Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Cemeteries Worth the Visit: Lexington Cemetery, Lexington, Kentucky


Lexington, Kentucky

Lexington Cemetery, located in Lexington, Kentucky, is the second largest cemetery in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  It is a private, non-profit cemetery, comprised of 170 acres with over 64,000 buried there.  Cemetery officials estimated that this amount of land should enable the cemetery to continue burying for at least two centuries.


It is believed that the cholera epidemic was a driving force in getting the city fathers to consider creating a cemetery away from where the main population lived.   The cemetery was incorporated in 1848.  Architect Julius Adams designed the cemetery in the Gothic Romanesque style as a ‘rural cemetery,’ with natural wooded areas and lakes in a park-like setting.

The first plot was sold in August 1849 for the interment of Lexington businessman, Robert S. Boyd who had died of cholera.  Boyd had been buried in the Episcopal Cemetery, but was moved to Lexington Cemetery on October 2, 1849 and laid to rest there, along with his infant son.  By the end of 1850, almost ninety burials had taken place, including the reinterrment of several who had been buried in other community graveyards.

Original Gateway
In 1849, bids were gathered for the construction of a central cemetery entrance gateway and buildings.  In all, almost $3,000 was spent for the three arched stone and iron gateways, which were flanked by a reception room and office.  Above the east gate, the inscription read, “Lexington Cemetery, Founded A.D. 1849.”  Over the west gate was carved, “City of the Dead.”

There are many notables buried in Lexington Cemetery. Among the numerous politicians, authors, businessmen, and sports figures, lie some of history’s famous.
  
Clay's Monument
Henry Clay
Henry Clay, known as “The Great Compromiser,” is buried here.  Clay served as a lawyer, U.S. Congressman, Senator, and U.S. Secretary of State.  He ran for President three times but was unsuccessful in his bids. Clay died June 29, 1852 in Washington, D.C.  His body was born 1,200 miles back to Lexington by train, barge and carriage.  His friends and fellow politicians worked diligently for the next five years in order to purchase, what they felt was, a suitable monument, at the cost of $43,920, to be erected for Clay.   The cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1857 and the monument was completed in 1861.  Clay’s body was not moved to the new monument due to the start of the Civil War.  But three years later, both his and his wife’s bodies were interred there in 1864.  The Clay monument is the only marker in the cemetery’s Section M.


John H. Morgan
Morgan's Grave
John Hunt Morgan, well-known Confederate General of the Civil War, is also buried here.  Morgan is best remembered for Morgan’s Raid, where he led his men, on horseback, over 1,000 miles, from Tennessee, through Kentucky, into Indiana, and over into southern Ohio.  This was the farthest point north any uniformed Confederate troops ever reached during the war.  Captured and held in a federal prison in Ohio, Morgan managed to escape by tunneling out. He was shot and killed September 4, 1864 during a raid in Tennessee.


The Sweep of Cholera 
William 'King" Solomon
Although not rich with wealth, William “King” Solomon showed his mettle during the cholera outbreak. Over 500 Lexington residents died in eight weeks during the 1833 epidemic.  While the majority of the city fled, Solomon, an indentured servant, stayed of his own accord.  He dug graves for the victims for over two months, working during the day and sleeping in the cemetery at night. It is said that the following autumn, Solomon was sitting in the back of a courtroom, awaiting the proceedings, when the presiding judge stepped down from his bench and approached him.  The judge reached out and shook his hand as a manner of thanking him for his service to the city during the epidemic.  No sooner had the judge turned, than the entire room lined up to express their appreciation as well.  Solomon had been recognized for his valor in the face of death.


Confederate Soldier Monument
Lexington Cemetery is the site of two military monuments and a National Cemetery.  The Confederate Soldier Monument was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997 as part of the Civil War Monuments of Kentucky.  It depicts a Confederate soldier looking off, as if in thought. The names of the Confederate dead on inscribed on the base.

Ladies Confederate Memorial
Behind this the Ladies Confederate Memorial is located.  It was erected in 1874 and also placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.  This monument touches you and seems to sum up the heartache and sorrow felt for all who died for the Confederacy during the war.  Designed by George W. Ranck, of Lexington, the monument shows a draped marble cross, surrounded by a broken sword, a broken flagstaff and lilies. It is believed that the monument was inspired by Confederate Chaplin, Father Abram Joseph Ryan who wrote this poem:

Father Abram J. Ryan
The Conquered Banner

Furl that banner, softly, slowly!
Treat it gently – it is holy –
For it droops above the dead.
Touch it not – unfold it never.
Let it droop there, furled forever,
For its people’s hope are dead!
                                    ~ Abram Joseph Ryan


A paper found in the front of one of the cemetery interment books states that between October 4, 1861 and July 26, 1865, there were 828 U.S. white volunteers, 40 U.S. colored Volunteers and 97 disloyals buried here.  Another 965 Union dead were also interred in the Union section of the cemetery. After the war, the U.S. government purchased an adjoining 16,111 feet in the Union cemetery and had the area designated as a national cemetery.  The Southern section was released to the Confederate Veterans Association in 1891.  The CVA purchased another 510 square feet of land in 1892.  Two more lots were purchased bringing the total of the Southern section to 853 square feet.  All sections in the national cemetery are now filled and no new burials are allowed here.

A Family Tree
The Lexington Cemetery offers assistance with genealogical research.  The web page has a section for researchers at http://www.lexcem.org/index.cfm/genealogy.html.   It tells how to request help and how to schedule an appointment.  Anyone with information they would like to have added to the cemetery’s genealogical files should contact them.


The Lexington Cemetery also has the designation as an arboretum with over 200 species of trees.  Self-guided tree walks can be conducted with the assistance of maps available at the cemetery office.  This is a cemetery that changes dramatically with each passing season and can be enjoyed anew every few months.


There are numerous markers and stones throughout the cemetery that will captivate you, and all have a story to tell.  Be sure to grab a map when you enter and take your time when wandering among the stones.  There are hidden jewels everywhere!  Take the opportunity to search for them.



The Lexington Cemetery is open everyday from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M.  It is located at 833 West Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky 40508.  The phone number is (859) 255-5522.  For more information, visit their web site at http://www.lexcem.org/ or visit their FaceBook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lexington-Cemetery/23514189569. For information contact them at info@lexcem.org
 






Adventure abounds in the Lexington Cemetery.  It is a perfect example of a ‘rural cemetery,’ one where nature blends seamlessly within the city.  If you plan on visiting, take the day to enjoy it.  There is so much to see and do, you’ll be glad you did!



~ Joy

Friday, August 5, 2011

Friendship Day in the Cemetery


Joyce Hall
Friendship Day is celebrated on August 7th of this year.  Yes, there is actually a day to remember and honor your friends!  In fact, Friendship Day began in 1919 when Hallmark card founder, Joyce Hall, dedicated the first Sunday in August to honoring friends - in order to sell more cards.  The public saw through the ruse quickly and refused to take part in the commercialism gimmick.  

August 2011
In 1935, Congress declared the first Sunday of August as a day to honor friends.   The U.S. public still resisted the holiday and eventually it died out in this country.  But, as time went on, the day began to be celebrated in other countries such as Asia, India, and parts of South America.




Group Hug

Now, the Internet allows greetings to be sent, sans cards and Friendship Day is again catching on.  In 1998, United Nations General Assembly declared that July 30th would be celebrated as International Friendship Day around the world, and Winnie-the-Pooh was named the World’s Ambassador of Friendship.  But the first Sunday in August is still the preferred date to celebrate around the world.


So, with Friendship Day fast approaching, I thought it would be fitting to explore something in the cemetery that always makes me feel like I am being welcomed by a friend; those ‘memorial benches.’  



They come in many shapes and sizes, but all offer us a place to sit and remember loved ones and friends.  Many times the bench is used as an alternative to a headstone. 
And, yes, it is actually meant to be used as a resting place to contemplate the life of someone dear, or, possibly your own.


Many provide a place for the engraving of names, dates, artwork and photos.  The bench gravestone may also be used as a cremation memorial with the urn placed in the bench leg.  Bench tombstones are usually about 48” long, 14 to 16” wide and around 18” tall.


Since cemeteries lend themselves to memories and reflection, a bench seems very appropriate as a headstone, creating a place to enjoy the peace and quiet of the cemetery, the park-like surroundings, and your memories.  

So take some time this weekend, find a nice bench somewhere and remember those you love, those who are gone, and those who have made your life richer with their friendship.

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead.
Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow.
Just walk beside me and be my friend.
                                      - Albert Camus

Happy Friendship Day!

~ Joy

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Day Two of the Midwest Family History Expo

WOW! What a day yesterday was. Excellent presentations at the Midwest Family History Expo.

Learned more about using Google Earth to create interactive tours of your ancestor's lives. Amazing!! Also how to locate missing relatives using some of the same procedures Private Investigators do. And found out the latest at the National Archives.

There just wasn't enough time to attend all of the sessions I would have loved to.  Everyone is amazed and thrilled at how far family research has come, thanks to the Internet.  And more changes are on the way...just making it easier for us to find our ancestors.  : )



Met great people and had a blast!  But now it's time to head back to the South!

~ Joy

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Midwest Family Expo Update:

Attended Day 1 of the Midwest Family History Expo yesterday!

Though the weather in Kansas City is HOT (Temps in the low to mid 100's) the Expo has been very COOL!!







Went to sessions with Ruby Coleman who talked about Networking on the Internet.

Lisa Louise Cooke
M. Bridget Cook
Lisa Louise Cooke - a Google dynamo - held two sessions on what you can really do with Google regarding family history.  I think she's doing things even Google doesn't know how to do yet ; )

And,  M. Bridget Cook discussed 25 ways to write compelling true stories.  A very interesting person who knows how to connect with her audience!  Met some great people from around Kansas and Missouri at dinner!



Saw a great T-shirt that said "I seek dead people." ; )

I present a session at 2:30 today called....'A Grave Interest - Digging Into Cemetery Research!"  I'm sooo excited to be a part of this : D

~ Joy

Friday, July 29, 2011

Forgotten Assets

I am in Kansas City, Kansas, attending and presenting at the Midwest Family History Expo this weekend!  I have not attended this conference before, but with over 80 presentations offered, this looks to be a very busy and informative two days!  I will talk about cemetery research on Saturday and show some examples of what we "Tombstone Tourists' love to do.

Unfortunately, in all of my excitement in getting everything ready....I left my blog research and pics for today's blog on my home computer, back in Lexington.  My apologies!  Look for it next Friday.

This coming Tuesday, we'll take a look at the Lexington (Kentucky) Cemetery in our monthly 'Cemeteries Worth the Visit' blog!

Have a great weekend!

~ Joy

Friday, July 22, 2011

Public Enemy Number One – John Dillinger

John H. Dillinger
America’s number one gangster was killed on July 22, 1934 at the Biograph Theatre, betrayed by the infamous ‘Lady in Red.’  In the short period of time, from May 1933 to July 1934, Dillinger robbed over ten banks throughout the Midwest, killed 10 men, wounded seven and staged three jail breaks in which a sheriff was killed and two guards were injured.

He was born John Herbert Dillinger in the Oak Hill section of Indianapolis Indiana on June 22, 1903.  His parents were John Wilson Dillinger, a grocer, and Mollie Lancaster.  Dillinger’s mother died when he was three.  His father remarried when John was nine, but he bitterly resented his stepmother. 

Dillinger Farm - Mooresville, Indiana
At the age of sixteen, Dillinger dropped out of school and began working at a machine shop in Indianapolis. It was during this period that he fell in with the wrong crowd.  His father, worried that John was hanging with the wrong element, moved his family to a farm near Mooresville, Indiana.  The move did little to tame John’s nature and he was soon in trouble with the law.  He enlisted in the Navy, but ended up deserting.

Beryl Hovious
In 1924 he married 16-year-old Beryl Hovious.  They moved to Indianapolis where Dillinger searched but could not find work.  He again became involved with the criminal element.  He and another man were accused of robbing a grocer of $555.  Dillinger, following his father’s advice, pleaded guilty and was given the maximum sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison.  He was paroled almost nine years later, bearing a grudge against the law - and some in-prison training on the finer aspects of bank robbing from Walter Dietrich.

Indiana State Prison - 1927
Dillinger's Fingerprint Chart
Dillinger now had a score to settle with the cops.  He began robbing banks and taunting police.  He was arrested on September 22, 1933 in Dayton, Ohio and held in the county jail.  On October 12, four “guards” arrived at the jail in order to pick Dillinger up and return him to the Indiana State Prison.  When proof was requested, one of the “guards” pulled a gun, shot the sheriff, and locked the sheriff’s wife and deputy in a cell.  They then released Dillinger and all five made their getaway.

Dillinger and his gang began staging bank robberies throughout the Midwest.  The FBI became involved, due to the dangerous nature of Dillinger and his group.  Armed with machine guns, ammunition and bulletproof vests, Dillinger and his gang began knocking over banks in earnest.  They were apprehended on January 23, 1934, along with $25,000 in cash.





Dillinger with Gun
Dillinger was being held in the Crown Point, Indiana jail, awaiting trail, when he staged a notorious jailbreak, stole a sheriff’s car and drove to Chicago.  Once there, he hooked up with Homer Van Meter, Eddie Green, Tommy Carroll and Lester Gillis – better known as ‘Baby Face Nelson’   - the four comprising Dillinger’s gang.

The gang continued robbing banks, until FBI agents located where the Dillinger was staying.  When agents tried to arrest Dillinger, someone armed with a machine gun sprayed the hallway of the apartment building and Dillinger escaped, along with Van Meter. Green later died of his wounds.

Baby Face Nelson
Little Bohemia Lodge
Dillinger and Van Meter then robbed a police station in Warsaw, Indiana of guns and bulletproof vests.  They proceeded to a summer resort known as Little Bohemia Lodge, near Rhinelander, Wisconsin where they met up with Baby Face Nelson.  The FBI was in hot pursuit and cornered Nelson in a car where he was holding three local residents hostage at gunpoint.  When Nelson saw the police he opened fire on them, killing one and severely wounding two others.   Meanwhile, Dillinger had fled the lodge.


Melvin Purvis
J. Edgar Hoover
In Washington, FBI Director, J. Edgar Hoover became involved.  A special squad of agents, headed by Melvin Purvis, was set up, intent on the capture of John Dillinger, dead or alive. 






Wanted Poster
Dillinger was declared America’s first “Public Enemy Number One” and a reward of $10,000 dollars was offered for his capture.

Anna Sage
On July 21, 1934 Anna Sage (Ana Cumpanas) a Rumania immigrant and well-known brothel madam, contacted the police and offered to lead them to Dillinger in return for the prevention of her deportation and some cash.  Agents agreed.  She told them she would be wearing a red dress when she was with Dillinger. (It was actually an orange skirt and white blouse.)

Biography Theatre
On Sunday, July 22, at 8:30 P.M. Anna, Polly Hamilton and John Dillinger went to the Biograph Theatre in Chicago to see Manhattan Melodrama –a gangster film. 





Dillinger's Gun
At 10:30 P.M., Dillinger and his two companions exited the theatre.  Dillinger was able to pull his gun before being shot three times by FBI agents.  John Dillinger died at 10:50 p.m. at Alexin Brothers Hospital.







Crowd Viewing Body
Dillinger was taken to the funeral home in Mooresville, Indiana where close to 10,000 people viewed his body.  












Dillinger Family Stone
John Dillinger's Grave
He was then buried in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, next to his parents.  He was 31 years old.

~ Joy