The first “baby in a shell” headstone I had ever seen was in a large garden cemetery known for a somewhat elite clientele. In October, I encountered another example of this artistic style of carved stone in a small cemetery in rural Wisconsin. The epitaph reads “here lies at rest Emely Skoba born 3 august…
My transcription above is exactly as the notices appeared in the December 5, 1903 issue of the Chicago Daily News
A lovely old church in rural Wisconsin stands watch over members who have passed. Visiting genealogists must love the alphabetical directory posted outside.
October is Family History Month. I’m often awed by the genealogical clues hidden in obituaries, which is why I post them here and share them on Find A Grave. The image on the left is a snip from the Deaths column that appeared on page 20 of the Chicago Daily News on October 7, 1912. Most of…
“The many friends of Mrs. Mary E. Schmitt will learn with regret of her death, which occurred at her home, on Calhoun street, early yesterday morning. Mrs. Schmitt was the daughter of the late John Kauffman, the brewer, who founded the Kauffman Brewing Company, and wife of Emil[e] Schmitt, general manager of the concern. She…
According to Wikipedia, lichens “are among the first living things to grow on fresh rock…”. I’m accustomed to seeing headstones affected by lichen. But unruly amounts of lichen tend to be found only on older headstones. Or so I thought until I visited the Mauston City Cemetery operated by the Mauston Cemetery Association in Mauston Wisconsin. Mauston…
Cemetery field trips were just one of the highlights of our visit to Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Many thanks to our hosts; family and friends who always make our visits so much fun. Our first stop on this particular trip was breakfast at Perkins Family Restaurant & Bakery, 1720 North Broadway, Menomonie, Wisconsin. Our experience there can be summed…
The drive to Chicago was overcast and drizzly. That evening tornadoes touched down in towns to the north and west of us. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the people affected by these devastating acts of nature. Day Two dawned sunny and warm. We were relieved as we had hoped to visit several Chicago cemeteries…
John Kauffman’s daughter Maria Elizabeth married my 2nd great-grandmother’s brother Emile Schmitt in the 19th century. Emile became an executive in John’s business, the Kauffman Brewery. The brewery flourished making John, his partner, and many others in the business very wealthy men. John Kauffman rests in Cincinnati’s historic Spring Grove Cemetery across the plot from his former business…
The grave is supposed to be in here… But where? Maybe there? Feeling around for the edges… Marking out the shape… Clearing away the debris… Trimming the grass… Sweeping off the surface… Brushing out the engraving… Claiming a place in the row… Gone but not forgotten. Sometimes…if you are still for just a moment…you can…
where2look4ancestors 