Sunday Cemetery - General Henry Van Ness Boynton

Published on the 8^th of June in 1905 in the Baltimore American out of Baltimore, MD

BURIED WITH MILITARY HONORS

GENERAL BOYNTON NOW RESTS AT ARLINGTON CEMETERY

A Funeral Befitting the Rank of a Brigadier General – The Services Held at New York Ave. Presbyterian Church – Representatives Present From Gridiron Club – Remains Taken to Cemetery on a Gun Caisson – Salute of Eleven Guns From Fort Myer.

     Washington, June 7 – Gen. Henry Van Ness Boynton was buried today in Arlington National Cemetery with distinctive military and civic honors. Although a civilian at the time of his death, he was accorded a funeral befitting an office of the rank he at one time held in the United States Army, that of brigadier general. The funeral services, which took place at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, were conducted by Rev. Dr. Wallace Radcliffe and were participated in by a numerous representation of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland, the Loyal Legion and the Gridiron Club, in all of which organizations General Boynton had for many years past been a leading spirit.

     The funeral services were unostentatious, being in strict accord with the wishes of the deceased. The church ceremony consisted principally of an eulogy by Dr. Radcliffe and the singing of two hymns by the Gridiron Club Quartet. Dr. Radcliffe’s eulogy was an eloquent review of the career of a lifelong friend. The floral tributes were many and of varied design, the casket being literally buried in masterpieces of the florist’s art.

     Among the tributes was large floral wreath sent by the city of Chattanooga, where General Boynton was well-known, and a delegation of whose citizens attended the funeral, President Roosevelt, in expressing sympathy to Gen. Andrew S. Burt, Chairman of the committee representing the Army of the Cumberland in the funeral arrangements, took occasion to pay a high tribute to the character and public services of General Boynton, saying that he regarded him as the highest type of a soldier and a citizen, and one of the best examples of patriotic American manhood.

     At the conclusion of the church services two troops of cavalry escorted the remains, which rested on a gun caisson, with artillery sergeants as body bearers,  to their resting place in the historic Arlington. As the funeral cortege passed Fort Myer a brigadier general’s salute of 11 guns was fired and the last military honors were rendered by a volley over the distinguished soldier and citizen’s grave.

     General Boynton, up to within a few weeks of his death, had been president of the Board of Education of the District of Columbia, and as a tribute to his memory the public schools were closed for the day. The flag on all District buildings were placed at half staff.

     The pallbearers, eight in number, selected by the General before his death form the Gridiron Blub, introduced an innovation. Each member of the club wore a boutonniere of lavender sweet peas, tied with black and white ribbons, the colors of the blub. At the Arlington Cemetery, after Dr. Radcliffe, the officiating clergyman, had pronounced the benediction over the open grave, the eight Gridiron pallbearers advanced and unpinning the flowers from their coats, dropped them in upon the casket as a last tribute to the memory of their fellow member.

Sunday Cemetery - Missing Cemetery Deed

Published the 14^th of June in 1904 in the Sun out of Baltimore, MD

HAD TO POSTPONE FUNERAL

Family of Mrs. M. E. Curley Could Not Find Cemetery Lot Deed.

     The funeral of Mrs Mary Elizabeth Curley, who was instantly killed Wednesday by being caught in the machinery in a mill at Elizabethport, N.J. where she had called to visit her husband had to be postponed yesterday because the deed to the family lot in Mt Alphenaus Cemetery could not be found. That the deed was missing was not discovered until a few hours before the time set for the funeral service.

     Mr. John Curley, her husband, and numerous friends and relatives of the deceased had gathered at the home of Mr. Chas Hoddinott, SN Waipert avenue, Waverly, whence they were to go to the cemetery.

     Mr Curley immediately sent his son, Jas Curley , to Elizabethport to search among Mrs Curley’s effects for the missing document. Meanwhile the body is lying in a vault at the cemetery. If the deed is found the funeral will be held today; otherwise it may be again postponed.

     Mrs Curley was born in Baltimore 58 years ago and was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Fuchaberger. Thirty-one years ago she was married to Mr Curley and for the last 21 years they had been living in Elizabethport.

The family has been particularity unfortunate. Four of the children have died and a brother of Mrs Curley was drowned. The husband and one son survive. 
                                          (*above article found on Genealogy Bank website)

Sunday Cemetery Annie Sullivan

Published the 16^th of January in 1894 in the Sun out of Baltimore, MD

COLORED CENTENARIANS

Annie Sullivan Died at the Age of 109

Minnie Jefferson Living at 107

[Special Dispatch to the Baltimore Sun]

     NEW YORK, Jan. 15 – One-time slave Annie E. Sullivan died January 9 at the Colored Home and Hope at Sixty-fifth street and First avenue, at the age of one hundred and nine years. Her body was to buried in Potter’s field Saturday, when it was claimed at the morgue by her sixty-five-year-old son, Geo. Sullivan, who lives with the O’Dell Family at Hastings-on-the-Hudson. The son placed the body in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Long Island, yesterday.

     The aged colored woman was the daughter of Philip Pickering, who fought with Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox,” in the Revolution. She was born a slave in the Carroll family in 1735 and in later days often recalled visits made with her master and mistress to General Washington at Mount Vernon. By the dying request of her mistress she was given her freedom, and removed to Washington, where she entered the service of the Buchanan family. At a banquet given in Lafayette’s honor she was waiting upon the guests when the French General, stuck with pleasant manners spoke to her kindly. She was fond of recalling those recollections of her childhood. One of her brothers fought under Jackson at New Orleans. When Jackson became President this brother was made assistant gardener at the White House.

     She married in Washington and in XXXX moved to this city, John Garrison, of No. Old East One Hundred and Twenty-fourth street, was nursed by Mrs. Sullivan thirty years ago. He says there is no reason to doubt the truth of the woman’s great age. Her son at Hastings has a bible in which is a record of her birth. She entered the home about eighteen months ago and rarely spoke to any one, sitting bent double, with her head resting upon her knows, motionless. Her death was due to old age.

     A colored woman, named Minnie Jefferson who claims to be one hundred and seven years old, and that she was a slave born in Shenandoah Valley, VA. in the family of Thomas Jefferson when he was President of the United States, is now lying in a small room in the rear of the house No. 147 West Twenty-seventh street this city. She has now living four generations – three children, fifty-six grandchildren, eight great – grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Her eldest daughter, who was also born in the “Jefferson family, and who was named Caroline Jefferson, is seventy-seven years old, and when she was born her mother was thirty years of age.

     Her husband belonged to Daniel Taylor, who was one of the largest slaveowners of the revolutionary times. At the time of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis to General Washington the man she afterword married was a drummer-boy in the Continental army. Several years before the late war Granny Jefferson bought her freedom for $100. Her husband paid $450 for his freedom. The old woman has been confined to her bed since she lost her sight three years ago. She retains all of her other faculties. On January 23 a benefit will be given for her at St. Paul’s Colored Baptist Church in lower Seventh avenue. Her grandson, who is janitor at a factory, is her mainstay. 

Sunday Cemetery - Five Children Now Orphans

Published on the 9^th of October in 1907 in the Baltimore American out of Baltimore, MD

FIEDLER IS BURIED WITHOUT SERVICE

Murderer Taken to Cemetery Just Before Dark – Wife to Be Buried Today

With no friends or relatives present, the body of Albert Fiedler, who murdered his wife and committed suicide last Sunday afternoon, was lowered into a grave dug in unconsecrated ground shortly before dark yesterday afternoon in Holy Redeemer Cemetery on the Belair road. The time of the burial of the murderer and suicide was kept secret by the undertaker. It was stated in East Baltimore yesterday that the burial of Fielder would take place in Holy Redeemer Cemetery in the afternoon, and scores of persons, mostly women, went to the cemetery and waited several hours for the appearance of the wagon. When the shades of evening began to fall the crowd, which had gathered at the cemetery, left the graveyard and returned to their homes thinking that the funeral of the suicide would take place this morning.

Funeral Director Wendell Dippel had made arrangements with the official at the cemetery for the interment to take place as late in the afternoon as possible, and at 5:30 o’clock the undertaker’s wagon passed through the entrance of the cemetery. The wagon was driven to the part of the cemetery which is unconsecrated, where solitary grave had been dug. The grave is surrounded by the graves of suicides and christened persons, and when the wagon drove up the grave digger laid the ropes across the opening and in the presence of the two men the remains of Albert Fiedler were covered with earth. There were no mourners and no flowers of a religious ritual over all that was mortal of the man who had made five happy children orphans in the space of a few minutes. When the grave was filled the shades of night had enveloped the cemetery.

The funeral of Mrs. Fiedler will take place this morning at 8 o’clock from St. Michael’s Church. Wolfe and Lombard streets. Interment will be in Holy Redeemer Cemetery, but the grave will be nowhere near that of the man who was once her husband. 

Sunday's Cemetery - Founder of the American Navy

Published in April of 1905 in the Baltimore American out of Baltimore, Maryland

PAUL JONES’ BODY IS FOUND

DISCOVERED IN OLD ST. LOUIS CEMETERY AT PARIS

MYSTERY SOLVED AT LAST

Ambassador Porter’s Long Search for Remains of Famous American Admiral Successful - Hundreds of Caskets Unearthed – The Body Found Well Preserved in a Leaden Casket – Anthropologists Pronounce Body that of Founder of American Navy – Will Be Brought to This Country and Entombed With Honors.

(By Cable to The American)

     Paris, April 14 – The remarkable search which Ambassador Porter has conducted for the body of Paul Jones has been crowned with success by the discovery of the body and its identification today by the highest French medical experts as unquestionably that of the famous American admiral who founded the American Navy.

     Ambassador Porter cabled to Washington tonight announcing the successful results of his search. The body is in a good state of preservation considering that the interment took place over 100 years ago.

     The circumstances leading to the final discovery of the body are particularly interesting. General Porter has conducted the search for the last five years, and when Congress recently took no action upon the President’s recommendation for the expenses incident to the search the Ambassador continued the extensive labors at his own expense. A large force of workmen has been engaged night and day tunneling and cross-tunneling the old St. Louis cemetery. This constituted a huge operation, embracing nearly a block covered with buildings and requiring a system of subterranean mining.

The Coffin Opened

     Hundreds of wooden caskets were found, but not until Wednesday were unearthed four laden caskets which gave promise of containing the body of the admiral. Three of them bore plates designating the names of the deceased. The fourth showed superior solidity of workmanship. No plate was found on this casket and it is supposed it was removed when another coffin superimposed on it. The leaden coffin was opened in the presence of General Porter, Colonel Bailly-Blanchard, the second secretary of the American embassy, and Engineer Weis, who has been directing the excavation.

     The body was found to be well preserved owing to its being immersed in alcohol. It was wrapped in a sheet with a packing of straw and hay. Those present were immediately struck by the resemblance of the head to that on the medallion and busts of the admiral.

     As was anticipated, no uniform, decoration or sword were found, as all such materials had been accounted for after the burial.

     The coffin is shaped like a mummy coffin, which coffins were common at that period, widening from the feet to the shoulders, with a round top fitting over the heard.

The Identification

     The casket was taken to the medical school, where Drs. Capitan and Papllant, distinguished, professors of the School of Anthropology and recognized authorities on such investigations, where charged with making a thorough examination for the purpose of identification. To facilitate this the Ambassador furnished them with portraits and medallions, two busts by Houdin and authentic descriptions of the color of the Admiral’s hair and the height and measurement of his body. After the most minute examination the following facts were fully sustained; Length of the body – 5 feet 7 inches – the Admiral’s exact height.

     Size and shape of the head agree with several peculiarities identical with the head of the admiral.

     Hair – dark brown, the same as the admirals; in places slightly grey, indicating a person of his age, 45 years. The hair is long, reaching below the shoulders and combed back and gathers in a clasp at the back of the neck.

     The face is clean shaved, all corresponding exactly with the descriptions, portraits and busts of the admiral.

     The linen is in good condition. One article bears an initial either “J” or an inverted “P.”

Wrapped in Tinfoil

     The body was carefully packed. The limbs were wrapped in tinfoil. Presumable for sea transportation, as indicated in a letter of the Admiral’s nearest friend and a pallbearer of his funeral, Colonel Blackden, who said:

“His body was put in a leaden coffin, so that in case the United States, which he and so essentially served, should claim his remains, they might be more easily removed.”

     Sending that all the internal organs were singularly well preserved, the doctors made an autopsy, which showed distinct proof of the disease from which the Admiral is known to have died. The identification was pronounced complete in every particular.

     Care has been taken to keep the body in its present state of preservation. It will be placed in a handsome casket and deposited in the receiving vault of the American Church, on the Avenue de ‘Alma, until the ambassador can learn the opinion of the government concerning the most appropriate means of transporting it to the United States and giving a fitting sepulcher to the body of the illustrious sailor whose place of burial has so long remained a mystery.

Satisfaction at Washington

     Washington, April 14. – Ambassador Porter’s dispatch announcing the finding of the body of John Paul Jones reached the State Department tonight. There is genuine satisfaction among the officials at Washington that the untiring efforts of Ambassador Porter have been crowned with success. Officials here followed his reports on the subject with keen interest and think it was particularly gratifying that he was able to bring his task to a successful conclusion before retiring from his post. It is probable that a recommendation will be made to congress at its next session looking to his reimbursement. The remains of John Paul Jones are to be brought here and interred to the National Cemetery at Arlington, and it is likely that the transfer will be made the occasion of an interesting demonstrations.

     Last year, at the time the search for the body of John Paul Jones was begun, Mr. Moody, then secretary of the Navy, made the official announcement that if the body were found the government would send a battleship to France to convey it to this country. It is not doubted that Secretary Norton will fulfil the promise then made. 

Saturday Spotting - Baltimore's Rare Copper Find

Published in June of 1904 by Baltimore American out of Baltimore, Maryland.

 RARE OLD ENGRAVINGS FOUND IN BALTIMORE

Copper Plates of 1702 in the Maryland Historical Society and Pratt Library.

As the result of investigation made by Col. George W. F. Vernon the presence in this city of two very rare old copper plate engravings has been brought to light. One is in the rooms of Maryland Historical Society, where it has laid with little or no attention for an indefinite period; the other, which is similar, is in the reading room of the Enoch Pratt Free Library.

     The engravings are of exceedingly fine lines and is a copy of a painting in the Royal Academy, London, and was designed, engraved and published by James Barry, R. A., professor of painting to the Royal Academy, February 28, 1792. It is probably one of a series which the artist offered to paint gratuitously, allegorically illustrating the culture and progress of human knowledge. This offer was made to the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. The painting was made to give credit to Cecilus Calvert as establisher of civil and religious liberty in America, and is peculiarly interesting to both historians and artists.

Description of the Antiques

     The engravings are on a large plat 2 feet 6 inches by 2 feet 6 inches, and represent Lycurgus, King Alfred, William Penn and other lawgivers, civilians and clergy, the main feature of which exhibits as the central and most conspicuous figure Lycurgus in his Greek attire with a scroll in his hands, reading the name, which is apparently being unrolled by Cecilus Calvert, Baron of Baltimore, held up for the scrutiny of Lycurgus on which is inscribed “Religious and Civil Liberty Established in Maryland, 1649.”

The bottom of the engraving reads as follows:

In the Elysium one of the series of pictures on human culture in the Greek room of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, etc., at the Adelphia, a mistake was committed, owing to the illusion, that has been so generally spread of considering William Penn as the first colonizer who established equal laws of religious and civil liberty. This design is, therefore, added to the series in order to rectify the mistake in the group of legislators, by making Lycurgus looking at these exemplary laws as placed in the hands of Ceceilus Calvert. Baron of Baltimore, who was the original establisher of them in his colony of Maryland many years before William Penn and his colony arrived in America a copy his worthy example.

Mystery of Their Origin

     The manner in which the presence of the engraving was discovered is interesting. It is supposed that the only other copy is in the possession of Dr. M. H. Cryer, of the University of Pennsylvania. Recently Colonel Vernon met Dr. Cryer, and the latter interested him with the description of the copperplate. Upon his return to Baltimore Colonel Vernon called the attention of Maryland Historical Society to the existence of such a plate, when the copy was released from the obscurity in which it has been and given prominent place in the library of the Maryland Historical Society. It was impossible to find out how long the engraving has been in the possession of the society.

     The copy which is in the possession of the Enoch Pratt Library has been in the reading-room for some time, and from whence it came is also shrouded in mystery.

     Barry, the artist, was born in Cork in 1741. In 1777 he was made a royal academician, and 1782 he was elected professor of painting. Owing, however, to a certain turbulence of temper he quarreled with the president of the academy and in 1792 his expulsion took place. He died in 1806.  

Sunday's Cemetery - Cemetery Robbers

Published in February of 1911 in the Baltimore American out of Baltimore, Maryland

MYSTERY IN A CEMETERY

Casket Lifted From Grave, But the Corpse Still Inside

Stanford, Ky.,  January 31. – The coffin containing the body of George B. Saufley , who was a prominent lawyer, and whose family is prominent socially, was found above his grave in Stanford Cemetery early today. At first the authorities refused to allow anyone to approach it until the arrival of bloodhounds. One end of the lid was loose and the tracks of a man and woman in mud on it.

     A strange woman tried to get the body several months ago by having the caretakers of the cemetery exhume it but they refused.  The grave was afterward guarded for several weeks.

     When bloodhounds were taken to the cemetery the coffin was opened and the body was found undisturbed. The dogs immediately took the trail of the supposed robbers.