Southern Graves

A couple of months ago, I posted about the death of my 4th cousin, L. B. Lincecum, who was killed by 33,000 volts of electricity . At the time I had newly requested a photo of his burial site via FindAGrave, and today, contributor Lewis Bean fulfilled my request. **Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!** After viewing the image of Buster's tombstone, I sighed with a bit of sadness and disappointment. See that empty oval to the left of his name? I'm 99.9% sure it once contained a photo of dear cousin L. B...and the genealogy roller coaster took me for another ride. L. B. (Buster) Son of L. G. Lincecum Jan 5, 1906 Jan 10, 1930 Columbia Cemetery West Columbia, Brazoria County, Texas Photo contributed by Lewis Bean via FindAGrave.

Along the outer wall that parallels Memorial Drive SE in Atlanta's Oakland Cemetery is a historical marker that tells the story of the final result of the acts of seven of Andrews Raiders, as well as James J. Andrews himself: Photo by S. Lincecum "280 feet south of this location on June 18, 1862, seven of the Union Army's brave Andrews Raiders were hanged and buried. On April 12, 1862, 22 Andrews Raiders seized The General, a tender and three boxcars at Big Shanty (now Kennesaw) and raced toward Chattanooga on the Western & Atlantic Railroad in an effort to burn bridges and otherwise dismember a supply artery vital to the Confederacy. They had covered 87 miles when The General was overtaken by valiant pursuers led by Conductor Fuller. Of the Raiders, only these seven plus James J. Andrews, their leader, were executed by the Confederate Army. In 1866, remains of the seven were exhumed from this location and reinterred at the National Cemetery at Chattanooga. A...

© 2013 S. Lincecum

Several days ago, I concluded a short run of posts about Anthony Murphy , a man who figured prominently on the Confederate side of the Great Locomotive Chase of 1862. That same day, over at the Rose Hill Cemetery blog, I posted about Peter Bracken , another prominent figure in the chase. Since it seems I have a little theme running here, I'll now share with you the burial site of Jeff Cain, engineer of the famed General seized by Andrews Raiders. Jeff Cain (1827-1897) Photo © 2013 S. Lincecum Jeff Cain, as does Anthony Murphy, rests in Atlanta's Oakland cemetery. He actually isn't far from yet another famous interment, golfer Bobby Jones. The back of Mr. Cain's tombstone gives a rendition of his role in the chase, though it is somewhat misleading: Jeff Cain. The historic engineer of the W. & A. R. R. manned the famous General on the thrilling wartime run. It was he who drove the locomotive in the historic chase of the Andrews raders May 12, 1862. Here...

Anthony Murphy TWO SONS SLIGHTED IN MURPHY'S WILL ...was the headline that ran in the Macon Telegraph (Georgia) little more than a month after the death of 80 year old Confederate veteran and builder of Atlanta, Anthony Murphy . The short article continues: Widow and Other Son Divide an Estate of Half a Million in Value. ATLANTA, Ga., Feb. 2. -- The will of the late Anthony J. Murphy, famous as one of the captors of the Andrews Raiders in 1862, was admitted to probate in Ordinary Wilkinson's court this afternoon. It disclosed the fact that two of the sons were cut off with only $2,000 each, which they lose if they contest the will. The estate, which is valued at $500,000, is divided equally between the widow, three daughters and a third son, Charles Murphy. Wait! Wasn't there another son? An article in the Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia) goes into a bit more detail. The will of Anthony Murphy, Atlanta's pioneer citizen who recently died, was recorded ye...

On the morning of 29 December 1909, much of the east coast of the United States woke up to find this on the front page of their newspaper: ANTHONY MURPHY DEAD. From the Tampa Tribune (Florida), all over the state of Georgia, to the Charleston News and Courier (South Carolina), and even up to the Washington Post (District of Columbia) -- Most ran the same general obituary, but some had a nuance or two. Each and every one described Mr. Murphy's participation in the Great Locomotive Chase to some degree. The Macon Telegraph (Georgia) added that Murphy was a builder of Atlanta and that he left a fortune estimated at between two and three hundred thousand dollars. Died Wealthy was part of the headline in the Augusta Chronicle (Georgia). It stated, "The war left Murphy penniless, but he set out to work again cheerfully and when he died, had amassed a fortune of half a million dollars in the saw mill and lumber business." The Charleston News and Courier (Sou...

Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta, GA © 2013 S. Lincecum Anthony Murphy's claim to fame is most likely his participation in the Great Locomotive Chase of 1862. Yet he was alive for more than 29,200 days, and that was literally just one of them. From Memoirs of Georgia (Southern Historical Association, 1895): Anthony Murphy, capitalist, Atlanta, Ga., son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Keyes) Murphy, was born in County Wicklow, Ireland, Nov. 6, 1829. [Tombstone says Nov. 29.] ...They emigrated to the United States in 1838, and settled first in Schuylkill county, Pa...Anthony was nine years of age when his parents emigrated to this country; he lived with them until he was eighteen years of age, and was educated at the public schools. At the age mentioned he went to Trenton, N.J., where he was apprenticed to the machinist's trade. After serving three years he went to Piermont, N.Y., worked there a year in the Erie railway shops, and then went to the Pittsburgh (Pa.) shops, where he wo...

Thomas J. Peavy and Sarah L. Mills were my 2nd Great Grand Uncle and Aunt. They, along with at least three of their seven children, were laid to rest in Barber Cemetery at Concord, Gadsden County, Florida. Thomas J. Peavy (1842-1921) Sarah L. M. Peavy (1851-1935) Maggie E. Peavy (1872-1896) Olliver D. Peavy (1875-1899) Annie I. Peavy (1884-1899) Died just 5 days after her brother Olliver.

Photo by S. Lincecum I've been a frequent visitor of Byron City Cemetery (Georgia) for several years now. And every visit includes stops by the graves of cousins, one being that of Moultrie Alfred Warren, Jr. He was a third cousin of mine by way of his mother, Sadie Almira Peavy Warren. Engraved on Moultrie's ledger marker, in addition to his birth and death dates, is "Professional Engineer." And those aforementioned dates reveal Moultrie died at the young age of 43 in 1956. I have often wondered what was the cause -- now I know . Via FamilySearch.org A World War II draft registration card from 1940 shows a 27 year old Moultrie Alfred Warren, Jr. living in Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia and employed by the United States government and the science organization of Geological Survey ( USGS ). In 1947, Moultrie became engaged to Ruth Tomlinson, daughter of Homer R. Tomlinson. Moultrie and Ruth were a very studious couple. Ruth was a graduate of Winthrop ...

Less than a week ago, I logged on to Ancestry to find a newly added database entitled Web: Tennessee, Relocated Cemeteries Index, 1787-1975 . In case you were not aware, an Ancestry database that is prefaced with the word "Web" is usually readily accessible on the internet without a subscription. While the convenience of searching through Ancestry is nice, since I'm already a subscriber, I went directly to the source and gave it a browse. After all, I was not even aware it existed online! The database is part of the Tennessee Valley Authority website as TVA's Cemetery Relocation Database : To carry out its mission in the Tennessee Valley, TVA had to alter the landscape. The agency’s major construction projects required relocating roads and utility lines, as well as inundating many acres of countryside. As an extension of these construction projects, TVA undertook the difficult and delicate task of relocating thousands of graves. Surveys were conducted of all c...

HER BODY STILL WARM At midnight last night Marya Webb, the girl who died at 82 Forsyth street, was still warm. The girl had been dead then thirty-six hours, but no change in her temperature had been detected. The skin was still apparently moist and the people who were about the body during the day assert that the girl is not dead. During the day several physicians examined the body and all of them pronounced the girl dead. Her mother, however, will not credit these statements, and when an undertaker is suggested becomes perfectly frantic. She will probably be buried today unless some signs of life are detected, which is hardly possible. [ The Atlanta Constitution (Georgia), 21 November 1885.] THE BODY BURIED Maria Webb's Body Grows Cold and She is Laid to Rest Maria Webb, the girl whose body remained warm too long after she quit breathing, was buried late yesterday afternoon. There is now no doubt about her death. Her body maintained the same temperature from her death...

© 2007-2013 S. Lincecum

Thomas N. Theus A Confederate Soldier Died Nov 28, 1903 Eliza Wilhelmina The Devoted Wife Of Thomas N. Theus Died February 21, 1895 " DEATHS Thomas Nichol Theus. SAVANNAH, Ga., Nov. 28 -- Thomas Nichol Theus, a well known Savannahian who was prominently related in Georgia and South Carolina, died at an early hour this morning. He made a dying request that he be buried in Confederate gray, and he himself named six pall-bearers, all Confederate veterans." [ Macon Telegraph (Georgia), 29 November 1903, pg. 2 -- Viewed online at GenealogyBank .] Bonaventure Cemetery Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia Photos © 2007-2013 S. Lincecum

Capt. Robert H. Anderson 9th U.S. Infantry Died Manila, Philippine Islands November 7th, 1901 1861 - 1901 STEADFAST CAPT. ANDERSON DEAD. Died of Pneumonia at Mobile -- Was Appointed From Georgia. Washington, Nov. 7 -- A cablegram received at the war department today from General Chaffee, at Manila, announces the death from pneumonia of Captain Robert H. Anderson, of the 9th infantry. Captain Anderson was appointed to the army in 1884 from civil life, being credited to Georgia. Savannah, Ga., Nov. 7 -- Captain Robert H. Anderson, of the Ninth regular infantry, was born in this city in 1861. His father was General Robert H. Anderson, of the Confederate army, and for many years chief of police of Savannah. Young Anderson was appointed a second lieutenant in the army by President Arthur, in 1884. He served gallantly in Cuba, and afterwards in China and the Philippines. His family connection in this section are extensive and prominent. He leaves a widow and two children...

Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia Photo © 2007-2013 S. Lincecum DEATH OF COLONEL AARON WILBUR. -- Colonel Aaron Wilbur, for many years a prominent citizen of this city, died at his residence last evening, at 10 o'clock. He was a native of Vermont, but removed South soon after he became of age, and located in Richmond, Virginia, from which city he removed to Savannah in 1853, since which time he has been engaged in the insurance business. His energy and well known business capacity secured for him the position of manager of the Southern branch of the Knickerbocker Life Insurance Company of New York. He was also President of the Home Insurance Company of Savannah, and a Director in the Merchants' National Bank. During the war he was appointed by Gov. Brown on his staff, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, which position he held for some time. At the close of the struggle he engaged extensively in business and succeeded in saving from the general wreck that follow...

View from the upper walkway near memorial. When visiting Fort Pulaski near Savannah, Georgia, one of the things you can do is walk around an upper deck that circles the fort on the interior. There are several cannons strategically placed, giving you an idea as to how things were during the early part of the Civil War before the surrender to Federal troops. Along the walkway, I saw this plaque: This memorial commemorates the act of Lieutenant Christopher Hussey of the Montgomery Guards and Private John Latham of the Washington Volunteers, the first volunteer regiment of the state of Georgia. While under fire during the bombardment of April 11, 1862, they recovered the Confederate colors which had been shot down and raised the flag on this parapet. Subsequent research lead me to the Historical Record of the City of Savannah (pub. 1869). Page 85 gives a bit more detail about the incident described above: The asterisk by Lt. Hussey's name lead to this: Entry...

In Memory of ROBT. ROWAN of No. C arolina , Lieut in 1st Regimt of Artilrst & Engirs of the U. States Troops who died March 3d 1800, Aged 25 Years. I wonder how many visitors have paused at Lieut. Robert Rowan's tombstone. How many times it's been photographed. I'll bet the numbers are staggering. You see, young Robert's final resting place is a cemetery on Cockspur Island , right outside Fort Pulaski -- a defender of the ports of Savannah, Georgia during the Civil War. This is also the place where 13 of the Immortal 600 were buried. Lieut. Rowan, however, had nothing to do with the Immortal 600, or any part of the Civil War for that matter. He was already dead. Robert Rowan died at the young age of 25 in the year 1800. A full 60+ years before the drama at Fort Pulaski. Back when the fort on Cockspur Island was Fort Greene, built in 1795 and named for Revolutionary War patriot Nathanael Greene. Robert Rowan's death did make the newspaper -- ...

Did you know the famous boxer, Ezzard Mack "Cincinnati Cobra" Charles, was born in Georgia? Me, neither. He is the March 7th subject of the Georgia Historical Society and Georgia Public Broadcasting collaboration, Today in Georgia History . FindAGrave Memorial Photo by Anonymous 

Edwin Freeman Ussery Georgia SP - 2 World War II Korea September 19, 1922 August 6, 1955 Edwin Freeman Ussery was born in Hart County, Georgia. 1 He died in service to his country while in Korea, 6 August 1955. Specialist Ussery was honored with an upright marble headstone placed at Blue Heights Baptist Cemetery in Mountain City, Rabun County, Georgia. 2 Sources: 1. "Georgia, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1942," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V2MR-CMQ : accessed 03 Mar 2013), Edwin Freeman Ussery, 1941. 2. Ancestry.com. U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963 [database & images on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Entry for Edwin Freeman Ussery.

William J. Trusty (1919-1949) William Jack Trusty rests at Blue Heights cemetery in Mountain City, Rabun County, Georgia. The stone I photographed was a government issue granite marker. I was not familiar with all of the abbreviations on the stone, but was able to decipher it easily after reading the headstone application on Ancestry . From Wikipedia As part of his service for the U.S. Army during World War II, Corporal Trusty was a member of Company B, 638th Tank Destroyer Battalion.  He enlisted 23 September 1942 and received an honorable discharge 18 October 1945. This information was great, but it didn't tell me why William J. Trusty died at the young age of 30 years. In viewing several family trees online, the consensus seemed to be that he died in Pontiac, Michigan. However, not one of those I saw offered a source for this vital fact. Going ahead with this data, though, I did find a blurb in The Daily News (Ludington, Michigan - 25 July 1949, pg. 3): PONTIAC ...