Tombstone Tuesday :: Douglas Family

The Douglas family monument, a good ten feet tall, stands in Masonic Section #3 at Greenhill Cemetery in Columbia City, Indiana. This view is looking towards the north and a little west. Inscriptions are on three sides of the stone.

Alexander Jackson Douglas, more commonly known as A. J., was a prominent preacher and teacher in Whitley County from 1860 and until his death in 1905. The family also lived for a short time in Monroeville, Indiana and Florence, Kentucky as well as Noble County, Indiana during that time period.

A. J. Douglas, had 11 children by his first wife, Mary Jenner, (5 were alive when he died in 1905) and 3 by his second wife, Jennie Cassel, (2 were living when he died in 1905). The first child born to A. J. and Jennie was Lloyd C. Douglas (1877-1951), who would become a well-known writer and author of "The Robe" as well as other novels with a religious theme.

As a minister, A. J. performed many marriage ceremonies during his career. Among those was the 1871 marriage of my 2nd great grandparents, William Brubaker and Malissa Joslin.

Inscription on the south facing side:
MARGARET / WIFE OF / Wm. DOUGLAS / DIED / Aug. 30, 1872: / Aged 69 Years.
REV. A. J. DOUGLAS / BORN MAR. 22, 1827 / DIED MAR. 23, 1905 / AGED 78 Y's. 1D.

Inscription on the side facing west:
IN MEMORY OF / MARY JENNER / WIFE OF A. J. DOUGLAS / DIED / April 21, 1875 / AGED / 43 Y's. 1 Mo., 23 D. / The "In-as-much" her ears have / heard and the "Well-done" hath / crowned her head.

Inscription on the east side:
JULIA M. DOUGLAS / DIED / May 5, 1853. / AGED 3 DAYS.
INFANT / So of an hour / DIED / Aug. 19, 1867
BIRDIE DOUGLAS / DIED / Sep. 2, 1875. / AG'D 5 Mo., 6 D's.

The grave marker for Jennie Douglas and two of her children is in Salem Cemetery, Noble County, Indiana. The stone is located in the first row north of the Salem Church.

JENNIE CASSEL DOUGLAS / 1847 - 1939
MABEL DOUGLAS / 1878-1879
CLYDE E. DOUGLAS / 1883-1909

The obituary notices for these and other members of the Douglas family can be found on my kinexxions website.

Grand and Petit Juries are Drawn (1917)

The Evening Post, Columbia City, Indiana
Wednesday, January 31, 1917

Jury Commissioners David M. Pence of Smith township, and W. S. Nickey, of this city, have drawn the petit and grand jurors who will serve during the February term of the Whitley circuit court. The names were placed in a box, from which they were drawn, some time ago, and the selections thus made by chance. The drawing occurred Monday afternoon, and resulted as follows:

Petit Jury

• A. M. Sroyer, Jefferson Twp.
• Geo. P. Bechtoldt, Columbia Twp.
• Samuel J. Ward, Richland Twp.
• John C. Van Voorst, Troy Twp.
• J. W. Smith, Smith Twp.
• Edward Richards, Columbia Twp.
• Levi J. Keiser, Washington Twp.
• John Windle, Thorncreek Twp.
• Edward Kreig, Cleveland Twp.
• Earl Parrott, Cleveland Twp.
• C. D. Evans, Etna Twp.
• Frank Cole, Union Twp.

Grand Jury

• Tobias Kreider, Cleveland Twp.
• W. S. Howenstine, Jefferson Twp.
• Link L. Norris, Richland Twp.
• Hugo Humbarger, Thorncreek Twp.
• William Auer, Columbia Twp.
• Geo. Winters, Union Twp.

An Immense Yield of Onions (1917)

Columbia City Post, Whitley County, Indiana ~ Saturday, September 22, 1917

Dennis Gallivan and William Hindman, who farms Mr. Gallivan's farm, just west of town, have right close to 10,000 bushels of onions from seventeen acres. They now have more than 7,000 in creates and they have some of the best parts of the field to harvest, so they feel reasonably sure of getting close to the 10,000 mark.

The price, averaging the reds and the whites, will be better than a dollar a bushel, so the profits from the crop will be a mighty handsome sum. Mr. Gallivan also sold over $100 worth of potatoes off of about two acres of land, thus making his profits on "small stuff" very substantial for the year.

Tombstone Tuesday :: Joseph Shoemaker

They (whoever "they" are) say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. So, I hope that Amy Crow over at Amy’s Genealogy, etc. Blog is flattered that I am helping myself to her theme of "Tombstone Tuesday" for a series of blog posts. . . Thanks for the inspiration, Amy!

I have a large "collection" of photos of gravestones from various cemeteries that I've visited and plan to eventually post them at Find A Grave. But until that happens, I thought I'd occasionally post some of them here at Whitley County Kinexxions.

Masonic Section, Greenhill Cemetery, Columbia City, Indiana

Joseph Shoemaker / 4 MAR. 1759 / 22 SEPT. 1864 / REV. WAR AND WAR OF 1812




Columbia City Post, Whitley County, Indiana
Wednesday September 28, 1864

Obituary. Near Columbia City, September 22, 1864, Mr. Joseph Shoemaker, in the 106th year of his age.

The deceased was a native of Pennsylvania, but in his early life moved to the State of New York where he lived until about eight years ago, when he came to this city, where he has been a citizen ever since. A good old man, a Christian has fallen at an age more than ordinary among men. Mr. Shoemaker was the oldest man in Whitley county, perhaps the oldest in the State. He retained his mental faculties to a remarkable degree even to his last hours on earth. He voted at all the presidential elections of the Government from its beginnings - From Gen. Washington to Lincoln. Has lived to see most of the nineteen presidents pass away. A good man has gone from our midst.

His funeral was well attended by a large concourse of citizens and friends. The funeral services were performed by the Rev. R. H. Cook, of the Baptist church. Father Shoemaker is gone. Let him sleep in the grave where kind hands have laid him. M.

The Republican, Columbia City, Indiana
Wednesday September 28, 1864

In Memoria. Joseph Shoemaker died in Columbia City, Indiana, September 22nd, 1864, Aged, One Hundred and Five Years, Five Months and Twenty-Eight Days.

Joseph Shoemaker was born in Pennsylvania on the 24th of March, 1759. In the early part of his life he lived in the Wyoming Valley. His father was an officer in the Revolutionary Army under General George Washington. At that time he was not old enough to be in the army, but was employed as Continental Mail carrier. While acting in this capacity he was often shot at by the Tories and Indians, and twice wounded by them. At one time in carrying the mail he was fired upon by a party of Tories who attempted to capture the mail, and received a ball in his hip, which he carried with him to his grave; but being lashed fast to his horse he escaped and carried the mail safe to its destination. George Washington was frequently at his father's house, and dined with the family.

In the War of 1812, he was called to defend our lines at Buffalo and Black Rock. He married and moved to Canandaigua, N.Y., where he spent the greater part of his life, and raised a large family. About seven years since he came to this place, where he has resided until his decease. He has been a professor of Christianity for upwards of seventy years, and died in the full faith of the promises of his Redeemer.

Donald Van Tilbury has Winona Concession (1917)

Columbia City Post ~ Wednesday, May 30, 1917

Donald Van Tilbury, of Coesse, who was engaged with F. M. Smith of Wanatah, Ind. in the haberdashery and cleaning and pressing business at Winona Lake last summer is to engage in the business for himself the present season. The young man has the concession from the officers of the park to engage in that sort of business and it is assured that he will meet with great success in his venture. The firm enjoyed a good business last year and with the reputation they established Don will find plenty to do in his chosen line of work this summer. It is the only thing of the sort in the Park, and is situated in the Administration building. Young Van Tilbury is an industrious young business man and will be remembered as having carried off the honors in the boy's corn contest for several years in this county.

Troy News (1917)

Columbia City Post ~ Wednesday, May 23, 1917
Tuesday's Daily.

• Miss Madeline Wright spent Sunday with Miss Ada Sroufe.
• Mrs. Harry Trimmer entertained on Thursday Mrs. J. W. Adams. Mrs. Frank Raber, Miss Elva Riddle and Mr. and Mrs. John Rittenhouse, of Columbia City.
• Harold Salmon and John Terman were week end guests at the Lyman Cook home.
• Mrs. Kate Grant and Miss Mary Bills visited Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. Lester Pletcher.
• Rev. C. Archer, of Modock, arrived Monday to join Mrs. Archer and baby, who have been guests of the J. W. Salmon home for a week.
• Mrs. J. C. Van Voorst and son, Albert, motored to Kimmell, Saturday to spend the day with friends.
• W. L. Adams made a business trip to South Whitley, Friday.
• People living near the New Center school house were shocked at the cruel treatment given a horse that fell while being driven on Saturday. A poor exhausted horse, a young chap and a board made a poor combination. Considerable more feed and much less slat would surely get better results. If we have a humane officer in the county such cases should be reported.
• Mr. and Mrs. Harry Trimmer and baby visited Clarence Trimmer and family near Raber, Sunday.
• Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Sellers entertained Rev. and Mrs. Abbott and Ray Salmon and family, Sunday.
• Morris Wise, who has been visiting his father, Wm. Wise, returned to his home at Elkhart, Saturday.

Cupid Scores Three Times in Succession (1910)

Columbia City Commercial Mail, Friday June 17, 1910

Cupid, who really is the advance agent of his superior, Hymen, scored three times Saturday and Sunday and as a result there are three happy couples united and three new homes established since Saturday.

LUMM-LEMON. Miss Katie A. Lumm, the charming daughter of Mrs. Ida Lumm, and Mr. Thomas E. Lemmon were united in marriage Saturday evening at 8 o’clock by Rev. J. F. Porterfield at the Baptist parsonage. The couple were attended by Mrs. W. E. Magley and Miss Carmon Lemmon sister of the bridegroom. The bride has for sometime been a photographer in the Magley studio and will continue to assist Mr. Magley until after the rush work. The groom is a son of Lafayette Lemmon and wife and is employed by his father. For the present the young people will reside with the groom’s parents in Madison street.

GRACE-LONDT. Sunday afternoon at two in the presence of about thirty-five friends at the home of the bride’s parents John Grace and wife, in Jefferson township, Rev. L. L. Shaffer united in wedlock Miss Rada L. Grace and John Henry Londt, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Londt of Union township. The couple were attended by Miss Maggie Londt, sister of the groom and Mr. Claud Bradshaw, and the home was a bower of flowers. A sumptuous wedding dinner was served and the young people went to housekeeping at once at the groom’s home in Union township.

MALONE-ARCHER. Mr. Everett W. Archer and Miss Rosetta Malone were united in marriage Sunday noon at the home of the groom’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Archer, northeast of the city, Dr. F. G. Browne officiating. Only immediate relatives and friends were present. After the wedding an elegant dinner was served. The bride is the attractive and accomplished daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Malone of Union township. For the present they will reside at the home of the groom’s parents.

Jim Kaler will Re-Build House on His Farm (1917)

Columbia City Post ~ Wednesday, January 31, 1917

James B. Kaler, who lost the residence on his farm in Washington township early Friday morning by fire, has decided to re-build at once. He arrived home Friday evening and immediately commenced drawing plans for the new house. He has considerable timber on his farm, and there is a saw mill near, so that he will have considerable of the lumber sawed from his own timber. The work will be started at once.