Rachel Huddleston, mother of Sarah (Huddleston) Harvey, was born in Virginia, likely into enslavement. According to her gravestone, Rachel was born on February 9, 1821. Nothing else is known of her life before 1870, when she was living in Clay Township, Greene County, Missouri, with her teenaged children. After her daughter’s marriage in 1875, Rachel moved to the house of her son-in-law, Harrison Harvey, near Cave Springs, Missouri. Sometime before 1900, Rachel moved with her daughter’s family to West Main Street, Ash Grove. The census of 1900 states that at the time, Rachel was a widow, and that three of her four children were still living. Rachel died on January 3, 1902 (Russel 2012).

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Grave Marker: The marker for Rachel Huddleston is a domed block style marble monument on a rough-cut base. The east face of the monument contains text and, at the top, an image of oak leaves. Excluding the base, the monument is 20 x 10 x 6 inches in size. The base is 10 x 16 x 11 inches in size.

East face of marker

Text on west face of marker

RACHEL  A.
HUDDLESTON
Born
Feb 9 1821
Died
Jan 3 1902

North side of marker

Recorder's sketch of text and images on east face of marker

West face of marker

Uppward facing side of monument