St. Clair County Missouri
Churches
Landaker Church & Cemetery
October 2007
LANDAKER CHURCH
Early history from Lowry City Quasquicentennial Book, 1871-1971:
Tradition says the land was first set aside by Pearson Snyder for a
cemetery, and after his death,
his heirs sold it to Mr. Landaker, whose name
it bears today. Pearson Snyder was killed by bushwackers in 1862 and it is
thought that he was the first to be buried there.
Lesta Akers tells that the church was always non-denominational and was
built to accommodate
the cemetery. It was built by volunteer labor and fund
raisers were held to help finance it.
Mr. & Mrs. Doc Akers bought the bell
for the church and it was still in its shipping crate and
stored in the
Akers barn when the barn was destroyed in the 1916 tornado.
The bell escaped
damage and was later hung in the church belfry. In those days, the church
bell tolled to announce a death in the community.
Submitted by: Mary Zeiler