Taphophile Tragics — George William Breck & a bit of a mystery

Welcome to this week’s Taphophile Tragics!  Thank you for visiting, and for adding your links. My list of links is Powered by Linky Tools. Please Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

—————————————————————————
This week, my photo comes from the Green Ridge Cemetery in Kenosha, Wisconsin. I took this photo before I got more serious about my photography, (and this was a quick stop in the cemetery) so unfortunately, I did not take a photo of the date marker. But, I plan on going back, hopefully in 2014.

George William Breck, according to the information on Find-a-Grave, was born in 1863 and died in 1903.

I found his death notice, which shows he died in New York:

From what I found via Ancestry, he married Katherine Putnam Head in 1903.  The 1920 census shows them living in Queens, New York.  The record shows they have two children, Katherine, aged 14, and John, aged 12.  It also shows they share their house with two servants, Fosea Pilastre and Nancy Hobbs.   Interestingly, the record shows their two children were born in Italy — so it makes me wonder what made them travel there, and how they wound up in Kenosha, Wisconsin.  However, George’s occupation is shown as “Artist,” and his own family origins as France — so perhaps that’s an explanation.

If I go back a bit further to the 1915 census, they are living in Queens, with Katherine and John, but also another daughter, Elizabeth H, aged 5 in 1915.  The fact that she doesn’t show on the 1920 census makes me think that she passed away.  The two servants are shown as “Fosca” Pilastri and Anna Glover.

Going further backwards, the 1910 census shows the couple living in Manhattan, New York, with youngest daughter Elizabeth a newborn.  They have 3 servants listed: “Fosca Pikester”, Angeline Bowne and Angela Ginder.   So, apparently, Fosca was with the family for quite some time.

— But I’m still wondering why this memorial is in Kenosha, Wisconsin.  Perhaps it was erected by his wife or daughter?  And also interesting, Fosca is listed on the plaque on the other side of this memorial (photo courtesy of Find-a-Grave):

Sorry for being a bit absent ….

I just wanted to thank everyone who has continued to put their links in with Taphophile Tragics this month, despite my not following up with comments and all.  I’ve seen my work schedule increase, and I took on a class this month, as well…. and then I got sick last week with an awful sinus cold …..

At any rate, once I get through February, I think things will settle down.  I’ve got the last Taphophile Tragics post ready to go, and will look forward to seeing what everyone has to share (and will come around and leave comments!!)

Taphophile Tragics — William Northcott

Tags

Taphophile Tragics

Welcome to this week’s edition of Taphophile Tragics!  Thanks very much for stopping by and for sharing your links. My list of links is Powered by Linky Tools —  Please Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

———————————————————————–
My photo today comes from Oakwood Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois.

William Allen Northcott was Head Consul of the Modern Woodmen of America from 1890-1903.  Find-a-Grave lists this information: “Greenville Advocate. William A. Northcott, son of Robert S. Northcott was born Jan. 28, 1854 at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. His first wife was Julia Agnes Dressor, who died in 1881, to this union was born one son Nathaniel Dressor Northcott of Huntington, West Virgina and he survives. He then married Ada R. Stoutzenburg and they had a daughter Mrs. Amy Alpaugh who survives with one grandaughter of Springfield. William died Jan. 25 1917 at Excelsior Springs. His burial was at Oak Ridge, Springfield, Illinois. The memorial was erected by the Modern Woodmen of America of which Northcott was Head Consul from 1890 to 1903. It is aptly inscribed “Statesman, Patriot, and Fraternalist.” The inscription “He Was as Friendly as a Wayside Well” appears on the back of the bench.”

Carol Robertson White also has added this photo to the Find-a-Grave listing: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Political Graveyard site also lists this information about him: William Allen Northcott (1854-1917) — also known as William A. Northcott — of Greenville, Bond County, Ill.; Springfield, Sangamon County, Ill. Born in Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tenn., January 28, 1854. Republican. Lawyer; Bond County State’s Attorney, 1882-92; Lieutenant Governor of Illinois, 1897-1905; alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1904; U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Illinois, 1905-14; president, Inter-Ocean Casualty Co. Episcopalian. Member, Modern Woodmen of America; Odd Fellows; Elks; Knights of Pythias; Freemasons. Died January 25, 1917 (age 62 years, 363 days). Interment at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Ill.

Taphophile Tragics – the Camposanto Monumentale, Pisa

Tags

Taphophile Tragics

Welcome to this week’s edition of Taphophile Tragics! I’m glad you’ve stopped by, and hope you list a link to your own post (and maybe spread the word about all the cool things we share with each other every week). My list of links is powered by Linky Tools — Please Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

——————————————————————————
My photos this week come from my 2011 trip to Italy. We visited Pisa on Easter, and I took a lot of photos at the Camposanto Monumentale. Definitely very different from the cemeteries here in the U.S. — and many beautiful things to photograph.

Taphophile Tragics — Anna Boerner

Tags

Taphophile Tragics

Welcome to this week’s Taphophile Tragics!

My list is Powered by Linky Tools — Please Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

——————————————————————–

She is buried in Cedarburg Cemetery in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. Anna Vosteen Boerner, born 11/18/1841; died 6/17/1922. I found her in the 1900 and 1920 censuses, where she is listed as a widow, with several children: Ida, Albert and Flora.

One of her relatives posted this neat photo and there is also a family tree for her on Ancestry that has several other images.  The family tree shows that she was married at age 17 to Christoph Boerner.

I tried a bit of manipulation to see if I could make this part easier to read:

“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2 (King James version). She loved the ___________ and the flowers.