This cemetery has been recently corrected to its real location and more proper name. Thanks go to David Hurt, for first putting this site on FAG.
The Lee Cemetery, Harvey Cemetery, Harvey-Lee Cemetery, and Lee-Harvey Cemetery had been almost loss for a long time. Several maps had the cemetery in a wrong location. Many of the locals always knew where it was but you had to ask and walk and climb to actually get to it.
It is hard to get to and no easy access is available from a road. After all it is a homestead pioneer cemetery that was started very near the first log cabin. Back then, there where no roads to speak of. You had animal paths and Indian trails mostly to use.
Years ago there was a county right of way giving partial access. But many decades ago this was done away with the land being divided to abutting owners. Two private owners land now has to be crossed to get to this place. This is the shortest route possible from pavement. The only access is with permission of the land owners by Missouri State law. The cemetery is land-locked with fences, gates, cattle, etc. as you could imagine. Beautiful property with abundant spring water and the head of Bott`s Creek southern tributaries. You can easily see why the Lee`s picked it.
The land this cemetery sits on was part of the original land sale to the original Howard County, Missouri pioneer settler Richard Washington Lee. He and some of his family first came to Howard Co. in 1817. The land abstract says from the United States of America to Richard Washington Lee. This makes him the first real white man to own this land. The Indians, Spanish, and French all very sparsely inhabited these lands before the US purchased them in 1803. Many Indian artifacts have been found on this land. Some think that there was a semi-permanent Indian camp in the immediate area, way back when.
The Harvey`s, another early pioneer family, where next door neighbors who married into this family and shared this cemetery with several other families of the area. Both families had known each other in Kentucky.
Locals refer to this cemetery as the Lee Cemetery and it has been called all of the above depending on who you asked, or what you had read.
Recently restored and fenced. Work is ongoing to finalize the restoration of this original Missouri pioneer cemetery.
There are two War of 1812 Veteran`s buried here. At least one and possibly two Revolutionary War veterans. One and maybe more Confederate veterans and a local judge. The older sister of Winfield Scott is also interred here.
Out of the 56 known graves there are countless others also buried within and outside the new fence. Most are not known at this time but research is ongoing. If you can help please do so.