Sadly,
however, the stone’s reverse side was heavily encased in cement with some embedded
red bricks. Fortunately the gravemarker’s
front surface was intact. The skillfully
carved early 1860s inscriptions were quite clear and readable. As I drew closer to linger by it, I was
touched to see the matching carved lambs facing one another with the words “At
Rest” engraved below them. I did not notice
a price tag attached. So, before I started
shopping, I called over the store clerk and asked questions to try to learn
more details about this grave marker.
I
was told that this lovely gravestone for the children whose names were
inscribed on it as: George D. Stedman (Born May 28, 1852 – Died August 8, 1861)
and Lucy L. Stedman (Born November 20, 1853 – Died January 27, 1862) Children
of George S. and Lucy Stedman, was rescued from a storefront building in
downtown Wellington, Ohio, where it had been removed. The reason for its removal was not given. They thought the previous owners of the stone
were thinking of throwing it away; so thankfully that did not happen.
Since
I am a cemetery preservation and gravestone conservation advocate, I could not just
leave the store and forget about that original grave marker. Also, before leaving, I took photographs of it
from different angles. I was eager to start
researching the names of the children and learn more about them and where they
were buried.
Thus,
I began my investigation by conducting a search on the website “Find A Grave.” I learned that the Stedman siblings were buried
at the Spencer Cemetery in Medina
County, Ohio, as were their parents and older siblings because their memorials
were already posted. However, gravestone
photographs were not added to their memorials.
Next, I sent an email to
Medina County officials who provided contact information for Spencer Township
Trustee, Tom Brown. Fortunately for me, I learned from
the trustee that he was well acquainted with the Spencer Cemetery and had recalled
seeing a tall four-sided dark gray granite monument erected for the Stedman
family. He kindly obliged my request for
a photograph of the monument and emailed it to me so I could post it on the
children’s memorials. I also added my
photograph of the original double marker sitting at the antique store to their
memorials so others, hopefully Stedman family descendants, would know about its
existence.
I
am not certain if the Stedman children’s unique grave marker was eventually
sold, however, I have been informed that it is no longer at the antique store.
It
would require painstaking work conducted by an experienced professional to
remove the cement and embedded brick from the original stone without damaging
or destroying it. I am hoping that by now this lovely marker is sitting in a descendant's home or at a local historical society where it would be appreciated.
Also, Abigail Stedman Walters was buried at the Spencer Cemetery, a sibling of little George D. and Lucy L. Stedman.
The Parents:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanking Tom Brown for sharing his photographs below of the large Stedman Family monument and the large marker for Henry and Abigail Stedman Walters.
