Robert & Malinda King's Headstones
Donation protected
I am starting this campaign for Douglas King Sr. This project is very near and dear to his heart as Robert and Malinda are his Great Great Grandparents. The Civil War Along The Missouri Kansas Border was in constant turmoil. This is his story.......
I would like to replace the historic headstones for Robert and Malinda King. They were in the Slaughter Pioneer Cemetery in the Grain Valley/Blue Springs, MO. area. Robert and Malinda had integral links to the local Civil War history. They ran a farm/ranch where they bred and raised horses with KY bloodlines. His horses were fast and had great stamina. One of those seeking to buy his horses was William Quantrill. Quantrill visited the King farm often. Not only did he want horses but he fell in love with Robert and Malinda’s daughter Sarah Catherine "Kate" King. They eventually ran off and were married. This makes Robert and Malinda players in the tragic turmoil of the time.
Today their stones lay in fragments because the thin fragile white marble markers made them easy targets for vandalism. I would like to see these stones replaced. Thru research I have determined the original design and text that was on the stones. That allowed a drawing of each to be made to present to a stone memorial company. The stones would look exactly the same as they used to with a few concessions for durability. The new stones should be of granite and be 4” thick with sturdy bases and proper foundations. That would make them strong and stable and not the easy target they once were. Replacing the two stones would cost about $9000 including new foundations.
This seems to be a worthy project but would be a burden if I tried to do it out of my own pocket. I want to ask for some support from anyone or any group who love history and want to help keep the two graves from being lost to history.
Douglas will be in charge of all money donated to this fund.
I would like to replace the historic headstones for Robert and Malinda King. They were in the Slaughter Pioneer Cemetery in the Grain Valley/Blue Springs, MO. area. Robert and Malinda had integral links to the local Civil War history. They ran a farm/ranch where they bred and raised horses with KY bloodlines. His horses were fast and had great stamina. One of those seeking to buy his horses was William Quantrill. Quantrill visited the King farm often. Not only did he want horses but he fell in love with Robert and Malinda’s daughter Sarah Catherine "Kate" King. They eventually ran off and were married. This makes Robert and Malinda players in the tragic turmoil of the time.
Today their stones lay in fragments because the thin fragile white marble markers made them easy targets for vandalism. I would like to see these stones replaced. Thru research I have determined the original design and text that was on the stones. That allowed a drawing of each to be made to present to a stone memorial company. The stones would look exactly the same as they used to with a few concessions for durability. The new stones should be of granite and be 4” thick with sturdy bases and proper foundations. That would make them strong and stable and not the easy target they once were. Replacing the two stones would cost about $9000 including new foundations.
This seems to be a worthy project but would be a burden if I tried to do it out of my own pocket. I want to ask for some support from anyone or any group who love history and want to help keep the two graves from being lost to history.
Douglas will be in charge of all money donated to this fund.
Organizer and beneficiary
Holly Austin Wilcoxen
Organizer
Grain Valley, MO
Douglas King
Beneficiary
