Landowner: Keith E. & Christine M. Boozel
Directions: 1/2 mi N of Hwy C on NE 851 Rd; west side of road in field behind home.
History: The area now known as Springfield Township, was one of the earliest settled areas in Henry County. About the year 1836, Abraham Banta and his brother Henry Banta, sons of Hendrick & Wilmuth Coombs Banta, came with their families from Madison County, KY and settled along Barker Creek in Section 33. Abraham's wife, who he'd married Dec 29 1825 in Madison County, was Elizabeth Thorp. Their children were Mahala, William J, Thomas H., Henry C., Zachariah T., John O., and James H. On May 1 1843, according to the Land Office Records at Lexington, Abraham Banta purchased 160 acres to the south of where he had settled, which is now Leesville Township and a part of Truman Lake, plus 840 more acres in Springfield Township in sections 20, 21, 29, 30, 32 and 33; covering nearly all of the Thrush community and surrounding lands. Late in life, according to family researchers, Abraham and his wife moved to Colorado where they died. This Banta Cemetery is on his property in Section 29, later owed by his son Thomas H. Banta, who is buried at Combs Cemetery. It contains the markers of Abraham's daughter, Mahala, and one son, John O.

BANTA, John O. - b: Mar 5 1841 Henry Co, MO - d: Jul 25 1869 Henry Co, MO - 28Y 4M 20D - son of Abraham & Elizabeth THORP BANTA

JOHNSON, Elizabeth Alice RENFRO CHALMERS - b: Feb 6 1847 Henry Co, MO - d: Jan 7 1926 Springfield Twp, Henry Co, MO - bur: Jan 8 1926 - 78Y - dau of Thomas A. & Mahala BANTA RENFRO - 1st m: Mr. CHALMERS - 2nd m: Ruel W. JOHNSON (obit) (death cert)

JOHNSON, Ruel W. - b: Aug 20 1835 Wood Co, WV - d: May 23 1929 Springfield Twp, Henry Co, MO - bur: May 24 1929 - 93Y - son of Phineas & Abigail ROSS JOHNSON - 1st m: Dec 15 1873 to Martha WEARS - 2nd m: Jan 20 1877 to Elizabeth Alice RENFRO CHALMERS (death cert)

RENFROW, Mahala BANTA - b: Mar 26 1827 Kenucky - d: Jan 17 1863 - 35Y 9M 22D - dau of Abraham & Elizabeth THORP BANTA - m: May 15 1844, Henry Co, MO to Thomas RENFROW