Southern Graves

Part of me hates I've pared Ida's life down to a cause of death defined post. Ida Lee was born 11 October 1885 in Gwinnett County, Georgia to W. S. and Francis (Bailey) Fowler.  She married Norton N. Pruett after 1911. Ida was just 36 years old when she died on 24 January 1922.  Cause of death, per her death certificate available at FamilySearch.org, was noted as Puerperal Septicemia .  Septicemia is essentially blood poisoning.  If not treated promptly, it can lead to "circulatory collapse, profound shock, and death." Puerperal Septicemia, also known as puerperal or childbed   fever , is "an infectious, sometimes fatal, disease of childbirth; until the mid-19th century, this dreaded, then-mysterious illness could sweep through a hospital maternity ward and kill most of the new mothers.  Puerperal fever results from an infection, usually streptococcal, originating in the birth canal and affecting the endometrium. This infection can spread throughout the bod...

William David Jinks, after his death in 1909, was laid to rest beside his first wife, Sarah Langley, at Trinity Church Cemetery in Gwinnett County, Georgia.  William, the son of David and Mary Jinks of North Carolina, was 79 years old at the time of his death. When visiting the Jinks' FindAGrave memorials , I read a note stating the name on the stone placed for this (first wife) Sarah might be incorrect, because Sarah Barbara was the name of William's second wife. That's awkward. William Jenks married Sarah Langley 9 March 1852 in Gwinnett County.  This couple can be found in census records for 1860, 1870, and 1880 (all Gwinnett County).  What's interesting is the 1880 census taker listed William's wife as Sarah B . with a birth year of 1828. William's first wife passed away 27 March 1898.  One year and nine months later, on 2 November 1899, William married Sarah B. Parks.  This is reflected in the 1900 census, when the "number of years married" que...

Here are a couple of images relating to the death of Dr. Marion W. Jinks.  He was born 7 April 1869 in Georgia, and died 8 December 1935.  The good doctor was a son of William David Jinks and husband to Elizabeth E.  All rest at Trinity Church Cemetery in Gwinnett County. Dr. Jinks' cause of death was somewhat unique:  Acute Nephritis cause from absorption of poison from Teeth . "Georgia Deaths, 1928-1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-13529-25739-8?cc=1385727 : 4 April 2016), 004557961 > image 11 of 598; Georgia Archives, Morrow.

Ezekiel Evans Parke Georgia Soldier Rev War Greensboro City Cemetery at Greene County, Georgia Ezekiel Evans Park, (1757-1826), a patriot of '76, lived on a plantation near Greensboro.  He was a graduate of William and Mary College and was a man of culture.  Mr. Park witnessed service in a number of engagements and was wounded at the battle of Guildford C. H., in North Carolina.  -- Lucian Lamar Knight, Georgia's Landmarks, Memorials, and Legends , 1913. North America Family Histories, 1500-2000 , citing Lineage Book of the Charter Members of the DAR, Vol 028 , says this: Ezekiel Evans Parke, (1757-1826), a graduate of William and Mary College, volunteered under Gen. Nathaniel Green in his campaign against Cornwallis, in North Carolina.  He was wounded at Guilford Court House.  He was born in Virginia; died in Greensboro, Ga.

I'm a military brat , and proud of it. The military brats subculture has emerged over the last 200 years.  The age of the phenomenon has meant military brats have also been described by a number of researchers as one of the America's oldest and yet least well-known and largely invisible subcultures.  They have also been described as a "modern nomadic subculture".  [ Wikipedia ] My two grandfathers, Asa Logue (left) and B. J. Lincecum, and my father.  Not pictured is my maternal grandmother.  She also served.  All saw war, though not all saw front-line combat. I never considered myself as part of a subculture , but I suppose it's true.  Being America's oldest subculture makes sense, as the United States Army turns 241 today.  Since America' birthday is considered to be 4 July 1776, the United States Army is actually a year older than the country. And though I did not plan to include this sentiment when I first decided to write this post, here it ...

For those of you who like reading old obituaries (I know I'm not the only one), this one's worth your time.  I haven't personally visited the grave of little Louis, but couldn't help sharing when I stumbled upon this: Georgia Weekly Telegraph and Journal & Messenger 6 December 1870, page 5 [telegraph.galileo.usg.edu] OBITUARY. Death has invaded a happy home, and robbed it of its brightest jewel.  Cherished hopes have been blighted, and fond hearts are bereaved. Little LOUIS LECONTE, son of William L. and Virginia T. LeConte, a bright and beautiful boy -- sweet as a fragrant flower, and sparkling as a gem of the sea -- died at the residence of his parents, near Adairsville, Georgia, on Friday night, 11th of November, of membranous croup. What a dark night it must have been to that stricken household! Methinks the stars must have looked less bright, and the winds have sighed with deeper sadness, as fond hearts, all crushed and broken, bowed around the bier of the ...

This post was written just over six years ago. Wow. I've been blogging a while. Enjoy the knowledge. Nancy Pairlee Yarbrough Tilley Brown was born 28 April 1877 and died 7 February 1968 in the state of Texas. While looking at her death certificate, specifically the cause of death and medical certification section, I came across something I had not seen before. The first part was self-explanatory: Section 18, Cause of Death - Part I - Death was caused by (immediate cause) Cancer of Bladder . Part II is where I saw something new to me: Under "Other Significant Conditions Contributing To Death But Not Related To The Terminal Disease Condition Given In Part I" was Arteriosclerosis. C. V. A. I remember from school that arteriosclerosis is the hardening of the arteries, but I had to search on C. V. A. It stands for "cerebrovascular accident" and means cousin Nancy had a stroke. From eMedicinal.com : "Arteriosclerosis (build-up of calcium on the in...

Gibraltar Cross of Sacrifice : "In Glorious Memory Of Those Who Died For The Empire." Photos taken by my grandfather, Billy Joe Lincecum, approximately sixty years ago.  Captions are a transcription of those he penned. A War Memorial on Gibraltar with the Rock in the background. The view that is famous.

Nancy J. Harris was born 11 May 1839 in Georgia.  She married Malan / Malon J. Doby 22 August 1871 in Gwinnett County.  A Justice of the Peace performed the union.  Nancy lived to the age of 70 before dying 19 June 1909.  Her husband placed a stone for her at Trinity Church Cemetery that reads: To My Wife… Here lies one who in this life was a kind mother and a true wife. M. J. was born 12 January 1839 in Newton County, Georgia to William Doby.  The marriage to Nancy Harris was his second.  He first married Mary Watkins about 1859.  Census records suggest he was the father of at least ten children.  M. J. lived just a few years longer than his wife Nancy, dying 29 July 1912.  He also rests at Trinity Church Cemetery in Gwinnett County, Georgia.

Aquilla, son of John A. Bruce, was born 22 May 1877 in Gwinnett County, Georgia.  Seven months after his 20th birthday, and the day after Christmas 1897, Aquilla married Dora Mann .  I believe her to be a daughter of Sallie and Ivan Mann. Dora and Aquilla had their first child, a daughter named Fannie, in 1899.  Aquilla supported his family by farming. Unfortunately, Dora passed away November 1909 at age 32.  She was laid to rest at Trinity Church Cemetery in Gwinnett County. Aquilla married Eunice Hester Davis about 1913.  She is listed as his nearest relative on his World War I draft registration card dated September 1918.  Two months later, Hester died before reaching age 34.  In 1920, the widowed Aquilla was residing in Duluth with eight of his children. A. Q. Bruce died at a young age, just as did his wives.  He was not quite 45 when he succumbed to pulmonary tuberculosis, exacerbated by influenza, February 1922 in Buford, Gwinnett C...

Ora Beatrice Adams was born 8 January 1893 in Gwinnett County, Georgia to James H. and Annie Elizabeth (Weathers) Adams.  She died just a few days before her 26th birthday, and was laid to rest at Trinity Church Cemetery in Gwinnett County.  A lovely epitaph on her tombstone reads: The rose may fade the lily die But the flowers immortal bloom on high. Initially, I was having a difficult time finding out much about Ora.  I was especially wondering why she wasn't coming up in a death certificate search.  When that happens, I will sometimes turn to FindAGrave.  If someone had created a memorial for her, maybe it would be managed by someone related or at least someone with more information than I.  (In other words, someone who cares about more than their contribution numbers.) And if that's not true, maybe there is a better image for me to scour for information than the one I took.  (It happens!) In Ora's case, I got lucky.  Contributor Quietly Restin...

Keeping with the Memorial Day theme for one more day, I would like to introduce you to Private First Class Ephram L. Dickey.  He too, rests at Chastain Memorial Cemetery in Blue Ridge, Fannin County, Georgia. Ephram L. Dickey Georgia PFC 21 Inf 24 Inf Div Korea July 7, 1931 – July 12, 1950 Ephram, born the summer of 1931 in Georgia, was a son of Minia C. (Leatherwood) and Paul J. Dickey.  Minia and Paul married about 1919, and Ephram was the last of five sons. By 1940 - you can search the 1940 US Census Free here - Paul J. Dickey was widowed, and his five sons and two daughters were without a mother.  Minia had died in the spring of 1937.  Cause of death was uremic poisoning due to childbirth. And this is where I find Ephram and I have something in common.  When I uncovered the Dickey family address, a breathe caught in my throat.  I live today on the same road Ephram, his father, and his siblings, were living in 1940.  What are the odds? Ephram ...

One of the veterans I paused by at Chastain Memorial Cemetery a couple of days ago was Michael Edwin Kirby .  Though I never quite know for sure why I stop at some graves and not others, I think in this instance it was the American Flag standing and lightly draping over his granite marker.  Then I noticed the inscription: My Beloved Son, Recruiting For The Lord Michael Edwin Kirby SFC US Army Dec 29, 1961 – May 24, 1991 I hated to see that Michael died at the age of just thirty years.  In an effort to find out why he died so young, I checked to see if he had a FindAGrave memorial.  He does.  And the first thing I read was Michael Edwin Kirby was a member of "Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier." Frankly, I was a bit blown away.  I've had the privilege, the honor, to visit the awe inspiring space that is Arlington Cemetery.  And I was blessed to witness the duty fulfilled by the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  Plea...

Did you have a nice Memorial Day weekend? I hope so.  This was the first in ages that I wasn't at a "traditional" job.  So I was free and fortunate to be able to attend a local Memorial Day service.  I posted about it here . Earlier in May, Elizabeth Shown Mills shared a link on facebook about a lecture being given by University of Georgia History Professor Stephen Berry.  It was about coroners in the 19th century South.  From lecture summary:  "He discussed the role of a coroner as an agent of the state and talked about the records created from coroner inquests. He argued that coroners can shed light on the emerging patterns of death within a society…" It was a highly informative and very interesting lecture.  As of this writing, it is still available (free!) on C-Span.org . I was able to visit a couple of cemeteries this month.  One I wrote about for yesterday's post .  The other was "the older one" across the way.  I was looking for ...