Southern Graves

It's not often I find " Z " names in the cemetery.  Just in time for the challenge, I find two! Zilpha (aka Zilphy) was born about the year 1819, and joined the Missionary Baptist Church in 1840.  Zilphy married Jerry Myre (Jeremiah?) Broxton and had several children.  When she died in 1881, Zilphy left "one son, 5 daughters, 12 grand children and her dear husband." Zilphy and Jerry share a stone obelisk in Harmony – Smyrna Cemetery at Dooly County, Georgia.  He was born 20 August 1819, and died 8 November 1888.  The inscription to both Zilphy and Jerry from their children: Died as they had lived in full assurance of a blessed immortality. Our loved ones is Gone. Good by dear father and mother.  We hope to meet you in that better land. And then there was Zollie.  Born 20 April 1882 in Georgia, he was one of eight children born to Charlie and Ella Peavy.  Zollie spent his younger years and early adulthood farming.  He then married Juli...

This is technically the last post I'll be writing for the challenge because Z is already in the queue.  I could not find a single Y idea to satisfy me, so today is a hodgepodge. The first two Ys are from epitaphs.  Both come from tombstones placed in Harmony – Smyrna Cemetery at Dooly County, Georgia.  As far as I can tell, however, there is no relation between the two individuals.  First up is a dear mother whose name is Lucy Taylor. Our Dear Mother Lucy Taylor Born June 24, 1867 Died Feb 21, 1909 Dearest mother thou has left us And our loss we deeply feel But tis God that has bereft us He can all our sorrows heal Yet again we hope to meet thee When the day of life is fled Where in heaven with joy to greet thee Where no farewell tears is shed Next is little "Boby" ~             In Memory Of Our Little Son Robert W. Floyd Son of J. M. & Sarah E. Floyd Born Feb 20, 1866 Died Oct 7, 1870 Yes Our Boby Is An Angel But...

I had to dig deep for this one! Hardest letter by far, for me. Xenophanes was a Greek philosopher, theologian, poet, and social and religious critic…He satirized traditional religious views of his time (c. 570 – c. 475 BC) as human projections. Xenophanes espoused a belief that "God is one, supreme among gods and men, and not like mortals in body or in mind." Some say this shows Xenophanes was one of the first monotheists in the Western philosophy of religion.  Detractors point to the addition of other gods in that statement.  [ Wikipedia ] Another quote that is attributed to him is one I'd like to point out.  I thought it fit well with a photo I took a little over four years ago at Trinity United Methodist Church Cemetery in Gwinnett County, Georgia: the whole sees, the whole perceives, the whole hears It is believed Xenophanes was referring to God.  Whether or not the G should be capitalized for his purpose is debatable.  For my purpose, there i...

[If you're wondering what's up with all the "letter" posts:  I am attempting to follow the Blogging from A to Z Challenge (links to official page). This challenge lasts through the month of April, with Sundays off. Click here to see all my letter posts on one page. Oh, and wish me luck!]

1897 in Ripley County, Indiana saw a community fed up.  It seems there was a gang going 'round committing acts of marauding and thievery.  And this had been going on, day and night, for years.  It ended, for at least some gang members, September 15th. Headlines were ablaze in newspapers across the country: Judge Lynch Settles Five: Mob at Versailles, Ind., Deal Out Justice to Robbers.   [Duluth, MN] Outraged Citizens Take Quick Vengeance: Five Men Strung Up by the Neck at Versailles, Indiana.   [Wheeling, WV] Indiana Robbers Lynched.  Five Disposed of at Versailles at Once.  [Emporia, KS] Five Men Lynched Because They Stole: Mob at Versailles, Ind, Strings Up a Quintette of Burglars.  [Boise, ID] And here's the story as told by Georgia's Vienna Progress (23 September 1897): INDIANIANS LYNCH ROBBERS MOB OVERPOWERS JAILER AND SWING UP SIX MEN. DEPREDATIONS INCENSED PEOPLE. Taken By Force From the Authorities and Death Meted Out To Them By the "Hemp...

I have a lot of Peavys in my family tree.  A lot.   There's a direct line, and there are collateral line/s that married into other collateral line/s.  It's quite convoluted, actually.  In many instances, if my genealogy software didn't tell me the connection, I'd be pretty clueless.  Basically, it seems that if the surname is Peavy (with or without an e before the y ) and it's found in middle Georgia, we're related – or at least "connected." So here's one for the Peavy researchers – all about Uncle Mike .  [I have nine Michael Peavys in the family tree, btw.  Some with sources, some without.  (Honesty rules!)] Vienna News (Georgia) 18 August 1911 – pg. 1 UNCLE MIKE PEAVY DEAD. "Uncle Mike" Peavy, one of the old citizens and landmarks of Dooly county, died late Tuesday night at the home of a son, Mr. Richard Peavy, near this city.  He had suffered a slight attack of malaria and chills but was believed to be recovering when his case deve...

Sliding this in among the A to Z Challenge posts . Hope you're enjoying it, whether participating directly or following along. Estelle Harvard was born 8 October 1877 to Julia Paul and Dave Harvard.  At the age of 23 years, Estelle married Rev. Euston Edgar Clements.  [Image at right from Ancestry's Passport Applications .] HARVARD --- CLEMENTS The marriage of Miss Estelle Harvard and Rev. Euston E. Clements was solemnized Wednesday morning, October the tenth, at ten o'clock at the home of the bride's parents, Hon. and Mrs. D. W. Harvard, near Unadilla. …Rev. and Mrs. Clements waited only to receive the congratulations of those present, before leaving for Unadilla to board the train for Key West which will be their future home. The bride is the only daughter of Hon. D. W. Harvard, one of Dooly county's oldest settlers and most highly respected citizens, who is representing the county in the legislature for a second term.  She is a graduate of LaGrange Female College...

The newspaper confirmed what I saw at the cemetery. Mr. Moore has lost two wives and four children within six years. This sad commentary was added to the Vienna Progress (Dooly County, Georgia) when J. C. Moore lost his eight-year-old daughter Maggie in June 1902.  Less than two years before, in September 1900, J's daughter Zola died just before reaching the age of ten.  The mother of Zola and Maggie had died in 1896.  A tribute to Effie Folds Moore was printed in the same newspaper that would later carry the death notice for her daughter: IN MEMORY Of a Dear Sister Mrs. Effie Moore, wife of J. C. Moore died at her home Jan. 10th 1896.  She was the daughter of E. J. and M. J. Folds.  Five times within six months the angel of death has visited our midst and snatched from us a loved one.  It seems that the brightest flower is often plucked. She had been confined to her bed about five weeks with malarial fever and pneumonia, but died very suddenly.  She...

Susie Jane Carroll Musselwhite lived to be just 35 years of age.  Sudden heart failure was the primary cause of her demise listed on the standard certificate of death filed with the state of Georgia. "Georgia Deaths, 1914-1927," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11112-144551-24?cc=1320969 : accessed 1 April 2016), 004178806 > image 1223 of 1534; Department of Archives and History, Atlanta. Susie's death certificate also states she "had malaria & female troubles." About the fall of 1923, Susie was married to W. A. Musselwhite and residing in Byromville, GA.  She was the daughter of M. S. and Emma J. (Folds) Carroll. Susie and her parents were all laid to rest at Mount Olive Cemetery in the Pinehurst area of Dooly County, Georgia.  Emma preceded her daughter in death by just a couple of years. [If you're wondering what's up with all the "letter" posts:  I am attempting to follow the Bloggi...

Resolutions. Resolutions on the death of little Clyde Harvard. Whereas our Heavenly Father in all his wise providence, sent his messenger into our midst on August 21, 1900, and bore away the spirit of little Clyde Harvard, who joined the church when eight years old, and has ever since proven that he had given himself to the Lord, by carrying sunshine and happiness into the hearts of others and showing his willingness to do anything for the cause of Christ, be it Resolved, 1st.  That we the Sunday school of Smyrna church, Snow circuit, have lost one of our most faithful members and sweetest little Christians. Resolved, 2nd.  That we extend to the bereaved brothers and sister our deepest sympathy and love. Resolved, 3rd.  That a copy of these resolutions be place upon our minutes, a copy be furnished the Vienna Progress for publication, and a copy sent to the family. HUGH HARVARD, W. J. VINSON, WINNIE DAVIES, Committee. [ Vienna Progress (Georgia). 18 October 1900, pg...

Mother Quintine E. Lindsey Born Dec 1, 1854 Died Feb 28, 1910 Peter [G?] Lindsey Oct 17, 1859 Sept 24, 1908 Harmony-Smyrna Cemetery at Dooly County, Georgia [If you're wondering what's up with all the "letter" posts:  I am attempting to follow the Blogging from A to Z Challenge (links to official page). This challenge lasts through the month of April, with Sundays off. Click here to see all my letter posts on one page (in reverse order). Oh, and wish me luck!]

John H. Folds was born 17 December 1861 in Georgia, the son of Edmund J. and Matilda J. Coleman Folds.  About the year 1887, John married Laura (b. 1863).  She was a daughter of  L. B. Bray. John died 4 November 1909 in Dooly County, Georgia.  Notice of his demise was printed in the 5 November 1909 edition of The Vienna News : J. H. FOLDS DIED NEAR PINEHURST Stricken With Second Stroke of Paralysis Which Caused His Death Thursday Morning. Judge J. H. Folds, Justice of the Peace of the Pinehurst district passed away at his home a few miles west of Pinehurst Thursday morning about 2 o'clock.  He received a second stroke of paralysis Wednesday night and rapidly grew worse until death relieved him. He was a member of the Primitive Baptist church and was a man much beloved by all who knew him.  His death is deeply deplored. He leaves a wife and a large number of relatives to mourn his death. The interment took place this morning at Mt. Olive cemetery. A week lat...

TRAIN AND AUTO CRASH; ONE DEAD John Register, Unadilla Man, Is Killed; Another Dying. ROAD CROSSING ACCIDENT William Register is Reported in Dying Condition. UNADILLA, Ga. Dec 24. – One man was instantly killed, one is dying and another given a bad shaking up is the result of a fast passenger train crashing into an automobile at a crossing this afternoon in the heart of the business district of this city. The dead: John Register of Unadilla, and well known throughout this section. The dying: William Register of Unadilla, cousin of the dead man. Laidler Brennen, who resides in the country near Unadilla, receiving minor injuries, but somewhat shocked from the accident. Attempts to Cross Tracks The three were in the automobile of John Register's and an attempt was made to cross the main line tracks of Georgia, Southern and Florida railroad, it is said, in front of the rapidly approaching passenger train. The engine struck the automobile a solid blow and lifted it up on its pilot an...

Sliding this in among the A to Z Challenge posts . Hope you're enjoying it, whether participating directly or following along. Sallie Virginia was a daughter of Reason and Mollie D. Whitehead.  She was born 24 April 1881, and died 7 May 1881 – living only twelve days.  The epitaph on her tombstone reads, in part, "Too pure for Earth, its little spirit winged its flight to Heaven." I found a poem today that seemed apropos to the passing of little Sallie.  "Departed" is from a book entitled, Select Poems by Harvey Rice (c. 1878). DEPARTED. Too pure for earth, too pure for earth, Thy home the spirit-land, Where earth-born flowers unfading smile, Transferred by angel hand ! Yes, on thy brow the calm, bright skies Of heaven their radiance shed : The gift is thine, an angel's harp. How blest the early dead ! From sorrow's vale uncheered and dark, From tears and vain desires, While young and sinless thou art freed, The soul to heaven aspires. But stil...

Today's letter brings a story of a man whose southern grave is very likely the Chattahoochee River. From the New York Public Library Some time ago, I'd say about nine years, I decided to document (or at least make note of) every instance of lynching I come across while researching.  I never made a solid attempt to seek out lynchings, specifically, but would make note when one was found.  I even started a database of sorts.  I haven't really kept the page up as far as housekeeping goes – there might be some broken links and such – but I still add to it from time to time with more than 170 entries thus far.  I've also written on the subject a couple of times in this space before ( here and here ). Since this blog is taking part in the A to Z Challenge, there are some people visiting that might never have otherwise (I'm having a blast, btw).  So I feel a little like I should try to explain why I would give the horrible acts – those committed by the crimin...

I learned several years ago the MUS found on military tombstones for Civil War soldiers, like the one pictured at right for William Worth Beall , stood for Musician .  But there was no such stone for Alva B. Spencer at his burial site in Harmony-Smyrna Cemetery at Dooly County, Georgia.  Alva's tombstone, in fact, had no mention of his service at all.  At the base, from which the tablet has somehow been separated, is an information card placed by (my guess) a relative of Mr. Spencer's.  This adds that Alva was married to Margaret Lucinda Cone, as well as that he was a member of Company C, 3rd Regiment Georgia Volunteer Infantry. Alva, born 6 September 1840 in Greene County, Georgia, was a son of Benjamin E. and Charlotte G. Spencer.  Prior to his service in the Confederate States Army, Alva attended Mercer College at Penfield.  He was a sophomore in 1856.  By the 1860 U.S. Federal census, Alva was a school teacher in Greene County. When I finally look...