Southern Graves

Today's Epitaph: Mrs. Fannie Pitts Dwelleth in Heaven

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 23:06:00 +0000

Mrs. Fannie M.
Wife of S. H. Pitts
And daughter of Thomas & Mary A. Whitehead
Born Nov 4th, 1842
Died Aug 14th, 1873

She dwelleth in heaven, yet deep in our hearts
Her image is graven, and never departs.
And while we yet linger, we watch and we wait
Till death who has parted, again shall unite.

Ledger marker located at
Waverly Hall Cemetery;
Harris County, Georgia.

Grapes, Wheat & a Dive-Bombing Dove

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:39:00 +0000

This tombstone for Virginia Crook (d. 1859), located at Waverly Hall Cemetery in Harris County, Georgia, contains several Christian symbols.

The cross and book (likely representing the Bible) is common enough, and the symbols widely known. The dove is also often seen and represents peace and purity. I learned something else about the dove when it is depicted as "dive-bombing" from Heaven -- it represents the Holy Ghost, as written in John 1:32-34 -

32 And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.
33 "I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'
34 "And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."

The other items I have not often seen are the grapes and wheat. Grapes alone could symbolize the blood of Christ. Wheat alone may depict immortality and resurrection. When the two are shown together, it is thought to represent wine, bread, and Holy Communion.

[Reference:
- Stories in Stone: The Complete Guide to Cemetery Symbolism
- The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New King James Version]

Calm, the Good Man Meets His Fate (& a Masonic Funeral Ritual)

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:00:00 +0000

This monument is erected by order of the most worshipfull Grand Lodge of Georgia, to the Memory of their former Grand Chaplain, Reverend Thomas Darley, who departed this life, 18th April A.L. 5832, A.D. 1832, in the 63rd year of his age: and who was a shining light to his Masonic Brethren, to imitate in his walk, as a man, Mason, and Christian.

Rev. Darley was laid to rest at Waverly Hall Cemetery in Harris County, Georgia. According to a death notice found in a local paper, he left behind a wife and 16 children. On the back side of Rev. Darley's monument is the following epitaph:

"Calm, the good man meets his fate,
Guards celestial around him wait!
See! he bursts these mortal chains,
And o'er death the victory gains."

While the symbol and inscription on the gravestone clearly states Rev. Darley was a Mason, there are a couple of other clues you might not be aware of that further bolster this fact. Though I have yet to find a simple explanation as to how, the letters and numbers A.L. 5832 have ties to the history of freemasonry.

Also, the epitaph is connected to Masonic history. A Google search of the first line of the epitaph, "Calm the good man meets his fate," reveals a poem written by David Vinton (1774-1833). Mr. Vinton was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity as a member of Mount Vernon Lodge No. 4 of Providence, Rhode Island. He compiled and published a hymnal entitled "The Masonic Minstrel" in 1816. The epitaph on Rev. Darley's stone is the final stanza in a dirge included in the book set to "Pleyel's Hymn." A dirge is a somber song expressing mourning or grief, such as would be appropriate for performance at a funeral.

That leads me to Funeral Service: Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Freemasons. While the link leads you to information from a pamphlet distributed in South Carolina, the information appears to apply to all members of the fraternity. Though I cannot say for sure how often this funeral ritual was actually performed (or if it was used at the funeral for Rev. Darley), here are a few highlights:

"No Freemason can be interred with the formalities of the Order, unless it be at his own request, or by that of some of his family, communicated to the Master of the Lodge of which he died a member (foreigners and transient brethren excepted); nor unless he has received the Master's degree; and from this restriction there can be no exception. Fellow Crafts and Apprentices are not entitled to funeral obsequies; nor to attend the Masonic processions on such occasions.

When the Master of a Lodge receives notice of a Master Mason's death, and of his request to be interred as a Mason, he must satisfy himself of its propriety; and then, being informed of the time appointed for the funeral, the Master may invite as many Lodges as he may think proper, and the members of those Lodges may accompany their officers in form; but the whole ceremony must be under the direction of the Master of the Lodge to which the deceased belonged, and he and his officers must be duly honored and cheerfully obeyed on the solemn occasion.

The proper clothing for a Masonic funeral, is a black hat, black or dark clothes, white gloves and a plain white lambskin apron, with a band of crape around the left arm above the elbow, and a sprig of evergreen on the left breast. The Master's gavel, the Warden's columns, the Deacon's and Steward's rods, the Tiler's sword, the Bible, the Book of Constitutions, and the Marshal's baton, should be draped with black crape. The officers of the Lodge and past Masters and Grand Officers, may wear their official jewels.

The brethren being assembled at the Lodge room, or some other convenient place, the Master of the Lodge to which the deceased belonged opens the Lodge in the third degree. A procession is then formed to the house of the deceased and thence to the grave...

...When the procession arrives at the gate of the church-yard, the Lodge to which the deceased brother belonged, and the mourners and attendants on the corpse, halt, until the members of the other Lodges have formed a circle round the grave, when an opening is made to receive them. They then advance to the grave; where the clergyman and officers of the acting Lodge take their station at the head of the grave, and the mourners at the foot. The Marshal will remove the apron from the coffin to be handed in to the Master at the proper time; the coffin is then lowered into the grave and after the clergyman has concluded the religious services of the church, (unless the same have been previously concluded) the Masonic service begins...

...[After words are spoken according to ritual] They then form a chain, with the left arm over the right, and march three times around the grave, while they sing the... [Pleyel's] hymn..."

More words according to ritual are spoken, and the members return to the lodge and close with the usual benediction.

Another interesting note connecting to Rev. Darley: he would've been one to perform a service such as this for a Grand Officer, during the time he was Grand Chaplain.

Members of Kennon Family Killed by a Storm in 1875 (Tombstone Tuesday)

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:50:00 +0000

In March of 1875, at least three tornadoes touched 18 counties in the state of Georgia. In Harris county, at least six members of the Capt. John H. Kennon family were killed. They were laid to rest in the Waverly Hall cemetery.

An account of the disaster in the 30 March 1875 Macon Weekly Telegraph says this: "...At Mt. Airy, the house of Capt. John Kennon was whirled around, and portions of it carried half a mile. Mrs. Kennon was killed with her two grown daughters, a son aged seventeen, a daughter of twelve, and a baby. Their bodies were scattered along the road for 50 to 150 yards, and everything else was gone. The bones of all were broken and they had received severe gashes..."

Here is an additional article that describes more of the storm. I transcribed the whole article for those that might have genealogical interests. After this transcription is a link to even more articles from other newspapers detailing the destruction of the storms.

Augusta Chronicle
24 March 1875
"Around Columbus
[Special to the Herald]
COLUMBUS, GA, March 22 -- Storms occurred Saturday between 11 and 12 o'clock. There appeared to be four whirlwinds, or tornadoes, one near Whiteville, in Harris county; another from Harris county into Meriwether; another near Hamilton, and another from Harris through Talbot. The two first created immense havoc to property, but no lives were lost; the one near Hamilton killed three children of H. W. Pitts, and badly wounded two others, one having both legs, both arms and a thigh broken, and injured Pitts and his wife. The latter is bereft of reason from grief. Every house on its course, for twenty miles in length and a half mile in width, was levelled, trees blown down and carried hundreds of feet, and fences scattered everywhere; furniture, clothing, stock, etc, all gone, and the people suffering on account of the destruction of food. The fourth was most destructive, for, twenty miles in length and half a mile in width, its path is marked by ruin and devastation. The little village of Mount Airy, in Harris county, was totally destroyed; not a house standing. The wife and five children -- four grown, three of which were young ladies -- of Capt. J. H. Kennon were killed and their bodies blown from fifty to one hundred yards, and Captain Kennon was hurt in the shoulder. Two of his sons were saved, being absent from home. Mr. Hunt was injured in the spine, Wm. McGhee had two ribs broken, and goods and clothing scattered all around; Maj. John H. Walton escaped narrowly, his residence being demolished; teacher Clark and wife are mortally wounded, and their child had an arm fractured; rev. J. B. McGhee had his jaw broken, and was injured internally; his daughter and son injured; Tom Neal was hurt and his house utterly blown away. Baughville, Talbot county, was completely demolished. Elisha Culpepper was killed, and his wife and daughter-in-law was seriously wounded, and Mrs. Burdell had both legs broken. Among others badly hurt are Mrs. Miller B. Phillips, Mrs. Bradshaw and son, a daughter of Prof. Chaplin, and a son of Capt. C. Calhoun, in all ten whites and sixteen negroes killed and five churches demolished, six stores and four school houses destroyed. Total loss over one hundred thousand dollars. Columbus has voted four thousand dollars to the sufferers. Hamilton and Talbotton escaped by a mile and a half. Direction of the storm was northeast. A gentleman came in on the Southwestern train this morning for six coffins for one family -- that of Capt. John Kennon, his wife, three daughters, and two sons."

Read even more accounts of the devastating storm here.

Michael Gannon, Stone Cutter

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:21:00 +0000

The above signature is carved into a marble ledger marker located at Waverly Hall Cemetery in Harris County, Georgia. A little research led me to Mr. Michael Gannon. Census records suggest he was born between 1812 and 1820 in Ireland. He was naturalized in Charleston, South Carolina in the year 1847.

Michael and family are found in the 1860 US Federal Census for Charleston, South Carolina. They are in Ward 3, enumerated on page 9, dwelling 58, family 54 (lines 5-12):

Michael Gannon / age 40 / male / occ: Stone Cutter / b. Ireland
Mary Gannon / 35 / F / b. Ireland
John Gannon / 17 / M / South Carolina
Michael Gannon / 15 / M / South Carolina
Mary Ann Gannon / 13 / F / South Carolina
William J. Gannon / 7 / M / South Carolina
Thomas F. Gannon / 2 / M / South Carolina
James Gannon / 28 / M / occ: Stone Cutter / b. Ireland

By 1870, the craft was being passed on to his son, as both the elder and younger Michael were listed as Stone Masons. A second son, William, joined in as a stone cutter by 1880.

Michael worked at the marble yard located at 170 King Street in Charleston, per the Shole's Directory of the City of Charleston of 1878 and 1879 and the South Carolina State Business Directory of 1880 and 1881.

When we took a road trip to Charleston last year, we stayed at the historic Francis Marion hotel located on King Street. Just think -- we were right by where the marble yard was, and where Mr. Gannon worked more than 120 years ago!

Today's Epitaph: Sleep on Dearest!

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 23:33:00 +0000

Sacred to the memory of
Mrs. S. C.
Wife of W. A. Stansell;
And daughter of N. and E. Passmore,
Born 14th Novr 1833
Died 12th March 1863
Aged 29 years, 3 months and 28 days.

Sleep on Dearest! sweetly beside thy infant babes,
On the resurrection morn thou and they
Shall rise again.
Angels guard they sleeping dust.
W. A. S.

This ledger marker is located at Waverly Hall Cemetery in Harris County, Georgia. The stone carver was "M. Gannon, Chⁿ. S. C." Nearby is Mrs. Stansell's mother -

In memory of
Mrs. Elizabeth
Wife of Nathan Passmore
and daughter of John E. & A. Lester
Born Nov. 8th, 1809,
Died May 20th, 1869
Aged 59 years, 6 months & 12 days

Sweetly sleep Wife, Mother
Thy home is in Heaven, where thou
wilt taste the joys and pluck the ambrosial
fruits of Paradise.

Dum Tacet Clamat

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:48:00 +0000

I've photographed many Woodmen of the World memorials, and I think this is the best image I've captured of their slogan, Dum Tacet Clamat. It translates to "though silent, he speaks."

Woodmen of the World is the largest fraternal benefit society with open membership in the United States. It is an insurance organization founded by Joseph Cullen Root in Omaha, Nebraska on the 6th of June, 1890.

The first certificate of membership was issued to William A. McCully of Independence, Kansas on the 29th of December, 1890. Six months later, Woodmen paid its first death claim on the life of teenager Willie O. Warner who drowned on the 14th of June, 1891, in Niles, Michigan.

Early Woodmen of the World policies provided for a death and a monument benefit. Gravestones were originally furnished to members for free and later were offered to those who purchased a $100 rider.

To learn more, visit "Woodmen of the World Memorials" on the Southern Graves website.

Note: The photo is of the treestone placed for Jesse H. Short (25 Sept 1878 - 25 Apr 1943) at the Waverly Hall Cemetery in Harris County, Georgia.

Slideshow: Riverside Cemetery in Asheville, North Carolina

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:29:00 +0000

Fannie's Headless Angel (Wordless Wednesday)

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Starnes Tree of Life & Death

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 11:00:00 +0000

This beautifully carved "treestone" is located at Riverside Cemetery in Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina. I do believe it is one of the most life-like I've ever seen. This particular tree stump memorializes the STARNES family. On the back of the stone is a plaque with all the names of the family members, as well as birth and death years for each.

[Front]
Thomas A. Starnes
1818 - 1897
His Wife
Elyzabeth
1825 - 1896

[Back]
Family of
Thomas Albert Starnes, 1818-1897
& Elizabeth Morgan Starnes, 1825-1896
Avaline S. Smith (Mrs. R. S.), 1843-1924
Caroline S. Ownbey (Mrs. Sims), 1844-1914
Mary Ann S. Reeves (Mrs. T. C.), 1846-1889
Martha S. Clark (Mrs. W. P.), 1848-1908
John Wesley Starnes, 1849-1898
Margaret E. Starnes, 1851-1926
Thomas Charles Starnes, 1854-1899
Jesse Russell Starnes, 1856-1913
George Haskew Starnes, 1857-1922
Dr. E. Clingman Starnes, 1859-1900
Eva Marian Starnes, 1863-1864
Gonano Starnes, 1865-1945
Ida Zone Starnes, 1867-1930

I also found a couple obituaries for STARNES family members John W. and Jesse R. on GenealogyBank.

23 December 1898
Charlotte Observer, North Carolina
"JOHN W. STARNES, ESQ, DEAD
A Well-Known Educator of Asheville Succumbs to Disease
Special to The Observer.
Asheville, Dec. 22 -- Hon. John W. Starnes, a well-known educator of Buncombe, died at his home here to-day, of acute catarth[?] of the head. Mr. Starnes was a native of this county, 40 years old, was formerly superintendent of the Buncombe public schools for seven years and his administration was marked by ability and progressiveness. Some years ago he represented this county in the lower house of the General Assembly, his colleague being Gen. Robert B. Vance. Mr. Starnes always took a deep interest in the educational progress of the State and was for one term a member of the board of trustees of the State University. His death is deplored by a very large circle of friends through out Buncombe and western North Carolina. His wife and two sons survive him."

27 August 1913
"DEATH RECORD
JESSE R. STARNES
Asheville Pioneer Citizen Dies at Age of 60
(Special to The Observer)
Asheville, Aug 26 -- Jesse R. Starnes, one of Asheville's pioneer citizens, died at his home on North Main street yesterday, following a year's illness. Mr. Starnes was a native of this county and was a large property owner in this city. He has practiced law for the past 20 years and for several years has been interested in one of the city's leading undertaking and livery establishments.

The deceased was 60 years of age and is survived by a wife and two children. He was a consistent member of the First Baptist Church and held memberships in several fraternal orders which have lodges at this point.

The funeral services will be conducted Wednesday afternoon from the home of the deceased."

Zebulon's Grandfather

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:14:00 +0000

For this week's Tombstone Tuesday, I wrote about North Carolina's "greatest man," Zebulon Baird Vance. In a newspaper article about him that I found and transcribed here, Zeb's grandfather is described. Luckily, I had also photographed a stone while at Riverside Cemetery in Asheville, not far from where Zebulon was laid to rest, that memorializes this grandfather as well as a few additional members of his family. On each of the fours sides of the stone, a different family member is remembered.

David Vance
Born in Frederick County, Va, of Scotch Irish parentage about 1750. Died in Buncombe Co, N.C. in 1811. He was a soldier at King's Mountain in the Patriot Army in 1780. One of the earliest settlers of Buncombe and the first clerk of the County Court.

Priscilla Brank
Wife of David Vance
Born in Rowan Co, NC in 1756 of German parentage. Reared a family of eight children and died in 1836.

Robert Brank Vance, M.D.
Youngest son of David and Priscilla. Born in...[?]...1794. Died in 1827. He was a physician of much promise, well versed in English lit, and a politician of note. He served as member for this District in the XVIIIth Congress.

David Vance
Son of David and Priscilla, born in Reems Creek, Buncombe Co, NC July 15, 1792. Died Jan 14, 1844. Succeeding to the name and Virtues of his Father, was highly esteemed as a modest and upright citizen and Christian gentleman. He was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church.

In Case You Missed It - November 2009

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:10:00 +0000

Here are the most viewed posts over the last 30 days.

- Sam Reed, Mortician & Caretaker of Atlanta's Oakland Cemetery on StoryCorps

- Embree Hoss Blackard, United Methodist Clergy (Tombstone Tuesday)

- Neptune Memorial Reef, an Underwater Cemetery off the Coast of Florida

- Abraham Lincoln's Bodyguard (Wordless Wednesday)

- H. Clay Wilson was a Man of Many Virtues and Few Faults (Tombstone Tuesday)

- Rocks, Rocks, and More Rocks

- Col. Stephen Lee, Relative of Gen. Robert E. Lee

- Southern Cross of Honor

- Free Access to Colonial, Revolutionary War & DAR Databases [Note: This post contains information about some available databases, but the free access period has expired.]

- Today's Epitaph: Daniel Ogden Lives in Memory Alone

North Carolina's Greatest Man (Tombstone Tuesday)

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:15:00 +0000

Zebulon Baird Vance
May 1830
April 1894

Riverside Cemetery
Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina
Zebulon Vance was a Confederate military officer during the Civil War, twice Governor of North Carolina, and U.S. Senator. He was a remarkable writer and became one of the most influential Southern leaders of the Civil War and postbellum periods. He was much beloved by his home state, as is conveyed in the following newspaper article describing his funeral.

19 April 1894
State, South Carolina

ON THE SUNNY SIDE THE HILL
ZEBULON VANCE SLEEPS HIS ETERNAL SLEEP
Renewed and Continuous Demonstrations of their Great Love for Their Dead Senator, Made by North Carolinians Yesterday
Asheville, N.C., April 18 -- At the hour of noon today the remains of the late Zebulon B. Vance are being deposited in their last resting place overlooking the beautiful French Broad river in this "Land of the Sky," a fitting spot for the last repose of a great man.

The funeral train arrived just after dawn from Raleigh, with committees of both houses of Congress, the Governor and other officers of State and three cars of distinguished friends of the dead Senator.

Notwithstanding the late hour at which the train passed Hickory, Morganton and other stations, large crowds pressed into the funeral car and demanded to see the remains. The demonstration at Asheville is the greatest of the occasion.

The body was placed in the First Presbyterian Church at 8 o'clock, and from that hour until 11:30 thousands of people from his native county of Buncombe passed to take a last look.

An immense crowd of Confederate veterans, followed by different fraternal organizations, the Asheville Light Infantry, and Bingham cadets, filed by.

Mrs. Vance spent a half hour in private with her dead husband and asked that she be the last one to see his face.

The procession was then formed, reaching almost from the church to the cemetery, a distance of two miles.

The crowd that marched out to the cemetery was estimated at 10,000.

Friday will be observed here as memorial day for the whole State and an immense throng is expected.

The crowd thronged the stations along the way to Asheville, delayed the train by their urgent demands to see, at least, the casket, and they filled the funeral car with magnificent floral offerings. Each hamlet added beautiful flowers, marked "From the Ladies to Our Zeb," and when Asheville was finally reached the funeral car was opened for the last time, it required the aid of a company of militia to remove the floral tributes. The Asheville Light Infantry escorted the remains from the train to the church and mounted guards over them, while the reverent crowds passed to take a last look at the beloved familiar face. The scene was especially touching when the Confederate veterans took leave of their old commander. After these came several of the Senator's old slaves.

The procession to the cemetery was formed in the following order: Mounted police, Asheville Light Infantry, Bingham cadets, pall bearers in carriages, special escort of Rough and Ready Guards surrounding the hearse, Family of the deceased, Congressional committees, Governor and staff, city and county officers, Masonic Order, Survivors Association, Grand Army of the Republic, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Royal Arcanum and Knights of Honor. These were followed by different labor organizations and the entire city fire department.

The procession, both civic and military, numbered about 10,000, while thousands looked on as spectators. The streets through which the procession passed, were draped in mourning, and from the front of the county court house hung a large portrait of the dead Senator, while stretching from the belfry on both sides to the ground were cords, from which waved the marine signals, which spelled "We Mourn for Zebulon Vance."

The ceremony at the grave was exceedingly solemn and was conducted by Rev. Dr. Campbell of the First Presbyterian church, after which the floral offerings were gracefully placed and thus North Carolina buried a son whose place may be partly filled in the council halls of the nation, but never in the hearts of her people.

[Update: I continued to do a little more reading about Mr. Vance and came across an editorial from a 1905 newspaper regarding him and his career. While the article as a whole is an opinion, I believe it does provide a glimpse into United States, North Carolina, and VANCE history. I transcribed it, and it is available here on the Southern Graves website.]

I'm Thankful for... You!

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Free Access to Colonial, Revolutionary War & DAR Databases

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:54:00 +0000

WorldVitalRecords is offering free access to Colonial, Revolutionary War, and Daughters of the American Revolution databases through November 30th. This includes 200 free databases covering vital, court, and military records through the Revolutionary War. You can search everything from information on Mayflower families to lineages submitted by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Some noted databases:

- Abstracts Of Wills And Inventories, Fairfax County, Virginia, 1742 - 1801
- Abstracts Of Wills, Inventories, And Administration Accounts Of Loudoun County, Virginia, 1757 - 1800
- American Wills Proved In London, 1611 - 1775
- Births, Deaths And Sponsors, 1717 - 1778 From The Albemarle Parish Register Of Surry And Sussex Counties, Virginia
- Calendar Of Wills, 1626 - 1836
- Death Notices In The South-Carolina Gazette, 1732 - 1775
- Genealogical Abstracts From 18th-Century Virginia Newspapers
- Known Military Dead During The American Revolutionary War, 1775 - 1783
- Scots In Georgia And The Deep South, 1735 - 1845
- The Germans Of Colonial Georgia, 1733 - 1783

For a complete list of free databases, click here.

Col. Stephen Lee, Relative of Gen. Robert E. Lee

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:12:00 +0000

Laid to rest in Riverside Cemetery at Asheville, North Carolina are members of the Colonel Stephen Lee family. Transcription of the obelisk topped tombstone:

Mrs. Caroline Lee
Died Dec 18th, 1855
Age 48 Years

Caroline Lee
Died Aug 10th, 1857
Age 21 Years

Emily K. Lee
Died June 15th, 1893
Age 62 Years

In Memory Of
Col. Chas C., Thomas, Stephen, and Joseph.
Sons of Stephen & Caroline Lee,
Who Died In The Southern Cause.

Blessed Are The Dead
Who Die In The Lord.

In Memory Of
Col. Stephen Lee
Born in Charleston, SC
June 7th, 1801
Died in Asheville, NC
Aug 2nd, 1879

Here is what the Riverside Cemetery Walking Tour has to say about Col. Stephen Lee: "Colonel Stephen Lee, a distant relative of General Robert E. Lee, left Charleston to open a school in Asheville in 1846. His school, known as 'Lee's Select School for Boys' became famous across the south for its discipline and curriculum. He spent his entire life teaching at his school except for the years of the Civil War. During the war, Lee fought bravely for the Confederacy... At the end of his service, Lee formed a company called the 'Silver Grays.' These men were so well trained by Lee that on April 6, 1865, his small company of less than 300 men repulsed a Union army of 1,100 soldiers who came to Asheville with the intention of burning it down. After the war, Lee gave tracts of land in the Chunn's Creek section to his former slaves. Lee's land holdings before the Civil War included land from the top of Beaucatcher Mountain to the Swannanoa River."

Col. Lee is also mentioned in Western North Carolina: a history (1730-1913):

Col. Lee's school for boys was far famed and many of the best citizens of this country and South Carolina remembered with gratitude, not only the drilling in Latin and Greek received from this most successful educator, but also the lessons in high toned honor and manhood imparted by this knight "without fear and without reproach." Col. Lee came from South Carolina and opened his school first in a large brick house built by himself on Swannanoa, known as "The Lodge..." Col. Lee afterwards moved to Chunn's Cove, where he taught until, at the call of his country, he and his sons and his pupils enlisted in the cause which they believed to be right. He was a graduate of West Point and distantly related to Gen. R. E. Lee.

Col. Stephen Lee, son of Judge Thomas lee of Charleston, S.C., was born in Charleston, June 7, 1801, was educated at West Point and for some years after taught in the Charleston College. In September, 1825, he was married to his cousin, Caroline Lee, also of Charleston; they had fifteen children, nine boys and six girls. Some years after he was married he moved to Spartanburg, S.C., where he lived only a few years, moving with his family to Buncombe county, N.C. In Chunn's Cove he started his school for boys, which he kept up as long as he lived, except for two or three years in the sixties, a part of which time he was in command of the 16th N.C. Regiment, serving his country in West Virginia and the rest of the time drilling new recruits and preparing them for service. Besides serving himself, he sent eight boys into the Confederate army, four of whom gave their lives to the cause. At the close of the war he returned to his school duties and prepared many young men for their life work. He died in 1879, and is buried in the Asheville cemetery.

Tombstone Tuesday: Clara Chunn Chapman

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Clara E. Chunn
Wife of Robt H. Chapman, D.D.
Born Oct 12, 1812
Married Oct 18, 1831
Died Aug 13, 1858

Riverside Cemetery; Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina

According to the text from the Riverside Cemetery Walking Tour, Clara's grave was moved to Riverside Cemetery from the Episcopal Church on Church Street. Chunn's Cove in Asheville was named for her.

McElveen Mausoleum

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:00:00 +0000

This mausoleum is located at Riverside Cemetery in Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina. I neglected to write down all the information of the readable inscriptions, as I was in a hurry. Nonetheless, I was able to get the following with my digital camera:

Ella Pace McElveen
Wife of G. W. McElveen
Born Rogersville, Tenn May 1860
Died June 1899

Our Mother
Parolee Blevins Pace
Born Rogersville, Tenn Mar 31, 1836
Died Waco, Texas Jan 26, 1921

I photographed this mausoleum because I thought it was neat how the woman sculpted at the top appeared to be coming out of the greenery.

Buchanan Family Monument Photos

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:00:00 +0000

The Buchanan monument at Riverside Cemetery in Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina is more than meets the eye. There is a large angel sculpture atop the monument, carved entirely out of limestone left over from the construction of the Biltmore Estates by Fred Miles, a stone carver for the Biltmore. At each of the four corners below the angel are cherub faces. And farther down are pairs of faces, again at each of the four corners. These faces seem to represent the Buchanan family -- an adult male, adult female, and children.

In Memory of
William Allen Buchanan
Born in Kingston, Jamaica
Died September 8, 1871
Aged 49 Years
--------------
And His Beloved Wife
Sarah Elizabeth
Died December 27, 1915
Aged 83 Years
And bring thee peace.
----------------------
Also In memory of Their Daughter
Georgiana
1862 - 1930
In The Peace of God
--------------------
William Allen Buchanan
Born June 7, 1856
Died Nov 5, 1931
At Rest
--------
Also In Memory Of
Stella Buchanan Barrett
Died 15th of June 1887
In Her 33rd Year
-----------------
W. A. Barrett
Aug 16, 1879
Nov 11, 1921

Killed By a Desperado

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:00:00 +0000

B. F. Addison
Killed By a Desperado
Nov 13, 1906
Aged 56 Years
Gone But Not Forgotten

Mr. Ben Addison, a black merchant, was laid to rest in the designated "colored" section of Riverside Cemetery in Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina.

On the cold winter night of 13 November 1906, a crazed drunken man named Will Harris went on a shooting rampage that left five men dead. One unfortunate victim was Ben Addison. Mr. Addison owned a store at 53 Eagle street in downtown Asheville. He was shot when he opened his door to see what the commotion was about.

[Source: text from "Riverside Cemetery Walking Tour," which uses a script from a video entitled "Journey Beyond the Gates," produced by the students of Charles D. Owen High School -- the 1997 Advanced Placement U. S. History Class]

In Memory of Eighteen German Sailors Who died in the U.S. Army Hospital at Asheville, NC 1918-1919

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:00:00 +0000

In Memory Of Eighteen German Sailors Who Died In The United States Army Hospital At Asheville
1918-1919

Nicht grossern Vorteil wusst'ich zu nennen
Als des'Feindes Verdienst erkennen.

No greater gain for the human spirit
Than a sense of our foeman's merit.

Karl Von Aspern
Karl Bening
Adam Biffar
Wilhelm Denecke
Karl Flum
Fritz Hoffman
Hans Jakobi
Karl Kilper
Emil Kobe
Karl Koschmieder
Heinrich Lochow
Hermann Menzel
Johann Wilhelm Meyer
Johann Meyerhoff
Viktor Wilhelm Rieke
Richard Paul Schlause
Wilhelm Stockhausen
Fritz Hermann Wahnschaffe

Erected By Kiffin Rockwell Post American Legion
The memorial transcribed above is located at Riverside Cemetery in Asheville, North Carolina. Text from the Riverside Cemetery Walking Tour: "Riverside Cemetery is the final resting place for World War I German Prisoners of War. Several thousand sailors were first transferred from Ellis Island to a detention center in Hot Springs, North Carolina. A typhoid epidemic resulted in 18 of the sailors dying. The POWs were given a place of rest at Riverside Cemetery."

Today's Epitaph: Daniel Ogden Lives in Memory Alone

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:00:00 +0000

About a month ago, while visiting Riverside Cemetery in Asheville, North Carolina, I come across the grave of Daniel Ogden pictured here. I was actually on my way to see a more "prominent" memorial in the cemetery when I noticed Daniel's gravestone was fallen over and lying on the ground. I snapped a few photos, simply because I always get the urge to document stones that look to be in trouble.

When I got home, I found a sweet epitaph for Daniel etched in the stone. I also snagged a little more information about him with a bit of research.

Daniel W. Ogden
Feb 10, 1882
July 19, 1917
It is sad that one we cherish
Should be taken from our home,
But the Joys that do not perish
Live in memory alone.
All the years we've spent together,
All the happy golden hours,
Shall be cherished in remembrance;
Fragrant sweets from memories' flowers.
I found Daniel in the North Carolina Death Certificates, 1909-1975 collection at Ancestry. It states Daniel was born in Liddieville, Louisiana to Daniel W. Ogden of Woodville, Mississippi and Epsie Brown of Winnsboro, Louisiana. Daniel was married at the time of his death, and his occupation was Meat Cutter. His address was 403 West Haywood Street in Asheville, though his usual residence was listed as Mississippi.

Daniel's cause of death was pulmonary tuberculosis. It seems Daniel was one of the many with this disease who came to the Asheville area hoping the clean mountain air would improve their health. Sadly, for him, it did not. He passed away at the young age of 35.

Abraham Lincoln's Bodyguard (Wordless Wednesday)

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:00:00 +0000

H. Clay Wilson was a Man of Many Virtues and Few Faults (Tombstone Tuesday)

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:00:00 +0000

H. Clay Wilson
1856 - 1900
A man of many virtues
and few faults.

Riverside Cemetery
Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina

Photos © 2009 S. Lincecum

Military Monday: Confederate General James Green Martin

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Gen. James Green Martin
Born in Elizabeth City, N.C. February 14, 1819
Died in Asheville, N.C. October 4, 1878
Brevet Major, U.S.A. for gallant conduct in Mexico, 1847. Brig. Gen. C.S.A. Army of Northern Va. 1864. General-In-Chief, N.C. Troops, 1861. In Command of Western N.C. 1865.

General Martin was laid to rest in Riverside Cemetery; Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina. He was a son of Dr. William Martin and Sophia Dange. General Martin was known as "Old One Wing" because he lost an arm in the Mexican War.

- James Green Martin on Wikipedia