Forrestville Cemetery

In contrast, the Johnsons have dissimilar stones--though they are buried next to each other as the picture, left, shows. Elizabeth, "wife of John Johnson," died in 1868 when fifty-five. John lived to be eighty-nine and died in 1872. That would make his birth year about 1781. This wife and husband are the only ones with the surname Johnson on the Forrestville Cemetery burial list.

Hannah Fenimore's stone proclaims that she too was born in the 18th century. She died in 1866 at seventy-one years of age. That would make her birth year about 1795.

In addition to Wright Smith and John Forrest, who both started churches in the area, Samuel Purtee's stone testifies that he was a reverend although the denomination of his faith is not given. The reverend "died Feb. 21, 1871 aged 52y 3m 21d." Relative James Purtee, from the previous generation, died at seventy-two in 1859 according to earlier gravestone transcriptions. Churches were second only to personal shelters for the family in being erected in pioneer rural communities.

These two McMahan stones have popular symbols from the 19th century. At far left, Bertha's pillar has a hand holding flowers. The flowers, of course, represented love for the departed. Bertha was the "daughter of E.A. and M. McMahan," and she died in 1885 when she was sixteen. Joel's stone, left, has the compass with right angle rule which meant that he was a member of the Freemasons. Joel died in 1873 when he was thirty-two. The metal star with "GAR" printed in the center signifies a veteran of the Civil War.

The most common style of stone in 19th century cemeteries is the simple basic tablet like the two on the right. These were not that expensive and made of soft, easily carved white marble. Unfortunately, this soft material is prone to discolor with mold and fungus, as seen here, and they are also apt to break off at the base. If individuals are on the attached burial list but do not now have a stone representing them, then most likely the marker was such as these.

At right, a son of the Adamson family, "Nathani.", an abbreviation for Nathaniel, died in 1871 at just one year old. The blue on the stone is sidewalk chalk used to bring out the lettering. It does not harm the stone and will wash off in the next rain.

At far right, Gilbert Ross died in 1850 at twenty-two.

Above are tablets of different shapes. At far left is the stone for George J. Peters who died at three years of age "Jan. 4, 1866." David Metcalf's stone, center left, says that he died "Sept. 1862." The hand with index finger pointing up illustrated that David's soul was going to heaven. Center right is a stone for a member of the Owen family. Unfortunately, the specific data etched into the soft stone has faded from erosion. At far right, the tapered tablet for Elizabeth states that she was the "wife of Moses Moore died Jan. 21, 1866 aged 21y 6m 20d." A traditional verse at the bottom has been weathered away.

Three dimensional markers became the fashion in the last third of the 19th century. One popular design was the obelisk which represented the spiritual connection between heaven and earth. At far left, this faded pillar represents the only person with the Wright surname on record as buried at this location: William Wright died in 1885 when seventeen. Center left is an almost identical stone for "Virginia C. wife of John Beckley died Apr 7, 1879 aged 35y 11m 22d." Center right is a well preserved obelisk on base and foundation. A monument of this design was often set at the center of graves with each side of the base recording who was buried at that spot. On the south face is Susan Greenlee, who died in 1873 at ninety-eight years of age. She would have been born during the Revolutionary War. On the east face Eddie L. Greenlee is recorded as passing away in 1875 when nineteen. At far right is a shorter obelisk on base and small foundation. This is for "Hannah G. wife of R.E. Rohrer" who died at forty-nine in 1882.

For the families who wanted the stones for their departed to testify to religious faith, the "podium" was a popular choice. A short rectangular column was covered with a stone drape, often with tassels and fringe. The book on top was the bible. Like the obelisk, the podium was often placed between or at the center of graves, and each side gave the data for individual family member. James and wife Amanda Ross's gravestone is left. The scrolled medallion on the front has the family name. The right side, as one is facing the stone, gives the husband's statistics; the left has the wife's. David Jones, another one born in the 1700s, is memorialized, center. He was born around 1785; he died in 1867 at eighty-two years of age. There are eighteen of that surname on the burial list. At right, a daughter of the McGraw family, Annie, died in 1876. This grave marker, by some oversight, was omitted during the transcription.