Wednesday's Child - Adams

Shelby Lynn Adams

 June 1, 2000

 October 20, 2000

Shine Brightly Wherever You Go...

A beautiful black marble stone with engraved roses, 

urns filled with flowers on either side.  

In the center, an etching of a hauntingly sweet face of a lovely little girl.

This tombstone is in Darlington Cemetery in Maryland. 

She is not my family member.

Wednesday's Child - Mary Lois

Mary Lois

1959 - 1967

Asleep in Jesus

Tombstone Tuesday - Larger than Life

DiCasagrande

"Larger than Life"

This is another eye-catching stone from Darlington Cemetery in Maryland.  They are not my family members.

Nicolo A.

Born

Genova, Italy

April 24, 1912

Oct. 8, 2008

Emanuele

(Capt. "Lorenzo")

Born

Genova, Italy

Nov. 16, 1940

May 21, 2010

Mirella L.

(Nee Pasini)

Born

Cartosio, Italy

July 4, 1942

Appropriately oversized, to go with the name, this stone marks the final resting place for several members of the DiCasagrande family: Nicolo, Emanuele and Mirella.  On the stone there even seems to be space for another member, if need be. 

Under Emanuele's name is (Capt. "Lorenzo").  Whether he was a sea captain by profession or "Captain" was a nickname, I do not know.  But with a lighthouse and an anchor etched into the marble, it seems clear that the sea played an important part in his and indeed all their lives.

This stone kind of took my breath away, for a number of reasons.  First, it's just so big.  It also has the little photos of the two men; these always catch my eye.  There are beautiful shapely urns on each side.  When I was there, they were filled with bright, fresh silk flowers.  It's interesting the way the stone is elevated on a pedestal, you don't always see that.

What really attracted me to this stone, besides its size, is the highly polished surface.  It's almost like a mirror.  In the first photo above, you can see the cemetery grounds and several other stones reflected in it.  It was not until I got home and double-checked my photos that I noticed the my own reflection in the three individual shots of each name.

Darlington Cemetery is old; it was founded in the late 1800s.  Like any cemetery from this era, there is a very old section.  There is also a new section.  This stone is in the new section.  But Darlington itself is a small town, much of it a farming community.  So I found it interesting to find such a modern, beautiful headstone here, where I would usually expect a much more traditional stone.  But I'm so glad that I did.  As Ivy of Tracing the Ivy said in her genea-fun creation, "You can't judge a cemetery until you walk it."

Those Places Thursday - What Darlington Means to Me

Darlington Main Street, 1950s.

From the DUMC Collection.

Courtesy Wikipedia.

On Thanksgiving Friday, hubby and I took a well-deserved extra day off work, and spent the afternoon in the town of Darlington, and trolling through Darlington Cemetery, about an hour's drive from home.

The big annual event there is the Darlington Apple Festival, held every year in October.  It's already set for Saturday, October 6, 2012.  Got the picture? 



Darlington is a tiny farming community here in Maryland, to the north, almost at the Pennsylvania state line.  For a town whose main street is about three buildings (not blocks!) long, it surprised me to learn that Darlington has more than 100 properties on the National Register of Historic Places.  Its Historic District was placed on the list in 1987.   

The properties include farming-related structures such as barns, chicken houses and similar outbuildings, plus three currently-working farms.  Others are the buildings found in any community, such as a lodge hall, a grammar school, shops and a Friends Meetinghouse.  Darlington Cemetery is also on the list.   

This rare old photo is from the 1950s and was found in the collection of the Darlington United Methodist Church.  Except for the models of the automobiles, not much has changed.  At least now the road is well-paved with painted lines.  I think we may have even come across at least one stop light!



Main Street of Darlington today.
Courtesy Wikipedia.



I'm not making fun, I think it's charming.     

I find it especially charming because the town and the cemetery hold interesting history for my line.  The death certificate of my 2x-great grandfather, Oliver Perry Jordan, indicates that he's buried at Darlington.  However, I know for a fact that he's at Parkwood Cemetery, in Baltimore City.  I still haven't gotten to the bottom of this.  I got caught up in this thing called a blog, and some of the research is back-burnered by my current fascination. 



Nevertheless, having a sun-shiny free day at hand, we decided to see what we could see in Darlington.



This signs says it all.
My Photo, 11/25/11.



Its Welcome sign says it all:  Welcome to Darlington.  Then it lists the five houses of worship, with times of service.  That's what is important to people here!  And it's quite evident in the cemetery, with plenty of Scripture quotes on the stones.   



In the historic cemetery, we looked at every stone.  There were only one or two with the surname "Jordan."  However, we found dozens by the surname of "Jourdan." 

Different spelling.  Different pronounciation ("joor-dan" vs. "jer-dan," respectively).  Same family.  The actual connection and the story of the "split" are still undetermined.  I'll get there.  I've only been on this journey for less than a year, and then there's that darn blog thing getting in the way! 

 

Another true bonus: finding a few stones with the maiden names of my 3x- and 4x-great grandmothers!  This gives me some of their relatives to follow!

 

But besides all this joy, the best outcome of the day was experiencing Darlington.  Oliver and his wife Annie, plus at least two generations back (that I've found), lived and raised their children in the Darlington area.  That one day out gave me real insight into their lives.  I wondered, and fashioned answers for questions like where they lived, how far they had to walk to town, where they got the things the couldn't grow themselves, how they got into into Baltimore City to visit family. 

And standing in the cemetery, looking across the hills, I got a true feeling that they must have stood in the same place and looked at those same trees on at least one occasion.



Darlington Cemetery.
My photos, 11/25/11.

Wednesday's Child

__________  Silver

Daughter of

Francis & Sarah E

Silver

March 20, 1926

March 22, 1935

Suffer little children

to come unto me

This grave stone is not that old, but it has seen more than its share of weather wear.  The engraving was difficult to read.  The first name may be Elizabeth, or some abbreviation for it, but I wasn't quite sure. 

This stone is in Darlington Cemetery here in Maryland.  The Silver family was a prominent family in the area.  They probably still are.  They may even be dear friends or many-times-removed relatives of my Harford County family; I have at least one great-great-uncle with the middle name Silver. 

Update:  Leslie Brinkley Lawson said...

Perhaps you could review the 1930 census for the parents household to see if this child was listed? Just a thought!

Thanks, Leslie!  I didn't think to do that, so here it is...

The 1930 Census, enumerated on April 29 of that year 1930, has this family living in the Darlington area.  In the first column, for street/road, is listed "Conowingo Dam in Darlington." 

Francis, age 32

Sarah P, age 33  (I thought it was an "E" on the stone)

Bette, age 5

Millicent, age 4

Williams, age 3

Nancy C., age 1.5

So there is our Wednesday's Child, known as Bette, at age 5.  Her father is a canner in a canning factory.  In this post, I mention my Jordan ancestors and the other side of their family, the "Jourdans."  The Jourdan family owned and operated canning factories.   So while this doesn't confirm that the Wednesday's Child family is a certainly a relative of mine, at least I know I'm in looking along the right lines.

Thanks again, Leslie, for the suggestion.

Tombstone Tuesday - Darlington Cemetery

In Memory

This most unusual marker is in Darlington Cemetery, in northern Maryland.  The plaque reads:

In Memory

Maude W. Bedford

Killed

In Performance of Her

duties at

Edgewood Arsenal, Md.

May 25, 1945

Presented by

Her Fellow Workers

Mrs. Bedford and 11 co-workers where killed when two of the military base's grenade assembly buildings exploded.   Edgewood Arsenal is part of a government facility now known as Aberdeen Proving Ground.  More information is available about Mrs. Bedford here. 

They are war heroes of a different type, but as just as important to our freedom.

Military Monday - More On "Two Sides of a Tombstone"

Recently, Valerie Craft at Begin with 'Craft' told us of her experiences, and why you always read both sides of a tombstone.


John Walker Sams is not my family member.  But while loading my photos of a recent visit to Darlington Cemetery, I saw this and thought, another perfect example. 
 

John Walker Sams
SGT US Army
Vietnam
Apr 26 1944 - Apr 8 2006
Bronze Star Medal



Last week as I walked through the cemetery, I was attracted to the dark granite, high polish, and organic shape of this stone.  I walked over for a closer look and snapped a photo or two. 

Having learned my lesson on looking at both sides, I did so and was taken by surprise.  This person is much loved, and I think there must be a genealogist in the family, because the stone has been designed to tell the story of their lives.     





 SAMS

John Walker

Apr 26 1944

Apr 8 2006

Beloved Husband, Father

Devoted Christian, Soldier

Kathy Lynn

Aug. 12 1947



And here's the "other" side of the story:

Engravings include a brief epitaph for John, his wife's name and birth date, plus an eagle for his Airborne Division, a cross entwined with flowers, on his wife's side is the winged rod and serpents that form the RN cross (sometimes associated with the Army Medical Corps), wedding rings with anniversary date and "Till We Meet Again" engraved, and, nestled sleeping in the upper left corner, a kitten. 

John Walker Sams: a devoted husband, father and Christian who also served his country and loved cats...sounds like a nice man to know.

Close-ups of the SAMS engravings.
My photo, 11/2011.

Library Lock-in Comes to Town!

I’m very late in reporting the wonderful event held on Friday, October 28:  Harford County Public Library (HCPL) held its first Genealogy Lock-In, and what a great night it was!

For this lock-in trial run, the library invited only the members of its Genealogy Discussion Group (GDG).  The doors closed to the public at 5 p.m., with the library prepared for the GDG to lay claim to its holdings until 11 p.m. 

For six awesome hours, the Group had the library entirely to itself, to research, read, socialize, nosh and more.   I must admit, due to a heavy schedule the next day, I bailed out at 9 p.m.  I'm aging, I know...

GDG member Deb Ruth, over at Adventures in Genealogy suggested the lock-in.  Always known for her good ideas, Deb is up on the latest in the genealogy blogosphere as well as activities, commentary and tips from around the country. 

When she brought this idea to the group, folks responded positively and immediately that this was something everyone wanted to try.  GDG member and HCPL librarian extraordinaire Ann Winkler organized everything to a “T.” 

About 15 or so regulars from the Genealogy Discussion Group attended.  Everyone came with their booklets and binders of paperwork, prepared to do research, solve family history riddles and extend the family tree. 

Everyone knows that genealogists are generous by their very nature; they just can’t wait to share their latest find.   This event was no exception; it was definitely “share and share alike!”

Research heaven!

Group members with subscriptions to paid sites like Fold3, Ancestry.com, Archives.com, Genealogy Bank and others offered their accounts to be used for the entire evening.  Ann prepared sign-in sheets in 30-45 minute time slots.  Everything flowed seamlessly: sign in for a time slot, do your research, move on to the next paid website.  Each computer was marked with a sign naming its subscription site.  If a website proved a bit of a struggle, Ann was there to assist. 

Not an empty seat in the house!

The HCPL’s computers were also available, with sites that included AncestryLE (Library Edition), ProQuest Historical Newspapers, FamilySearch.org, and much more.  Every service that's regularly available during library hours was available.  Talk about research heaven!

Binding Machine with
bound book.

In addition to all this research going on, member Barbara Jones shared her collection of organizational techniques, and donated their use for the evening.  They included a desktop scanner, a laminating machine, and a punch and bind machine, which turns regular paper into a bound book.   I saw at least one very happy person use the binding machine to turn her years of family research into a book! 

Dinner time!

As if all this research, filing and organizing wasn't enough, we had a smorgasbord of delights.  Everyone contributed to the buffet of pizza, chili, salads, a variety of desserts, chocolates and beverages. 

Library lock-ins have been going on around the country for a few years now, from Texas to Michigan to Massachusetts, and everywhere in between. 

Even for those in our group who couldn’t make it to the Lock-In, the decision is unanimous…yes, we should do this again!   

Mention this event to your favorite librarian, and a genealogy library lock-in could be coming to a town near you!

Tombstone Tuesday - Jordan

Saturday was a bright and crisp day in Baltimore, one of those lovely, sunny autumn days I recall once January and February have set in. 

Realizing that we may not have too many of these beauties left for a while, hubby and I took advantage and decided to accomplish some outdoor "to do" tasks.  Not leaves this time, though!

We traveled to the other side of town and visited Baltimore National Cemetery on Frederick Road in Catonsville, in search of my great-uncle Benny's gravesite. 

This was a fitting way to spend the Saturday of Veteran's Day weekend.  We were humbled and silenced as we stood at the top of entrance driveway and looked down at the rows of erect stones, standing with typical military precision.  All these headstones, each representing a brave person.  Most of these are soldiers who returned home to live their lives, we said in unison.  It was astounding to look around, begin to rack up numbers of soldiers and wars in my head...so many, so many. 

Marker between Sections J and I.

Before we had left home, I double-checked Uncle Benny's section and plot information at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Nationwide Gravesite Locator.  I also printed out a map of the cemetery, which was easy to follow.  Just find the appropriate section marker, then look on the back of any stone; it will be engraved with that individual's site or plot number.  Then just start walking in the right direction, for higher or lower numbers.  

I'll say this for the military, they are excellent when it comes to organizing a cemetery.  



Benjamin M Jordan
Maryland
TEC5
Signal Corps
World War II
January 30 1915
September 13 1964

Even though we came prepared, for someone who may not be, the cemetery provides plenty of information, which is available even when the office is closed.  There are two large binders with a listing of interments; these are kept on an enclosed shelf to protect from the elements.  They also have an electronic kiosk that is linked to the Nationwide Gravesite Locator mentioned above.  The kiosk's keyboard was not the typical QWERTY type, but rather an alpha order board - A - B - C and so on.  I'd never seen one like that before.  Still, it was all easy to use.  Maps are also available at the kiosk. 

This was my first visit to Uncle Benny's gravesite.  I know it will not be my last.  Besides fulfilling my own genealogy-related task, this visit pleased my mom.  We stopped by see her after leaving the cemetery.  She was happy to see the photo of Benny's stone, and touched that we thought to visit him.  She is proud of his service.  We sat together quietly, as Mom recalled childhood memories of her beloved Uncle Benny. 

Tombstone Tuesday - Penning

This stone is in Loudon Park Cemetery in Baltimore.

PENNING

George M[artin]

b.  January 3, 1885

d.  February 20, 1967

Ada [Forrest]

b.  July 1884

d. 1967

Ada Forrest Penning is my great-aunt, though I never knew her.  The sister of my maternal grandfather, my mother remembers her as a kind and generous person.  Mom remembers that as a child, she thought Aunt Ada must must have been rich, because she had a beautiful home in Charles Village.  The Village, as it's known by today's residents, is a neighborhood of large brick row houses with wide front porches.  The neighborhood surrounds the beautiful Homewood campus of Johns Hopkins University. 

  

Aunt Ada was the oldest child, only daughter, and the glue that kept her three brothers close as their parents aged and eventually passed.  She was the last sibling to die, as well, at least as far as I can tell in my research to date.  Each of her brothers named a daughter in her honor.  

Unfortunately, Aunt Ada's stone has toppled from its base.  Can anyone tell me, what is the procedure for resetting?  Is it the responsibility of the family or of the cemetery to repair it?  Or is a new stone necessary?  Can the family fix the original, or does the cemetery not allow this?

Funeral Card Friday - Lucy Emma Jordan

This is the funeral card of my great-grandmother, Lucy Emma Jordan, lovingly known by family and neighbors alike as Ma Jordie.  Ma Jordie died when I was just over 5 years old, my first experience with death.  My journey into family history only began this year, so if I ever saw this card, I do not recall it.    

Though worn with age, this card is still quite beautiful.  It's made of soft, cream-colored paper, the "Perpetual Service" clock image on the front is embossed with what looks like gold leaf; the trees are embossed a deep green.  So different from the funeral cards seen at services on the Catholic side of the family.  And certainly more decorative than those we see now.  For me, it's very peaceful to read this card.  Ma Jordie had an extremely difficult life; this poem reassures me that she received a reward in her afterlife.   

The Beyond

It seemeth such a little way to me

Across to that strange country,

The Beyond;

And yet, not strange, for it has

Grown to be

The home of those of whom I am so fond.

And so for me there is no Death;

It is but crossing, with abated breath,

A little strip of sea,

To find one’s loved ones waiting

on the shore,

More beautiful, more precious

than before.

                        Ella Wheeler Wilcox

--

In Loving Memory of

Lucy Emma Jordan

Died January 22, 1963

[Aged 80 years, 19 days]

Services From

Wm. Cook-Blight, Inc.

Funeral Home

6009 Harford Road

Saturday, January 26, 1963

10 a.m.

Clergyman Officiating

Rev. Carl W. Molter

Interment

Parkwood Cemetery

APPRECIATION

In behalf of the family, we wish to express their gratitude for your many kindnesses evidenced in thought and deed, and for your attendance at the memorial service.

Wm. Cook

Inc.

Funeral Mansion

St. Paul at Preston Street

Other Convenient Locations

Wm. Cook-Towson, Inc.                                                     Wm. Cook-Blight, Inc.

1050 York Road                                                                6009 Harford Road

Tombstone Tuesday - Oliver Perry Jordan

Oliver Perry Jordan

Born 1 March 1846

Died 7 July 1925

Aged 79 years, 4 months, 6 days

Unusual looking tombstone, wouldn't you say?

This tree kind of marks the otherwise unmarked grave of my great-great-grandfather, Oliver Perry Jordan, in Parkwood Cemetery, Baltimore.  The tree just happens to be there, it wasn't specially planted to mark his grave, at least not that I have been able to ascertain.  It would be a nice gesture, though.

In April 2011, with the help of a Parkwood Cemetery employee, I was able to find this tiny Jordan plot, where two others are also buried.  I'm still working on information for them.

This same employee taught me to how to read a cemetery map, and directed me to the marker for Anne C. Magill, Oliver's nearest neighbor with a grave marker.  It was the three-digit number in the lower left corner on her grave marker that enabled us to determine that the large, unmarked area directly in front of the tall tree must be the three Jordan family members. 

Anne C. Magill

Born 30 October 1903

Died 6 June 1985

I'm 99% certain that the Jordans and the Magills did not know one another during their lifetimes.  Yet, as is said, you cannot replace the helping hand of a good neighbor.  Thank you, Anne, for being a good neighbor to Oliver and guiding me to him. 

Military Monday

On a sunny afternoon in August 1942, an unknown family member or friend took this photo of my grand-uncle Benny.  Benny was my mother’s uncle, my maternal grandmother’s younger brother.  In the doorway stands his older brother Jim (James Edgar).

The family bible tells me that Benny was born on January 30, 1915.  According to Baltimore Sun newspaper archives, military records, and the Maryland State Archives, he died on September 13, 1964. 

Family lore tells me that Benjamin McGown Jordan:

fought in United States Army during World War II,

parachuted to the ground on D-Day,

broke both ankles during the landing,

and was awarded the Purple Heart for his injuries received in battle.

Ancestry.com* reveals that he enlisted on February 12, 1941.  At the time, his “civil occupation” was a plumber’s apprentice.  He completed a “grammar school” education.

Uncle Benny was laid to rest in Baltimore National Cemetery.  His grave marker transcribes thus: 

Benjamin M. Jordan

1913-1964

TEC5, US ARMY

I have recently learned that a TEC5 (also known as a Technician Fifth Grade) was one of many technicians who held positions like driver, machinist, cook, and similar positions.  In other words, these were the people who were necessary to keep the military corps running, but not the guys who fired the big guns.  So why was he parachuting in on D-Day? 

I’m not sure about that one…even a new genealogist like me knows to take “family lore” with a boulder-sized grain of salt.  Nevertheless, serve he did, break both ankles he did, and receive the Purple Heart he did.  My nephew holds it to this day.  So it looks like another visit to the National Archives is in order for me.

Hmmm, should this be Military Monday or Mystery Monday?

*National Archives and Records Administration. U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946 [Archival Database]; World War II Army Enlistment Records; Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 64; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD.