Additional for Evens Cemetery

I didn't want to edit the previous post again. I lost and had to retype most of it so I decided to just to a second post.

I somehow, probably in the retyping mentioned above, lost the picture of one of the most unusual stones I found for Evens Cemetery.
I love the rustic edges of this stone. And I have never seen any other like it. It is a long low stone, but the engraving continues from the top to the front. Edith and William Wachter appear to both have passed away in the 1930's. The only thing I can say against this stone is that the rustic surface clings to the grass and pine needles that fall on it. That is what is blurring the name on top.
But what a striking stone. I had to make sure I posted it.

Tombstone Tuesday--Evens Cemetery

This weeks cemetery is one I have not stopped at, but often drove past. Younger Son worked at a nearby dairy farm and when I had to deliver or pick him up, this was right on the way. One of the interesting things about this cemetery is the name. We have seen documents and maps with it spelled as seen here "Evens", but many records also have "Evans," the more common spelling of the name.
I tried to check our transcript, but alas...our cemetery book has a tab for Evens Cemetery (spelled Evans) but nothing behind the tab. I sense a cemetery crawl coming on.
Looking at an enlarged image of this picture for Samuel L and Mary G's stone it clearly states--in 3 places--the spelling is indeed Evens. I can't imagine the stone cutter getting it wrong that often. I thought it an unusual stone with the huge ball on the top. I am unable to make out any carvings on it, possibly a globe, or just a simple ball. Hmmmmm.
As you can see this cemetery is set in a lovely rural area of the county. What I was unable to find a picture of, however is what I considered the most unusual feature of the cemetery, and one that raises lots of questions in my mind.
When you drive by this cemetery, the drive in, along the south side, takes you back to a small modern ranch-style house. I wondered at that, thinking it was a caretakers home or something. However, it is apparently just a house. One with a cemetery in its front yard. Most unusual.
I find this picture interesting as it shows the way these stones are put together; something I had never thought of. The base can be firmly planted. Then the next section only needs to have the family name engraved usually. That can be secured to the base. Then the taller section can be set but made more removable. Since these types of stones frequently have one or two names on each of the four faces, it can be taken down and re-engraved as another family member dies.
This stone, still standing strong, if tipsy, but so hard to read. The lichens, while they may be great for dying wool (another blog) are not so great for stones. Besides attaching themselves to the stones and deteriorating the surface, they make the stones hard to read. Here I can tell the stone is for the wife of Wm something and she died Dec. 10, 18 something, possibly 70. But even with the lichens, the engraved lily is fairly clear on the top of the stone.
In contrast to the previous stone, the above stone is still clear, with its rich engraving. But, is this all of it? Is half of it buried, lost, broken? Ahh, the questions it raises.
And have you noticed the in the previous pictures the items that have been so common in recent cemeteries I have highlighted that are missing here? Where are the bordered family plots? I have never noticed them while driving by the cemetery, and none of the pictures shows any cement or stone borders.
And longtime followers may remember my rants about planting trees and bushes too close to grave stones.
Look at this. It is practically buried by the tree stump.
Don't say I didn't warn you.

Who Do You Think You Are--My Take

I might as well jump on the bandwagon of genealogy bloggers who have been commenting on the show.
I loved it. I have told several non-genealogists about it, and they seem to have caught my enthusiasm. Maybe part of the charm was that I have recently discovered a tenuous connection the the Salem witch trials myself, so that part was particularly close to home.
I love finding the details about family members, and stories about them are the best. I also liked that they traced one of Sarah Jessica Parker's line back to England, and told her that no one knew just where in England, so that line was at a brick wall--for now. And then they returned to Salem, and the story there.
The connections of having names and dates you can place within the fabric of history make history seem more alive. Discovering my Civil War ancestor in my Gilbert line, besides being my maternal breakthrough, also gave me a connection to the people who fought then. Ditto my distant cousins who died in France in World War I and II. My ancestor who was captured by Indians and taken to Canada during the revolutionary times is another whose story has connected me with those times. I enjoyed that Sarah Jessica was seeming to feel the same connections, excitement and thrills that I get.
But back to the show, my only quibble--and I have seen this noted elsewhere also--was when Ms. Parker got to see the actual document accusing her ancestor of being a witch. I cringed when I saw the bare hands and when I saw the pencil--I dropped a stitch in the sweater I was knitting! Yikes!! Not the example I would want budding genealogists to take away.
But I can't wait for this week, and the upcoming shows. Maybe it will do for my hobby the same thing that "Roots" did so much earlier.

Tombstone Tuesday--Ensley North Cemetery

This weeks cemetery is North Ensley, located in the south east corner of the county. I love the entrance, with the fieldstone pillars supporting the arched sign.
Here is the impressive memorial for Benjamin Ensley and his wife who died in 1889 and 1874. A very important family it would seem.
I mean this stone has everything! The burial cloth draped on the top of the stone. The symbol for the Masons figured prominently on the front, as well as the clasped hands of husband and wife. And notice those pointy things like spears in the background on both sides? Here is a clearer picture of them.
Not to be content with a mere cement border, the Ensley family plot is surrounded by this border of posts and chain. Each of the posts are topped with this 4 bladed spear like object. I don't know what the purpose of this glorified fence was, but I am impressed. You can also see there is engraving here on the side of the tall monument as well. I am unable to make it out, but it looks like it could be additional family members. Here is another of my favorite stones. It appears, with its crisp detailing and ornate designs, to be constructed of zinc. The smaller stones say Father and Mother, with some other details. The large tall spire indicates that this is the Hillman family. Set on a stone foundation, it is leaning ever so slightly, but all in all, in great shape.
The Terwilliger family has another zinc stone. I just love how they stay so crisp and clean. Funny though how they try to imitate rough hewn granite. Abraham and Elizabeth both died in the late 1890's.And back to the "stone" stones. William Bazzett's stone does not give a date, at least on this side. It simply states "Gone dear husband, gone forever." And the top of the stone has some delicate flowers carved that are still clear and unworn.
Ahh--my pet peeve--the overgrown bush. At least this stone is not hidden by it. But there is no way of telling here if there are also small stones on the other side of the tall one.
I love this stone. Simple, not much details, but just the name and even the spiky plants (sorry, I am no horticulturist) seem to set it off.
And lastly, John Graves. A surprisingly easy to read stone, even though he died in 1880. I can even make out the fine print below the crest that reads "Gone but not forgotten. " It almost makes you wonder at the newer stone for John at its base. But as the original says, not forgotten.

Obigtuary--Frank Maze

A more typical obituary, with much more detail than we see today.

From the 1 May 1913 Fremont Times Indicator.

DEATH FOLLOWS RAILROAD ACCIDENT

Frank Maze Received Injury at Alpena Last Friday from Which he Died Within a Few Hours

The death of Frank Maze, formerly of Denver, (a township in Newaygo County, not the city in Colorado) but who has been employed in Alpena since last fall, occurred Friday April 25, following a serious accident on the railroad.

Frank Maze was born February 12, 1879 to William and Minnie Maze, in Denver, township where he was reared to manhood and married to Bertha Beattie February 11, 1904. To this union one child, Geraldine, was born, who now at the age of eight years is bereft of a fathers care.
For some years Mr. Maze had followed the vocation of a steam engineer, having been engaged in this work in several places in this state. Last fall he secured a position whth the Huron Cement company and was put in charge of a locomotive, doing service in hauling stone and coal in the yards. About three weeks ago, having been told by the superintendent that his work was satisfactory and the the position might be considered permanent, he removed his family from Berlin to Alpena.
On April 25 while thus engaged, he left his own engine in the care of his fireman and stepped across to another track to adjust a coupling pin in a car that had failed to couple, and whil there the car at his back that had been shunted away, returned on the slight incline and pinioned him fast against the bumbers.
A bright intellect, a kind lovable soul, a man in every respect, born and reared in this county, the possessor of a host of friends, whil in the prime of life sis suddenly called to the beyond. The bitter cup is pressed to the lips of a loving wife and daughter; and a fond father and a loving mother, in the passing, see the laying away of their only child, the one hope for which they have lived and struggled.
Everything possible was done for him, but within three hous he died and his wife and child, accompanied by Arthur LeRoy, foreman at the plant, brought his remains to Fremont for burial.
The funeral services were held April 29 from the Congregational church, Rev. R. W. Paul officiating.
He had been a member of the Hesperia lodge of Odd Fellows since arriving at his majority. Besides his wife and daughter, and mother and father, who are disconsolate in their bereavement, a large number of relatives and a host of friends feel this untimely loss.

In the same paper, a less flowery but no less sympathetic note in the community column.

Dr. Rolison received a telegram last Friday that Frank Maze, of Alpena was seriously injured and in a little while another dispatch came saying that he was dead. This was a great shock to his Hesperia friends, as Frank was a Hesperia boy, who had the love and esteem of all who knew him. Great sympathy goes out to the stricken wife and mother. Many Hesperians attended the funeral in Fremont last Tuesday afternoon.

Which makes it sound like father and daughter just didn't care.

Obituary--Charles D. (or C.) Hubbs

You gotta live an obit where the name is spelled with two different middle initials. Of course if the hotel burned down, they would not have the register to check it against. We are getting back to less unusual means of death, although is by no means a common one. As typical for this era, the brief article manages to convey plenty of drama.

From the 25 December 1905 Newaygo Republican.

CREMATED!

Charles D Hubbs Loses His Life in Burning Hotel.

The Pacific Hotel, situated near the depot in Fremont, caught fire about 12 o'clock this morning and was totally destroyed. Charles C. (see I told you.) Hubbs, a traveling man whose home was ni Greenville was smothered by the smoke and was dead when found. He came down stairs after the fire broke out and went back to his room for some reason and did not come down again. He was missed and searchers found him on the floor in a corner of his room covered with bed clothing. Physicians worked over him for three hours in the effort to save his life but to no avail. He leaves a wife and two children. It is not known positively how the fire orginated. The hotel was owned by John DeBois.

Apparently not completely cremated, if they worked for 3 hours. You wonder--did he he forget a gift for his wife or children that made him rush back in? Did he have some money or important papers he needed? Or was he despondent and choose this way to die.
The mysteries of life. And death.

Tombstone Tuesday--Davenport West Cemetery.

This week we scurry across Beech Avenue to the west side of Davenport cemetery.
Having only driven past this cemetery, I never realized how they both see fairly comperable, although West does seem maybe a little newer. In our transcript book, however, this is listed as (Old) Davenport Cemetery. But the most outstanding feature of Davenport West, to me, seems to be bordered family plots.
Look at all of them!
A close inspection of the above picture shows at least 5 or 6 plots sectioned off. And look at the size of the tree in that one. I also noticed the many of these areas have fairly new looking granite stones.
The setting for this cemetery, as was the case with East Davenport, is farmland. This side of the road seems a little flatter, although the cemetery itself is on a gentle slope.
Charles and Mary Seaman died in 1929 and 1954. Their identical stones flank the urn near the edge of the cemetery. A quiet setting. And again, notice the bordered plot behind them.
This little stone, still remembered. I had to look up the cemetery listing as the lettering is clear, but still a little hard to read. Listed in the Old Davenport section is Amasa Davis. She was born in 1877 and died 1945 and clearly not forgotten.
It did occur to me that perhaps some readers, especially those from warmer parts of the country may wonder at the upside flower urns in some of the pictures here and previously. It is a sign that these graves are tended and cared for by loved ones. Many families dump the soil on the graves, spreading it out and disposing of old plants. They then turn the urn over so it does not fill with ice or snow during the wonderful snowy winters we have, thus often cracking. Come spring, it will be flipped back and filled with fresh dirt and plants.
On my husband's parent's grave the urn was tipped each year, enriching the sandy soil of the grave sites with good rich farm soil. In the spring we came with a bucket soil from the garden and/or pasture, ready to fill it up again before planting.
With so many now using artificial flowers and plants, the richness of the soil may not matter, but the urns must still be flipped to avoid cracking and breaking.