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What is a "Congregate Setting" at a Cemetery?

Congregate setting of headstones at St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Chatsworth. (Photo by Marilyn Hamilton  Irish . Used with permission.) Have you ever heard of a "congregate" burial setting? I hadn't until this week. The term is giving me some needed context and a possible answer to the question of whether I will ever find a burial record for either Joanna Elliot or Dorah Darragh, my recent research subjects. I've been trying to establish whether Dorah was Joanna's daughter, as well as the women's connection to the Dillane family, whose members are also named on that headstone. Joanna Elliot and Dorah Darragh's headstone with the surname Dillane at the base. (Photo by Marilyn Hamilton Irish, used with permission.)   Joanna and Dorah (a third great-grandmother) were buried at St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Chatsworth, Grey Co., Ontario, in August and October 1856, respectively. Though local Catholic church burial registers began in 1856, neither Joanna nor Dorah...

Visit to Greenwood Cemetery, Newton, Kansas


 

by Nancy Gilbride Casey


I've often shared photos, documents, and genealogical news on Facebook. I thought it worthwhile to publish them here, on Leaves on the Tree, as well. This will be an occasional project as the Facebook Memories posts come up.

 

Today's throwback is to July 3, 2021, when daughter Anne and I were coming back from a trip to Colorado. We journeyed through Kansas, and stayed near Newton, Kansas, just so I could visit Greenwood Cemetery, and capture some grave photos of my husband's Davis and Taylor ancestors.


These three headstones mark three Davis/Taylor graves. From right to left: The largest stone is for Collostin Davis and Ellen Maria Martin Davis, Jim's 3x great grandparents. The middle monument is that of the Davis' daughter Florence and her husband Henry O. Taylor. Lastly, next to the tree, is the grave of Blanche Davis Eddington, Florence's sister.

The largest stone is for Jim's 3x great grandfather Collostin James Davis, Civil War veteran of the 12th Maine Infantry. His wife was Ellen Maria Martin Davis; she and Collostin were the parents of Florence, Blanche and George. Sadly Ellen outlived her husband, and all of her children







The small, original stone for John Davis, Collostin's brother, and fellow Civil War veteran from of the 42nd Maine Infantry. An inscription for John was later added to the main stone (below), but the original one still present.

Inscription for George R. Davis, Collostin and Ellen's son.

Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) marker. The GAR was begun in 1866 as a fraternal organization for Union veterans. The F, C and L stand for fraternity, charity and loyalty. Both Collostin and John were members of the GAR during their lives and honored with these markers for their service during the Civil War, after their deaths.

Until next time....

Read other posts on the Davis and Taylor families:


NOTES

All images: Nancy Gilbride Casey, photographer, Davis and Taylor grave sites, Greenwood Cemetery, Newton, Kansas, 4 July 2021.

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