One hundred fifty tombstones were recently reset at Center Grove Cemetery south of Westboro, Missouri, by Corson Cemetery Restorations.

Submitted by Bev Clinkingbeard

“Yeah, we’ll be there about 6:00 a.m.”       

No one checked up on that, but a couple hours later, evidence would indicate they were good on their word. It was a holiday weekend and recently, Corson Cemetery Restorations arrived to restore the stones that are tipped, sunken and broken at the Center Grove Cemetery south of Westboro, Missouri.         

Restoring stones is labor intensive, even with the aid of equipment. This is the second time the Corsons have worked at the cemetery. Damaged stones have been an ongoing concern. Mowing and repairs are dependent on funding. In 2024, the Corsons reset 100 stones and this year, 150 stones were reset.

A cemetery is a silent testimony. It’s a place of remembrance. It tends to be a sad place of shed and unshed tears, but also a place to touch base, remember when, and perhaps draw comfort. Some graves are visited often and some have no one left to visit. There are famous folks buried at Center Grove, though the world may not recognize them as such. But they are famous locally for what they contributed to the area and what we, the living, build our lives on.

Wandering among the stones there are the pioneers who built the framework of government and community we now dwell under and in. Our children went to the schools they founded and attended churches they also founded. Some were more active than others. Some had more wealth than others and some never had a chance to prove what their lives would become.

At the McColl’s plot there is a large imposing stone with the family name and smaller stones surrounding. It began with a Daniel A. McColl, born 1845, died 1915, and Jane McColl born 1843, died 1918. Their graves are designated “Mother” and “Daddy.”  Nineteen-eighteen was a hard year for our nation and area. The Great War WWI ended, but the country was also ravaged with Spanish Flu. It particularly affected the young and old. Having been through an epidemic such as Covid-19, we can grasp the national mood and steps that people took to stay healthy, at a time when medical science had limitations.

A smaller stone is Clark McColl, son of Daniel and Jane. He followed his father into the lumber business known as the McColl Lumber Co. in Westboro. His obituary says he was born December 7, 1879, in Honey Grove, Texas. He attended Westboro School, Tarkio College in Tarkio, Missouri, and Columbia University in New York City, New York. His obituary noted he was a fellow student with President Franklin D. Roosevelt. His Missouri political career began in 1915 as representative of the 48th General Assembly and later served as senator for the First District for several assemblies and also served on various committees. He was active in civic affairs and in the community. He died December of 1961.

Hermie Angel married Clark McColl on September 15, 1914. She was the daughter of Alfred and Mary Anna (Christian) Angel. She graduated from Tarkio High School in 1909 and in 1913 graduated from Tarkio College. The McColls lived in a home at the west end of Main Street. The house burned some years after her death. Hermie kept the lumber business going with the assistance of Richard Horstmann during Clark’s absences to Jefferson City and also following his death. She was active in the Methodist Church and the community. She particularly had a soft spot for children and always had a piece of candy for her young visitors at the lumber company. The town kids could sleigh ride on her hill and on into town and they loved it when she served hot cocoa and cookies. Mr. McColl often joked he’d “married an angel.” Hermie died May of 1988.

To Clark and Hermie was born Daniel A. His stone says, “In memory of 1st LT. Daniel A. McColl, born in 1916, Lost At Sea.” Daniel had graduated from the School of Engineering, University of Arkansas, and when WWII broke out he enlisted and was trained as a navigator for the B-17 bomber. May 19, 1943, was Daniel’s 35th mission and the plane was shot down. He is listed as among the missing at a memorial site at Mandingley American Cemetery, Cambridge, England. Prior to the final mission and due to a wound he had received in another incident, he was also the recipient of the Order of the Purple Heart. His parents, on their son’s behalf, also accepted an Oak Leaf Cluster at Rosecrans Field, St. Joseph, Missouri, for his “extraordinary merit and achievement.”

June 19, 1917, Martha Jane McColl was born. In February, 1918, the McColls laid her to rest. The funeral was held in their home with Dr. J.A. Thompson, President of Tarkio College, conducting the rites. The stone merely says, “Martha Jane 1917 – 1918; James, 1918; Infants of C.A. & H. McColl.” Babies buried together. Martha Jane’s listed reason of death was pneumonia. Not much is known of James, but in another item he was fondly called “Jimmie.”

February 12, 1923, David Lincoln was welcomed into the McColl home. David was athletic, musical, and a Boy Scout. He died March of 1937, following an appendectomy at a hospital in St. Joseph. His funeral services were at the Westboro Methodist Church and conducted by his minister and scout master, Rev. E.E. Bayse. Members of his Boy Scout troop were honorary pallbearers.

One other note would be the missing family member. 1st Lt. Daniel McColl, during his training in Texas, had married and there was a son also named Daniel. His father never saw him. Hermie stayed in touch with their only grandchild and he attended her funeral. He is deceased.

A cemetery holds many stories and secrets. The flowers bloom and the grass grows. Association of Center Grove Cemetery takes this opportunity to thank you, who volunteer and gift generously, to make it possible to keep it mowed and restore the stones.

’Til next time.