Tombstone Thursday - Norton

Oak Hill Cemetery

Evansville, Indiana

James Earl Norton

1915-2003

Frances Helen McBride

1920-2001

Married for 65 years!

(Section D, Lot 2, Graves 8 &9)

 

Great Grandparents of Ryan Lurker who works with JGWest.

 

- Photo taken by Indiana Bones.

 

[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated

in memory of Donald G. West 1952-2000]

Tombstone Thursday - Wyman

 

 

Indiana Bones ran into Pat Coselett in Rural King last night and had a delightful conversation.  I showed him the cool knife that I had just bought and showed him where I got it so he could buy one, too!  Then he told me about an interesting man by the name of Gunner Wyman and about Gunner's tombstone.

 Indiana Bones

 Highland Park Cemetery
Mayfield, Graves Co., Kentucky
Orlando "Gunner" Wyman
1925 - 2008



"I had rather be here than in Jasper, Ind." - Gunner Wyman put on his marker as a reminder of the great rival basketball teams at Vincennes Lincoln with Jasper teams!  Mr. Wyman, a native of Palmersville, Tenn., served as a teacher and basketball coach at Wingo, Nortonville and South Hopkins high schools and schools in Indiana, including Vincennes Lincoln, where his team won the 1981 state championship. He was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991. 
Created by: Gabriella
Record added: Jun 19, 2009
Find A Grave Memorial #38530476
-tombstone photos by Craig Thweatt
-Photo of Indiana Bones by Don Counts

[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated

in memory of Donald G. West 1952-2000]

Tombstone Thursday - Wood

 

 

St. Joseph Cemetery

Evansville, Indiana

Patrick H. Wood

1903 - 1958

My mother's Uncle Pat, brother to her mother.  I just barely remember going to the funeral home (I was about 11 years old).  He was only 55 years old... the same age that my father was when he died.

[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated

in memory of Donald G. West 1952-2000]

- Photo taken by Indiana Bones

Tombstone Thursday - Brewer

Waubonsie Cemetery
Mills County, Iowa

Candis Brewer

Wife of Amos Williams

1807 - 1873

Candis Brewer is the grand daughter of John G. West's ancestor Thomas West, Jr. and her husband Amos Williams was the brother of John G. West's ancestor James Williams, Jr. 

Amos and Candis were married in 1826 in Christian Co., KY and both died in the 1870's in Mills Co., Iowa.

- Photos taken by Kay Baldwin and K. Hyland Smith that were posted on Find-A-Grave Memorial # 15002827.

[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated

in memory of Donald G. West 1952-2000]

Tombstone Thursday - Moore

Oak Hill Cemetery

Evansville, Indiana

Lucinda Aurelia Peach

wife of Morris E. Moore

1915-1978

Birth Mother of Rebecca L. Meredith

Becky West is a TSGS Board Director

[Becky's father was Robert H. Meredith, Lucinda's first husband.]

- Photo taken by Indiana Bones.

[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated

in memory of Donald G. West 1952-2000]

Tombstone Thursday -

West Cemetery

Ovil, Christian Co., KY

(Hidden in the woods)

Nancy Emeline Williams

Wife of

Charles Patterson West

And J.R. Johnson

Died 1913

(Last known burial in this cemetery)

According to the property owners who watch over this cemetery and try to cut back some of the ever-invading woods, a large oak tree fell knocking this tombstone over.  The Maywald family cleared away the tree and re-set the marker as it was!  I am very grateful for their efforts... they have no connections to any family buried here.

Close-up of the etching on the stone, reads: "Nancy E. Wife of C.P. West and J.R. Johnson Died Sept. 27, 1913 Aged about 82 years"  Nancy is the daughter of Stephen Williams and Jane Henderson.  Charles P. West was the half brother of William Ellis West also buried in this cemetery with William E. West having a wife named Cincinnati Williams the niece of Stephen Williams.

- Photos taken by Indiana Bones.

[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated

in memory of Donald G. West 1952-2000]

Tombstone Thursday

'

Weathers/Withers Cemetery

Ovil, Christian County, Kentucky

Frog Hop Road

Samuel Withers

1791-1853

Private KY Militia

War of 1812

- Photo taken by Indiana Bones

[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated

in memory of

Donald G. West 1952-2000]

Tombstone Thursday

West Cemetery

Ovil, Christian County, Kentucky

Charles P. West

1828-1875

Four brothers are buried in this small cemetery: Charles, Francis, William and Henry Harrison West.  William Ellis West is my great, great grandfather.  These four were sons of Jesse West (1798-1843).  William's mother, Mary Bright Rogers, died shortly after his birth and Jesse married second to Martha Pruitt (Prewit) who is the mother to the other 3 brothers.  Henry Harrison West was the youngest born about 1842 and does not have a grave marker.  Of the 8 grave markers (there are 7-10 unmarked field stones) Charles Patterson West has the best preserved stone.  The largest marker is over 6 foot tall... Nancy the wife of C.P. West died in 1913 and appears to be the last buried here.  W.E. West (1822-1896) is at the front of the cemetery, while Francis M. West (1835-1898) is in the back row.

West Cemetery is on private property and is located in the woods that is reputed to be infested with rattlesnakes. Please get permission from the property owner, Richard Maywald, to visit the cemetery.  His son took us back to the cemetery.  This cemetery has not been visited by many since 1966 when it was copied and published in a cemetery inscription book for Christian County.

- Photo taken and submitted by Indiana Bones.

[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated in memory of

Donald G. West 1952-2000]

Tombstone Thursday - Bentle

Oak Hill Cemetery

Evansville, Indiana

Jack Bentle

1927-1990

Sylvia Bentle

1933-2010

 Jack is Becky West's first cousin in her adopted family.

 Jack's family has decorated the grave very nicely with flowers and vines, but look at the nice blue Humming Bird with wings that flutter in the wind!

- Photos taken and submitted by Indiana Bones

[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated in memory of 

Donald G. West 1952-2000]

Tombstone Thursday - Frankenstein

We hope that everyone has a great Flag Day!

Remember the U.S. Flag today.

[I added the above because I was worried that bloggers might get confused

as to what holiday falls on June 14th.  It is not Halloween!]  

However, it is not readily known, but Frankenstein is indeed "buried right here in River City!"  Lester Frankenstein and his wife, Bertha are buried at Mt. Sinai Cemetery.

- Photo taken & submitted by Don Counts.

[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated in memory of 

Donald G. West 1952-2000]

Tombstone Thursday - Kron

Oak Hill Cemetery

Evansville, Indiana

Section 62, Lot 89, Graves 3 & 4

Fred Kron

1880-1958

Mathilda Kron

1884-1937

 I selected this grave marker because I noticed it was made of two regular grave markers: one flat (horizontal on the ground and the other was mounted on top vertically.  I have never seen one made in this fashion before.

- Photos taken by Indiana Bones

[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated in memory of 

Donald G. West 1952-2000]

Tombstone Thursday

Parker Cemetery

Warrick County, Indiana

Eva Jo Perry

1923-2006

 Above photo [click on photo for a larger image] shows the state of Texas.  Neat and unusual grave marker!  Below photo [click on photo for a larger image] is the back side.

- Photos taken & submitted by Indiana Bones

[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated in memory of 

Donald G. West 1952-2000]

"Cemetery Geek!"

What in the world is a "Cemetery Geek?"


Last Sunday, I attended the Oak Hill Cemetery Walking Tour led by Dennis Au, Shawn Dickerson & Chris Cooke.  A newspaper reporter was asking several people why they came out for this tour.  When she asked me that question... I could not think of a good answer.  My thoughts were in the notion of who wouldn't want to be in this tour!  As a genealogist, most of us love cemeteries, as we do courthouses, libraries, genealogy web sites, family photos and records of any sort.


I told the young reporter that as a genealogist I could not help but be here... I guess I am a "cemetery geek!"  I could not think of anything else to describe why I came out for this tour!!!  Well, that got into the newspaper story, in fact it was the first paragraph about the tour.  I was listed as a "self-proclaimed cemetery geek."    http://www.courierpress.com/news/2012/may/21/oakhill-tour-line-p/?print=1  


Being highly interested in science, math, etc., the term "geek" (to me) is basically a positive adjective of a person's in-depth interest or involvement in a particular subject.  I have always been interested in seeing these little monuments (often called grave markers) to people's lives since I was a kid of about 12-13 years of age.


My mother was an avid fan of Memorial Day, a time to remember our American soldiers and family members.  Mom would make Dad drive her around to all of the cemeteries with family to decorate their graves with flowers.  After a time, it was hard to tell who wanted to do this the most.  Of course, us kids were dragged along, too.  I started to get curious about all of these graves... who were these people to us.  That and a 5th. Grade English assignment to make a 4-generation family chart got me interested in my family history.  Shortly after I got out of service, my father died which made grave visitations a little more important to me.  The next Memorial Day and many years afterwards, my younger brother Don and I took turns taking Mom around to decorate the graves.  Mom's Aunt Maggie Wood decorated graves, too.  Don & I began putting out flowers, too.  Then, suddenly in about 2 years time - Mom, Aunt Maggie & Don were no longer with us and there really was no one else alive to decorate the graves or know where most were buried.  So, this became my primary "duty!"  We decorate my wife Becky's family, too.  Becky has a birth & adopted family to remember.


I have become a volunteer for a web site called "Find-A-Grave" to take grave marker photos to post online for others to be able to see their family's markers.  On this blog I have a feature called "Tombstone Thursday" that I post interesting or unusual grave markers that I find from time to time.  I even have a photo album on FaceBook called "Cemetery Hopping" (going from one cemetery to another & posting photos from each!).  Yesterday, I told my friend Jill Brinkley who works at Alexander Memorial Park Cemetery that we were out cemetery hopping decorating family graves... she said you are always going to cemeteries!  I guess she is right!


I guess cemeteries have become a part of my life... I was once even in charge of Evansville's City owned cemeteries - Oak Hill & Locust Hill.  In the Sons of the American Revolution, I travel around with other members dressed in Revolutionary War uniforms serving in Color Guards to honor the graves of Revolutionary War Soldiers.


OK, it appears that I am a "cemetery geek!" for sure.  I do think of the term as a good thing.  Writing this blog, I thought I should check to see what the definition of a cemetery geek might be.  I went to Google to search for the term.  What came up was that news article about me being a cemetery geek... there was no other use of the term except in describing me!!!  I may have coined a new term.  One related to genealogy, at that!  How many of our readers might be able to proudly call themselves "Cemetery Geeks?"  You would not have to be as extreme as me to qualify.  There are at least 3 qualifiers, however.  One you must know that the word "cemetery" does not have an "a" in it and that (two) you must actually go to a cemetery to see all of its glory from time to time.  Three, you must feel strongly about cemetery vandalism as being one of the lowliest things people can do.  Don't be shy or modest, please let me know if you are or want to be a cemetery geek!!!


- Compiled by JGWest (AKA: Cemetery Geek)

Tombstone Thursday - Mann

Locust Hill Cemetery

Evansville, Indiana

Sarah Mann

1803-1879

"Grandma"

I think placing "Grandma" on this marker is pretty cool!

- Photo taken & submitted by JGWest

[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated in memory of Donald G. West 1952-2000]

Tombstone Thursday - Newlin

Frederick L. Newlin, Jr.

1928-1999

Martha A. Braun

(married 1952)

1930-2010

- Photo taken between Dec 2010 & Feb 2011 by JGWest

[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated in memory of Donald G. West 1952-2000]

Tombstone Thursday - Murray

Alexander Memorial Park Cemetery

Evansville, Indiana

William Alfred Murray

1899-1978

Alice J. Murray

1901-1993

Notice that places of birth & death have been included on the stone!  The places cover the tri-state area.

- Photo taken & submitted by JGWest

[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated in memory of Donald G. West 1952-2000]

Tombstone Thursday - Baker

'

Oak Hill Cemetery

Evansville, Indiana

Larry J. Baker

1947-2006

The colored flags with the eagle & the lighthouse make this marker especially nice!

- Photo taken & submitted by JGWest

[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated in memory of Donald G. West 1952-2000]

Tombstone Thursday - Gardner

'

Gid Gardner!

Gid, what an odd name... found him in the U.S. Census with his wife Rosie with his full name. Gid is short for Gideon!

Buffalo Cemetery, Larue County, Kentucky

Gid Gardner

1890 -1967

Rosie Gardner

1893 -1980

- Photos taken by JGWest

[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated in memory of Donald G. West 1952-2000]

Tombstone Thursday - Thomas

'

James A. & Louisa Thomas are buried in South Fork Baptist Church Cemetery not far from where Abraham Lincoln Birth Place National Park is located south of Hodgenville in Larue County, Kentucky. This is very close to the border between Larue & Hart County.

James A. Thomas (1824-1890)

Louisa Thomas (1824-1896)

Entrance to the cemetery on Airline Road.

- Photos taken by JGWest

[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated in memory of Donald G. West 1952-2000]

Tombstone Thursday - Brown

'

Three Fork Bacon Creek Baptist Church Cemetery

(AKA: Hammondsville Cemetery)

Larue County, Kentucky

Roy Alvis Brown

1930-2005

- Photo taken by JGWest

[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated in memory of Donald G. West 1952-2000]