Christine Limes Simmons - age 103 - passes away in Missouri

Christine Simmons: Christine was preceded in death by her mother Bernice, father Lewis, and her beloved husband of 59 years, RW. She is survived by her daughter Jan (Erwin) Pellant of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and her son, LJ (Judy) Simmons of Fenton, Missouri; granddaughters Kathy (Pellant) Reed and Jennifer Pellant of Council Bluffs; grandsons Luke (Hanna) Simmons of Gothenburg, Sweden, and Josh (Elizabeth) Simmons of Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is also survived by eight great-grandchildren. A funeral service will be held at Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Saturday, September 17, at 11:00 a.m. Family visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. one hour prior to service. Burial will be held at Rural Dale in Trenton, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Rural Dale Cemetery Association (455 SE 63rd Ave, Laredo, Missouri, 64652).

Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus Shares Vintage Videos of Past Ceremonies and 150th Anniversary Celebration

If you are a fan of Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio and its history, please be sure to check out the Videos Section of the cemetery's Facebook Page.  Some of the early videos have recently been digitized and posted.

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I attended Green Lawn Cemetery's celebration of their 150th Anniversary - 1848 - 1998 on Saturday, September 26th, 1998.  

I donated a binder of family information for my Duvall and Limes ancestors who were buried at Green Lawn Cemetery that I had compiled for that wonderful event.  I was so pleased to hand deliver it.  

(Map of Green Lawn Cemetery)

Now, 20 years later, I learned that the binder was given to the Columbus Metro Library for their collection.  

Thanks to Loraine M. Wilmers, the contents of my binder have been scanned and placed online at the library.:

First Families of Green Lawn Cemetery

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Below are some of my photos I took during the 150th Anniversary celebrations at Green Lawn Cemetery, and the brochures and flyers that were distributed for it.

 

 

 

Above photo:  

 my friend, Rose Roundhouse of Circleville, who

accompanied me to the 150th Anniversary celebrations

at Green Lawn Cemetery)

 

 

 

 

(Above copy of Original Record

of Burials on the Lot for Benjamin Penn Duvall

Section E Green Lawn Cemetery)

Green Lawn Cemetery on "Find A Grave"

August 2, 2016 Update from Sheep Pen Cemetery: William Irwin, Sr.'s Grave Marker Restored and Reset in Its Original Stone Base

At rural Sheep Pen Cemetery there is a rather plain looking white marble tablet gravestone that was left to lean against a large slow sinking table top slab that holds the marker made for Maria Dick.  This scene had been undisturbed for years that sadly turned into decades, that is until now.  

In 1858, the flat topped gravestone was carved and installed to mark the final resting place of William R. Irwin, Sr. who came to America from Ireland in 1798.  His life story was well written up in the book:  "History of Ross and Highland Counties, Ohio."  

William and his wife, Margaret McCormick Irwin, were the parents of 11 children; 10 of whom lived to adulthood.  The children lived out their lives and made their own mark in their community and for some, far beyond it. 

William and Margaret Irwin are an example of how couples (like countless others who rest in peace at so many of Ohio's early burial grounds that have now been deemed to be inactive or even abandoned) whose children became builders in their communities through service as teachers, doctors, lawyers, shopkeepers, and farmers - and at professions no longer in existence.  

Thankfully, through biographical information and drawings published in 1880s era county history books, (and Ohio has several of them!), we are privileged to learn more details of the generations of ancestors, who during their lifetimes, fulfilled the dreams of their pioneer parents.  

Living descendants may not always be aware of the stories of the lives led by their great or great-great grandparents who are now buried in grave sites with sunken or unreadable gravestones.

However, there is renewed hope because of a resurgent interest to restore, and in some cases even unearth, gravestones at cemeteries like Sheep Pen. 

The interest has become a concerted effort through volunteers working independently and in like-minded groups.  

Thus, I would like to thank the dedicated group of volunteers of the Greenfield Historical Society !  Since 2014 they have worked together to clean, repair, straighten up, and reset markers, like those of William Irwin, Sr.,  at the Old Burying Ground in Greenfield.  They have inspired new folks who desire to learn and participate to come and join them. 

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Extending my personal thanks to Scott and Venus Andersen for their immeasurable contributions at Sheep Pen Cemetery to make it the cemetery it is today.  They have also volunteered and contributed regularly at the Old Burying Ground since the work sessions began.  

Thanking also John King of the Greenfield Historical Society who has done so much of the physical digging work that has led to discoveries of bases, and fragments of gravestones that were needed to make one whole again.  All this work that has become the remaking of a cemetery is indeed utterly remarkable!  Everyone who contributes is appreciated!  

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It is my pleasure to share Scott Andersen's three photographs's below of the William Irwin, Sr. gravestone, before, during, and after it was put back where it belongs at Sheep Pen Cemetery.:   

New Gravestone Photograph for George R. Aber at Sheep Pen Cemetery - Madison Township, Highland County, Ohio

1850 U. S. Federal Census Madison Township Highland County Ohio Series  M432  Roll 694 Page 147 FamilySearch

Matthew Aber, age 58, occupation of farmer, value of real estate owned - $2,250; birthplace PA; Hannah, age 53, birthplace PA; Charles, age 21, birthplace - Ohio, occupation of farmer; Lavina (sp?) age 26, birthplace Ohio; Julia A., age 19, birthplace Ohio; and Matthew A., age 15, birthplace Ohio. The family was living next to the Samuel and Margaret Yohn family.

Wills, Administrations, Guardianships & Adoptions of Highland County, Ohio 1805- 1880 - McBride & McBride, 1957, reprinted 1994, page 67:

ABER, Matthew, of Madison Township, Date: Aug. 11, 1858.  Wife, Hannah, children: Elmira, Samuel, Wilson, Charles, Eliza Simes, Julia Yohn.  Executors: Wilson Aber, Harrison Limes. Witnesses: John Limes, Rutherford Collier.  Proven Apr. 25, 1859.  The Executors declined to administer the estate and the court appointed Thomas M. Brady Administrator W.W.A.  Sureties: Rutherford Collier, John Limes.  Appraisers:  Rutherford Collier, William Irwin, Phillip McWilliams.  The widow elected to take under the will.

Comment by Linda Jean Limes Ellis:  Eliza “Simes” – Her married name was incorrectly spelled with an “S”when it should have been an "L" for Limes. Eliza Limes was married to Harrison Limes.  Harrison and Eliza Aber Limes are buried at the Cochran Cemetery in Perry Township, Fayette County, Ohio.  Harrison Limes’ parents were William and Athaliah Doster Limes.  William Limes was an older brother to Henry Limes buried at Sheep Pen Cemetery.  Thus, Henry Limes was an uncle to Harrison Limes who was Eliza Aber’s husband. 

Wills, Administrations, Guardianships & Adoptions of Highland County, Ohio 1805- 1880 - McBride & McBride, 1957, reprinted 1994, page 269: “June 6, 1871.  Thomas M. Boyd appointed Administrator of the estate of Hannah Aber, dec’d.  Sureties:  W. W. Bell, Isaac Simpson, Appraisers:  Rutherford Collier, John Limes, William Gustin.”

Aber family members buried at Sheep Pen (AKA Limes or Gustin Cemetery):

•   Matthew Aber, and his wife, Hannah Kenley Aber
•   Matthew Aber (son of Matthew and Hannah Kenley Aber)
•   Elmirah Aber (daughter of Matthew and Hannah Kenley Aber)
•   George Aber (son of Matthew and Hannah Kenley Aber)
• Julia Aber Yohn (daughter of Matthew and Hannah Kenley Aber)
•  Eliza Aber Limes (daughter of Matthew and Hannah Kenley Aber.

(Eliza Aber was buried at Cochran Cemetery, Fayette County, Ohio – Eliza was married to Harrison Limes son of William and Athalia Doster Limes)

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Currently, "Find A Grave" is listing 158 memorials for the surname of Aber in the state of Ohio.  

Examples of Identifying your tombstone photos

William A. Crooks, (wife of William A. Crooks) Hannah Maria (Limes) Crooks, Hiram Limes, and, his wife, Elizabeth (Cory) Limes

A longer shot view of the restored rows.

Hiram Limes and sisters, Ellen J. and Margaret P. McWilliams

Margaret Limes, Rebecca Limes, Charles Alvin Crooks, Hannah Jane "Jennie" Crooks, Nancy Jane (Coffey) Crooks, Pvt. Samuel Crooks, Millie Francis Crooks, John Limes and his wife, Jane (Kelley) Limes

Hannah (Nolan) Limes, Henry Limes and Julia Ann Limes

Hannah Jane "Jennie" Crooks

Brothers - but buried at different cemeteries

Before and after cleaning views of the grave markers of Limes Brothers, John and Milton, of Hardin County, Ohio.

Milton Limes is buried at the Hale Cemetery in Hale Township, on the north side of SR 273, near Ridgeway and west of Mount Victory. Hale Cemetery is maintained by the Hale Township Trustees.


Milton Limes;128th Reg't O.V.I. Co. "H" Private. b. June 20, 1841 d. December 20, 1929 . His wife was Margaret Ann Watson.



John Limes is buried at the Ridgeway Cemetery, located on the west side of TR 179, south of SR 273 in Hale Township. Ridgeway Cemetery is maintained by the Village of Ridgeway.


John Limes;180th Reg't O.V.I. - Co. "I" d. on June 29, 1889 at age 42. He was a Private. Discharged on May 28, 1865. His wife was Harriet M. Hogue.