Southern Graves

If anyone has anything to add about Uncle Dan, please comment.  I found myself wanting to know more and more the deeper I tried to delve… He was 5' 8" tall, had light skin, light hair, and blue eyes.  His name was Daniel G. Brogden. He was born 1841 in Gwinnett County, Georgia to Hope J. and Emily Brogdon.  One of at least 13 children born to the couple.  Based solely on census records , Daniel G. appears to have started life just like most who were born the son of a farmer – attending school when he could, and working the land as soon as he was able. When Daniel was 20 years old, he – along with his uncle Noah Richard and brother Shadrach G. – joined the Gwinnett Beauregards, Company A of the 42nd Georgia Infantry Regiment, C.S.A.  Less than two months in, toward the end of April 1862, Dan was at a hospital in Knoxville, TN.  Another short two months pass and Dan's uncle Noah was dead at Cumberland Gap. Daniel G. Brogdon was captured as a prison...

Wyatt Sulzer Moore, whose middle name I've seen spelled more than one way, was born 26 July 1835 in Paulding County, Georgia to Arbin Moore and "Harrett" (Harriett?) Casper.  By the taking of the 1850 U.S. Federal census , Wyatt and family were living in Gwinnett County, Georgia.  Mr. Moore would spend the rest of his life in this county, farming all the while. Wyatt S. Moore was married three times.  He married first Elizabeth Brogdon.  She was just a few years his junior, born in 1838.  They had at least nine children together, before Elizabeth died in 1881.  She was just 43. Wyatt next married Ellen / Ella Jane Whitehead in 1882.  She was ten years younger than he, and died in 1900 at the age of 55. Thirdly, Wyatt married Rachel Elizabeth King.  She was twenty-one years his junior, and died 8 May 1925 at the age of 68. Though each wife was younger -- and lived longer -- than the one prior, Wyatt S. Moore outlived them all.  Almost four mor...

Just a few days shy of the 116th anniversary of her death. Our Mother Martha B. Wife of H. M. Long Born Oct 5, 1812 Died July 29, 1900 On that bright immortal shore, We shall meet to part no more. Level Creek Cemetery Suwanee, Gwinnett County, Georgia For an added bonus, here's a poem published 1865 in the book, Eighty Original Poems , by John McNair, D.D.  The poem does contain a line from Martha's epitaph, but really I'm posting it just because I like it.  I think I'm drawn to the cadence, as well as the words. UP IN HEAV'N. I have a treasure great indeed Reserv'd for me in time of need -- Which does all other things exceed; A treasure up in Heav'n. I have a house far out of sight, A blessed mansion pure and bright Where I shall dwell in ceaseless light, Exalted up in Heav'n. I have a hope both firm and strong, It is so now, has been so long, That I shall join the happy throng Who shout and sing in Heav'n. I have a faith my Maker gav...

J. W. Pierce seems to be the only member of his immediate family to be buried at Level Creek Cemetery in Suwanee, Gwinnett County, Georgia.  He was born in Lumpkin County, Georgia 14 April 1865 to Wilson Jasper Pierce and Letty Caroline Roberts. James first married Sallie Pitner 28 August 1884 in Lumpkin County.  They had at least three children before Sallie died in 1899.  James, on Christmas Day of 1900 in Fulton County, then married Lillie Allen Collins, a widow.  This association with the Collins in-laws of Lillie brought about James' death less than a year later. The particulars, as laid out in the 11 December 1901 Augusta Chronicle (Georgia), follow.  Full article is available at GenealogyBank . GEORGIANS IN A FATAL FIGHT DUEL WITH KNIVES ON A RAILROAD TRAIN. ONE MAN IS CUT TO DEATH. James Pierce and Thomas Collins, Settling a Family Trouble, Cut Each Other -- The First Killed, the Other Fatally Hurt. Doraville, Ga., Dec. 10 -- In a bloody duel with knive...

Latin is a classic language originally spoken in Latium, Italy.  And it's still the official language of parts of the Catholic Church. Two Latin phrases I recently found in the cemetery are below.  I thought to share them here in case anyone is looking for a translation.  First up:  Deus vobiscum or Deus nobiscum . I couldn't make out the letter just to the left of the crease in the open book sculpture above, but both translated to similar phrases:  God be with you or God with us . The second phrase I come across (on the same stone, actually) was Fideli certa merces . This translates to – To the faithful there is certain reward. These phrases were found on the tombstone for J. W. Pierce (1865-1901) at Level Creek Cemetery in Gwinnett County, Georgia. (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)

Noah Brogdon was born 22 June 1830.  A few months before his 22nd birthday, Noah married Harriet Strickland on 21 March 1852 in Gwinnett County, Georgia. Less than three weeks before his 1oth wedding anniversary, Noah Richard Brogdon enlisted in the Confederate States Army at Gwinnett County.  He was commissioned an officer and given the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in Company A, 42nd Georgia Infantry Regiment upon enlistment, 4 March 1862.  Three months and twenty-three days later, Noah was dead.  His Civil War Profile at Ancestry confirms he did not survive the war, and further states Noah was mustered out of service 25 June 1862 at Cumberland Gap, Tennessee.  A note on his FindAGrave memorial says he died of the mumps. Father ! let thy grace be given, That we may meet in heaven. Noah rests at Level Creek Cemetery in Suwanee, Gwinnett County, Georgia.  Harriet, who married a Mr. Pool after Noah's death, rests beside him. Harriet Pool Born July 10, 1831 Died...

Joseph D. Brogdon, son of George Brogdon, was born 14 January 1873 in Georgia.  By 1898, Joe was farming for a living and married to Annie (1877-1955). No pains no griefs no anxious fear, Can reach our loved one sleeping here. Joe D. Brogdon died 1 December 1925 in Suwanee, Gwinnett County, Georgia.  His death certificate viewable at FamilySearch.org lists cause of death as Carbuncle . The U.S. National Library of Medicine describes a carbuncle as "a skin infection that often involves a group of hair follicles. The infected material forms a lump, which occurs deep in the skin and may contain pus." Using today's numbers, sources such as the Mayo Clinic reveal there are more than 200,000 cases in the United States per year.  And many heal on their own. Yet problems may arise.  If left untreated, carbuncles may lead to any of the following:  Abscess of the brain, skin, spinal cord, or organs such as the kidneys; endocarditis; and sepsis.  Carbuncles can spread...

Robert Lee Kennedy US Army World War II Oct 21, 1915 - Oct 6, 1999 Level Creek Cemetery Suwanee, Gwinnett County, Georgia

John W. Brogdon and his wife Corrie rest in Level Creek Cemetery at Suwanee, Gwinnett County, Georgia.  Though it appears Corrie O. Brogdon led a full life, at least in number of years – 93, it was not so for John.  He died at the young age of 49. According to his death certificate, J. W. Brogdon died in the late afternoon of Friday, 13 September 1929 at the Georgia State Sanitarium at Milledgeville, Baldwin County.  Cause of death was pulmonary tuberculosis. But the vital death record viewable at FamilySearch is full of DK s.  DK generally stands for Don't Know .  The "informant" for this certificate appears to be Records G. S. S.   One would think those records would include a fuller name, birthdate, and contact information for the nearest relative (at least), but I suppose not in this instance. The tombstone provided us with a first name for each of Mr. and Mrs. Brogdon, as well as a burial location.  Let's look to the 1900 Gwinnett County, Georgia...