The Rabbit is Back, Favorite Headstone

Copyright 2012, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

The Rabbit has been hiding, a bit, for some time now, I was pleased to read on their site this week:

This February, 2012 edition of the Graveyard Rabbits Carnival has us asking you,

"What is your favorite cemetery photograph. One where you are the photographer. Show us the photo!"

I have no idea how many cemetery photos I have, lots! Lots of headstones, gates, and a few mausoleums for good measure.  I even have photos from inside a mausoleum, beautiful windows in that one, whew!  To pick ONE favorite, well, that IS a challenge.

My search started by opening my family history program, and those that follow me, you just have to know what is next - one of those Lashbrook's jumped out at me.  They have a habit of doing that.  LOL

A short back story, Man's 3rd great grandparents came to the US via Canada from England.  They arrived in the Americas around 1830ish, arriving in Canada (family tradition), moving to New York state (proven by research) and around 1843ish they moved to McHenry County Illinois (lots of research proof).

I have researched for thousands of hours on this family, we have visited the 3 churches in England where they were married and many of their children were baptized.  I am genea-obsessed with this family.  Seriously genea-obsessed!

In the fall of 2004 Man and I made a 1 week research stop in McHenry County before a RV Rally.  We hit the libraries (more than one), historical society, courthouse, and many cemeteries!  WOOT!

Man, who basically puts UP with my addiction, but, does not enjoy library or courthouse research, sometimes surprises me with his reactions.  He LOVED the churches in England.  He LOVES seeing signatures of his ancestors.  And, he LOVED doing a rubbing of his 3rd great grandparents headstones.  And, I LOVED that he asked to do the rubbing and I LOVED getting this photo!

* Also snapped that day, Man hugging this headstone!  His idea too!  Woot!

** Please do not look at the tape on the side of the stone, I know, I know.  The ONLY reason we did this is there were NO inscriptions on the side.  It was our first rubbing, we had to make an emergency trip to Wal*Mart to get supplies, AFTER I contacted the Wild Ones to ask HOW to do this.  Seriously newbies.  We purchased the largest art paper we could find, super large crayons and the least sticky painters tape we could find.  Yes, there are better ways to do this, strongly urge you all to find out how before you do as I show you.  Don't do as I show you, do as I suggest, find out the best ways first.  One way would have been to tape several sheets of the art paper together and circle the stone, never allowing the tape to contact the stone.
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Oldest Stone, Graveyard Rabbit January 2011

Copyright 2011, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

The topic for the January 2011 edition of the Graveyard Rabbits Carnival is: How long have they been there?  The challenge reads:

"This topic was submitted by the Association. Post a photograph of the oldest tombstone in your family collection, your local cemetery, or one you just happened to bump into in your Rabbit travels. That would be the oldest burial date!"

My oldest burial date is 1710, Obadiah Bowen, buried in the Obadiah Bowen Family Cemetery, Warren, Bristol County, Rhode Island.
 
Although I have never personally visited the cemetery, I do have a photo of the cemetery and his stone taken in 2004 by another researcher and cousin, Pat Gallahorn.  Thanks Pat for these photos.
 

 

 
During online research, I found the following information, at the Rhode Island Historical Cemeteries site :
 
"Also known as: Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Warren #14

School House Road and Market Street
Cemetery notes and/or description:
80 burials with inscriptions from 1697 to 1897

This is located behind a vacant commercial building on the SE corner of School House Roand and Market Street. A manuscript from Rhode Island Historical Society reads "There is a deed on record in Town Clerk's office at Warren, under date of Dec. 1783, from Nathaniel Bowen to his son James Bowen describing the farm on which this burial lot is located and which states that it was laid out by "my grandfather, Obadiah Bowen." [1627-1710]. Between 1992 visit and 2000 this cemetery was cleared, grass was planted and stones repaired. It is now one of the nicest family cemeteries in the state.

This cemetery was originally in Swansea, Massachusetts and now is in Warren, Rhode Island."
 
Obadiah Bowen has a memorial at Find A Grave, with a fantastic photo of the stone, submitted by Kevin Rankin.
 
My connection to Obadiah is a direct paternal line:

Donald Eugene Bowen I
Hayden Eugene Bowen
Joseph Eugene Bowen
Hezekiah Bowen
Hezekiah Bowen
Mark Bowen
Clifton Bowen, Jr.
Clifton Bowen, Sr.
Rev. Samuel Bowen
Obadiah Bowen

Tell Me About Yourself, Clues Inscribed In Stone

Copyright 2010, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

The Graveyard Rabbits carnival for November 2010 has a theme of "Genealogy On The Tombstone", the challenge continues:

"Does the tombstone tell a family history? Have we found some genealogy clues embedded in stone? Is there a brick wall breaker located in the cemetery? Show us the genealogy."

Thank you Diane Wright for suggesting this theme/challenge.  Diane writes several blogs including The Grave Yard Rabbit Travels Wright.

I know that all serious graveyard rabbits/cemetery visitors have seen literally hundreds of headstones, monuments and memorials with tidbits of clues.  Marriage dates inscribed in a heart in the middle of the stone.  Children's names.  It is quite common to find an inscription which includes the wife's maiden name, as well as the name of her husband. 

Here are three, all of these from my data base, therefore, kin of some sort of mine or Man's.

Above:  Lina L. Cameron

Daughter of

Wm. A. & Nancy D. Lassiter

April 20, 1892

Oct 24, 1964

Buried at:  Cedar Hill Cemetery

Suffolk, Virginia.

(Note:  I have no idea why I chose this stone in include in this post, because until I started writing this post, I had NO idea who Mr. Cameron was.  I decided to try a search at FamilySeach.Org.   Typed in Lina Wright (I knew she was married previously to a Otis Wright) and Cameron for the spouse's name, received 45,851 hits, but the first one, the VERY first one was for my gal.  I just love when this happens!  WAHHOO!  Now, I can do some research on John Maccullay Cameron, born 1878 in Canada.  I even have his parents names!  BINGO!  So, if you believe in fate, it was fate that I chose THIS stone to include in this post.  I created a memorial for Lina at Find A Grave in August 2010.)

Mother

Elzina S. Lashbrook

Aug 1, 1874

Jan 12, 1944

Father

Chester C. Lashbrook

Oct 22, 1871

Mar 14, 1954

Parents of Goldie Herbert

Farmers of this community for 50 years.

Buried at: Parker Cemetery,

Arkansas City, Cowley County, Kansas

Chester and "Zina" were married in Cowley County, Kansas.  They appear on the census in 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 in either Cowley County, Kansas or Kay County Oklahoma (which lies just south of Cowley County).  Chester's parents, Elzina's parents and Chester's brother are all buried in the Parker Cemetery.  I love how this stone gives their daughter's married name.  If I had not known who she was, it would be a great hint.  Chester has a memorial at Find A Grave, which I have been honored to maintain, thanks to Judy Mayfield for creating it and adding great photos.  (Note:  THIS photo is one I took, the photo on Find A Grave is one that Judy took.) There are links on his memorial to that of his wife and their parents.

Holsinger Cemetery

David From Germany

Michael Died 1819 Married Barbara in Germany

Peter Died 1855 in his 83rd Year  His Wife Elizabeth

Acres from Valentine Sevier

Aug 15, 1773

Blessed Are

The Pure

In Heart

Holsinger Family Farm

Holsinger Springs, Rockingham County, Virginia

This may be my favorite, as it is loaded with clues, err, data. I wrote about this cemetery before, as 4 generations of my ancestors are probably buried here.  This small cemetery is found on a quiet hill top with cattle grazing around.  This memorial stone, erected many years after the last burial here, tells us that the family was from Germany, and purchased the farm from Valentine Sevier*, and outlines the first 3 generations of Holsingers in America.  Great information to start researching with.  The Holsinger Family Cemetery can also be found at Find A Grave, I have added photos where I had them. One of the memorials added to the cemetery listing I have no information on, I see more research questions calling my name.

Yes, our genealogy can be and is carved in stone, and with any luck it is more than dates. 

See ya in a cemetery soon, I'll be looking for inscribed hints, won't you?

* Fun Note:  Valentine Sevier is reportedly the son of John Sevier, who would serve as the first governor of the state of Tennessee.

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Trucking Through Hillside Cemetery

Copyright 2010, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

The Graveyard Rabbits carnival for October 2010 has a theme of  "An Occupation Or Hobby Memorialized in Stone."

One of the cemeteries Mary and I walked earlier this summer is Hillside Cemetery, near Addison, Lenawee County, Michigan.  We visited several times, and I took photos each time.  One visit I took 53 photos, some stones I took more than one photo, so, let's say I photographed 40 stones.  When, I read this challenge, I knew immediately where I would pull my photos from and I knew my main focus would be 18-wheeler trucks.  However, on review of these 40 some stones I found one for a musician, see my Tombstone Tuesday post.  There is one that had birds for the lady and a University of Michigan emblem for the gentleman, at least 3 with deer and/or woods, one for a fireman and two beautiful stones showing a farm, one of those even has the farm house.  I'll be sharing those with you in the weeks to come, so come back and visit.

We live in a rural farming community, oh, there is some industry, but, when I drive around our county what I see are farms.  Lots of corn and soybeans are grown here.  We are so rural here that in our entire county there is not one stretch of road, no matter how short, that you can legally drive over 55 MPH.  No super highways here.

So, it does not surprise me to see farm tractors and farms and deer and woods on headstones here.  That said, I don't believe I have seen a lot of 18-wheelers depicted, and I found three in one small area of this cemetery.  And, here they are:

On the door of the cab is inscribed:

Howie + Mary

On the trailer is inscribed:

Shorthaul

The trailer on this unit could haul grain or gravel.

Thanks to Diane Wright, who authors these GYR blogs: The Wright Graveyard Stew, and  the Grave Yard Rabbit Travels Wright, who submitted this topic.

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