DeKalb County Missouri

Thornton Cemetery
Clarksdale, DeKalb County, Missouri

We have entered 245 burial records for this cemetery. The earliest recorded burial is for Arrena Thornton (1840 – 1841), and the latest is for Misty [Unknown] (1973 – 2001).

Directions: From Cameron, starting at Walnut and Hwy 36, proceed west on Hwy 36 approximately 17 miles, turn north, or right, onto Hwy 31/6. Go half a mile to Rogers Road (this is a gravel road) and turn west, or left. Proceed approximately 1.25 miles (this can be a pretty rough road in places) and the road will turn north and become Thornton Road. After the road has turned, proceed 1/2 mile north and the cemetery will be on your left hand side just after the Bayfield intersection, over the top of the hill. NOTE: In the half mile between Rogers Road and Bayfield Road, Thornton Road is very low-lying and subject to flooding from the nearby river.

From St. Joseph, starting at the intersection of Frederick and Riverside Drive (Colony House furniture store/Frederick Baptist Church), go east on Hwy 6 for approximately 6 miles to 135th Road (this is a gravel road) and turn north, or left. This road will make a 90 degree turn to the east and then another 90 degree turn back to the north. Right after the second turn back north, you will turn east, or right, onto NE Railroad/Bayfield Road (it is known as both) for approximately 1/2 mile, and then turn north, or left, onto Thornton Road. The cemetery is just over the first hill on the left hand side.

Notes: The cemetery sign is very visible, although it appears you are pulling into someone’s driveway, as there is a house on the right side. Just go past the house and make a 90 degree turn to the north, or right, and you will see the cemetery grounds.

Many thanks to Richard Thornton who provided additional information about the Thornton family buried in this cemetery:

“When my Aunt Artie Thornton did her research on the family she made some errors early on that she tried to correct in later records. She really wanted William Thornton [Sr.] 1766-1843 to be a Revolutionary War hero. She found a listing in the DAR Patriots’ List for a William Thornton with the death and birth dates pretty close to our records but the wife’s name was “Ann.” Artie decided that it was our Thornton and his wife sometimes used the name “Ann.” Later she discovered this was an error after having the marker made and placed in the cemetery. William’s wife was named Patsy Martha Owen, as it shows on the marriage record in Virginia and in her father’s will.

“At one time when Aunt Artie was looking at census records and came across the name “Patsy” she read it as “Betsy” and assumed William had a sister since his wife’s name was “Ann.” I thought she had a marker made for the cemetery. William didn’t have a sister.”

Credits: Kelly Alvarado submitted the photographs for this cemetery. Thanks, Kelly! If her hard work has helped you, please take a moment to let her know how much she is appreciated.

Key: GM=Grave Marker; PH=Photo; DC=Death Certificate; OB=Obituary; NP=Newspaper Article; BIO=Biography