Marker/Plaque/Monument Monday - James G. Jones

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Evansville's First Mayor...

James G. Jones was Evansville, Indiana's 1st. Mayor from 1847-1853. This plaque is placed on his grave at Oak Hill Cemetery. Click on the photo to get a larger image. James Jones was a lot more than just Evansville's Mayor! He served as Indiana Attorney General 1860-1861.

Below is Colonel Jones Civil War marker.

- Photos taken & submitted by JGWest

Just for Fun... "Everything is Relative"

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As you look at this flagpole at the Lincoln Boyhood National Park in Spencer County, Indiana, you realize that this is a tall pole.
And as we get closer it does seem tall, indeed.

However, when you get closer to it and compare it to Becky at 5 foot 3 inches... you suddenly realize this is a very BIG flagpole!!!

- Photos taken & submitted by JGWest

A Story About A Cemetery At Night

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This is a true story about a very dark night in a cemetery!


Back in the 1980's I served a short tenure as the City Cemetery Manager... the job had been called City Cemetery Superintendent before I started and returned to Superintendent after my service! So, I guess I made a slight footnote in city history for being the only City Manager of the City Cemeteries (Locust Hill & Oak Hill). I think I may have served the shortest term of office, as well! At the time, the Cemetery Board would meet in the conference room of the Administrative Building at Oak Hill Cemetery after normal office hours. In the winter months it would get dark, very dark in the cemetery... lighting was almost non-existent, but there was adequate lights on the building for everyone to see to leave after the meeting. It was the policy to save on electricity by not leaving lights on. This meant that I would stay behind to let everyone leave, then I would turn the lights off.

Someone asked me if I was afraid to be in the cemetery, alone, after dark with no lights. I would just laugh and say that I was not afraid of the cemetery "residents" it was the "living" that generally made me nervous. This night was the first Board Meeting since being named Manager. Later, I watched the last of the Board Members drive out the front gate and off went the lights. Wow! The cemetery was very, very dark... pitch dark! I needed my cigaret lighter to see my way to the car. I turned on the engine and joked to myself that I hoped there were no ghosts in the cemetery with a grudge against the cemetery or the administrators! Then, I was in for the biggest shock of my life... I turned my head lights on and the cemetery seemed to light up! I was surrounded by polished tombstones reflecting my car head lights!!! I just about jumped out of my skin!!! I took off for the gate to get out of there. At the gate I had to get out and lock the padlock and I felt "spooked" fumbling with the gate & the lock. It felt like someone was there in the shadows. I jumped back into the car, locked all of the doors & sped off. Then I took a deep sigh of relief & started laughing at myself.

- Written by JGWest

Tombstone Thursday - Smith

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Oak Hill Cemetery

Evansville, Indiana

Edward Q. Smith

Marion W. Smith

Section 7, Lot 49, Graves 1 & 2

This grave marker caught my attention yesterday when I was at the cemetery. The mid-section with the four columns is newer than the rest of the marker below & above. The older portions are made of limestone, while the new part is made of polished granite.

This is a very ornate marker... notice the initials "E, Q, S!"

You can see the difference between the old & new from a long distance, that makes this one stick out more than its size makes it stand out. This is a nice marker that has some special beauty.

- Photos taken & submitted by JGWest

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

From the FIRST MATE's PHOTO ALBUM...

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Bluff City Pow Wow

at Lincoln Pioneer Village – Rockport IN


Carmella Raurk Head Female and Don Counts Head Male Dancers. Read more about this event in the City-County Observer... http://city-countyobserver.com/?p=2127

"Race Horses Or..."

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A few race horses with names like:

"Irish Grove," "Merchant's Treasure," "Green field," "New Boston," "Priviledge," or "Adamses Chance" might be worth betting to win, place or show. However, I am not sure I would want to risk much on: "Wheatley's Second Addition," "Damp Swamp," "Wheatley's Difficult Purchase," or Little Worth!"

Opps! My bad! Those were not race horses, they are tracks of land that Sampson Wheatley of Somerset County, Maryland, back in the year 1773, left his daughter, Betty, in his will. Not sure how big the tracks were, but "Adamses Chance" was 17 acres. I would love to learn the story of "Wheatley's Difficult Purchase!"

- Written by JGWest

From the FIRST MATE's PHOTO ALBUM...

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Tree Roots:
Genealogy - The Next Level

Presented by Terry Prall

The free all-day workshop was organized by Willard Library and sponsored by the Tri-State Genealogical Society. About 60 to 70 people attended one or more of the four power point sessions that were conducted by Mr. Prall of Avon, Indiana near Indianapolis.

Feedback & reaction by those attending was very positive. There were some great book vendors present in the park with genealogical research materials from maps & CD's to books & other interesting items. I would like to thank the members of TSGS who volunteered to help along with the Willard Library staff & Curt Martin. And, thanks to TSGS for putting up money to make this free workshop a success!

- Photos taken & submitted by JGWest