Mudd
Mary Johnson McElhiney’s survey of the cemetery in the 1930s published in 1970 as Gone But Not Forgotten documented that John W. Mudd was born 22 Sept 1817 and died 15 April 1857 and was buried at Black Walnut Cemetery with two children of J.W. and S.A. Mudd – James J. born 1845 who died 5 May 1850 and his younger sister Mary E born 1846 who died one day later 6 May 1850. These were pieced together from what was found during the cemetery 2020/2021 restoration A piece to the children’s grave stone shows that “Also two infants sons and daughters of J.W. & S.A. Mudd” were buried. That indicates that four Mudd children were buried – the two named children and two unnamed infants. Very sad for John W and Sarah A. Mudd.
Additional documentation of the Mudd family includes the 1850 census taken Aug 20th, after death dates of Mudd Children James on May 5th and Mary E on May 6th. John shows up as he is not listed as deceased until 15 April 1857, along with wife Sarah and their other children John T, Rosanna, Mary C, and William A.
In 1860 the family is listed on two pages and they have moved into St Charles – Sarah (now listed as a farmer) along with her children John T, Rosanna, Mary Cath, Wm Alfred, Sarah Jane, and Francis.
The 1870 census again finds Sarah (now listed as keeping house) in St Charles with three of her children at home William (listed as works at bridge), Francis, and Mary.