Legacies in Stone: 2015

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Ida & Emma Podoll

On my first trip to Greenwood Cemetery I spotted this gorgeous headstone. It was in nearly perfect condition so I almost passed it up until I noticed the dates were from 150 years ago. The tree trunk means brevity of life, which is very true for this mother and daughter. The wheat sheave on the top typically means the divine harvest and the lily at the bottom is for innocence while the ivy up the side is for immortality.

The stone reads:

IDA

Wife of Gustav Podoll

Born June 18, 1840

Died December 31, 1863

Emma

Child of Gustav & Ida Podoll

Born December 24, 1863

Died September 14, 1864

Rest in peace

This stone marks a mother and daughters final resting place. Ida Podoll passed away just 6 days after her baby girl was born and Little Emma never made it to her first birthday. I couldn't find much information on either mother or child, but did find this on the husband:

GUSTUV PODOLL, photographer, and dealer in general merchandise, Cedarburg; a native of Prussia, born Sept. 12, 1841; emigrated to the United States alone in 1853, and first settled at Michigan City, Ind.; learned the machinist trade, and spent the year 1857 on a farm near San Pierre; the following year he attended school at Valparaiso; in 1859, he returned to Prussia, where he remained until 1861, during which time he served one year in the Prussian Army, and, in 1861, was married to Ida Kimps; returning to the United States, he enlisted in the 4th Ind. V.C., and served as First Lieutenant a short time, when he resigned his commission and again resumed work at his trade at Michigan City. Jan. 1, 1863, his wife died, and soon after he removed to Chicago; in the fall of 1866, he came to Cedarburg, and has since been engaged in photographing; had a branch gallery at Port Washington about four years; also ran a view wagon two years. In 1866, he was married to Mrs. Catharine Adler, widow of Herman Adler, and, as she was engaged in general mercantile business at the time of marriage, Mr. Podoll has continued the same in connection with his other business. Is an active worker for the Democratic party.
source: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wiozauke/biographies/Cedarburg.html

Friday, March 27, 2015

Porter's Creek

We went hiking in the Smoky Mountains in TN this year and found a trail along Porter's Creek that had an old cemetery next to the trail. I noticed walking through this old cemetery that there were many graves of children here, making an already somber walk through the woods feel even heavier.

The cemetery was mostly used by the Ownby Family, I didn't take a photo of each stone, but here is a list of the family members who reside here.

Joel Ownby (April-1836 / 1-2-1909) and his wife Elizabeth M. Clark (1849-1904). Joel was the son of Aaron and Mary Buckner Ownby. Joel was born in a log cabin further up behind this cemetery along the waters of Long Branch.

Bessie Ownby ( 10-22-1925 / 10-25-1925) Child of Fred and Orlena Whaley.

Rosalee Ownby (9-29-1913 / 10-1-1913) Daughter of Samuel and Sarah Whaley Ownby. They lived across the river from this cemetery and was the last cabin up that side of Porters creek.

Roy H. Ownby (3-14-1907 / 9-22-1908) Son of Beecher and Rosann Ownby. Beecher also lived in the Horseshoe Community across the river and was a preacher at Friendship church.

Ruth Ownby (8-12-1908 / 7-12-1910) Another daughter of Fred and Spohia Orlena Whaley.

Lillian Elizabeth Ownby (3-14-1909 / 4-16-1909) Daughter of Robert and Emma Whaley Ownby. Robert lived in cabins on both sides of the river near here.

Civil War soldier David Proffitt (2-11-1847 / 3-29-1909) and his cabin sat in the center of today's loop below the parking areas for this trail. He had a mill along the creek as well. He was married twice (to Mayes) and to Mary Ownby. Served in Co. E 2nd Cav. of East TN.

Mary Whaley (8-11-1909 / 8-11-1909) Child of James A. and Phoebe Whaley.

Hettie E. (Ownby) Martin (4-12-1878 / 12-10-1903) wife of Andrew "Davis" Martin. He also ran a store in the brier with John Whaley where the hotel was later built. He also worked at Elkmont.

Elbert Cantrell has a grand child buried here: C. C. (Claude) Cantrell is the last stone in the back side. (1-1-1914 / 2-14-1914) Son of William Arthur and Minnie Whaley Cantrell from my blog "Love on Porters Creek".

Elbert also has twins buried here but their stones are no longer readable and I don't have the dates. Elbert's home sat right across from that large rock along the trail below the cemetery.