On the way back to the highway, I heard a voice and found that the local garage was open. I stopped to ask directions to Howard Cemetery and turned around to go that way. These photos are along Frontier Street.
Missouri has been one long ribbon of flowers along Highway 63, mostly creamy white Queen Anne's Lace, soft blue Bachelor's Button, and occasional bright spots of dark yellow black-eyed-susan-type flowers. This mix also had purple in it. I'm very thankful to Missouri road crews for leaving such an enchanting trail to follow.
I was beginning to worry about the road. From Highway 3 I had turned west at the large metal building described by the direction-givers. There was a sign at the corner saying Howard Cemetery. It was a flat road of white gravel and my top speed was 25 miles an hour. The countryside was beautiful, but I wondered what I was getting myself into. I have been known to make mistakes.
The road changed and wound past several isolated farms, my speed had slowed to 20. I could see up ahead that the gravel was no longer solid across the road and grass had taken over the center of the lane. Hmmm, how much traffic did this road get? My speed was now down to 15 mph as I curved back and forth with the road becoming less distinct, although still easily seen. One more stretch and this is what appeared:
My poor little pocket camera can't begin to show you the depth of the view. Those blue hills on the left were amazing. The grass in the cemetery is a lively green and the oaks are old and magnificent. What a perfect resting spot for these settlers.
The Simmons-Summers family I was looking for are under the oaks. Stockton Summers and Elizabeth Simmons married in Appanoose Co, Iowa, where she lived (Stockton was born in Randolph or Macon County, depending on the source). They farmed in Iowa and their children were born there. They appear to have moved to Macon Co about 1890 and lived the rest of their lives here.
I think Highway 136 must be through the prettiest part of Missouri - at least Putnam and Mercer counties. I could drive a highway like that for hours and hours. Saw these interesting businesses along the road today: Grandma's Bloomers Greenhouse, west of Princeton, and La Tea Da, a house with gingerbread trim on Highway 63 north of Kirksville. Also saw these two barns and stopped to take photos. The white one was in the country on a farm, the second one in town. I stood in a convenience store parking lot to take it.
