Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday - Roy and Ella Homire

Tombstone of Roy and Ella Homire

This is the tombstone of Roy and Ella Homire located at Keystone Cemetery, Kane township, Benton, Iowa. Roy Homire is my half-first cousin, three times removed. Roy's grandmother Charlotte (Kiesel-Homire) is my 3rd great grandmother, but by her 2nd husband. Roy is the son of Lewis and Lena Homire and he is buried in the same row as Lewis Homire and William Kiesel as discussed in the last two weeks.

According to familysearch.org's Iowa birth records, Roy and his brother Rudy were both born November 19, 1903. I don't know if they were identical or fraternal twins. His brother Rudy is buried in Keystone Cemetery, but not near Roy.

Roy Homire and Ella Scheib were married November 26, 1924 in Vinton township, Benton, Iowa according to marriage records on familysearch.org.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Three teens charged with 75 counts each in cemetery vandalism

Cemetery template

I saw this article in today's Wisconsin State Journal. Click through to the article for a photo, but be prepared to be shocked at the damage. I don't think I have any relatives in that cemetery, but it's disgusting that this sort of vandalism happens. Rock Church Cemetery is a rural church in Grant County, Wisconsin, similar to other rural cemeteries.

Three teens charged with 75 counts each in cemetery vandalism
Three teenagers have been charged with 75 counts each of criminal damage for allegedly participating in an early morning vandalism spree that caused at least $500,000 in damage Aug. 10 at Rock Church Cemetery near Livingston in Grant County.
...
Located on Rock Church Road in the town of Clifton, the cemetery is the site of graves dating back before the Civil War. Dozens of gravestones were damaged or broken.

Vandalism at Rock Church Cemetery shocks families, caretakers
...this cemetery, with gravesites dating to before the Civil War, was desecrated during a night last month — 108 headstones and grave markers were damaged...
...They found granite and marble headstones of newer gravesites pushed to the grass and marble stones of older gravesites ripped into pieces. Some stones broke in half; some broke at the ground level; one broke into 13 pieces. ...

Find a Grave has information on 288 interments at the cemetery.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday - Lewis and Lena Homire

Tombstone of Lewis and Lena Homire.
The tombstone of Lewis and Lena Homire

This is the tombstone of Lewis and Lena (Junge) Homire located at Keystone Cemetery, Kane township, Benton County, Iowa.

The Lewis Homire is a half-2nd great grand uncle to me. His mother, Charlotte Kiesel-Homire, was my 3rd great grandmother. I'm not certain what her original maiden name was. After her husband William Kiesel died, in the early 1860s, Charlotte married William Homire and William Homire is the father of Lewis. Her daughter Mary A. Kiesel (with William Kiesel) married Alexander Brown Fowlie. They are my 2nd great grandparents.

The Homire's are buried in a plot adjacent to Henry Kiesel, a half-brother to Lewis Homire.

Kiesel and Homire tombstones
Kiesel plot adjacent to Homire plot


Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday - Henry Kiesel

Henry Kiesel grave site
This is the tombstone of my 2nd great grand uncle Henry Kiesel located at Keystone Cemetery, Kane township, Benton County, Iowa. He was the brother of my 2nd great grandmother Mary A. (Kiesel) Fowlie. He is buried next to two of his wives and near his half brother Lewis Homire.

His two wives were significantly younger. So much so that I initially wondered if they were his daughters. I was able to find an obituary that confirmed that these were his wives. Auguste (Doose or Dozy) was 20 years younger and Marie was 27 years younger than Henry. Unfortunately, I don't have a maiden name for Marie.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday - Jane Fowlie


This is the tombstone of my 2nd great grand aunt Jane Fowlie located at Parkers Grove Cemetery, Canton township, Benton County, Iowa. Jane was the sister of my 2nd great grandfather Alexander Brown Fowlie.

According to my notes, she was born in Scotland. According to the 1880, 1885 and 1900 Census records, she was living with her brother James in Benton County, Iowa. She is buried next to her mother Margaret and brother James. According to the 1900 US census, she immigrated to the United States in 1866 and is listed as never having children.