Margaret’s occupation

The gravestone for Margaret Arnett (d. 1874) is fallen over. On the day I visited the cemetery, its face showed unmistakable mower tracks.

MARGARET
wife of
Wm. ARNETT
DIED
Dec. 16, 1874
AGED
84 Y., 3 M., 27 [D.]
William Arnett is buried nearby. His gravestone, which still stands upright, gives his year of death as 1859.

Finding Margaret in the 1870 Federal Census confirmed a familiar story: The 80-year-old widow lived with her daughter’s family late in her life.

What is this, you say? There is no relationship column on the 1870 census form?

Yes, but check out Margaret’s “occupation”:

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Foster Chapel Cemetery, Madison County, Ohio