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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