Tombstone Tuesday - Joseph Fowlie

This is the death and burial record for my 2nd great grand uncle, Joseph Fowlie. He was the brother of my 2nd great grandfather, Alexander Brown Fowlie. The record is from Cherokee Mental Health Institute in Cherokee, Iowa.

Based on census records, Joseph must have been quite close to my 2nd great grandfather, Alexander Fowlie. At the time of the 1870 census, they were living together in Dayton Township, Cedar County, Iowa and working as farm laborers. At the time of the 1880 census, Joseph was living with the Alex and Mary Fowlie and their children in Jackson Township, Benton County, Iowa. In 1890, they were living in the vicinity of Rockwell City, Iowa and "A.B. Fowlie" (Alexander Brown Fowlie) was listed as correspondent at the time of Joseph's admission to the mental hospital at Independence, Iowa.

According to this record he died March 21, 1909 at 6:16PM from Lobar Pneumonia. He was buried at the hospital cemetery in grave #83. I am not certain what the other columns represent, one looks like age, but he was about 80, not 57. I also don't know what "No." 54 meant. So there are a few questions that remain, but this answers the question of burial.

Tombstone Tuesday - Evers plot at Cherokee

This is a photo from a Brassfield family album. It did not have much for a caption, but it is from Oak Hill Cemetery, Cherokee, Iowa and shows the Evers family grave site. I think it dates to the 1920s. The family connection is that Ben Evers married my 2nd great grand mother, Nellie Brassfield. Ben was the step-grand father of my grandfather, Elvis J. Brassfield. These graves are the graves of his parents and other relatives.

Unfortunately the stones are not very readable, so I'll have to try to find out what they say at a later date.

Tombstone Tuesday - John F. Ross Sr.

This is the tombstone of my 2nd great grandfather, John Franklin Ross Sr. located at Lake Creek Cemetery, Lake Creek Township, Calhoun County, Iowa. Click the John F. Ross Sr. label at the bottom of the article to see more articles about him.

Tombstone Tuesday - Velois and Anna Parker

This is the tombstone of Velois D. Parker and his wife Anna B. (Wood) Parker at Wautoma Union Cemetery, Waushara County, Wautoma, Wisconsin. They are my 2nd great grandparents, the parents of Lloyd Parker, my great grandfather.

I have always operated under the assumption that his name was spelled Valois rather than Velois, so when I saw the tombstone, I was a bit surprised. All other electronic records I have found say Valois. Looks like I'm not going to know for sure unless I find a birth or death certificate or something. This wouldn't be the first time a tombstone was spelled wrong, so I'll continue to look for more information.

Tombstone Tuesday - Philander and Harriet Parker

This is the tombstone of Philander Calender Parker and his wife Harriet N. (Palmer) Parker located at Wautoma Union Cemetery, Wautoma, Washara County, Wisconsin. They are my 3rd great grandparents and the parents of my 2nd great grandfather, Valois D. Parker.

Tombstone Tuesday - Samuel and Sarah Hunt

This is the tombstone of Samuel and Sarah (Beistline) Hunt at Blair Cemetery, Blair, Nebraska.Samuel and Sarah are my 3rd great grandparents. They are the parents of my 2nd great grandfather, John Hunt. They are buried in Block: 29 Lot: 9 Graves 10 and 11.

This was a challenging photo environment, so the picture is pretty poor. It was fairly early in the morning, so the stone was lit from behind. I have another from November, but it was very late in the day so it is lit from the glossy side of the stone. Anyway, that's my excuse for the shoddy photography on this one. You might notice the Beistlin tombstone right behind the "NT" in HUNT. It was featured in an article a couple weeks ago.

I don't have much detail on Samuel Hunt beyond the dates on the stone. My notes indicate that he was born in Kimbolton, Guernsey County, Ohio. He was living in Cedar County, Iowa in August 1868 when he was married to Sarah Beistline of Pennsylvania. They moved to Nebraska between 1870 and 1880. Sarah died in 1889. Samuel was living with his son John Hunt at the time of the 1900, 1910 and 1920 census. 

Tombstone Tuesday - J.P. Johnson

This is the tombstone of J.P. and Hannah (Branshus) Johnson at Blair Cemetery, Blair, Washington County, Nebraska. They are my third great grand parents and the parents of Jennie (Johnson) Hunt (1878-1914). According to the 1900 census, they had 17 children, 9 of which were still living as of 1900.
A transcription of the tombstone and more info after the jump...

Tombstone Tuesday - Mary Fowlie and Clarence Hull

This is the tombstone of Mary (Fowlie) and Clarence Hull located at Callender Cemetery, Callender, Webster County, Iowa. Mary Anne Fowlie was my great grand aunt and was the sister of my great grandfather, Frank Brown Fowlie.

Mary was born prior to the move from Benton County to Calhoun County. According to the notes, she was born April 27, 1884 in Garrison, Benton County, Iowa. The family moved to Calhoun County between July 1886 and March 1887. She was the 7th child of 13.

Mary was married to Clarence Edward Hull on May 23, 1908 in Des Moines, Iowa. They were still living in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa at the time of the 1910 census. They never had any children of their own, but in 1920 their 14 year old niece Pearl Bishop was living with them in Lake Creek, Calhoun, Iowa. Pearl was the daughter of Mary's sister Sylvia, who died in 1916.

By 1930, Mary and Clarence Hull were living near Callender, Webster County, Iowa. Clarence died in 1944 and Mary remained in Callender until at least 1949. She was living in Gowrie, Webster County, Iowa by 1967. She died at the Gowrie Care Center April 17, 1974.

I took this photo at the Callender Cemetery, which is quite large. By chance I started the search on the west side of the cemetery and parked the car within 100 feet of the tombstone, which I located in less than 15 minutes. I marked the location with GPS and you can see it on the map, by the green arrow, after the jump, so click read more for that.

Tombstone Tuesday - John and Susanah Beistline

This is the tombstone of Susanah and John R. Beistline (Beistlin) located at Blair Cemetery, Blair, Nebraska. They are my 4th great grand parents. The parents of my 3rd great grandmother, Sarah A. (Beistline) Hunt. Sarah was the wife of Samuel Hunt, they were the parents of my 2nd great grandfather, John Hunt. John Hunt's daughter Thelma married Floyd Brassfield. Hopefully some of those names are ringing some bells.

Tombstone Tuesday - Elvis and Abigail Brassfield-Stout

This is the tombstone of Elvis Stout and his wife Abigail (Brassfield) Stout located at McGinnis Cemetery, Madison County, Iowa. Abigail was my third great grand aunt, she was the sister of my third great grandfather, Wiley D. Brassfield.

Abigail is buried within a yard or two of her mother, Sarah (Hill) Brassfield and there are several Stout's buried nearby.

According to my notes, Abigail was born in Indiana and Elvis Stout was born in Bartholomew County, Indiana. My notes also indicate that they were married January 11, 1853 in Mahaska County, Iowa. There are not many instances of the name Elvis in my database and Elvis Stout is one of the earliest. I don't know this for a fact, but it is possible that my 2nd great grandfather, Elvis H. Brassfield, was named for his uncle, Elvis Stout.

Tombstone Tuesday - Victoria Naomi Brassfield

This is the tombstone of Victoria Naomi Brassfield at McGinnis Cemetery, Madison County, Iowa. Victoria is my 1st cousin, four times removed. She is buried adjacent to her grandmother and my 4th great grandmother, Sarah (Hill) Brassfield. Victoria was the daughter of John D. Brassfield and Martha A. McClelland. According to my notes, she was born July 15, 1868 and died May 22, 1871. I also have May 2, 1871 down, but the 1959 McAllister book, Brasfield-Brassfield genealogies, and tombstone both say May 22.

Tombstone Tuesday - Sarah Brasfield

This is a closeup of the tombstone of Sarah Brasfield located at McGinnis Cemetery, Madison County, Iowa. Sarah R. (Hill) Brasfield was my 4th great grandmother. She was the wife of John Wiley Brasfield and mother of my 3rd great grandfather, Wiley D. Brassfield. As far as I can tell this family used both "S's" so I'm not sure why they have Brasfield on the tombstone. The stone appears to be more recent than 1879, perhaps it is a replacement stone or something.

According to the 1959 McAllister book, Brasfield-Brassfield genealogies, Sarah R. Hill was born November 2, 1804 in North Carolina. Sarah had 11 children from 1827 to 1850. Looking at where her children were born, she moved from North Carolina to Indiana between 1831 and 1833 and then to Iowa between 1848 and 1850. John Wiley Brassfield apparently died prior to 1850. He is not listed in the 1850 census and Sarah is listed as head of household.

Sarah is buried near Victoria Naomi Brassfield, her grand daughter and daughter of John D. Brassfield. She is also within a few steps of her daughter Abigail (Brassfield) Stout.

Tombstone Tuesday - Mason and Daisy Ross

This is the tombstone of Mason, Daisy and Eleanor Ross. Mason Ross was the brother of my great grandmother, Clara (Ross) Fowlie. I took this photo on a recent trip through Iowa.

Tombstone Tuesday - Harry and Clara Andresen

This is the tombstone of Harry and Clara (Homire) Andresen located at Keystone Cemetery, Kane, Benton, Iowa. Clara Homire was the daughter of Lewis Homire. Clara would be my half-first cousin, three times removed since her grandmother Charlotte (Kiesel/Homire) was my 3rd great grandmother.

Tombstone Tuesday - Rudy and Elfreda Homire

This is the tombstone of Rudy and Elfreda (Jacobs) Homire located at Keystone Cemetery, Kane township, Benton County, Iowa. Rudy Homire is my half-first cousin, three times removed. Rudy's grandmother Charlotte (Kiesel-Homire) is my 3rd great grandmother, but by her 2nd husband. He is the son of Lewis and Lena Homire.

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

Rudy Homire and Elfreda Jacobs were married January 31, 1923 in Vinton township, Benton, Iowa according to marriage records on familysearch.org.

Tombstone Tuesday - 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.

Tombstone Tuesday - 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 plot adjacent to Homire plot

Tombstone Tuesday - Henry Kiesel

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.

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.

Tombstone Tuesday - James W. Fowlie

This is the tombstone of James W. Fowlie at Parkers Grove Cemetery, Canton Township, Benton County, Iowa. James is a 2nd great grand uncle of mine and the son of my 3rd great grandparents George and Margaret (Cantley) Fowlie.

This is another one that I have conflicting dates for. The notes I was given say he was born 28 Oct 1839, but the tombstone says 3 Oct 1836. The 1900 Census says Oct 1939, the 1885 Iowa census says 1833 and the 1880 US census says 1830, so there is a fairly large spread of dates. It appears that James lived in Benton County with his mother and his sister Jane at least according to the 1880 and 1900 census.

The 1900 Census says he immigrated in 1861 and was a naturalized citizen. His occupation listed was "Capitalist" which apparently means he was living of off some kind of investments. At age 60, this might have been some form of retirement savings from a farm sale or something.