Clay County compiles its Civil War graves

Volunteers at the Clay County Archives and Historical Library have completed an impressive task - compiling 812 biographical narratives of Civil War soldiers buried in the county.

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Details include their birth and death dates, unit and rank, and place of burial.

The effort is compiled in a new book appropriately titled: "Divided Loyalties — Civil War Soldiers Buried in Clay County, Missouri."

The effort was undertaken as a project celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

The book includes more than 600 photos of the soldiers or their grave markers. There also is a list of 69 county cemeteries.

Brent Schondelmeyer