Sharing news of an upcoming presentation to be given by Mr. Paul LaRue - Monday, March 18, 2024 - 7:00p.m. entitled.: "Sam Lucas and Uncle Tom's Cabin" - 101 E. East Street Evelyn Pentzer Meeting Room (Center for Economic Opportunity Building) Washington Court House, Fayette County, Ohio

This presentation is being hosted by the Fayette County Genealogical Society - a Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society.

Please see the details provided in the poster below for the program's details.: 

Sam Lucas

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Sam Lucas on Find a Grave

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Mr. Paul LaRue is well known for his long career teaching at the high school in Washington Court House providing detailed programs that have brought about a greater awareness to the African American Civil War soldiers who were buried in Fayette County, Ohio.  

Mr. LaRue has taken his classes on numerous field trips that include the marking of soldiers' graves.  

Below are links that offer further information about Mr. LaRue and his work.:

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

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https://doughboy.org/ohios-black-world-war-i-sailors-forgotten-u-s-servicemen/

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https://www.ohiohistory.org/teaching-ohios-forgotten-heroes/

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Casey Camp members were a part of WCH cemetery tour - Washington Cemetery - Washington Court House Ohio

Casey Camp members part of WCH cemetery tour

Cemetery tour set for this Saturday - October 15, 2022 - Washington Cemetery - Washington Court House, Fayette County, Ohio

Cemetery tour set for this Saturday

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Sharing from the Record-Herald, Washington Court House, Fayette County, Ohio.:

Excerpt: 

"Guests can meet at the Fayette County Commission on Aging, located at 1179 S. Elm St.

Hayrides will depart from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. that evening but while guests wait, they can enjoy drinks and snacks while learning a little bit about what the Commission’s function and responsibilities.

“There will also be a Civil War camp set up there that people can enjoy while waiting as well,” added McCane.

“The hayrides will depart from the Commission on Aging and head for Washington Cemetery. Once the guests arrive at the cemetery, there will be 17 stops,” explained McCane. “The individuals at the cemetery will tell a little bit about the person at each of those stops and will also be dressed up as the person being discussed.”

Attendees to the event will then have the chance to stretch their legs while touring the inside of the Judy Chapel.

McCane explained that there would be many members of the community participating in the tour.

“We will have members from the Fayette County Historical Society, students from Washington High School, Joe Denen, our city manager, as well as Vernon Stanforth, our county sheriff. We also have several people from Carnegie Library participating along with members from the Henry Casey Camp that will be dressed up in their military uniforms.”

"Learning about our history" from Mr. Paul LaRue - Washington Court House, Fayette County, OHIo.

"LaRue speaks at cemetery walk about prominent black citizens"

By Cathy Massie White - Fayette Co. Genealogical Society

Here is the link to this wonderful story!

"Learning about our history"

Announcement: Paul LaRue Presentation - "Washington Cemetery's Prominent Early Black Citizens" - Monday, June 20, 2022 - at the Washington Cemetery in Washington Court House, Fayette County, Ohio - beginning at 6:30p.m.

There will be a free and open to the public presentation scheduled for Monday, June 20, 2022 at 6:30p.m. by renown educator and historian Mr. Paul LaRue at the historic Washington Cemetery in Washington Court House, Fayette County, Ohio.  

The presentation is sponsored by the Fayette County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society. 

The meeting will be near the fountain in the cemetery (see flyer below).: 

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The Fayette County Genealogical Society - Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society

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The Washington Cemetery on Find A Grave

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Google Map for the Washington Cemetery

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Washington Cemetery tour a success - Washington Court House, Fayette County, Ohio.

Washington Cemetery tour a success

Washington Cemetery in Washington Court House, Fayette County, Ohio - on Find A Grave.

Sharing Some Photographs from Gail Allen of the Washington Cemetery, Washington Court House, Fayette County, Ohio

Thanking Gail Allen for sharing the following photographs she took recently while visiting the Washington Cemetery in Washington Court House, Fayette County, Ohio.  

Thank you Gail, for also taking photographs of the stone markers for William A. and Jemima (Rowe) Limes. 

 (above gravesite - Section 9 E in the back of the cemetery)

William Anderson Limes (below)

 

Jemima A. Rowe Limes (above)

 Maria L. (Dawson) Robinson (above)

(above gravesite - Section 9 E in the back of the cemetery)

 

Sharing a Tranquil Scene at Saint Colmans Cemetery in Washington Court House, Ohio -- And Spotlighting the Fayette County Genealogical Society, a Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society

On this snowy Sunday I'd like to share a peaceful winter cemetery scene at a section near the fence at Saint Colmans Cemetery located in Washington Court House, Fayette County, Ohio.  

This photograph was taken yesterday by Gail Allen who has the good fortune to live next to the cemetery!! 

As Gail pointed out to me, the photograph is in color -- it just looks like it is only dark brown (almost black) and white due to the heavier snow that had fallen overnight that currently covers the landscape.  

Thank you, Gail for taking a moment during your busy day to snap this interesting picture and sharing it with us.

Gail is the new editor of "The Fayette Connection" newsletter which is published by the Fayette County Genealogical Society.  She does a great job with the the content and layout of the publication, which includes in each issue color photographs of unusual gravestones.  They have been wonderful additions to the material featured in the newsletter that I have always found informative as well as entertaining!  

Also, Gail has updated the society's website  this past year so those of you who have been familiar with it but haven't looked at it lately, may wish to re-visit it soon.   Don't forget to browse through the section on the society's website that offers a listing of  FCGS publications to see if there is a book you don't have yet that you just might like to order to add to your genealogical research collection.

If you have ancestors who lived and/or were buried in Fayette County, Ohio, and are not a member of the Fayette County Genealogical Society, which is a chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, please consider joining!!  You'll quickly find that receiving "The Fayette Connection" is a big benefit of membership that will help you learn more about the area where your ancestors lived.  You can contribute with queries or stories of your own Fayette county ancestors.  You just might make your own connection with some new cousins -- 3 times removed of course! 

Happy New Year Everyone!!   

Presently, on Find A Grave, there are 55 burials at Saint Colmans Cemetery

Gail Shares Photographs of Gravestones at Two Almost Forgotten Gravesites at the Washington Cemetery in Washington Court House, Ohio.

Below are photographs of two gravestones marking now almost forgotten gravesites in the older section in  the Washington Cemetery in Washington Court House.  

Gail Allen has been visting the Washington Cemetery this past week and photographing several gravestones.  

Thank you, Gail, for sharing these gravestone photographs -- these two gravesites are forgotten no more!

We don't often see a gravestone with the name "John Doe."  I have not posted one on my blog until now.  

Perhaps if there was an article or death notice published in the newspapers at the time of this person's death we might be able to learn his identity from the details.   

Unfortunately, there are no inscriptions for age or birth date either that might help us know if he was a child or an adult when he died.

 Above: Flat marker installed for an unknown male given the name of "John Doe."

Above: L. Ried -- death date appears to be May 25, 1856.  Age .... 23 days.

There is also an epitaph below the "23 days" that I am not able to read from looking at the picture.  

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I'm sure the broken L. Ried stone could be restored and thus the inscriptions made more readable. 

Spotlighting Washington Cemetery in Washington Court House, Fayette County, Ohio

Sending my thanks to Gail Allen, who visited the Washington Cemetery and its office on November 2, 2012.   

Gail so kindly shares some of her findings with us from her trip. 

Below are some of the photographs from Gail's visit.  

Included are photos that were requested by folks on "Find A Grave" who live at a distance and wish to see what their ancestors' gravestones look like. 

Also, Gail has provided a helpful cemetery map with section notations that can help a visitor find their way around the Washington Cemetery.   

Plus, Gail shares some good news about upcoming changes that will make finding your friends and family buried at the Washington Cemetery a lot easier in a few months!!

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~~Washington Cemetery Map~~:

 

From Gail:

"As you can see on the map, the sections to the right of #'s 32, 29, 25, 22, and 21, are the newer sections and the road from the second entranceway photo, is the road between  B and E.

 

Sections 9, 13, 17, and 14 are the older ones where many veterans are; used after burials stopped at the Old Wash Cem."

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~~News of Washington Cemetery Records to be online on the city's website~~:

From Gail:

"Good news! The Washington Cemetery is working with a programmer in Michigan who is getting all of their records online. I saw the model and it looks good. 

In late May of next year, anyone will be able to access any person's name on the City Cemetery website, to see if they or a relative is there and where."

  

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~~Tombstone photos Gail took that were requested by Find A Grave members~~:

 From Gail:

"First, I will get the bad news out of the way. 

 

There is no record of any **Minnie Barton in the cemetery. 

 

Their records go back to 1845. 

 

She checked several Barton's to see if there were any matching names/relatives."

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My thoughts are that perhaps "Minnie" married again and had a new married name?  Her name on Find A Grave is posted as:

 

Minnie Mary Hatfield Barton

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Speaking of the surname of "Hatfield" - another tombstone photo request in the list was for Charles Osborn Hatfield. 

 

Gail located his gravesite in Section 2 and and photographed his flat marker shown above.  

 

It is now posted on his "Find A Grave" memorial.  

 

Thanks Gail -- and the photo requester is grateful!!

 

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 Section 1, Lot 10

 

Dasie Cockerill  -- Another photo request fulfilled!

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Section 5, Lot 73

 

Burrus M. Holcomb and Charlotte Holcomb 

 

The photo request was for Burrus M. Holcomb. 

 

 Charlotte Holcomb had not been posted yet on "Find A Grave."  

 

After I saw Charlotte's name on the monument, I created a separate "Find A Grave" memorial for her and added the tombstone photo.  

 

Thus, this photo that Gail took appears on both memorials.  

 

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By the way, the "Find A Grave" Photo Volunteer Program is a wonderful feature of the website that has enabled so many people to view photos of the grave markers of their friends and loved ones that they might not otherwise have the joy of seeing.   

 

The photo volunteers do not charge; it is a labor of love for them!

 

So, it is always a courteous gesture for the requester to send the volunteer a thank you note for fulfilling their request.  The notes are always welcome!

 

All photo volunteers are to be congratulated for their time and effort in providing this valuable service that is appreciated by so many, including by this writer!!

 

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 More photographs from Gail below:

 

  Main entrance on Washington Avenue

 

   Above: New Office

 

 A longer distance view of the new office at the Washington Cemetery

Focusing on Fayette County's Old Washington Cemetery in Washington Court House

Currently, the Old Washington Cemetery in Washington Court House has 106 burials listed on "Find A Grave."   Forty-eight of them do not have tombstone photographs posted.  

Sadly, most gravestones at this pioneer cemetery are unreadable or fast becoming so. 

Over the years, I'm sure there have been several visitors who have walked the old burial grounds of the Old Washington Cemetery in downtown Washington Court House, and more will come.  

Many have taken tombstone photographs and did their best to hand transcribed the disappearing inscriptions that were skillfully etched by local stone carvers who lived so long ago. 

The Old Washington Cemetery is located in back of the Dairy Queen and the North Shore Primitives store in downtown Washington Court House and it sits near the railroad tracks. 

Gail Allen visited the Old Washington Cemetery on November 2, 2012 and took photos of some of the upright markers.  

Thank you for sharing your pictures with us Gail.

Below is a picture of an upright stone marker that Gail took during her visit.  The inscriptions on the stone, for the most part, are unreadable. 

   

Fortunately, in August of 2008, Gene Wilt also visited the Old Washington Cemetery and found the same stone.  He was able to discern that this old crumbling grave marker was erected for William Stockdale.  

Afterward, Gene posted a "Find A Grave" memorial for William Stockdale with gravestone photographs.

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Below is a reference to a "William Stockdale" that I located online via "HeritagePursuit":

SOURCE:  HeritagePursuit.com: 

HISTORY

OF

FAYETTE COUNTY,

TOGETHER WITH

HISTORIC NOTES ON THE NORTHWEST,

AND

THE STATE OF OHIO.

GLEANED FROM EARLY AUTHORS, OLD MAPS AND MANUSCRIPTS,
PRIVATE AND OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE, AND ALL OTHER AUTHENTIC SOURCES.

By R. S. DILLS.

ILLUSTRATED.

1881.

ODELL & MAYER, PUBLISHERS,

DAYTON, OHIO.

"UNION TOWNSHIP - 543"

"... N. F. Jones, as secretary, notified the board of directors of the county agricultural society, to meet at the court house on the 15th of November, 1854. L. P. Reid was the landlord of the " National House," and Joshua Holmes was caterer in " Washington Hall," previously known as " Stockdale's Hotel," in which latter building Jesse Millikan preceded William Stockdale as hostelry keeper. The Herald, under Mr. Lindsey's management, disseminated Whig doctrine."

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Now, we'll turn our attention to another gravestone at the Old Washington Cemetery that is shown below.  

Thanks to Gail for sharing with us her photograph of this deteriorated gravestone that is, at least, still standing.

As of this writing, I have not been able to discover for whom this early upright marker was erected.  The stone's layered front side is now severely flaked away.  

The worn smooth surface remains and causes us to stare and wonder if the identity of this person will forever  be a mystery to us.    

  

 

Sharing More Views of Saint Colmans Cemetery in Washington Court House, Fayette County, Ohio from Gail Allen

From Gail Allen's Blog: "Gifts from Gail":

"I also went to the St. Coleman of Cloyne Catholic Church office to research two graves that could not be found in St. Coleman's Cemetery. I learned that the **two ladies in question were in fact listed in the old church death record book (one from 1939 and one from 1930), but their graves could never be found in the cemetery. 

The St. Coleman of Cloyne Church began in 1866 on the land where the cemetery is now. The church building was destroyed by the tornado of 1855. Some markers were missing and some of the small corner stones sank into the ground due to the weather, and were later covered over with growing grass. The ladies are listed on the roster of cemetery graves, but the specific locations are unknown." 

Thanking Gail for providing this Section Map below for Saint Colmans Cemetery:

**Agnes Carr Creamer 
From Gail:  Mrs. Thomas (Agnes) Creamer, lived on Hoppes Road in WCH, died May 15, 1930, at the age of 51; cause of death: stroke paralysis/acute dilation of the heart.

**Margaret "Maggie" Car Hidy

From Gail: Margaret Hidy, lived on Culpepper Trace in WCH, died December 11, 1939, at the age of 67; cause of death: obstruction of the bowels.

 

Thanking Gail Allen for sharing the following photographs of Saint Colmans Cemetery in Washington Court House, Ohio -- and I have added Gail's "Gifts from Gail" blog to my "Linda's Blog List" in the right column:

 Above: 

"Further to the right of the entrance; the left of the entrance is open, not yet occupied."

 Above:

"View to the right"

Main Entrance

Spotlighting Saint Colmans Cemetery in Fayette County, Ohio

My thanks to Gail Allen for sharing this nice photograph of a portion of St. Colmans Cemetery (AKA Saint Colman's) which is near her home in Washington Court House, Ohio. 

Gail is quite active with Fayette County, Ohio genealogy and is the editor of the "Fayette Connection" newsletter published by the Fayette County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society.  

The members of FCGS have always been active with their reading of tombstone transcriptions at cemeteries in each township in the county; whether a cemetery is an active one or not.  

FCGS has published booklets of their tombstone transcriptions which are available for purchase. 

This active cemetery is listed as "Saint Colmans" on "Find A Grave."  There are 55 interments listed for it on the website.  

Also, there are two open photo requests for gravestone photographs to be taken and posted to memorials.  

They are for: 

Agnes Creamer and Margaret Hidy.  

Both surnames are quite prominent in the Fayette County area. 

Spotlighting the Washington Cemetery in Washington Court House - Fayette County, Ohio

Spotlighting the Washington Cemetery in Washington Court House, Fayette County, Ohio. 

Click on title to access the City of Washington Court House's site for its cemetery. 

Below is a photograph of the cemetery's restored fountain. 

There are currently 1,527 memorials posted for the Washington Cemetery on "Find A Grave".

Also below is a link to a site with information about the Freedom Fighters:

http://www.bjmjr.net/civwar/wash_hs.htm