. Al
so here are some of Granny's sisters and brothers as well as a couple of her uncles. In fact, there is just a whole bunch of Campbells all buried in a row. There's even a marker for a little black boy that must have belonged to one of the Campbell families. Yes, my ancestors did own slaves. All of these cemeteries were beautiful as people had been decorating the grave sites in preparation of the holiday.
was the Dunnegan Cemetery. Many of my Campbell ancestors are buried here including my great grandparents, George W. and Flora, and great-great grandparents, Matthew G. and Sarah. Al
so here are some of Granny's sisters and brothers as well as a couple of her uncles. In fact, there is just a whole bunch of Campbells all buried in a row. There's even a marker for a little black boy that must have belonged to one of the Campbell families. Yes, my ancestors did own slaves. All of these cemeteries were beautiful as people had been decorating the grave sites in preparation of the holiday. I then drove back toward Bolivar and stopped at the cemetery in Rondo. This was my first visit to this cemetery as a genealogist so I was excited to be here. My dad grew up in this area
and there are several of my Morris relatives buried here. Also laid to rest in this cemetery is one of the Mann brothers and his wife. My grandfather, Marion Matthews, died when my dad was only 2 so we know very little about him. Some of my cousins bought a stone for his grave. Buried right next to him is my great gran
dfather, Felix Henry, who was Marion's father-in-law. Felix was a Civil War veteran and must have been quite a fellow. He was 30 years older than my great grandmother. They were married for 22 years. When she applied for his Civil War pension she found out that he had not divorced the wife before her! She could not receive the pension.
and there are several of my Morris relatives buried here. Also laid to rest in this cemetery is one of the Mann brothers and his wife. My grandfather, Marion Matthews, died when my dad was only 2 so we know very little about him. Some of my cousins bought a stone for his grave. Buried right next to him is my great gran
dfather, Felix Henry, who was Marion's father-in-law. Felix was a Civil War veteran and must have been quite a fellow. He was 30 years older than my great grandmother. They were married for 22 years. When she applied for his Civil War pension she found out that he had not divorced the wife before her! She could not receive the pension. My final stop of the d
ay was back at my Mom and Dad's grave site. This story wouldn't be complete without a picture of their graves, too. I have wonderful memories of many of the people I visited today, either by actually spending time with them, hearing stories about them, or reading about them. I am proud of my heritage!
I left Bolivar this morning about 10:30 and got back home at 4. It was such a fun day for me! And I will definitely do this again!
ay was back at my Mom and Dad's grave site. This story wouldn't be complete without a picture of their graves, too. I have wonderful memories of many of the people I visited today, either by actually spending time with them, hearing stories about them, or reading about them. I am proud of my heritage!
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