Fragments: John C. Death

JOHN C. DEATH
DIED
[Oc]t. 14, 1850
This most likely is John C. Death, found in the 1850 United Stated Federal Census in Franklin Township, Warren County, Ohio.

Click image to enlarge

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Woodhill Cemetery, Warren County, Ohio

David Jones, a loyal soldier

A photo I posted last June is worth a repost on this Memorial Day weekend.

Last June, on my first visit to Cheshire Cemetery in Delaware County, Ohio, I photographed the marker for David Jones (b. 1836, d. 1864) a Union soldier who died at Camp Chase in the summer of 1864.

DAVID JONES
Co. H. 145th. Reg. O.N.G.
DIED AT CAMP CHASE O.
AUG. 29, A.D. 1864
AGED
28 YRS. 8 MO. 15 DS.

A loyal Soldier
to his country and his God
He was the youngest and
last of three Sons
of Z. & S. JONES who died
in the service of their Country

Cheshire Cemetery, Delaware County, Ohio

Silent Sunday: Flags of honor

Powell Village Green, Delaware County Ohio

Clayton Martin, plain and simple?

While elaborately carved stones and unique epitaphs are eye-catching, I am also drawn to the simpler markers. No nonsense, to the point.

The marker at the grave of Clayton Martin (d. 1876) in Pioneer Cemetery is, to my eye, quite handsome. It stands tall and straight, suffers few signs of weathering—the word proud comes to my mind.

CLAYTON MARTIN
DIED
Sept. 28, 1876.
AGED
31 Y. 2 Mo. 9 D.
But wait. This gravestone is not as simple as it appears at first glance.

Look how the stone carver worked Mr. Martin’s name: It follows the curve of the top of the stone perfectly. The 3-D lettering is skillfully carved. The background surrounding the name has a finely made texture. The finishing touch is the nice bezel around three edges of the stone.

Not so plain and simple after all, is it? 

Click image to enlarge

Pioneer Cemetery, Franklin County, Ohio

Epitaph: She hath done what she could

Cora M. Baughman (b. 1875, d. 1931) was the never-married daughter of Sylvester and Kate Baughman, who are buried near Cora’s grave. (You can see Sylvester M. on their monument in the background of the photo.)

BAUGHMAN
Cora M.
DIED JAN. 25, 1931

“She hath done what she could”

Although the epitaph can be read simply as a statement on the life of the deceased, the word hath hints that the Bible is the source. Here are several translations of Mark 14:8, which appears to be the source of the epitaph:

She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.

She has done what she was able: she has put oil on my body to make it ready for its last resting-place.

What she could she did: she has perfumed my body in preparation for my burial.

Cora May Baughman died of a cerebral hemorrhage at her home on Vine Street in Westerville, Ohio. She was 55 years old.

Click image to enlarge

Otterbein Cemetery, Franklin County, Ohio

Purley Baker, Anti-Saloon League

The small stone mausoleum sits in the shade between two large evergreen trees. Maybe it is the size of the tomb or the tall trees or the brown stones, but it feels as though Hansel and Gretel could come skipping out from behind the structure.

The mausoleum is the gravesite of Purley Albert Baker (b. 1858, d. 1924) and Lillie Greene Baker (b. 1857, d. 1929), his wife.

Purley Albert Baker
April 10, 1858
March 30, 1924
General Superintendent
Of The Anti-Saloon League
Of Americal
1903—1924

Lillie Greene Baker
December 8, 1857
June 9, 1929

The epitaph is perfect for a man who earned a reputation as an “enemy of the saloon.”

“He that soweth righteousness
hath a sure reward.”
                          Proverbs 11:18.

Interested in learning more about the Anti-Saloon League of America? Try these pages:
– Ohio History Central
– Westerville Public Library

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When I walked up to this tomb, I noticed a sudden, strong scent of lilacs. Not unusual at this time of year perhaps. But what is unusual is that even though I searched for it—and I pride myself on my cemetery searching skills—I could not find the origin of the scent.

You guessed it: This cemetery is rumored to be haunted.

Otterbein Cemetery, Franklin County, Ohio

Wednesday’s child: Lilly C. Schrock

The empty shoes carved on the grave of Lilly C. Schrock are plain, with no detail, but what the stone lacks in artistry, it makes up for in emotion.

LILLY C.
Dau. Of V. & M.
SCHROCK
1886 — 1887

Pioneer Cemetery, Franklin County, Ohio

James Lawson

When Georgeanna Zollinger died in 1863, she was buried near her older brother, James Lawson, in Pioneer Cemetery.

JAMES
LAWSON,
Died
July 5, 1860.
Aged 25 Yrs 5 M.
The 1860 United States Federal Census for Sharon Township, Franklin County, Ohio shows James, like his father, grandfather (?), and older brother, working as a farmer.

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Pioneer Cemetery, Franklin County, Ohio

Youth, virtue, beauty

On November 7, 1861, twenty-year-old Georgeanna Lawson married Jefferson Zollinger in Franklin County, Ohio. A few months before the couple’s two-year anniversary, Georgeanna Zollinger (b. 1841, d. 1863) died.

Georgeanna’s grave marker in Pioneer Cemetery is decorated with a bouquet of flowers, including a lily (youth and virtue) and a rose (beauty).

GEORGEANNA,
Wife of Jefferson
ZOLLINGER.
BORN
July 5, 1841.
DIED
Aug. 10, 1863.

Jefferson Zolllinger lived for many years, marrying twice again before his death in 1904.

Georgeanna is buried next to her brother James, who died in 1860. His grave marker, tomorrow.

Pioneer Cemetery, Franklin County, Ohio

Silent Sunday: Cemetery shed

Mill Creek Cemetery, Delaware County, Ohio

Be ye also ready

Pioneer Cemetery sits on what is today a busy four-lane road in Westerville, Ohio. Even so, if it were not for the traffic noise, you could almost imagine that you were walking through an old country cemetery when you are there.

The marker at the grave of Sarah Farr (d. 1826) sits in the shade facing the road. On it is a carving of an angel in flight, carrying a Bible and holding a banner warning everyone who passes to prepare for death.

SARAH,
wife of
GEORGE S. FARR,
died May 12, 1826;
aged 32 year, 9 months
and 26 days.

The angel is so eye-catching that it is easy to overlook the delicate flourishes at the corners of the inscription panel. I am amazed they have withstood the wind and weather all these years.



Pioneer Cemetery, Franklin County, Ohio

“By the fall from a swing”

Discovering “special” gravestones is always a treat. Here is gravestone that reminds us that it is not always elaborate carvings and unusual shapes that make a stone special.

This rather plain tablet marker records the cause of young Joseph Taylor’s death. Always a bonus!

D I E D
By the fall from
a swing
July 25, 1844
JOSEPH V.
son of
Oliver & Lucy
TAYLOR
Ages 16 yrs.
Oak Grove Cemetery, Delaware County, Ohio

Wednesday’s child: Sabela Catharine Smith

The gravestone for Sabela Catharine Smith (d. 1844) is toppled over, but not at all sad looking in this photo taken when the wild violets were blooming this spring.

Sabela Catharine
daughter of J&C. Smith
died June 18, 1844
Aged 1 year 9 mo.
& 19 days.

Oak Grove Cemetery, Delaware County, Ohio

“Called to exchange worlds”

The gravestone for Elizabeth Hanthorn (d. 1831) catches your eye immediately. The shape alone is different than most other markers—and it is covered in interesting carvings. Note, for example, the upside-down flowers (a life cut down by death) on either side of the large urn.

The inscription is unique as well, telling all who stop to read about the sudden nature of Elizabeth’s death.


[???]
to the memory
of Elizabeth wife of
Noah M. Hanthorn.
who while in an attitude of
prayer, and without a mom=
ents warning, was by a si=
ngular providence called
to exchange worlds.
May 31, 1835 in the
19 year of her age

Click to enlarge

If I were not looking at a photo of the gravestone, I would guess that the inscription began “Sacred to the memory of.” But I keep seeing the first letter as H, not S.

What do you see?

And how about “called to exchange worlds”? This substitute for died is a new one to me.

Baltimore-Geohegan Cemetery, Fairfield County, Ohio

Epitaph: And triumph o’er the grave

 

The beige-y gray marker for David E. Bogart (b. 1808, d. 1842) is carved from siltstone, no doubt from the nearby quarry.

In memory
of
DAVID E BOGART.
Who was born
September 24^th 1808,
and departed this life
April 18^th 1842,
aged 33 Years, 6 Months
and 24 Days.
The epitaph is from the poem “Death and Burial of a Young Person” (which we have seen before) by Anne Steele (b. 1716, d. 1778).

O, let us fly—to Jesus fly,
     Whose powerful arm can save;
Then shall our hopes ascend on high,
     And triumph o’er the grave.

Lithopolis Cemetery, Fairfield County, Ohio

Silent Sunday: Three stones

Baltimore‐Geohegan Cemetery, Fairfield County, Ohio

Stone hand holding stone bouquet

A hand holding flowers is not uncommon on 19th century gravestones. You often see it carved in bas relief at the top of the front face of the stone.

The hand-with-flowers on the marker at the grave of Mary Swoyer (d. 1865) stands out: a life-sized—and eerily lifelike—sculpture resting on the top of the gravestone.

MARY,
wife of
J. SWOYER.
DIED
Mar. 29, 1865
AGED
37 Y. [illegible]

Click to enlarge

Look closely at the bouquet. I see a rose and a small bunch of grapes, both popular gravestone ornaments. The rose most likely represents beauty and love; the grapes, the blood of Christ. I say most likely because we cannot really know the intentions, can we? Perhaps Mary loved yellow roses and was envied by her friends for her yummy grape jam.

An interesting detail is the medallion-like frame around the inscription. See how it bulges out? There may be a technical name for this effect; I am calling this a “pillowed medallion.”

Lithopolis Cemetery, Fairfield County, Ohio

Infant, infant, infant

Three simple markers in Lithopolis cemetery mark the graves of three siblings.

INFANT daughter of JOHN & MARY SMITH. D I E D JULY 3 1838.

INFANT Son of JOHN & MARY SMITH D I E D JANUARY 14 1841.

INFANT Son of JOHN & MARY SMITH D I E D OCTOBER 31 1848.

Lithopolis Cemetery, Fairfield County, Ohio

Wednesday’s child: Gideon Bradley

In
memory of
GIDEON,
son of Hentry and
Mary Bradley
born Sept^r 25^th 1842
died Octo[^r] 4^th 1842
aged 9 days.

I take these little lambs,
said He,
And lay them on my breast.
Protection they shall find
in me,
In me be ever blest.

The epitaph is from the hymn “Thy Life I Read” by Samuel Stennett (b. 1727, d. 1795).

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Glick-Brick Church-Hoy Cemetery, Fairfield County, Ohio

Epitaph: Death cannot the soul imprison

The grave marker for Sarah Donaldson (d. 1844) at Lithopolis cemetery is rather plain looking in comparison to some markers carved by J. W. Jungkurth. Plain or not, the stone is beautifully carved.

SARAH.
Wife of
HENRY DONALDSON
Died
Decem^r 21^st 1844,
aged 19 years,
9 mo^s and 21 d^s.
The open Bible at the top of the gravestone shows a familiar passage from Ecclesiastes. Note the interesting detail of the dog-eared page on the left.

The uplifting epitaph is from “Funeral Hymn” by Sir John Bowring (b. 1792, d. 1872).

Look aloft the spirit’s rising,
Death cannot the sowl imprison,
Tis in heaven that spirits dwell,
Glorious though invisible.

Lithopolis Cemetery, Fairfield County, Ohio

Everlasting leaves of laurel

The tall tablet marker at the grave of Daniel Brobst (b. 1802, d. 1844), skillfully carved by J. W. Jungkurth, is a popular subject of cemetery photographers. It is easy to see why.

In
memory of
DANIEL
BROBST,
born June 11^th 1809,
died Sept^r 10^th 1842,
aged 33 years,
2 months and
29 days.

A laurel wreath on a gravestone normally is understood to represent victory and immortality; in particular, triumph over death. Bay laurel is evergreen and may also refer to the memory of the deceased as ever green in the hearts of those he left behind.

The epitaph continues the positive theme:

It’s heav’n alone can make thee blest;
   Can ev’ry wish and want supply;
Thy joy, thy crown, thy endless rest,
   Are all above the lofty sky.

The Philadelphia hymn book ¹ by Abner Kneeland shows that the epitaph is a verse from its Hymn 480, “The Happiness of Heaven.” It attributes the hymn to Bowden, although exactly who Bowden is must be left as a topic for another day.

Glick-Brick Church-Hoy Cemetery, Fairfield County, Ohio

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1. I have written an abbreviated version of the book’s title. The full title of this 1819 book is quite impressive: The Philadelphia hymn book; or, a selection of sacred poetry, consisting of Psalms and Hymns from Watts, Doddridge, Merrick, Scott, Cowper, Barbauld, Steele, and others.

Silent Sunday: Chest tomb and iron fence

Glick-Brick Church-Hoy Cemetery, Fairfield County, Ohio

Sarah A. Haydock: saloon keeper, inventor

The bronze marker at the grave of Sarah A. Haydock (b. 1829, d. 1890) is small and simple with a lovely grapevine border.

Sarah A. Haydock
1829 – 1890
Grapevines. Surely this leads to a few words about Christian symbolism on gravestones, right?

Not so fast.

A FamilySearch death index reveals that Sarah’s occupation at the time of her death was saloon keeper. If the grapevines are a reference to Christ (the standard interpretation on gravestones), the grapevine’s symbolic reference to her occupation becomes a smile-worthy coincidence.

A bit more Google sleuthing turns up a short reference to the Haydock business from the Delaware Gazette in May, 1879. It appears to be announcing a new business in Ostrander, Ohio:

The Haydock House in Ostrander is large, convenient, in good hands, airy, handy to the railway, and should be largely patronized.

That’s not all: Sarah Haydock was an inventor who was awarded two patents in the late 1870s. Did the fact that Haydock House was “handy to the railway” contribute in any way to her patents for improvements in (railway) car couplings?

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Oak Grove Cemetery, Delaware County, Ohio

Fragments: Harriet Elizabeth Welch

The gravestone of Harriet Elizabeth Welch (d. 1830) is weathered and broken into several large pieces, but its rising sun carving remains beautifully intact.

Harriet Elizabeth
daughter [of]
F. C. & S. Welch,
died 16 July 1830
Aged 1 year 5 mo. &
20 days.

This is only one of many damaged stones in the Old Graveyard section of Oak Grove Cemetery, most likely the handiwork of vandals.

Oak Grove Cemetery, Delaware County, Ohio

Some day we will understand

Russell M. Willey (b. 1890, d. 1918), the son of Isreal and Rebecca Willey of Delaware, Ohio, died while serving in the U. S. Army during World War I.

RUSSELL M. WILLEY
1890 ★ 1918
34^TH C.^O 9^TH T. B.
U. S. A.
The back of his grave marker in Oak Grove Cemetery shows us what his grieving family must have felt upon learning that their Russell had died.

SOME DAY WE WILL
UNDERSTAND Russell Willey’s draft card and military record (both via Ancestry.com), reveal that Russell died of pneumonia. He was unmarried.

Oak Grove Cemetery, Delaware County, Ohio