Live is a span, a fleeting hour

Asbury Cemetery in Columbus is not only well maintained, but they have done a good job of repairing some of the older tombstones, such as this one for Zechariah Algire. Despite the top 3/4 of the stone having broken off at one point, it is still remarkably legible.

The top features a broken column, symbolizing a life cut short. It is also signed by the stonecarver, J. W. Jungkurth of Lithopolis.

Zechariah Algire, Asbury Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio. Photo by Amy Crow, 9 June 2009; all rights reserved.

“In memory
of
ZECHARIAH
ALGIRE
born Decemr 1st 1813
died March 27th 1844
aged 30 years,
3 months and
26 days.
Life is a span, a fleeting hour.
How soon the vapour flies.
Man is a tender, transient flow’r
That e’en in blooming dies.
J. W. Jungkurth
Lithopolis”

Tombstone Tuesday: John C. Coble, “lovely bud so young and fair”

[NOTE: I also published this on Amy's Genealogy, etc. Blog.]

John C. Coble tombstone, Asbury Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio. Photo taken by Amy Crow 9 June 2009; all rights reserved.

This tombstone is in Asbury Cemetery in Madison Township, Franklin County, Ohio, near the intersection of Noe-Bixby Road and Winchester Pike. It is in excellent condition. I love the epitaph.

“In
memory of
John C.
Son of John and
Jane Coble.
born Augt 3th 1838.
died Septr. 17th 1840.
aged 2 years,
1 month and 14 days.
This lovely bud so young
and fair,
Called hence by early doom
Just came to show how
sweet a flower
In paradise would bloom.”

Zinc tombstones, Union Grove Cemetery

 

Monumental Bronze Company inscription, Union Grove Cemetery, Canal Winchester, Ohio. Photo by Amy Crow, taken 24 June 2008; all rights reserved.

I love zinc (aka white bronze) tombstones. I find a bit ironic that cemeteries across the country discouraged or banned the installation of them because they were seen as being tacky, but now they are the most legible tombstones. 

 

Zinc/white bronze tombstones were manufactured by the Monumental Bronze Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Subsidiaries/distributors in Detroit, Chicago, and Des Moines and their work can be found across the United States. However, their years of production were very short — 1875 to 1912.

Customers could chose a variety of motifs. Panels on the sides of the marker could bear words or motifs (and sometimes both). Customization, such as the inscription, was cast in separate plates that would be screwed into a standard base.

Both of these tombstones are found in Union Grove Cemetery in Canal Winchester, Ohio. The taller tombstone for the Rager family is a more typical zinc tombstone. The Grace Courtright marker with the praying child is much more unusual. It stands approximately 2.5 feet tall. I’ve never seen another zinc marker like it. If you’ve seen another one, please leave a comment and let me know.

 

Rager monument, Union Grove Cemetery, Canal Winchester, Ohio. Photo by Amy Crow, taken 24 June 2008; all rights reserved.

 

Grace Courtright marker, Union Grove Cemetery, Canal Winchester, Ohio. Photo by Amy Crow, taken 24 June 2008; all rights reserved.

Our Only Son

This moving tribute to Samuel J. Dick, “Our only son,” is in Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus.

Samuel J. Dick tombstone, Green Lawn Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio. Photo by Amy Crow, taken 2 April 2007; all rights reserved.

“Our only Son / Saml. J. Dick / 1st. Lieut. 18th U.S.I. / born / Dec. 28, 1836 / killed / Dec. 28, 1864″

Samuel J. Dick was born in Pennsylvania. In 1860, 23-year-old Samuel was living in the 3rd Ward of Columbus with Joseph (age 56) and Martha (age 54) Dick. The only other person with that surname living in the household was 19-year-old Jennie.(1) Although it isn’t proof, my theory is that Joseph and Martha were Samuel’s parents.

Samuel enlisted in the 18th U.S. Infantry in 1861 and became a 2nd Lieutenant in June 1862. He was “engaged in battle at Murfreesboro’, action of Hoover’s Gap, and battle of Chickamauga. Mustering Officer of a Division, 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, 1863 and 1864. Engaged at the siege of Chattanooga, Atlanta campaign, and in several Cavalry actions.(2) He died of disease in Nashville, Tennessee on December 28, 1864.(3)

Samuel’s mother applied for a pension based on her son’s service on 12 June 1865 (application 97401). The pension index card does not list a certificate number, likely indicated that her pension claim was denied.(4)

Sources:
1. Joseph Dick household, 1860 federal census (population), Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio, p. 202, nos. 1163/1273. Image viewed on FamilySearch.org.
2. Guy V. Henry, Military Records of Civilian Appointments in the United States Army, vol. II, (New York: D. Van Nostrand, 1873), 79.
3. Thomas V. Van Horne, George Henry Thomas, and Edward Ruger, History of the Army of the Cumberland (Cincinnati, OH: R. Clarke, 1875), 437.
4. Samuel J. Dick, Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900, National Archives publication T289. Image viewed on Footnote.com.

Mr. and Mrs. and Mrs. Smith

No, the title of this post is not a typo. It reflects the people listed on this interesting tombstone in Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus. I wish my ancestors’ tombstones had so much information!

David, Rhoda and Harriet Smith, Green Lawn Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio. Photo taken by Amy Crow, 2 April 2007; all rights reserved.

In memory of
David Smith, son of John Smith and Elizabeth Campbell Smith of Francestown, N.H, born Oct. 2, 1785 and died Feb. 1, 1865
also
of Rhoda S. Smith, wife of David Smith and daughter of James F. Mitchell and Hannah Leitch [?] Mitchell of Haverhill, Mass, born August 22, 1785 and died August 19, 1819
also
of Harriet B. Smith, wife of David Smith and sister of Rhoda S. Smith, born December 23, 1802 and died August 11, 1833.

Louis Fuller, Mayflower Descendant

In honor of Thanksgiving, I am posting the grave of Louis Samuel Fuller, descendant of pilgrim Edward Fuller. Louis was born in Colebrook, Ashtabula County, Ohio, the son of Samuel and Grace (Bently) Fuller. His tombstone gives his date of birth as 1 April 1860, while his death certificate lists it as 1 April 1859. The 1860 census in Colebrook lists his age as 1/12, making the 1860 date more likely. Louis was appointed the pastor of Winchester Methodist Church in 1901. He died in Columbus on 29 April 1928 and is buried in Union Grove Cemetery, Canal Winchester, Franklin County.

 

Grave of Rev. Louis Samuel Fuller, Union Grove Cemetery, Canal Winchester, Ohio. Photo by Amy Crow, 24 June 2008. All rights reserved.

Sources:

Bareis, George F. History of Madison Township, Including Groveport and Canal Winchester, Franklin County, Ohio. Canal Winchester, OH: George Bareis, 1902.

Grave of Rev. Louis Samuel Fuller, Union Grove Cemetery, Canal Winchester, Ohio. Photo by Amy Crow, 24 June 2008.

Louis Fuller death certificate, certificate 22827 (1928), digitized image, http://pilot.familysearch.org.

Samuel Fuller household, 1860 federal census (population), Colebrook, Ashtabula County, Ohio, p. 164, nos. 1468/1315.

Woody Hayes

[originally posted on Amy's Genealogy, etc. Blog] In honor of this Saturday’s Ohio State/Michigan game (the greatest rivalry in college football!), I’m featuring the grave of legendary OSU football Woody Hayes. Woody and his wife Anne are buried in Union Cemetery in Columbus, not far from the OSU campus.

Although he will always be known for being the coach of the Buckeyes, Woody was also an incredible history buff. He also served in the U.S. Navy in World War II and left the service with the rank of lieutenant commander. An excellent biography of Woody Hayes can be found on the WOSU-TV website.

Wayne Woodrow (Woody) Hayes, Union Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio. Photo by Amy Crow, 29 August 2008, all rights reserved.

The verse reads:

“And in the night of death, hope sees a star
and listening love hears the rustle of a wing.”

Veterans Day

Last April, I took the better part of a day and went through Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus. In honor of Veterans Day, I am posting one of my photos from that day.

Veterans Section, Green Lawn Cemetery, Columbus. Photo by Amy Crow, 2 April 2007. All rights reserved.

Tour of Groveport Cemetery

The October 30, 2008 Columbus Dispatch has a neat article about a living history tour of Groveport Cemetery. I hope to get down there sometime soon and get some pictures. (Surprisingly, I’ve never been there!)

Granny Chick

From Pioneer Cemetery, Westerville, Franklin County, Ohio. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find her obituary. I’d like to know more about a 90-year-old woman who will forever be referred to as “Granny Chick”!

 

Freda S. Benton: