The Mysterious Grave of XYZ

 I found this grave while doing a google search and came upon this article titled: 11 Remarkable Graves with Incredible Back Stories. 

 This gravestone is located in the Fountain Hill Cemetery in Deep River, Connecticut. Nobody knows who exactly XYZ is/was but there is a story behind it. The story goes that a bank robber was shot and killed while trying to rob a bank in Deep River. Nobody knew him and he had no ID on him so the town buried him in a donated plot near the railroad tracks. I can imagine this was in or the start of the Fountain Hill Cemetery. After the man's burial, an anonymous letter requested that the grave be marked XYZ-- and so they did it.

The story continues with a woman who would visit the grave every year- she would come via train, wouldn't talk to anyone and would either leave a rose or a flower wreath. The lady would be known as the "Lady in Black" because she would always wear black while visiting the grave. 

So many questions pop into my head when thinking about this folktale. Who was the woman in black or did she even exist? Was she the man's wife or lover or sister or mother? Did she write the letter requesting the grave to be marked XYZ? Why did the letter request the letters XYZ? What did they represent? Was it an initials?

What do you think of this gravestone and the folklore behind it? Comment below.

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Copyright (c) 2024, Carrie Smith

Genealogy Bucket-List Locations, Part 4

Mendenhall Cemetery in Yorkshire, Ohio

 One of the things I would love to do in my lifetime is to visit all of my known direct ancestors gravesites. A lot of the more recent ancestors are buried in Dayton, Ohio in the Calvary Cemetery. My 5th Great-Grandfather, however, is not buried there. 

Richard Mendenhall was born on 14 Nov 1794 in Guilford County, North Carolina. He moved to Ohio where most of my recent and myself are from. He passed away on 25 April 1871 in Darke County, Ohio at the age of 76. Richard is buried in the Mendenhall Cemetery in Yorkshire, Darke County, Ohio. I'm not sure if this cemetery is named after him or one of his relatives.

There are a total of 28 matching records for the surname of Mendenhall on Findagrave.com for this cemetery...let's see how many are in my tree:

1. Aaron Mendenhall (1828-1894)- 4th Great-Grandfather
2. Allen Mendenhall (1846-1871)- 1st cousin, 5x removed 
3. Antony Mendenhall (1847-1870)- 1st cousin, 5x removed 
4. Benjamin Mendenhall (1848-1895)- 1st cousin, 6x removed 
5. Catharine Brown Mendenhall (1858-1910)- wife of 1st cousin, 5x removed 
6. Charles E. Mendenhall (1838-1882)- 1st cousin, 6x removed 
7. Christena Speelman Mendenhall (1835-1920)- 4th great-grandmother
8. Elizabeth Mendenhall (1850-1855)- 1st cousin, 5x removed 
9. James P. Mendenhall (1841-1853)- 1st cousin, 6x removed 
10. John W. Mendenhall (1877-1894)- 3rd great-granduncle
11. Levi Mendenhall (1834-1861)- 1st cousin, 6x removed 
12. Mary Elizabeth Goslee Mendenhall (1859-1917)- wife of 1st cousin, 5x removed 
13. Olive Pearson Mendenhall (1799-1870)- 5th great-grandaunt
14. Rebecca Davidson Mendenhall (1823-1891)- 4th great-grandaunt
15. Richard Mendenhall (1828-1852)- 1st cousin, 6x removed 
16. Richard Mendenhall (1794-1871)- 5th Great-Grandfather
17. Robert Mendenhall (1822-1875)- 4th great-granduncle
18. Robert E. Mendenhall (1857-1917)- 1st cousin, 5x removed 
19. Sarah Mendenhall (1830-1856)- 4th great-grandaunt
20. Sarah Pearson Mendenhall (1795-1866)- 5th great-grandmother
21. Sarah A. Mendenhall (1829-1849)- 1st cousin, 6x removed 
22. Sarah J. Mendenhall (1849-1869)- 1st cousin, 6x removed 
23. Serepta York Mendenhall (1844-1872)- wife of 1st cousin, 6x removed 
24. Thomas Mendenhall (1796-1865)- 5th great-granduncle
25. Thomas Mendenhall (1853-1910)- 1st cousin, 5x removed 
26. Thomas E. Mendenhall (1837-1851)- 1st cousin, 6x removed 
27. Wayne Mendenhall (1886-1888)- 2nd cousin, 4x removed 
28. William Rosecrans Mendenhall (1863-1899)- 1st cousin, 5x removed 

So, I suppose I have 28 reasons to visit this cemetery! 

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Copyright (c) 2024, Carrie Smith

52 Ancestors: Week 3- Harold Earl Mendenhall (1916-1989)

 Harold Earl Mendenhall

Relation to me: Maternal Grandfather

born: 10 Jul 1916, Dayton, Ohio

died: 29 Jan 1989, Alabama, age 72 

Parents: Earl Dwight Mendenhall (1894-1972) & Edna Grace Niles (1894-1933)

Siblings: Robert Eugene (1916-1993), Ruth Eileen (1926-2002)

On 06 Oct 1940, Harold married Helen Ruth Seaver, daughter of Otto Watson Seaver (1901-1972) and Ruby Mae Henderson (1901-1990). She was born on 31 Dec 1923 in Cicero, Indiana and died on 28 Aug 1981 in Dayton, Ohio. Together, Harold and Helen had 4 children:

1. Nancy 

2. Harold Earl Mendenhall Jr. (1945-2022) 

3. Neil Emerson Mendenhall (1947-2019)

4. Bonnie 

I did find a WWII army enlistment record for a Harold E. Mendenhall, born 1916 in Ohio and from Montgomery County, Ohio but the date is 24 Aug 1942 and it states he's separated without dependents-- which wouldn't have been the case...unless something was logged incorrectly. It also lists his occupation as a salesperson. 

I also found a WWII draft card for him that I KNOW is correct- born 10 Jul 1917 in Ohio, registration date is 16 Oct 1940 in Harrison, Ohio. It lists him as 5 Ft. 8 In, 118 lbs, Light complexion, Blonde Hair and Blue Eyes. Next of kin is his father, Earl Dwight Mendenhall. 

Census Records:

1920: 502 Columbia Street, Randolph, Indiana, home is rented.

household members: 

• Earl D. Mendenhall, Head, age 25, Machinist for a garage
• Edna G. Mendenhall, Wife, age 25
• Harold E. Mendenhall, Son, age 3
• Robert E. Mendenhall, Son, age 1

1930: 2260 Catalpa Dr., Dayton, Ohio, home is rented.

household members:

• Earl D. Mendenhall, Head, age 37, Garage Manager 
• Edna Mendenhall, Wife, age 35
• Harold Mendenhall, Son, age 13
• Robert Mendenhall, Son, age 11
• Ruth Mendenhall, Daughter, age 4

1940: 11 Orchard Springs, Harrison, Ohio

household members: 

• Ralph Sutton, Head, age 37, Garage mechanic
• Hazel Sutton, Wife, age 27
• Wayne Sutton, Son, age 6
• Lois Sutton, Daughter, age 5
• Thelma Daubenmeyer, Sister-in-law, age 30, Cosmetologist (?)
• Harold Mendenhall, Lodger, age 24, Garage mechanic
• Ruby Mendenhall, Lodger, age 22, Spot Welder or a refridgerator manufacturer 

1950: 284 E. Orchard Springs, Harrison, Ohio

household members: 

• Harold Mendenhall, Head, age 33, Sales Clerk for a retail auto parts store
• Helen Mendenhall, Wife, age 26
• Nancy Mendenhall, Daughter, age 6
• Harold Mendenhall Jr., Son, age 5
• Neil E. Mendenhall, Son, age 2

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Copyright (c) 2024, Carrie Smith

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun Response- Ancestor who experienced or did something unique

Welcome to another Saturday Night Genealogy challenge (on Sunday) from one of my favorite genealogy bloggers- Genea-Musings. You can see the original post Here.

Last night's challenge was: 

1. Choose an ancestor who experienced or did something unique or memorable (such as an event, family life, trip, etc.).

2. Share about your ancestor and his/her unique experience and how it may have affected their life in your own blog post or on your Facebook page. Be sure to leave a link to your report in a comment on this post.

Here's mine: 

There are a few ancestors that come to mind with this challenge and two that I definitely want to write about....but I think I'm going to go with-- 

My 7th Great-Grandfather- Richard Mendenhall

Richard Mendenhall was born on 01 Nov 1737 in Fredrick County, Virginia to Mordecai Mendenhall (1713-1803) and Charity Grubb Beeson (1715-1809). He was the eldest of 10 children.

At the age of 20, Richard married Jane Thornbrugh (1737-1796) on 24 Jun 1758 in New Garden, North Carolina. Together, they had 8 children- John, Richard Jr., Jane, Benjamin, Charity, Margaret, Joseph, and Aaron. 

The thing that makes Richard unique is that he would often go scouting for land with Daniel Boone and Daniel Boone's eldest son, James. On October 10, 1773, was the first recorded Indian massacre on the Powell River in Lee County, Virginia. This massacre took the lives of Captain William Russell, James Boone (only 16 years old), a servant boy and then a negro slave and Richard Mendenhall and his brother John. The men were buried where they lay slain.

Richard was only 35 years old.

The spot around where the men were killed, there is a memorial (10 miles east of Cumberland Gap)- this is what it looks like: 

Transcription for easy reading: 

Death of Boone's Son:

In this valley, on 10 Oct. 1773. Delaware, Shawnee, and Cherokee Indians killed Daniel Boone's eldest son, James, and five others in their group of eight settlers en route to Kentucky. Separated from Daniel Boone's main party, the men had set up camp near Wallen's Creek. At dawn the Indians attacked and killed James Boone, Henry Russell, John and Richard Mendenhall (brothers), a youth whose last name was Drake, and Charles (one of two slaves in the party). Isaac Crabtree and Adam, a slave, escaped. This event prompted Boone adn his party to abandon their first attempt to settle Kentucky. 

Transcription for easy reading: 

Pioneer Graves

This marks the burial place of a party of white settlers who were surprised in camp and slain by Indians at daybreak, October 10, 1773.  Those killed were James Boone, son of Daniel Boone, Henry Russell, son of Capt William Russell, Robert and Richard Mendenhall, brothers, and another unnamed white man. Two escaped, Isaac Crabtree, a white man and Adam, a negro slave of Russell Boone, and Russell buried their sons and the others at the scene of the tragedy and gave up temporarily the first effort of white men to settle Kentucky. 

Erected July 10, 1951, by M. Wheeler Kesterson, a native of Lee County, Virginia, age 59 years and a descendant of Mary Russell. 

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Copyright (c) 2024, Carrie Smith

Chaminade High School, Class of 1934, Senior Part 2

Welcome to Chaminade High School in Dayton Ohio

Yearbook Year: 1934, PART 2

You can view the whole yearbook here or if you want to view part 1 of this series, you can click here.

Part one is seniors 1-10, this post will be seniors 11-

11. Paul A. Clayton

Paul Anthony Clayton

born: 25 Aug 1915 in Cincinnati, Ohio

died: 29 May 1999 in St. Petersburg, Florida, age 84

Parents: Thomas Clayton & Freda Ludwig

It doesn't appear that Paul ever married or had children but one consistent woman in his life was the woman by the name of Maud.

In 1942, his WWII draft card states that he was living at 2332 Hoover Ave in Dayton, Ohio and working at National Carloading Co. (not sure if I read this correctly). The person on the card "who will always know your address" is a Maud Sullivan, listed as his landlady. 

I think I'm going to write a separate post with the whole research project that followed- look out for it.

Paul died in 1999 at the age of 84 and is buried with Maud in the Curlew Hills Memory Gardens in Palm Harbor, Florida.

12. Donald N. Davis "Don"

Donald Norbert Davis 

born: 20 Oct 1915 in Miamisburg, Ohio

died: 02 Jan 1966 in Miamisburg, Ohio, age 50

Parents: Charles Edward Davis (1896-1942) 

            & Susanna E. Gross (1896-1981)

Siblings: Charles Edward Jr. (1914-1984), Joseph Gayle (1916-1975) (pictured below #13), Kathryn Elizabeth (1918-1994), John Firman (1922-2007), Martha Joanne (b. 1929). 

Donald married Frances Alice Schutt (1912-1982) on 16 Oct 1937 in Ohio and they had at least one daughter: Judith Francine Davis (b. about 1939 in Ohio). 

Donald and Frances are buried in the Miamisburg Catholic Cemetery in Miamisburg, Ohio.

13. Joseph G. Davis "Buckshot"

Joseph Gayle Davis

born: 1916- Miamisburg, Ohio

died: 02 Dec 1975- Dayton, Ohio, age 59

Parents: Charles Edward Davis (1896-1942) 

            & Susanna E. Gross (1896-1981)

Siblings: Charles Edward Jr. (1914-1984), Donald Nobert (1916-1966), Kathryn Elizabeth (1918-1994), John Firman (1922-2007), Martha Joanne (b. 1929). 

Joseph married Mildred L. (1917-1982) and they had 3 children: 

1. Abigail R. (b. 1943)

2. Timothy E. (b. 1947)

3. Joseph Gayle Jr. (b. 1948)

Joseph died in 1975 at the age of 59 and is buried beside his wife in the Miamisburg Catholic Cemetery in Miamisburg, Ohio.

14. Francis W. Dickman "Frank"

Francis William Dickman

born: 24 Oct 1916 in Greene County, Ohio

died: 09 Nov 2000 in Piqua, Ohio, age 81

Parents: William Francis DIckman (1886-1955) &

                Caroline E. "Carrie" Schmidt (1888-1972)

Siblings: William M. (1919-1923) & Thomas Henry (1924-1997)

Francis married twice- first to Alberta Pauline Weinert (1917-1962) on 11 April 1942 and they had 2 daughters. He married second to Eleanor Ann Raterman (1928-1996). 

1. Kathleen A. Dickman (1946-2015)

2. Mary J. Dickman (b. 1947) 

Francis and his wife are buried in Calvary Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio.

15. Richard M. Dineen "Dick"

Richard Martin Dineen

born: 13 Apr 1916 in Dayton, Ohio

died: 06 Aug 1992 in Dayton, Ohio, age 76

Parents: Martin Daniel Dineen (1890-1952) &

                Marie Henrietta Focke (1889-1922)

Richard was a teacher and never married. He is buried in the Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Beavercreek, Ohio. 

16. Robert E. Durkin "Bob"

Robert Emmett Durkin

born: 30 May 1916 in Dayton, Ohio

died: 12 Dec 1944 in Dayton, Ohio, age 28

Parents: William Henry Durkin (1878-1958) &

                Amelia K. Koerner (1876-1972)

Siblings: Marie Margaret (1903-1996), Catherine Josephine (1905-2006), Thomas A. (1907-2003), Florence Eleanor (1912-1995). 

Robert married Rosemary L Schaaf (1917-1987) and they had one son: Thomas Robert Durkin (1942-2005). Robert died young at the age of 28, cause of death unknown.

17. Harold C. Elking

Harold Carl Elking

born: 12 Oct 1915 in New Bremen, Ohio

died: 11 Jun 1993 in Dayton, Ohio, age 77

Parents: Henry Charles Elking (1886-1958) & 

                Maria Johanna Frenzer (1886-1973)

Siblings: Jerome F. (1919-2010), Robert Philip (1923-2011) and Helen Louise (1927-1947).

Harold married Mary A. Babich (1920-1983) and they had 3 daughters. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery, no photo available online. 

18. Dale F. Fahrendorf "Cub"

Dale Francis Fahrendorf

born: 16 Dec 1916 in Dayton, Ohio

died: 02 Jan 2001 in Camden Junction, Missouri, age 85

Parents: Edward Frank Fahrendorf (1882-1928) & 

               Adele Kolkmeyer (1885-1944)

Siblings: Robert E. (1911-1992), William Kay (1915-2002), Nancy Adele (1925-2001). 

Dale married Carol M. Erickson on 14 Jan 1949 and they had two children: Carol & Paul. 

19. William A. Fahring "Bill"

William A. Fahring-- unfortunately, I couldn't find any information about William. 

20. Herbert W. Finke "Poison"

Herbert William Finke 

born: 23 May 1917 Ohio

died: 18 Jun 1985- Dayton, Ohio, age 68

Parents: Herbert Michael Finke (1889-1960) & 

               Rose Beatrice Hosiger (1891-1973)

Siblings: Virginia Rose (1918-2008), Paul Robert (1920-2021), James Henry (1922-2014), Thomas L. (1925-2022). 

Herbert married Rhetta L. Galt (1917-2011) and they had 6 children: Peg, Chris, Herbert, Tim, Ron, and Mike..

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Copyright (c) 2024, Carrie Smith

Funny Friday- Family Tree Cemetery Plots

Short Post this morning- I came across this photo on Pinterest and HAD to share- so cute & funny! Share & enjoy! 

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Copyright (c) 2024, Carrie Smith

The Famous Descendants of John Fuller (1655-1726), Part 1

My 8th great-grandfather, John Fuller, was born on 11 Jan 1655 in Barnstable, Massachusetts to Samuel Fuller (1611-1683) & Jane Lothrop (1615-1683). He married Mehitable Rowley (1669-1732) and they had at least 5 children:

1. Thomas Fuller (1680-1772)

2. Samuel Fuller (1682-1757)

3. Thankful Fuller (1689-1740)

4. Joseph Fuller (1699-1775)

5. Benjamin Fuller (1701-1740) 

Four of these five children would have descendants who would become notable in history. This post will only focus on the first two children- Thomas and Samuel:

~Thomas Fuller (1680-1772) & Elizabeth (ULN) (1689-1784)

    - Ebenezer Fuller (1715-1749) & Mary Rowley (1708-1798) 

        - Elizabeth Fuller (1750-1837) & Joshua Phelps Jr. (1751-1825) 

            - Dicey Phelps (1785-1860) & Joseph Carver (1782-1854) 

                - Levina P. Carver (1825-1854) & John Albert Fuller (1819-1891)

                    - John Fuller (1853-1928) & Charlotte A. Squires

                        - John Robert Fuller (1889-1938) & Ruby Ingham (1893-1963)

                            - Imion A. Fuller (1917-2004) & Kenneth F. Trainor (1908-1986)

                                - Gary Trainor & Kelley Anne Jekanowski 

                                    - Meghan Elizabeth Trainor (b. 1993)

Meghan Trainor is an American singer- songwriter. She married actor Daryl Sabara and they have 2 sons: Riley and Barry.

~Samuel Fuller (1682-1757) & Naomi Rowley (1685-1764)

    - John Fuller (1704-1769) & Sarah Clotheir (1709-1769)

        - Asa Fuller (1733-1811) & Mary Goodwin (1738-1768)

            - Charles Fuller (1773-1853) & Philinda Wells (1787-1847) 

                - Charles A. Fuller (1811-1862) & Alivia Cole (1813-1899)

                    - Jane Sophia Fuller (1835-1924) & George Barnard (1833-1896)

                        - Charles Fuller Barnard (1859-1905) & Anna Aldridge (1870-1962)

                            - Julia Fuller Barnard (1897-1973) & Richard Clark (1896-1989)

                                - Richard Wagstaff "Dick" Clark (1929-2012)

Dick Clark was a television and radio personality. He was married 3x- Barbara Mallery from 1952-1961, Loretta Martin from 1962-1971) and then Kari Wigton in 1977. He had 3 children: 

1. Richard A. Clark

2. Duane Bradley Clark 

3. Cindy Clark

Part 2 to come next week!

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Copyright (c) 2024, Carrie Smith