Southern Graves

Are you overlooking some symbols in the cemetery? Oftentimes we concentrate so hard on deciphering what is on the tombstone we don't pay too much attention to what's around it. Landscaping is sometimes very purposeful and meaningful. Take a look at the photo below: Lochrane Lot Oakland Cemetery Atlanta, Georgia Photo © 2012 S. Lincecum The beautiful purple ground covering planted in the Lochrane lot at Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia is phlox. Guess what it means. Sweet Dreams. Quite fitting, isn't it?

I first learned of a recently added database at Ancestry.com - U.S. National Cemetery Interment Control Forms, 1928-1962 - from Valerie at Begin with 'Craft' . I have at least a couple of ancestors buried in military cemeteries, so I tested the search with my surname of Lincecum. Only one hit was returned, but it was an expected one -- Val Dies Lincecum II at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas. Val Dies Lincecum, Jr. was a son of Val Dies Lincecum and Mary Elizabeth Murray. Val, Jr. was born 29 July 1912 and died 21 December 1957. The report of interment included the same birth and death information I had. A big plus for me was seeing the first name of Val, Jr.'s wife, Ina Marie. Even though I had his death certificate, this was news to me. His death certificate only stated he was married, offering no names, and the informant was listed as "Official Records, Brooke Army Hospital, Ft. Sam Houston, Texas" (his place of death). Something I found a b...

Harriet Cordelia Dick Inman rests beside her husband and son in Oakland Cemetery at Atlanta, Georgia. Augusta Chronicle (Georgia) 25 November 1902 MRS. W. P. INMAN Her Death Sunday Night at Her Home in Atlanta (Atlanta Constitution) Mrs. Walker P. Inman, after a lingering illness, died last night at 8:30 o'clock at her residence, 478 Peachtree street. Mrs. Inman had been desperately ill for a month and had been at the point of death for the past week. She became unconscious last Sunday night and never regained consciousness to the time of her death. During the week the end was expected at almost any time. No hope of her recovery had been entertained during the past month. She was taken ill last March and had been confined to her bed practically all the while since that time. Mrs. Inman became ill shortly after the death of her son, William Inman, who died on March 21. Her death was due to a complication of diseases. The deceased was a woman of many noble traits o...

100,000 page views -- wow. I began this blog a bit over five years ago with fits and starts. Then, in October 2008, the late great Terry Thornton invited me the join the Association of Graveyard Rabbits , and the rest (as they say) is history. I am sincerely humbled by and grateful for all of you who have stopped by to read a post or two (or more!) on this blog. This is a milestone I will not soon forget. I have received messages thanking me for information and telling me of genealogical connections made. The research of cemeteries and the individuals memorialized within is a passion. Yet each message spurs me to continue and is truly appreciated. Thank-you again for reading and following the Southern Graves blog. (Image credit: www.Graphics18.com)

Charles Boynton Memorial Photo © 2012 S. Lincecum A couple of weeks ago, I shared with you the monument erected for Charles E. Boynton (d. 1890) in Oakland Cemetery at Atlanta, Georgia. This memorial is the work of M. Muldoon & Co. of Louisville, Kentucky. Photo © 2012 S. Lincecum A 1977 National Register of Historic Places nomination form regarding the Tyler-Muldoon House in Louisville, Kentucky includes some information about Michael Muldoon and his company: "...The house was built in 1866 for Erastus D. Tyler, a Louisville insurance and real estate agent. It was later owned by Michael Muldoon, founder of the marble-cutting firm that was the predecessor of the present Muldoon Monument Company... Tyler-Muldoon House From Wikimedia Commons ...Michael Muldoon was born in Ireland and came to New York City in 1849. He learned the marble-cutting trade and after working as a journeyman marble-cutter in New York, Baltimore and West Virginia, he came to Louis...

[The following was originally posted at the Rose Hill Cemetery blog . I wanted to highlight it here because of the interesting mosaic tile work on the ledger marker. The deceased, Ella English Cameriero, married into an Italian family in the 1800s. I tried to find out if this type of adornment was common in the Italian cemetery culture, but have yet to find a definitive answer. I did find this mention regarding the Italian Club cemetery in Ybor City, Florida.] Hmmm... I wonder what happened here. In Need of Help. A sad case of need can be found by the charitably inclined this morning at No. 355 Fourth street. Mrs. N. Cameriero, formerly Miss Ella English of Marshallville, who was deserted by her husband several days ago is in destitute circumstances and in need of work. Competent to do all kind of needle work, she finds herself unable to maintain herself for want of employment. The ladies of the city are appealed to in this matter. [ Macon Telegraph , Georgia, 28 Novembe...

Major Philip Cook U.S.A. 1812 Son of Capt. John Cook and Martha Pearson His Wife Born Fairfield District S.C. 1775 Died Twiggs County, GA Nov 7, 1841 A Scholar, A Patriot, A Christian. A couple of days ago I posted that this month is the bicentennial of the War of 1812 (and that Fold3 is offering their War of 1812 collection for free ). While visiting Rose Hill Cemetery in Macon, Bibb County, Georgia to take some volunteer photos for FindAGrave , I came across the monument for Major Philip Cook. He served as commander of Fort Hawkins during the War of 1812. Once I returned home from my cemetery visit, I found an article online about the rededication of Major Cook's monument that took place just a couple of weeks ago. Maj. Cook is buried with his wife Anne Wooten (1794-1832) in the Hawthorne Ridge section of Rose Hill Cemetery. They were the parents of Martha Pearson Cook Winship, considered to be the first white child born in the territory that later became Bi...

Ida Marion Whatley James is my 4th cousin, 4x removed. She was a daughter of Jesse J. Whatley and Nancy Berry. From the 15 November 1926 Dallas Morning News (Texas): " Mrs. C. O. James Dies Sulphur Springs, Texas 14 November 1926 The death of Mrs. C. O. James, former State Senator and District Attorney, occurred at her home after an illness lasting several weeks. Mrs. James, about 55 years of age, was before her marriage to Mr. James, Miss Ida Whatley, a member of one of the pioneer families of Hopkins County, and of this family her mother, Mrs. J. J. Whatley, two brothers, Harvey Whatley of Dallas, Walter Whatley of Ft. Worth, three sisters, Mrs. C. Carroll of Ft. Worth, Mrs. Clifford Brewster, Bearden, Arkansas, and Miss Sallie Whatley of Sulphur Springs survive. Also besides her husband, three daughters survive, Mrs. Dial Gurrin and Mrs. Clive Templeton of Durant, Oklahoma and Mrs. J. K. Brim of Sulphur Springs. Funeral services were held Sunday with burial in City C...

This month marks the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. To mark the bicentennial, Fold3 is offering their War of 1812 records collection free of charge for the month of June. Records include pension files, prize cases from the southern district court of New York, letters received by the adjutant general, and service records. Of special interest to southern researchers are the pension files and Mississippi soldiers' service records. Pension Files : The documents in this collection include full pension application files for soldiers and sailors who served in the War of 1812, as well as for their widows and children, or other heirs. The first applications were filed by servicemen who were disabled as a result of their service, or by widows who lost a husband in the war. [Description from Fold3 ] Service Records - Mississippi : Compiled service records consist of a jacket-envelope for each soldier, labeled with his name, rank, and unit. The records contain card abstracts c...