Flipside: Christmas Eve 1993 in Columbiana County, Ohio

Enjoying pizza at home after the trip

CHRISTMAS EVE IN COLUMBIANA, OHIO

At 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 24, 1993, armed with a crowbar, camera, film, and a map, seven intrepid family members climbed into the Chevy Lumina and headed east in search of their roots. Our destination, on one of the coldest and more blustery days of holiday week was Columbiana County, Ohio--specifically the gravesites of relatives in Fairfield, Elkrun, Middleton and Center Townships. The deceased relatives were the ancestors of six of our company through Martha Marie Frederick Stark (more affectionately known as "Dear Freddie").

After two hours of travel through the swirling snow, we arrived in the town of Columbiana, Ohio. A family-style restaurant was our first stop and after consuming a large, WARM, lunch, we went our separate ways in search of mementos of this somewhat unusual Christmas Eve. By 2:30 we were all snug in the car and traveling the short distance to Firestone Cemetery in Columbiana. The Frederick gravesite was easy to locate since we visited it on Memorial Day. Three generations left the warmth of the car to inspect and be photographed beside Alfred and Lucinda's tombstone. Alfred and Lucinda Frederick were "Dear Freddie's" parents.

The next stop was about one-half hour south. We drove through Elkrun Township looking for a township road that would lead us to Clarkson in Middleton Township. After an unsuccessful try, Ted suddenly pulled off onto something that vaguely resembled a rutted road. As the snow became heavier, we inched our way past a strip mine and several tumbled down shacks. At times the road was almost nonexistent and we all felt a bit surrealistic.

Ken was sitting in the front seat brandishing the crowbar and several, more humorous passengers began to hum "Dueling Banjo's" from the movie Deliverance. I was very relieved to, at last, reach a paved road. Within 10 minutes of finding the highway, we drove into Clarkson, Ohio. Just south of the center of town was our destination; the picturesque, white-framed, Clarkson Presbyterian Church.

Ken with John Cannon taken on a Fall trip

Never having been to this cemetery, I thought it would be difficult to locate John A. Cannon's gravesite, however, I walked directly to it. It is located behind the church in the 2nd or 3rd row. We brushed the snow off the tombstone and began taking pictures. John A. Cannon died in 1833 at the age of 56. He was one of Freddie's maternal great grandparents. John's son, John A. Cannon is buried beside his father. He died in 1831 at the age of 18.

Joseph Orr

Cemetery #3 was the Carlisle Cemetery in western Elkrun Township. It is located on an unpaved country road and with the snowy road conditions, Ted decided to park the car in the driveway of the house across the road from the cemetery. He tried to receive permission to park the car in the driveway, but no one answered the doorbell. (Once they saw all of us tumble from the van with Ken carrying the crowbar, I'm sure they were afraid to open their door). Climbing up the icy hill to the cemetery proved difficult, but we all made it and found the gravesites of the Orr's--Joseph and Jane, Freddie's other maternal great grandparents and William M. Orr, her maternal grandfather.

There are seven graves in the Orr row--all relatives. In the front row of the Carlisle Cemetery is Lindsey Cannon's (my ancestor and John Cannon's brother) grave. His tombstone had broken off and fallen forward into the ground. Ken, Jeff and Ted were able to pry the tombstone out of the snow, ice and dirt with the crowbar and prop it up on the base at the gravesite.

Matthew Thomas Orr gravesite

Relieved to be back on paved roads, it was a short ride to the Lisbon Cemetery in Lisbon, Ohio. Jeff and I found Matthew Thomas Orr's gravesite while the other travelers searched for Ken's missing contact lens. Once the lens was found, pictures were taken of Matthew and Mary Ellen Orr's tombstones. Matthew and Mary Ellen Orr were a maternal aunt and uncle of Freddie's. Of interest in this cemetery was the fresh holiday wreath on Matthew's grave. I wrote a message and attached it under the bow of the wreath.

John F and Margaret Orr Groomes

The final stop on our family Christmas Eve ancestor search was the Mount Zion Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery, west of Lisbon, Ohio. It was Ted (I think, in an act of desperation) who first saw the cemetery partially hidden in the woods on the right-hand side of the road. We all piled out of the car. Some of us searched for the gravesite of John F. and Maggie C. Groomes (Freddie's maternal aunt and uncle on the Orr side of the family) while others went into the woods looking for a place to "relieve" themselves!

Of all the graves we visited, we had the most difficult time locating the tombstone in this small roadside cemetery. I realized which one belonged to our relative when she saw "John F. and Maggie C." on the front. The last name "Groomes" was on the top of the stone and was covered with several inches of ice and snow.

By this time, we were all frozen and tired. Ken's feet must have been suffering early stages of frost bite as he was wearing tennis shoes. After 3 hours of searching for our ancestors in below freezing weather, we were ready to drive back to North Olmsted for pizza, presents and beverages.

To the older descendants who made the journey, it will be a memorable and somewhat unusual Christmas Eve experience. To the two younger descendants, although it was at times boring, the trip to Columbiana County, Ohio will be a Christmas Eve that they will never forget.

PASSENGERS Relationship to Martha Frederick Stark "Freddie"

Ted S. Hiser None

Linda Hughes Hiser Granddaughter

Martha Stark Hughes Daughter

Kenneth George Hughes Grandson

Jeffrey Charles Hughes Grandson

Aric Hughes Hiser Great Grandson

Garrett Bevin Hiser Great Grandson

CEMETERIES VISITED IN COLUMBIANA COUNTY, OHIO

Firestone Cemetery in Fairfield Township my maternal great grandparents Alfred & Lucinda Orr Frederick

Clarkson Presbyterian Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Middleton Township John A. Cannon and his son, John A. Cannon

Carlisle Cemetery in Elkrun Township my maternal great great great grandparents, Joseph and Jane Kelso Orr; my maternal great great grandfather, William Morland Orr; my maternal great great great grandparents, Lindsey and Elizabeth Fife Cannon; my maternal grand-aunt Mary Ann Orr; my maternal second great grand-uncle Franklin Orr; my first cousins three times removed Benjamin Franklin Orr and Joseph Frederick Orr (both casualties of the Civil War); my second great grand-uncle and aunt Matthew and Elizabeth Hepburn Cannon.

Lisbon Cemetery in Center Township my maternal great-grand uncle Matthew Thomas Orr and his two wives, Mary Ellen Smith Orr and Libbie Elizabeth Keck Orr.

Mt Zion Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery in Center Township my maternal great-grand aunt and uncle John F. and Margaret (Maggie) C. Orr Groomes.

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