Saturday Soldier: Capt. William Jasper Born

1906
In God We Trust
Capt W. J. Born
Born May 28, 1835
Dec 11, 1916
He Was A Veteran Of The Confederacy,
And Was With Lee's Army When He Surrendered
At Appomattox C.H. April 9, 1865

Barbara J.
Daughter of A. W. & Anna T. Bates
Wife of Capt. W. J. Born
Born Nov 2, 1841
June 9 [3?], 1906

William Jasper Born was a member of Company D, 9th GA Battalion Light Artillery (aka "Born's Artillery"). He was a son of John and Lucinda Born.

Barbara Bates was actually William's second wife. He married once before the war, then married Barbara about 1865, then married again after her death. After the war Capt. Born was involved in farming and real estate in Gwinnett County, Georgia.

William and Barbara rest in Shadowlawn Cemetery at Lawrenceville.

Death of a Mailman

This draped obelisk in Shadowlawn Cemetery at Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia remembers three members of the HOOPER family. William R. Hooper, Jr. was a son of Rev. William R. and Louisa S. Hooper. He died at the young age of 36, likely from typhoid fever. An obituary from the 15 August 1911 edition of the Atlanta Consitution (Georgia):

WILLIAM R. HOOPER DEAD

Well-Known Rural Carrier of Gwinnett County.
Lawrenceville, Ga., August 14 -- (Special.) -- William R. Hooper, of Duluth, died at a private sanitarium in Atlanta this morning, where he had been carried for treatment for typhoid. Mr. Hooper was a well-known citizen of Gwinnett county and was rural mail carrier on route No. 1 from Duluth. He was about 35 years of age and unmarried. Mr. Hooper leaves two sisters, Mrs. A. R. Danforth, of Pittman, Ga., and Mrs. L. M. Brand, of Lawrenceville. The remains will be brought to Lawrenceville this afternoon for interment in the new cemetery Tuesday morning. He will be buried by the Odd Fellows, of which order he was a prominent member.

Other inscriptions on the HOOPER monument are for young William's parents.

Rev. William R. Hooper
July 18, 1838
Dec 18, 1898
Blessed are the dead
which die in the Lord.

Louisa S.
Wife of W. R. Hooper
Mar 9, 1837
Jan 16, 1900
He giveth His beloved sleep.

W. R. Hooper, Jr.
June 22, 1875
Aug 14, 1911
He died as he lived, a
Christian.

Major Simmons at Shadowlawn (Wordless Wednesday)

A Patterson Plot at Shadowlawn

Elizabeth, James, & Thomas Patterson
at Shadowlawn Cemetery
in Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia

The image above is of a PATTERSON plot containing tombstones for James M. Patterson (1827-1911), his wife Elizabeth W. (1824-1908), and their son Thomas A. (1866-1915). The patriarch of a large family, Mr. James Patterson was upon his death one of the oldest residents of Gwinnett County. An obituary:

Atlanta Consitution (Georgia) - Sunday, 5 March 1911:

James M. Patterson, Lawrenceville.
Lawrenceville, Ga., March 4 -- (Special.) -- James M. Patterson, one of the oldest residents of Gwinnett county, died at his home in Lawrenceville this morning at 6 o'clock. Mr. Patterson was an ex-sheriff of this county, having held that office for twelve years. He was a prominent Mason and was the eldest Master Mason in this section. He was 84 years of age, a member of the Methodist church, a man of considerable property, and leaves several children, his wife having died a few years ago. The remains will be buried with Masonic honors, the interment taking place here Sunday morning at 11 o'clock.

Williams Tombstone Genealogy & a Nice Epitaph to Boot

The Williams plot located at Shadowlawn Cemetery in Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia contains a good bit of information. The headstone is devoted to the parents: Mary E. Williams (June 24, 1850 - Oct 12, 1930) and James D. Williams (June 9, 1847 - May 6, 1925). The ledger marker pertains to their (presumed) children:

· Charles P. Williams (July 9, 1875 - Nov 7, 1939)
· Sallie Williams Armstrong (Jan 5, 1877 - Sept 25, 1957)
· Pearl Williams Brock (Aug 17, 1884 - Nov 18, 1956)
· Minnie Estelle Williams (Jan 20, 1888 - Dec 8, 1913)
· George L. Williams (Nov 24, 1891 - June 21, 1982)
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· Jack E. Armstrong (June 1, 1874 - Dec 11, 1959)
· John J. Brock (Aug 5, 1881 - May 27, 1946)

Also found on the ledger marker is this thoughtful and poetic addition to the epitaph:

Lord God Of Host That Reigneth On High
That Man Is Truly Blest
Who Only On Thee Doth Rely
And In Thee Only Rest.

Geese in the Graveyard

Shadowlawn Cemetery at
Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia

Photos © 2010/1 S. Lincecum

Philadelphia Maltbie, Old and New

While visiting Lawrenceville Historic Cemetery in Gwinnett County, Georgia, I photographed the cracked and difficult-to-read tombstone at right. Then I turned around (literally) and saw this pristine rendition of the same stone pictured below. I love how it was cast in the same style, and of course that someone felt the need to make sure Mrs. Maltbie was not forgotten even more than 120 years after her death. That's true perpetual care!

Our Mother
Philadelphia Maltbie
b. July 27, 1804
d. Sept 13, 1887

Blessed is he who considereth the poor.

Time Was, Time Is

SACRED
To the Memory of
RICHARD HENRY HARRISON
Youngest Son of
Dr. Wm. J. & Sophia Russell
Who departed this life
February 2nd, 1843
Aged 5 years, 10 months
and 4 days.

Time was, is past, thou canst not it recall
Time is, thou hast, improve the portion small
Time future is not and may never be
Time present is the only time for thee.

Small box tomb located at
Lawrenceville Historic Cemetery
in Gwinnett County, Georgia.

Photo © 2010/1 S. Lincecum

A Sunday Tragedy: Bryant Strickland Shot Dead at Cartersville

Memorialized on the same stone as yesterday's subjects of Bryant, Claudia, and Marion Strickland, is Bryant E. Strickland, Jr. Born 12 March 1858, young Bryant's life met a tragic and untimely end 18 July 1886, as recorded in The Weekly Consitution (Atlanta, Georgia):

Tuesday, July 20, 1886 edition -
A SUNDAY TRAGEDY
BRYANT STRICKLAND SHOT DEAD AT CARTERSVILLE
Assistant Town Marshall William Puckett His Slayer -- Strickland Threatens and Shoots, and Puckett Defends Himself
CARTERSVILLE, Ga., July 18 -- This morning at 10 o'clock, while attempting to shoot William Puckett, Bryant Strickland was himself shot and almost instantly killed.

Strickland was a young man about thirty years old. He formerly lived at Rome, where, about four years ago, he struck Major Sam Morgan, a prominent cotton merchant, on the head with a piece of scantling, causing him to become insane. Subsequently, Strickland spent most of his time here with his father and brothers. He was unmarried...

[The details of the incident take up at least two columns in the newspaper. Liquor, threats, and the resisting of arrest are major components.]

...Strickland's remains will be taken to Lawrenceville to morrow, for interment.

When the Grave was Reached, One of the Largest Crowds had Gathered to Witness the Closing Ceremonies

The following week, the "sensation" was still high. Again, from The Weekly Constitution:

Tuesday, July 27, 1886 edition -
FOR KILLING STRICKLAND
Sunday's Sensation Still the Topic in Cartersville.
CARTERSVILLE, Ga., July 22 -- The excitement over the killing of Bryant Strickland still runs high. It is said that every one connected with the killing will be vigorously prosecuted. The defense is preparing to make a stubborn fight...

[Meanwhile, back at Lawrenceville] The remains of Bryant Strickland, who was killed at Cartersville last Sunday, were interred in the cemetery at this place. All the family of the deceased were present, together with Rev. Hines Strickland, of Tennessee, and Rev. Mr. Dodge. The procession started from Mr. Tom Jacobs' at 10 o'clock, and when the grave was reached one of the largest crowds had gathered to witness the closing ceremonies ever seen there. It was due to the extensive friendly relationship of the parents of the deceased, who for a long time lived at this place, and to the acquaintances of the deceased who knew him as a brave, noble, generous hearted soul. He had his faults, but his virtues were many of the highest type. He was loved here as a boy in his boyhood days, and his untimely death has provoked hundreds of the kindest expressions for his early unfortunate ending, and the sympathy for his parents is deep, sincere and universal.

Though the prosecution seemed dogged, due to the prominence of the family as a whole (in my opinion), another newspaper, -- The Macon Telegraph (Georgia) -- tells us Puckett was acquitted of any crime a few months later.

Remember Thy Creator

Claudia (1852-1861) and Marion (1854-1858) were children of Bryant E. and Mary Catherine Russell Strickland. The draped urn topped tombstone they share with their father and two brothers bears an epitaph for each from a hymn entitled Remember Thy Creator (author unknown to me).

For Claudia:
Remember thy Creator
while youth's fair spring is bright
Before thy cares are greater
Ere causes death's dark night.

For Marion:
Remember thy Creator
Ere life resigns its trust
Ere sinks dissolving matter
And dust returns to dust.

Their father Bryant (1818-1900) has a nice epitaph as well: Earth has the ashes; friends the memory; God the spirit.

Lawrenceville Historic Cemetery at Gwinnett County, Georgia
Photos © 2010/1 S. Lincecum