The Graveyard Rabbit Returns--Huge Stones of Scotland

My brother, in brown, is over 6 feet tall

Thankfully, I saw Carol's post, over at Reflections From the Fence, which alerted me to the reopening of the Graveyard Rabbit Meme. The challenge is to post your favorite tombstone photo. Like most of you, I have snapped countless tombstones for myself and Find-A-Grave. How to pick a fav?

I decided on one taken of my husband and brother beside G-IG-A-N-T-I-C tombstones found in the cemetery of St. Ninian's Priory in Whithorn, Scotland. This size memorial marker was not unusual in older cemeteries around Scotland. Any genealogist would be thrilled to find a family member's history etched on a stone this huge!

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published. 

PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.

© 2012, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Graveyard Rabbits Carnival--October 2010

The topic for the October 2010 edition of the Graveyard Rabbits Carnival is: An Occupation Or Hobby Memorialized in Stone. This topic was submitted by Diane Wright, who authors three GYR blogs: The Kansas Rabbit, The Wright Graveyard Stew, and The Grave Yard Rabbit Travels Wright. Have you found an occupation taken to the grave? Pride in a hobby included on the tombstone? Show us what you've found. We are all interested. I know there are some great stories out there, so share with all the rabbits!

James R. "Poley" McClintockShawnee Presbyterian Church CemeteryShawnee on Delaware, PennylvaniaPoley was a member of Fred Waring's Pennsylvaniansand is buried in the same cemetery as his friend, Fred Waring.
Spencer LeeHampton CemeteryAllison Park, PennsylvaniaSpencer took his love of the Pittsburgh Steelers with him.
Jay W. LowreyHiland Presbyterian Church CemeteryPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaOne of the more beautiful tombstones I have ever seen.Jay must have been a lover of the great outdoors.
Paul M. CoxHampton CemeteryAllison Park, PennsylvaniaPaul must have been blessed with musical talents,especially with a guitar.
Frank and Michael WebbHampton CemeteryAllison Park, PennsylvaniaI'm not sure which of these fellows loved his Harley...maybe both.

© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

GYR July 2010--Scavenger Hunt

The latest carnival over at The Association of Graveyard Rabbits is a scavenger hunt. Bloggers were asked to find fifteen items found in cemeteries. Thank you to Julie Cahill Tarr over at Chicagoland Cemeteries who submitted this idea.

CrossHoly Trinity Greek Orthodox Cemetery, McCandless Township,Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
HeartAllegheny County Memorial Park,Allison Park, Pennsylvania
Fraternal SymbolAllegheny County Memorial Park,Allison Park, Pennsylvania

MonumentGreenlawn Cemetery,Tiffin, Ohio
FlowerHiland Presbyterian Church Cemetery,Ross Township,Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
HandEast Oak Grove,Morgantown, West Virginia
AngelGreenlawn Cemetery,Tiffin, Ohio
BirdGreenlawn Cemetery,Tiffin, Ohio
TreeGreenlawn Cemetery,Tiffin, Ohio
StarAllegheny County Memorial Park,Allison Park, Pennsylvania
ObeliskRumbarger Cemetery,DuBois, Pennsylvania
Four legged animalHampton Cemetery,Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
PhotoHampton Cemetery,Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Military gravestoneHampton Cemetery,Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
MausoleumHouston Family,Greenlawn Cemetery,South Charleston, Ohio

© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Graveyard Rabbits Carnival--Cemetery Critters

Thank you to Diane Wright for submitting this GYR topic. I was not too certain if this meant live or tombstone critters, so I am submitting both.

This friendly fellow joined us on our search of the Union Cemetery in Independence, West Virginia back in July, 2008. I don't often see domesticated animals visiting cemeteries when I am wandering around photographing tombstones, so this was a bit unusual. Hence the reason for the photo.

I had information from another family researcher that my ggg Grandmother Sarah McElroy VanGilder was buried in Union Cemetery. The cemetery is located in a rather out of the way location. Thank goodness for Garmin!

Sarah McElroy VanGilder tombstone on Flipside

The second photograph is of a tombstone critter. Of the thousands of gravemarkers I have photographed, this is the only one that has an animal displayed. The bird is shown in front of a cross and sitting on a beautifully carved block. It is the marker of John Heller, died February 7, 1895 at age 51 years 7 months 24 days and found in Greenlawn Cemetery, Tiffin, Seneca County, Ohio.


© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Graveyard Rabbits--Funeral Cards

The call for submission from the The Association of Graveyard Rabbits this month is funeral cards.

This funeral card (actually made of paper) is from the service of my maternal grandfather, Charles Edward Stark. As the oldest grandchild, I made up the cutesy familiar names for all the grandparents—Grams, Pop Pop and Teek. Grandfather Stark did not have one—he died before I was born. I know of him through the stories and memories of his daughter, my mother.

Charles was the oldest son and child of Charles Stark and Wilhelmine Catherine Schwarz. Born in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, he lived his entire life in the Pittsburgh area. A numbers cruncher, he was employed in the Traffic Department of U.S. Steel in Pittsburgh. As I understand from my mother, he was the head of the department. There were many nights that he brought the books home and worked on them at his desk in the living room, doing the math in his head.

Grandfather Stark was a well loved and respected father, husband and member of the community. His passing took everyone by surprise as he was rarely sick. It saddens me as I never had the opportunity to know him personally.

Graveyard Rabbits Carnival--Carousel

The September 2009 edition of the GYR Carnival is a carousel edition. Submissions can be on the topic of your choosing, but must still be related to cemeteries in some way. Thank you to The Association of Graveyard Rabbits for sponsoring this carnival.

Instead of animals, my carnival carousel is filled with tree shaped tombstones. I have a fascination for these. Whenever I am wandering in a cemetery, my eyes are always searching for any gravemarker that is a tree. Often it is just a simple, weather worn tree stump with no name or markings. Pictured here are mostly ornately carved trees with additional embellishments. Here are a few that I have found.

Oakhill Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan

Maria Kelsey Maybury
Wife of F. I. Maybury
1843-1884

Frank K. Maybury
December 1, 1867-March 24, 1869

Birdie Maybury
January 1, 1876-December 26, 1876

DeForest Maybury
June 2, 1872-October 23, 1879

Children of F.I. and M.K. Maybury

Greenlawn Cemetery, Tiffin, Seneca County, Ohio

Job M. Lingenfelter
April 1, 1903
Aged
56Y 11 M 15D
At Rest

Charles
Son of J.M. and S.E. Lingenfelter
Died
July 30, 1890
Aged
17YS’ 7M ‘S 2D’S

Nellie and Girtie [Gertrude] Lingenfelter

Sarah E. [Elizabeth]
Wife of
Job M. Lingenfelter
Born
August 11, 1847
July 18, 1928

Butternut Ridge Cemetery, North Olmsted, Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Rev. J. F. Rice
Born
December 7, 1825
Died
November 3, 1905

Nettie Couch
Revered
Wife of
J.F. Rich
Died March 7, 1897
Aged 41 yrs

Deaths doings
recorded here
Heartaches Elsewhere

Susan Mandana
Wife of
J.F. Rice
And mother of the
Children recorded
On this stone
Died
October 31, 1882
53 years 10 mos
and 17 days


Myrtella May Rice
Died
June 25, 1861
Aged
4 yrs 4 mos
4 days

Sabrina Padelford
Died
Feby 28, 1877
Aged 69 yr
10 mos & 3 days

Stella Aurilla Rice
Died
Nov 25, 1860
Aged
6 yrs 11 mo

Infant Son Rice
Died
April 1, 1849
Aged 3 weeks

Edna Estelle Rice
Died
May 4, 1862
Aged
1 year 19 days

James Gardner Rice
Died
Feby 11, 1852
Aged
1 year 1 mo
21 days

Bellevue Cemetery, Bellevue, Sandusky County, Ohio

Unnamed

Vernando Hilton Nicely
August 8, 1871-June 30, 1913

Graveyard Rabbit Favorite Photo--Phillip William and Sarah Harner

The topic for the August 2009 edition of the GYR Carnival is Favorite Photo. Choose your favorite cemetery-related photo and bring it to the carnival.

     What a tough decision for this blog. Do I pick a beautiful or unusual tombstone, a new or and old one, family or total stranger, or will the setting be the deciding factor? In the end….none of the above.

     Pictured are my two brothers, at the end of a long and hot summer day, 1995, in Morgantown, West Virginia, clowning around. If memory serves me correctly, this was our fourth and final cemetery search for the day. I do have the best family in the world and they do indulge my genealogy whims! Ken and Jeff decided to take a break on top of our paternal great great great grandparents, Sarah Fearer Harner and Phillip William Harner—Ken resting on top of Sarah and Jeff on Phillip.



     Phillip William Harner and Sarah Fearer or Fear Harner are buried in the small Brookhaven Methodist Church cemetery, Morningside Drive, Brookhaven, West Virginia. Back in the day, the church was called Rock Forge and was located in Rock Forge, West Virginia. Changing place names is always a cause for confusion for genealogists just trying to find the final resting places for our ancestors.

     The Harner markers are in an area against the back of the church inside a stone block enclosure. There is a sizeable and impressive memorial monument, the two markers for Sarah and Phillip and also a small stone for a Harner infant.

Phillip W. Harner
Feb 14 1909
Nov 15 1885

Sarah Harner
May 20, 1816
Jan 21, 1900

     Phillip Harner was a blacksmith by trade. At his death he owned sizeable land tracts in the Monongalia County area in and outside Morgantown. He was born on a farm near Rock Forge. How he met Sarah is unknown. She was from Alleghany County, Maryland. Following their marriage on August 21, 1832 in Alleghany County, Maryland the Harner's moved to Green County and Fayette County, Pennsylvania before returning to Monongalia County, (West) Virginia. Around 1850, Phillip built his homestead and together he and Sarah raised ten children in what is now the Sabraton area outside Morgantown, a short horse and buggy ride from Rock Forge Church and Sunday services.

Updated October 2023

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published.    PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.

© 2009, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Graveyard Rabbits Carnival--Alpheus Frum

The “challenge” for the July 2009 edition of the GYR Carnival is obituaries. That’s right! This one is going to be a challenge of sorts. The “rules” are quite simple: Find a grave, then find the obituary, or vice versa.

Destroyed tombstones of Alpheus and Jane Frum

     Alpheus Frum, son of Sampson Smith Frum and Elizabeth VanGilder, was born in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia on June 7, 1830.¹ He is my paternal great great great granduncle. On February 19, 1854 he married Elizabeth Jane (known as Jane) Hayes in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia.² The ceremony was performed by Reverend Asby Pool, my paternal great great great great grandfather.

     On January 6, 1857, Alpheus and Jane received 32 acres in Monongalia County from the will of Charles Hayes.³ Alpheus farmed land along the Aarons Creek three miles south east of present day Morgantown, West Virginia. Much of the land was given to him by his father, Sampson Frum. Alpheus received 143 acres on Aarons Creek when his father died in 1862.⁴

     Numerous members of my Monongalia County family served with the West Virginia Union Militia during the Civil War. Alpheus was a private with the 14th Militia, Captain L.S. Hayes “B” Company.⁵

The Frum's had six children, however only three lived to adulthood.⁶

1. Benjamin Franklin Frum b. 25 Feb 1854 d. 08 Sep 1863
2. William Samuel Frum b. 8 June 1855 d. 19 October 1912
3. George Frum b. 8 Feb 1857 d. 1 May 1857
4. Martha Jane Frum b. 02 Jul 1858 d. 29 Sep 1863
5. James Sanford Frum b. 08 Oct 1861 d. 24 Dec 1925
6. John Alpheus Frum b. 30 Apr 1872 d. 11 Oct 1945

     Alpheus Frum died on October 6, 1901 and Elizabeth Jane on February 7, 1905.⁷ They are both buried in the Old Frum Cemetery overlooking Aarons Creek. There is a discrepancy with the obituary which lists the Bell Cemetery as his final resting place. Alpheus’ sister, Margaret Frum, married John Beall, which is sometimes seen as Bell. John and Margaret Frum Beall are buried in the Old Frum Cemetery, but they are they only people with that surname interred there.

     Children of Alpheus and Elizabeth Jane also buried in the Old Frum Cemetery are: Benjamin Franklin Frum, George Frum , Martha Jane Frum, and William Samuel Frum.⁸

     On June 14, 1902 the following 133 acres of land was divided among Alpheus’ heirs.⁹

Jane, his wife received 24 3/8 acres on Aarons Creek
John Alpheus, a son, received 40 1/8 acres on Aarons Creek
James Sanford, a son, received 33 acres on Aarons Creek
William S., a son, received 35 ½ acres on Aarons Creek

     I have never had any contact on this line from another researcher. If you connect and want to share information, please contact me.

Updated August 2025

Notes

1. Cemetery Readings in West Virginia: Monongalia County, 1940

2. Robert Poole Wilkins, Frum Family Research.

3. Grantee Index to Deeds, Monongalia County, West Virginia, Volume 1, Page 72.

4. Grantee Index to Deeds, Monongalia County, West Virginia, Volume 4, Page 151.

5. West Virginia Militia Database, Monongalia County, Record ID 13465, Internet Site.

6. Birth and Death Records, Monongalia County, West Virginia.

7. Cemetery Readings in West Virginia: Monongalia County, 1940

8. Cemetery Readings in West Virginia: Monongalia County, 1940

9. Grantee Index to Deeds, Monongalia County, West Virginia, Volume 63, Pages 506-509.