Landowner: Johnny Lee & Mary Helen Antwiler
Indexed by: Linda Everhart & Jean Swann, May 8 1996
Directions: About 1 mi N of Calhoun on NE 701 on west side of road.
History: The Windsor Review, Windsor MO, Thursday, Jul 13 1916 - Government Marker Unveiled - The most historic 4th of July ever observed in Henry county was the unveiling of the government marker, one mile north of Calhoun, erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution of Clinton, at the grave of Lieut. Wm. Baylis, of the 8th Va. Regiment, the only Revolutionary soldier buried in Henry county. He came from Kentucky to Missouri in 1836 and died in Henry county Oct. 3, 1843. The Regent, Miss Dorman, went to Calhoun Monday evening to be on hand to meet the State Regent, representative of the D.A.R. Chapters of Kansas City, Sedalia and Jefferson City, and the Steele families of Kansas City and Sedalia, representing the fourth and fifth generations of the Revolutionary patriot honored. The guests were escorted to the home of Jas. Bush, honored host of the occasion. Here they were met by the hostess chapter in cars and escorted to the grounds where they found awaiting them hospitable families representing pioneers dating back to 1830. A bounteous and most delicious dinner was served from long tables forming the letter L for "Liberty." A patriotic and impressive blessing was asked by Rev. Lewellen of the Christian church of Calhoun. The program was begun with an address of welcome by Regent of the hostess chapter, Miss Dorman, the ritual flag salute and Lord's prayer by the chapter members, followed by the unveiling of the marker by Wm. Steele Jr., of Sedalia, great, great-grandson of the Revolutionary patriot. The sacred honor of dedicating the marker was performed by the great-grandson and namesake of Lieut. Baylis, Atty. Baylis Steele, postmaster of Kansas City. A historic sketch of the life of the distinguished patriot was given by the eldest great grandson, Atty. Wm. Steele of Sedalia, who closed with a masterful and impressive appeal for renewed patriotism in this time of the greatest of all the world's wars. The grave was a mound of beautiful flowers contributed by the Eastern Star of Clinton and members of the Roberta Rebekah lodge. The members of the officiating chapter of D.A.R. each placed there on a tribute of forget-me-nots and evergreen wreath. May pioneer families, some as early as 1830, were represented, such as Well, Fewel, Houston, Spangler, Merritt, Avery, Simpson, Bronaugh, Milton, Parks, Sweeney, Boyles, Lewis, McCarty, Poague, Robison, Shelton, Shepard, Start, Spicer, Hoppee, Armstrong, Adamson, Foster and the honored mayor of Calhoun, Mr. Shepard, who that day marked his 75th mile post on life's journey. - Clinton Eye.
Notes: This cemetery is interesting and significant to county history for several reasons. It is located on land owned by William Baylis, an early settler, who is believed to be the only soldier of the American Revolution buried in Henry County. The government marker placed by the D.A.R. in 1916, is inscribed with the wrong death year (1840); although the news article about the ceremony does have the correct year, but only identifies Baylis as a Lieutenant, though he apparently ranked as Captain. William Baylis wrote his will on March 9, 1842, it was produced at court on August 10, 1843, and admitted into record on October 17, 1843. Lamkin's 1919 history of Henry County, states his death date as June 18 1843, which makes the most sense. When the new marker was set, there were other markers nearby, laying flat and broken on the ground. Only two have been found with readable markings, but it's likely there are several more in the area. Jane Wyatt Baylis, daughter of William and Elizabeth Turner Baylis, was the wife of Dr. Fortunatus Fleming Dulaney. They had a daughter, Frances Elizabeth Dulaney who married William Steele, a great-grandson of Betty Washington Lewis (sister of George Washington). One of William and Frances Steele's sons, Baylis Steele, was postmaster of Kansas City.

BAYLIS, William - b: Aug 20 1758 Dunfries, Prince William Co, VA - d: Jun 18 1843 Henry Co, MO - 84Y - son of John & Jane BLACKBURN BAYLIS - m: May 22 1780 to Elizabeth TURNER - ch: John William, Ann Blackburn, Henrietta, Jane Wyatt, Lucy Chilton, Susan Emily, Maria Turner, Elizabeth Martha - mil: Revolutionary War Lieut 8th VA Reg - stone placed by DAR in 1916

GRISHAM, Unknown - b: Jul 22 1847 - d: 29 - stone broken

LEWIS, J. - only pieces of stone remaining