Grave garden (April Fool's cemetery)

 

Taken at not a cemetery but the Antique Rose Emporium.

Here, resting in pieces the broken pottery of flower pots. The markers, you'll notice, are uniquely crafted from shovel heads.

For St. Patrick's Day

 This monument has it all: torches, a Celtic cross...

...biographic details...

John B. Killourhy
Born May 6, 1842
at the cliffs of Moher
County Clare
Ireland.
Died July 9, 1904.

...an angel-harp...and so many shamrocks!

A good guy* (for Women's History Month)

Vir bonus cuius benevolentia in exemplum transiit.
A good man whose benevolence has become an example.

To
the memory of
JACOB ADAMS,
The liberal founder of
"Adams Female Academy,"
the First endowed Literary
Institution established in
New England for the especial
benefit of females.
Born Jan. 14, 1785
Died Aug. 10, 1822

Erected in grateful remembrance
by the Trustees of
A.F.A.

 

According to the Mount Holyoke College Archives collection description:

Adams Female Academy opened in April of 1824. It was funded by a $4000 endowment from Jacob Adams in 1823. Located in Derry, New Hampshire, it was one of the first academies in New England devoted solely to the education of girls. Zilpah P. Grant (later Banister) was the first principal and Mary Lyon was her assistant. The Academy had a high reputation, attracting students from all over New England. The school remained open until 1886, then it was merged into the co-educational Derry School system in 1887.

The collection scope of New Hampshire Historical Society's collection of Adams' estate papers notes:

Without family or heirs, Adams left approximately four thousand dollars for the founding of the Adams Female Academy in Derry, NH.

 

More:

• Nutfield Genealogy (blog): Adams Female Academy, 1824
• Derry News: Column: A lesson in school discipline from another century 

 

 

*with the natural caveat being, of course, that I know nothing about the guy's character, etc. Still, education for girls! Great!

Unthanksgiving Day

 In honor of the Thanksgiving mythology (emphasis on the myth), the grave of Joc-O-Sot: The Walking Bear, a distinguished Sauk Chief, 1810-1844.

• Portrait
• "In June 1844, Joc-O-Sot was received in audience by Queen Victoria. Very much impressed by Joc-O-Sot, the queen commissioned a portrait of him by her royal lithographers, Day and Hague." - per Case Western biography 
• Wikipedia for Joc-O-Sot 
• The Cincinnati Enquirer 1844 clipping
  

At home

A couple cozy, homey scenes.

From Metairie Cemetery, New Orleans:

You know she's wearing a cardigan because the pocket is sagging with the weight of whatever's in there. Lovely details.

 

 

Bottinelli matriarch

From Mt. Hope Cemetery in Vermont:

A couple going to bed for their eternal rest. "Set me as a seal upon thine heart for love is strong as death." - Song of Songs, 8:6.

Happy death day to Hannah Emmons (Halloween bonus post)

 

Here lyes ye Body of Thomas
Emmons who Died May 24
1731 in ye 29th Year of His Age.

Alfo Here lyes ye Body of
Hannah Emmons Wife to Thos.
Emmons Who Died Octobr. 31
17[29 in ye 21st Year] of her Age

Bit of a bummer for Hannah to have died before her husband only to receive second billing on their gravestone and to be only named once while her husband is named twice in full! However, fantastic handwriting and fierce winged skulls.

Gorey vibes

 Love this one -- it's well-preserved with crisp details and very striking. The simplicity and scale of the design makes it stand out even as a thumbnail, and it feels somehow more modern than its neighbors. It gives me Edward Gorey vibes -- and I'm not the only one!

To
The Memory
of
JOHN HURD junr.
an officer in the late
Mafsa Line of the
Continental Army
obit 20th Augst.
1784
Ano. AEt. 24.


To this fad fhrine who ere thou are draw near
Here lies the Friend moft lov'd, the Son moft dear
Who ne'er knew Joy, but Friendfhip might divide
Or gave his Father Grief but when he died.

Happy autumn! (bonus post)

 Finally, autumn. Shorter days, the harvest, death -- the best time of year. I've got for you a memento mori -- a winged hourglass, this time -- crossed by a cross and a scythe.

From Greenwood Cemetery, New Orleans, LA, for William H. Preis. Died May 4, 1909, aged 57 years.

Angels with attitude

 From Forest Hill Cemetery, New Derry, NH:

... a his-and-hers gravestone with two angels that seem unimpressed with visitors.

 

From the Masonic Cemetery in Chappell Hill, TX:

... a softer, happier -- dare I say dopier? -- angel.

From Pine Grove Cemetery in Brunswick, ME:

...I'm sure this is a look of quiet serenity but it gives me a side-eye vibe.

 

Mexican-American War casualty

 From Pine Grove Cemetery, Brunswick, ME:

Moses Emery Merrill.
Capt. U.S.A. born Dec. 2, 1803: Graduated at West Point June 1826: Fell in battle, at Molino del Rey, in Mexico. Sept. 8, 1847. son of Roger & Sarah Merrill.

Reverent toward God, just and generous, a brave soldier, a true Man.
Peace to his ashes.

He did apparently leave behind at least one son, who has a short Wikipedia article about him summarizing, mainly, his Civil War service.

Centenarian Obelisk

 150 years ago, Jacob G. Miller, soldier of 1812, died on Sept. 2 in the 100th year of his age. Good for him!

This detail is near the base of a fairly detailed obelisk that sports an urn set in a little portico space, an anchor, some nice zig-zags, and the drapery around the mid-section has a delicate, almost lacy profile compared to the usual heavy-looking drapery we see.

This marker also commemorates:

Mary Johnson,
Wife of Jacob G. Miller,
Died April 30, 1840,
Aged 80 years.

(And coincidentally, I'm drafting this post on April 30, 2022 - the 182nd anniversary of her death day.)

Back to School Books

 

From Metairie Cemetery, New Orleans:

From Walnut Grove, Syracuse, New York:

From Greenwood Cemetery, New Orleans:

 

 

From Gibson Chapel Rural Cemetery, Cortland, NY:

 

Pops of color/colorful equines

 From South Onondaga Cemetery, Syracuse (-area), NY:

From Greenwood Cemetery, New Orleans, LA:

Some religious stained glass

From Rome Cemetery, Rome, NY:

90% sure this is the Good Samaritan

The exterior:

Note the stained glass set into the dormers.

From Metairie Cemetery, New Orleans, LA:

Symbolism Maximalism

 Fancy obelisk time, from Riverview Cemetery in Baldwinsville, NY:

Overall, typical obelisk. Got the draped tip and a wreath around it...

Rather than being for one person or family, this obelisk honors members of the Mohegan Lodge No. 33 of the International Order of Odd Fellows, instituted 1846. If you zoom in on the first picture, you'll see long lists of names (even a couple running onto the curved bit of the base).

Appropriately, they went wild on including symbols on the different faces of this interstitial plinth.

• Tent and crooks
• the all-seeing eye
• IOOF chain links

• a smokey urn (lamp?) on a pedestal [officially: altar of incense]
  

• fasces with scales - this one seems to be a combo of the IOOF sword balancing scales + bundle of sticks (not fasces)
  
• bow with 3 arrows
• clasped hands
• mother and children
  

• 3 chain links with axe
• heart in hand
• dove with olive branch
• open book (a bible)

 

Learn about these symbols:

• Odd Fellowship: Its History and Manual (1895) by Theodore A. Ross. Chapter 11 covers Emblems, Regalia, and Jewels.
  
• Bullock Museum: Independent Order of Odd Fellows Tracing Board
• tent, heart in hand, chain links, sword and scale, bow and arrows, bundle of sticks
• Off Fellows Guide: The Lost Symbols of Odd Fellowship
  
• chain links with axe
• Wisconsin Historical Society: Odd Fellows Poster
• dove, all-seeing eye, heart in hand, bible
• Garland IOOF Lodge #304: Odd Fellow Art
• no explanatory notes, but offers a slideshow of historic posters and other art depicting symbols

Related:

• Gravely Speaking post on an OOF cemetery gate
  

Run-over Parentheses (and bonus typo)

From the Old South Burying Ground in Connecticut:

When the epitaph runs longer than the stone is wide... A consistent little stylistic touch on several stones to mark where a dangling line belonged to the previous.

In memory of Maj. Tubal Case. who died Jan. 7th 1822, in the 59th Year of his age. 

Come hither mortals turn ( thine eye, / Then go thy way prepare ( to die, / Consider then that die you ( must, / One day like me return to dust.

His name does indeed seem to have been Tubal. The first round of searching for "Major Tubal Case" is... decidedly gynecological. He pops up on some ancestry sites, though, and is listed among Continental Army soldiers in this History of Tolland County. (There are some other amazing names in there, too: Amaziah, Jabez, Eliphalet, Eleazer... Seems like there used to be a lot more male names starting with E in circulation back in the day.)

Mrs. Rube Brewfter wife of Mr. Jeffe Brewfter died Nov. 28th 1796 in ye 42d Year of her age.
All you that come with (little care / Tthat [sic] walk away and ( leave me here / Oh dont forget that you [...]

And yes, a typo! An actually typo and not just unexpected spelling. 

Bummer -- chiseling in a whole unnecessary extra letter.

Mr. Elijah Wright died Dec. 23d 1802 in ye 73d Year of his age.  
I yield my body to the ( dust / My foul to God that gave ( it first / And at the refurrection ( day / My God will raif3 my [...]

Mrs. Temperance, wife of Mr. Elijah Wright, died April 2ed 1804 in ye 80th Year of her age. 
Great God I own the ( fentence juft / And nature muft decay. I yield my Body to the ( duft, / To dwell with fellow clay.

And from Forest Hill Cemetery in East Derry, New Hampshire,

Here lies the Body of Mrs. Mary Crifty [Cristy] (wife of Mr. Jeffe Crifty) who departed this Life Decr ye 24th 1776 Aged 79 years.

Throwback symbol

 This poor stone had seen better days when I visited it, but all the vital areas are still in tact. From Oak Grove Cemetery in Americus, GA:

My Husband,
MILTON A. BATTLE
Died April 14th 1852
Aged 31Yr 5Mo 22Da

 

Of note to me is the winged hourglass motif hanging in there to the 1850s. Would it have seemed a little old-fashioned at this point? I've got a 1909 example in my collection, but usually they crop up more in the 18th century. (There could be a northern vs southern distinction, perhaps...? 1909 was in Louisiana; this one is in Georgia.)

Blackout curtains, lost at sea - summer delights

 Tasseled drapery is a very common motif in a certain era, but this pair manages to feel particularly closed off in its arrangement. (Note, too, how wife Fannie's stone is more petite compared to husband Richard's.)

Front/north view:

Epitaphs (as transcribed in Cheetham, Donald, and Mark Cheetham. Pine Grove Cemetery, Bath Road, Brunswick, Maine, Cumberland County. Vol. 1, 2005. Richard's is pretty illegible to me.):

Richard's:
Fanny, we meet to part no more
and bud of them shall not fall to the grave
without your father.

Fannie's:
But Fannie dear we'll meet again
for thy few sins have been forgiven
and thou hast gone with God to reign
an angel fair and bright in heaven.

Side view:

Rear/south view is very plain but offers more details. The couple died about a year apart, both pretty young:

Fannie E.
Wife of
R. L. McManus
Died
Dec. 28, 1857.
Aged 18 yrs. 8 mos.

R. L. McManus
Died
Dec. 7, 1858.
Aged 24 yrs, 10 mos, & 21 days

But look sharp! The obelisk to the far right from earlier in the family plot includes a "lost at sea" note (on the south face):

Capt.
Richard McManus
Born April 1 1795,
Died Sept. 2 1875


Capt.
Nathaniel McManus
Lost at sea 1832 AEt. 35

Map for a passion

 The headstone of Richard Remy Dixon and family includes a unique feature: a little grid map labeled: "Algiers: The Heart of New Orleans."

Perhaps a NOLA native would be more attuned to the name, but I had to Google. Xavier University has a collection of his papers, including an autobiographical sketch.

Dixon was a veteran, historian, writer, and civil service worker born in New Orleans. He was an expert in Algiers history and served as Public Relations Director to the New Orleans Recreation Department, the Roosevelt Hotel, and the City of New Orleans.

They've got the history book on Algiers that he wrote digitized... and just for fun, a photo of Dixon in St. Patrick's day gear.

Poetry

 First post of summer! An epitaph poem that starts off with a call to the warm summer sun.

Warm summer sun shine kindly here.
Warm southern wind, blog softly here.
Green sod above, lie light, lie light.
Good night, dear heart, good night,
                                    good night.

Can a gravestone plagiarize? Mark Twain/Samuel Clemens' epitaph for daughter Susy who is buried in Elmira, NY. (Her stone apparently does give credit to the original!)