Figures from Benton's history appearing at cemetery

BENTON, Mo. -- The Scott County Genealogy and Historical Society is bringing six of Benton's most prominent citizens back to life.

Set for 6 p.m. Saturday at the Benton Cemetery, "Spirits of Benton" will feature historical interpretations of the town's founder, William Myers, and other influential citizens of Benton and Scott County.

A haunted house tour will follow roughly at 7 p.m. at Benton's oldest home, owned by Rusty and Judy Stewart.

"Some of Benton's citizens from the 1800s will come up from their graves and tell you about their roles in Benton's history," said Judy Stewart, who is secretary of the organization.

Among the Benton "ghosts" are Marshall Arnold, a Scott County prosecuting attorney who also served as a U.S. and state representative; James Parrott, a Confederate Civil War soldier; William Hunter, a Scott County prosecuting attorney and state senator; Elizabeth Johnson Hunter Crow, wife of New Madrid native Joseph Hunter who moved to Benton in the 1830s; and Robert Bay Wade, a state representative.

"We are going to have people portray some of those who've helped make Benton the town it is today. They're going to do a small narration of the role they're playing," Stewart said.

Many of the people interpreting the citizens are members of the historical society or descendants of the person they're portraying, Stewart said.

One of these is Susan Bailey of Commerce, Mo., who will portray her great-great-great-great-grandmother, Elizabeth Hunter Crow, who is buried in the cemetery.

"It's such an honor to portray her," Bailey said. "This was the only female role, and it just so happens she's also related to me."

To get into character, Bailey said, she found pictures of her relative, who lived from 1810 to 1883.

"The height of her marriage years are from the Civil War," Bailey said.

Because she couldn't find any dresses she felt suited Elizabeth's character, Bailey is sewing her own dress for the role, a task she compared to sewing a bridal gown.

While the intent for the "Spirits of Benton" is to educate and make others aware of the Scott County Genealogy and Historical Society, the cemetery setting will also be a spooky one, Bailey and Stewart said.

"A lot of people will come dressed in the 1800s-era clothing -- like they're going to a funeral," Stewart said, adding anyone who wants to dress up for the occasion is welcome to do so.

Characters' faces will be painted white to resemble the dead, Bailey said.

1830s home

"The cemetery will have some spooks that will appear, but my house will be very scary," said Stewart, adding the haunted house may not be suitable for younger children.

Stewart is setting her home up similar to a funeral parlor in the 1800s.

In years past, Stewart has opened up her home to the public at Christmas time, but this year she wanted to try something different, she said.

"Christmas is so cold, you can't do anything outdoors, and October is so pretty outside," Stewart said, adding she and her husband always decorate for Halloween, too.

Located directly behind the Scott County Courthouse, Stewart's home was built in the 1830s by New Madrid natives Joseph and Elizabeth Hunter and is said to be the first frame house built in Benton.

At least 215 people are known to be buried in Benton Cemetery, but it's believed many burials weren't recorded, Gunter said.

Although city workers have mowed the cemetery on a regular basis since 1990, recently members of the Scott County Historical and Genealogy Society began helping with the upkeep of the cemetery, pulling weeds around tombstones and cleaning and gluing broken tombstones back together, according to Gunter.

So far their efforts have put 11 monuments back on their bases and repaired 45 broken tombstones with 25 more to repair, Gunter said.

Admission to both "Spirits of Benton" and the haunted house is free. However, donations to help with cemetery upkeep will be accepted.

Pertinent address:

Benton, MO