Mt. Moriah Cemetery, Buchanan Co., MO

This cemetery contains the remains of Jordan Wray's family. Jordan Wray (R1222) was the second child of James Wray and his wife Tabitha Bass. He married Esther Baldwin in 1831 in Shelby Co., IN. Because their first three children were born in Iowa, Jordan and Esther must have first moved to Iowa after they left Shelby Co., IN, and were there from 1834 to at least 1837. By 1840, he was in Boone Co., MO, where he was listed in the 1840 Census; they had two little boys younger than 5 years old and three little girls, one younger than 5 years old and two 5-10 years old. By 1850, he was in Platte Twp., Buchanan Co., MO; he also was in Buchanan County in the 1860 Census. Jordan was one of the pioneers of Rock House Prairie in Buchanan County, and died 22 March 1868, according to his gravestone. Esther Wray is listed as the head of her household in the 1870 and 1880 Censuses for Buchanan Co., MO. In 1870, she is living with her daughter Susan, age 16 years old. In 1880, she is living with Susan E. Page, a 13-year-old niece, and John Barcus, a 35-year-old servant. She later appears on Missouri taxpayer rolls in 1887 and 1889 in Platte Twp., Buchanan Co., MO; and in 1891 and 1893 in Gower Twp., Clinton Co., MO.

Mark Ray [R153], son of John Ray of Randolph Co., NC, and his family are also buried in this cemetery. Mark Ray died in 1852, and a photograph of his stone is attached.

The attached images were submitted by Dick and Sharon White in 2011. Additional photos and a map with the location of the cemetery may be found at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=27741&CScn=Mt.+Moriah+Cemetery&CScntry=4&CSst=26&