While wandering and wondering around Bollinger County looking for the Bootheel’s once wild and wooly Dark Cypress and the cemetery containing the mass grave of Confederates killed in the Battle of Mingo Swamp, Mother, my cemetery-spotter extraordinaire, saw this sign for Cato Cemetery.
The Battle of Mingo Swamp was fought on the plantation of Simeon “Slim” Cato, who died in what some historians have called a “massacre.”
Peaceful today
I don’t know how far this is from the battlefield, but it’s a quiet place today. Large stumps show that it must have been dotted with big trees that have fallen to disease and old age over the years. (Click on the photos to make them larger.)
Lots of Catos buried here
There are lots of stones marking the final resting places of Catos. I didn’t find one for “Slim.” I don’t know if his body was ever moved from the mass grave.
Burial records
I couldn’t find much history of the cemetery, but here are some partial listings of those interred there.
Narman E. Borders
Narman E. Borders, who is “at rest, ” died at only “8 years, 10 mos and 21ds.”
The UsGenNet site says the cemetery is located in the southern end of Bollinger County, section 10, township 28, range 9, one mile east of Arab off highway C.
It certainly WAS a “massacre.” As I heard it, he was standing on his front porch, holding a child in his arms, and he was shot so many times that his body was nearly cut in half!
Of course, I’m well aware that the word “massacre” is applied by the defeated side; the OTHER side calls it a “battle.”
My grandparents, great grandparents, great great grandmother, and great great great grandparents are all buried in this cemetery. Sanford was my great grandfather and Jessie Myrel Cato was my great aunt.
However, this is not the cemetery where the men killed in the massacre of Mingo Swamp were buried. They were brought by wagon to the Greenbrier Cemetery. There is a monument there about the massacre and for the men buried there.
My grandparents, great grandparents, great great grandmother, and great great great grandparents are all buried in this cemetery. Sanford was my great grandfather and Jessie Myrel Cato was my great aunt.
However, this is not the cemetery where the men killed in the massacre of Mingo Swamp were buried. They were brought by wagon to the Greenbrier Cemetery. There is a monument there about the massacre and for the men buried there.
Debra (Cato) dove, have you had an Ancestry DNA test?
Norman Borders is my great Aunt Nora Harrison Borders son. Aunt Nora lived to 99 years. My grandma Opal Harrison Hanner was her sister and she lived to 94 years. They were in the same nursing home room. Sisters forever!! Lots of Harrison relatives are at Cato Cem. Banners at Brush Creek Cem.
My mother is Velma Harrison Weber. Wm.Harvey Harrison was great Aunt Nora Laurabell and aunt Sarah Opal brother. I have a picture of Norman as a baby with Harvey’s twin daughters (my moms sisters) Maxine and Lorrine before they past away.
Does the last name Masterson mean anything to you?
I often heard my mother and grandparents speak of a Dr. Masterson in Advance.
I’ll be visiting the cemetery’s this Memorial day weekend. Cato, Greenbriar, Union Hill, Advance, and Bollinger Memorial.. All have my grandparents and ancestors. My parents moved to Wood River, Il in the late 40’s. I spent most of my holidays and weekends at my grandparents with my parents. Growing up we visited all these cemeteries and paid our respects. My parents have went to their internal rest. But I still visit these cemeteries every year. And I still have relatives in the area.
Thank you sir for your response. I’m thinking Masterson is a middle name or a last name of a relative in Cato cemetery.
O, not to forget the Phelps and Youngs at McGuire cemetery in Burfordsville
We are cousins
I am related to Norman’s father Wesley Borders and hace been trying to find where Nora was buried and when she passed. I am trying to connect them in find a grave.
I’m pretty sure great aunt Nora and aunt Opal are buried here in Illinois. Probably in East Alton.
They were my mothers aunts. Her father was Wm. Harvey Harrison. Brother to Nora and Opal.
My moms name is Velma (Sis) Harrison Weber
We are cousins
My aunt Nora is buried at Roselawn cemetery in Bethalto Illinois! My mom Wanda Hanner Sickman and dad are buried just above her mom( Sarah Opal Harrison Hanner) and Dad.
Next row down from Opal is her sister Nora and her 2nd husband!
They are close together! I just visited the Cato cemetery! I couldn’t find Norman.
Carol Lawrence
They are buried right next to the road of highway 140.
I’m pretty sure great aunt Nora and aunt Opal are buried here in Illinois. Probably in East Alton.
They were my mothers aunts. Her father was Wm. Harvey Harrison. Brother to Nora and Opal.
My moms name is Velma (Sis) Harrison Weber