27 April 2010

Tombstone Tuesday--Hungerford Cemetery

Hungerford Cemetery is located in the north-east quadrant of Newaygo County. While our pictures show many older stones, they also show a well kept (aside from a few autumn leaves) cemetery in current use. It even has a blacktop drive through it, unlike the usual "two-track" lanes through many of our local cemeteries.
This impressively large stone for Charles Turner and his wive Martha show something typical of many stones. The first person to die has the birth and death dates, while the second only has the birth date. Future genealogists must gnash their teeth to see that. It also gives one reason to wonder, is Martha buried here and the stone never got updated? Or did she remarry or move and end up buried in another location?
With my family who merely put up with my cemetery and genealogy "habit", it is comforting to know the at least around here, the funeral homes will see that the stone is updated.
I have later pictures which show that contrary to the above picture, Hungerford is a large, and for the most part open cemetery. The four stones in the foreground row are impossible to read in this picture, But even so, they are not forgotten, I see a military marker on the one second from the right. The small one, and one in the background seem to have shiny borders, leading me to believe they may be new polished granite stones. That row shows such variety in just the four stones--rough hewn granite wedge, tall obelisk, then the massive upright block followed by the smaller wedge, with polished edge. I am also struck by the fact, that unlike many of the obelisk stones, this one still has the fragile finial.
This massive block for S. William and Caroline P. his wife also has only one death date. Caroline lived from 1900 to 1918. Did a later wife protest at being buried there and move him? Oh the questions. The stone is still decorated with flowers, leading me to wonder if she died at age 18 in childbirth? Perhaps the child still comes to the grave.
The stone for Eve Ewing (wife of B.L.) has fared quite well since she died in 1896. The engraving of the hand pointing upward as well as the words "Gone Home" are clear and strong.
The stone of hubby B. L. Ewing however has not survived as well. Although the engraving is clear, it apparently was broken off at some time, and reset just below the death date.
The military stone for Corporal Mason Norton is marked by both military marker and flag. He served apparently in the Civil War. The stone gives no dates, but does show he served in Company K, 6th Michigan Calvary
The size and condition of Hungerford cemetery is clear in both the photos above and below. With all that space, you think they could have planted that shrub behind the two stones instead of blocking them.
Again, the wide space is apparent here. With old and new stones, Hungerford is an actively used cemetery, even if it is off the beaten path somewhat in the county.

1 comment:

  1. Some nice information on Hungerford cemetry, enjoyed the read

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