Tombstone requests

During my genealogical research, I have repeatedly come across individuals who will go out of their way to assist other people by taking pictures, looking up public records or otherwise running local errands for people in other places.
I have personally benefitted from these good people and have wondered how I may help others.
Then I came across this site:

Here you can find a person local to information you need and they will, on their own time, look up records, take pictures or video and be just generally helpful*. It only took me a couple minutes to decide to volunteer my own services to take pictures of tombstones in my county for people who needed it. So here follows my services:

*some services may incur expenses. Please read the FAQ's at the site for full details.

Randall’s Acts of Genealogical Kindness

(All images are linked to hi-res versions that may take awhile to download.)

7/3/06 - Due to server space, I will only keep the hi-res links available for 6 mo. after the picutres are taken. Please contact me if you need them after they are removed.

Nov. 21, 2004

Gramley - For T. Rodabaugh - Windsor Cemetery

I thought I may have to put this request off for a couple weeks due to the holidays, but found the cemetery was only a mile from my house. So in between church and play rehearsal, my wife and I drove over and found the tombstone after only about 20 minutes.

The small foot stones had etched on them (from left to right): AJG, MJG, EG

Dec. 19, 2004

Watson - For K. Wells - Lexington Cemetery

The request was for Samuel Watson, son of Amariah Watson. The former died in 1845 and the later in 1833. The requestor thought they would be close together, but the stones were actually about 75 ft apart two rows seperated. Oh well, I found them.

Above Left: The tombstone of Amariah Watson. Above: Area around Amariah Watson's stone. Note the red arrow corresponds with the red arrow in the picture below. The green arrow points to Samuel Watson's stone (in detail above right).
Below: The far left stone is for Sally Watson, wife of Amariah Watson. Detail 2 below. The red arrow points to the "Van Dorn" stone, which also has a Sally Watson with slightly different dates.

Above: Stone for Samuel Watson.
Below: Area around Samuel Watson's stone. Note the little stone behind. (in detail 2 below). This is ALSO for a Samuel Watson, but one who died young.

Mar. 5, 2005

Rice - For R. Arvickson - Oakland Cemetery

The request was for John Rice for a graves location project for veterans of the War of 1812, concentrating mainly on those vets who have some kind of connection with Erie County, PA. I made my first visit in Dec, but was unable to locate the stone before my feet turned into blocks of ice. The requestor contacted the cemetery proctor, who advised us of the general location of the stone. Our portion of Ohio experienced a very severe winter, including a couple real bad ice storms which caused alot of damage. It was March before I had a weekend free that was not sub-arctic temperatures. Once I got to the cemetery, we found the stone within 10 minutes (and wonder how we missed it the first time.)

As the stone says, John Rice was the last surviving member of Perry's victory in 1913. John would have been around 24 years old at the time of the victory. He died at the age of 90 or 91.

Mar. 20, 2005

Craig - For Betty - Independence Cemetery

I was hoping for a sunny, nice day Sunday, but alas, it was not to be. After church it was foggy, drizzly and about 38 degrees (are you sure today is the first day of spring?). Anyway, the cemetery was easy to find and the stones were in the first row I walked through. The oblisk is the older of the two stones and has CRAIG engraved on the base of the front. The little stone between had no discernable engraving on front. It seemed as if something had been carved on the top, but it was too worn to make anything out.

May 30, 2005, Memorial Day

Cramer - For Phyllis - Lexington Cemetery

A beautiful day. And a big, retired salute to all those who are in service or have served our nation.

Phyllis Dearborn is the President of the Old Franklin Twp Historical Society of Plain, Wisconsin. She requested Joseph Cramer's tombstone in Lexinton Cemetery. Joseph was the father of 4 Cramer brothers who settled Old Franklin Twp. My wife and I walked around the cemetery for about an hour looking, but passed it at least twice before we recognized it. By it's appearance, I would guess that the stone was broken as the inscription was right at ground level. Even though it was heavily covered with moss, I was able to get a few high contrast pictures. (By the way, the leg belongs to my wife. She was shading part of the stone for me).

Dec 30, 2005

Kimble - For L. Wildman - Mansfield Memorial Park

A brisk, cloudy day.

My wife Paula initially went out to find this, but found the largest cemetery in Richland Co. I finally came across the request during business hours so I called the park and got the location. We still had to get directions from a worker to find the proper section

Dec 30, 2005

Shumaker - For Shelley - Belleville Cemetery

Shelley requested John W. Shoemaker, his wife Catherine and sons Charles and William. She later wrote to let me know that
William moved out of state before he had died. I was not able to find Charles, but here is John W. and Catherine.

Dec 30, 2005

Snapp - For Glenn - Rome Presbyterian Church Revolutionary War Cemetery

Glenn requested Peter and Francey Snapp and any other family members in the area. All I could find was one Snapp tombstone.

Dec 30, 2005

Wilson - For Rick - Rome Presbyterian Church Revolutionary War Cemetery

Rick requested James and Mary Wilson. A look at the Richland Co. Roots Web site showed me they were at the Rome Presbyterian cemetery, and also indicated that Mary's stone was fallen, but I didn't expect what we found.

We included as much of the inscription as we could make out.

Overview

MARY ANN
wife of
Wm Wilson

DIED
Nov. 11, 185?
Aged 48 y. 7m 2w
(illegible inscription)

JW Wiser, Shelby
(carver?)

DIED
Apr. 10, 1855
Aged 37y. 2m 16d
(illegible inscription)

It looks as though the top of this stone had been broken off, but I assume it was William as there were no other Wilsons in the cemetery

ALVIN
son of
WC & MA Wilson
DIED
Mar. 15, 1863
Aged 8y. 8m 29d
(illegible inscription)

June 21, 2006

Hout - For N. Cooper - Windsor Cemetery

This Cemetery is chock full of Houts, and it even took the proctor (part time worker) a couple weeks to find the correct tombstone for me.

This is a family plot. The large monument is engraved BB Hout on the front and "Hout - Hoover" on the back. In front is Father and Mother (see pics below) with H Milton on the left and Alma Hout Hoover on the right. Spouses are straight back (Mary Kohler on the left and Samuel David Hoover on right).

July 1, 2006

Adams - For J Moyer - Mansfield Cemetery

This Cemetery is HUGE. 2 visits. The office worker sent us to an entirely wrong lot the first time. On the second try, he got me to the right lot, but indicated the wrong block. I found the stones after about 1/2 hour searching.

Images are linked to a hi-res version. It may take awhile to download

July 1, 2006

Bender - For T. Brown - Lexington Cemetery

A call to the village offices got me someone who gave me the Lot, Section and Block. But when I got there, I realized there was no directions or section markers. I drove around a little and just about gave up when I looked out the passenger window and saw the stone.
A lucky day.

Images are linked to a hi-res version. It may take awhile to download

July 1, 2006

Sites - For J. Myers - Garber/Oyster Cemetery

This cemetery was located on a hill on a farmers property. At my first visit, there was no one home and I did not want to risk a trespassing charge. The first to photos are shot from the road. When I returned, the owners wife granted me permission to drive up the hill. The cemetery itself is in an advanced state of disrepair and only about half of the stones are immediately legible. I wasn't sure I would find the proper stone without a rubbing (and I hadn't brought the materials), but once again luck was on my side. I found Mary Sites, and while it was worn, I was able to make out the lettering better through the camera than just looking at it.

Images are linked to a hi-res version. It may take awhile to download

This is an overview of this old cemetery. Mary Sites' stone is located in the center front.

I made out the inscription as:
MARY.
wife of
HENRY SITES
DIED
March 19, 1849
aged 83 yrs
& 20 ds

Dec 13, 2006

Montgomery/Houston/Ferrell - For S. Hatfield - Old Mt. Olivet Cemetery

This cemetery is one of two in the little village of Olivesburg, OH. For the locals, Olivesburg is well known for it's General Store. It is a step back in time with a smattering of everything and a WONDERFUL ice cream bar. If you ask for a double scoop, they always ask "Are you sure?", because their single scoop is a huge double scoop anywhere else.

Images are linked to a hi-res version. It may take awhile to download

Montgomery

Ben J. Montgomery
died April. 14. 1841
aged 75 yr.
(stone appears broken)

Nancy
wife of
B. Montgomery
Died July 29, 1866 Aged 98 Y. 1 M. & 11d.

Ferrell

Elizabeth
Wife of
James Ferrell
died May 2, 1842,
aged 17yrs, 7M. & 28 D.

Houston

some tombstones are also referenced on the pillar memorials

In Memory of
Polly Houston.
consort of Joseph Houston,
who emigrated from Sussex County state of Delaware and died near this place,
Nov. 12 AD 1824
Aged 62 years 5 mo. & 6 days

In Memory of
Nancy Houston daughter of
Joseph & Polly Houston who emigrated from Delaware and died near this place Feb 11, 1825 Aged 40Y., 6M.
11 Days

Mary
wife of
Wm Houston
Died Aug.15,1853
in Her 73D Yr.

Wh Houston
Died Dec.13, 1854
Aged 74Y 11M.21D.