Mary Yowell was born in Phelps County, Missouri. She was the daughter of Humphery Yowell and Helen (Coppedge) Yowell. The Yowell family of Welch descent, came to Washington Co., KY in the 1700's by covered wagon from Culpepper Co., VA, along with the Coppedge's. Humphrey Yowell married Helen Coppedge in Kentucky and moved to Crawford Co., MO later kown as Phelps Co., MO, about 1825. Humphrey and Helen Yowell homesteaded a large track of land along the Little Piney River. The railbed, later known as the Frisco-Burlington-Northern Railroad, was used heavily during the Civil War by Soldiers. It was known then as the Springfield-Rolla Road. This road ran through the Humphrey Yowell farm that was located between Rolla and Newburg, MO.

Mary Yowell married John Burnett November 8, 1842. Their marriage place is unknown, it is believed they were married in Phelps Co., MO. Mary was 17 years younger than her husband. John Burnett was the son of Robert Gove Burnett and Mary (Coppedge) Burnett. Mary and John Burnett were first cousins once removed. Their common ancestor was Moses Coppedge.

Mary and John Burnett's last residence was on a farm about 10 miles west of Licking, Lynch township, Texas County, MO. There was a spring on their farm along the Big Piney river, the spring was called Burnett spring, the spring flows into the Big Piney river. There is also a Burnett Cemetery on their farm. John Burnett died in 1858 and Mary (Yowell) Burnett was left to raise their children at Burnett Spring. They had 8 children: James Harvey, Robert Humphry, William Hardin, Matilda Jane, John Henry Sr., Samuel Kennett, Henrietta (Burnett) Ormsby and Saraham Burnett. It is believed that some of these children are buried in the Old Cavaness Cemetery which is across the river from the Narrow Gap Bluff.

After John Burnett died in 1858, Mary was left with eight children from age 3 month to 15 years old. Only two of the children lived to raise families. They were John Henry Burnett, Sr. and Henrietta (Burnett) Ormsby. Henrietta Burnett married William F. Ormsby and had three daughters, Mary, Rhoda & Emma. Henrietta died when the children were young. William F. Ormsby never married again.

Mary (Yowell) Burnett continued living on the Burnett spring farm with her son and daughter-in-law John Henry Burnett, Sr. and Louisa C. (Hobson) Burnett and until her death.

Mary (Yowell) Burnett died 20 Feb 1882 age 58 years, 3 months and 18 days. Mary is buried in the Ormsby cemetery in the Elsworth community, Lynch Township, Texas Co., MO. The Ormsby cemetery is on land that was once known as the Wiggins farm. Karen Nelson has a picture of Mary Burnett's tombstone. Faye Burnett took the picture, her husband, Gean Burnett, is also in the picture. Gean Burnett is a great-grandson of Mary (Yowell) Burnett.
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Feb. 6, 2016 Karen Nelson sent a genealogy friend, Linda, a map from Texas Co., MO Plat Book, showing where the Ormsby Cemetery is located on 160 acres of government land in Lynch township 32, range 10, section 23. Also told Linda second hand information about how to find the cemetery. Feb. 7, 2016 Linda and a companion went in search for the Ormsby cemetery. They had great difficulty finding the cemetery, it is in a very over grown wooded area. They even got lost before returning to their automobile. Linda took a good photo of Mary (Yowell) Burnett's tombstone.
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Census for the John and Mary (Yowell) Burnett family.
TEXAS COUNTY MO CENSUS
1850 Texas Co., MO Census
Burnett, John 43 Head of House, occupation milling Real Estate vale $5,000.00
Burnett, Mary 26 wife
Burnet, James 6 son
Burnett, Robert H. 5 son
Eight men--Samuel Agee, Matthew Pike, Wm. Ruferd, Wm. Day, A. B. Hampton, Wm. B. Hampton, W. Settico and Cales A. ?Cucay also appeared in the same household.

1860 Texas Co., MO Census Dewlling 398
Burnett, Mary 36 KY Head of House
Burnett, James H. 16 MO (son died during Civil War)
Burnett, Robert 15 MO son
Burnett, Matilda 9 MO daughter
Burnett, John H. 7 MO son (John Henry)
Burnett, Samuel K. 5 MO son
Burnett, Henryetta 4 MO (married William Ormsby)
Pike, J. M. 32 TN (this should be G. M. Pike)
Neighbors: #389 H. F. & Nancy Ormsby their son Wm. F. married Henrietta Burnett; #395 Wm. T. & Susan Ormsby, #400 J. H. & Emeline Slaughter

1870 Texas Co., MO Census Dwelling #12 Lynch Township Burnett, Mary 48 MO Head of House
Burnett, John 17 MO son John Henry Burnet, Sr.) Burnett, Henrietta 14 MO daughter
Neighbors: #11 G. M. Pike, #15 J. K. or H. & Emeline Slaughter

1880 Texas Co., MO Census---Mary Burnett age 57 listed as mother of John H. Burnett, Sr. was living in the household of John H. Burnett, Sr. and wife Louisa C. Burnett.