Archive for September, 2019

Mary Stella (Zanone) Baker

Mary Stella (Zanone) Baker (circa 1877-1932) was the daughter of John Thomas Zanone and Anna Bailey who are also buried at Eastern Cemetery. Zanone was a first generation Italian American. On January 24, 1906, at the age of 22, Mary married Jesse Gerald Baker, the son of Eli Baker and Eliza Fitzsimmons, who we featured earlier this month. Jesse worked as a carpenter and Mary was a housewife. Together the couple had three children: two daughters, Viola and Stella, and one son, William. In 1916, Stella died at the age of 4 of whooping cough. In 1932, Mary died at the age of 55, and her husband Jesse died in 1942. Their son William worked as a golf caddy before joining Company G, 26th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division during World War II. William died in 1944 of multiple shrapnel wounds near Aachen, Germany. He was survived by a wife and son. Mary’s daughter Viola married Edward Weiss and worked as a proofreader for the American Printing House for the Blind. She died in 1999. Image from Ancestry user Pat Baker.

Lou Ann (Hite) Benfield

Lou Ann (Hite) Benfield (1857-1904) was from Marion, KY. She often went by the names Lulu and Lula. On January 6, 1880, at the age of 22, Lou married John Benfield, the son of English immigrants. John worked as a fireman for the L&N Railroad. Together the couple had seven children: two daughters and five sons. Lou lost her husband circa 1896 and became the head of the household. According to the 1900 Census, she was living on 17th Street with only four of her children (Emma, Nettie, George, and Jesse Lindel). She became a dress maker to support the family. Her 16-year-old daughter Emma was working as a bookkeeper. Her sons Claude and John were living at the Louisville Industrial School of Reform, a home for orphaned and delinquent youth. It is unclear where her 6-year-old son Lawrence was living. In 1904, Lou died of tuberculosis at the age of 47. Her daughter Emma worked as an attendant and nurse at Central State Hospital and married. Her sons were all working and boarding in houses next door to one another prior to each getting married. Lawrence moved to New Orleans for military service and remained there. Nettie is the only child we could not track after Lou’s death.

Elizabeth (Lockner) Bisinger

Elizabeth (Lockner) Bisinger (1845-1896) was born to Eustin and Mary Lockner in Saxony, Germany on April 12, 1845. She immigrated to the United States with her parents. Although her date of immigration is not evident, she first appears on a public record in the 1860 Census as a 14-year-old living with her parents. Elizabeth married Anton Bisinger, also a German immigrant. Together the couple had seven children: six daughters and one son. Anton served as a Union soldier, during the Civil War. He died in 1879 (his headstone says 1877) at the age of 37 of caries of the ribs and an abscess of the liver. Civil War pensions were distributed to soldiers, or widows of soldiers, whose disability was attributed to injuries or disease directly related to their military service. Elizabeth was able to draw a military pension after Anton’s death, so it is likely his death was related to the war. According to the 1880 Census, Elizabeth was a widow living on Mary Street with all seven of her children. By 1901, five of her children had succumbed to tuberculosis. In the Bisinger family plot at Eastern Cemetery, you will find Anton and Elizabeth along with four of their daughters: Annie, Lena, Minnie, and Lizzie.

Louisa Dover

Louisa Dover (1851-1923) was born in Kentucky. Her maiden name is unknown, and it is unclear if she was born into slavery. She married Frank W. Dover, a carpenter, in 1870. They divorced in 1894 after being separated for several years. In 1880, Louisa was working as a domestic for lawyer Charles F. Wing and his family. She also worked as a cook for the Orphanage of the Good Shephard. By 1900, she was renting a house in the alley behind 1223 E. Broadway where she had four boarders. At the time she working as a laundress and a cook. By 1910, Louisa was renting a house in the alley behind 1026 Rogers Street (formerly 1226 Rogers Street), where she remained until her death in 1923. Her house, shown on the 1905 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map (Vol. 5, Sheet 446), was across the street from Eastern Cemetery. Interestingly, Louisa was listed as a widow in all of her census records when she was actually divorced. Frank Dover did not pass away until 1917. Louisa is an example of how difficult it is to research not only women but also African Americans. We could not find any records of her life prior to her marriage or even a marriage certificate. We found her divorce announcement in the newspaper. Her death certificate says her family information is unknown. Therefore, we could not find any documents that listed Louisa’s maiden name. Couple that with the fact that she was also born during a time of slavery and the records become much more difficult to find.

Matilda M. (Shull) Hooge

This monument for Matilda M. (Shull) Hooge (circa 1835-1869) features a hand with the index finger pointing up. There are many interpretations of monument symbology, but this one generally means the person has passed on to Heaven or the hand is showing the path to God. Religion featured prominently in 19th century life especially with disease epidemics and lack of medicine. Matilda died at the age of 34 from small pox. Matilda married Louis Hooge on October 12, 1856 in Warren County, MS. She was the daughter of John and Sarah (Pfouts) Shull of Hartford, OH. Her husband Louis, a German immigrant and jeweler, survived her as did their four children: Oscar, Clara, Thomas, and Ida. They lived in Vicksburg, MS prior to moving to Louisville. Louis was later remarried to Jennie Hogue and was buried in Fairview Cemetery in New Albany, IN.

James H. Adcock

James H. Adcock (1897-1920) was a veteran of World War I as part of the Rainbow Division. On May 4, 1918, he married Rose Sloan, a tobacco worker, in Clark County, Indiana. Two years after their marriage, James died of a gunshot wound to the chest. His death certificate noted probable suicide, but a few days later, Rose was arrested for his murder. The following information is from the “Courier-Journal.” Rose’s sister, Mrs. Grace Jeffries, and her father, Mr. Newton Sloan, were arrested as accessories to James’s murder. On the night of James’s death, neighbors said they heard shouting coming from the couple’s home on Rowan Street. Then they heard a gunshot. A wounded James ran from the home as Mr. Sloan threw bricks at him. James ran into a neighbor’s house and said, “my God, don’t let her shoot me again.” Two days later, James died of his injuries at City Hospital. According to James’s family, Rose and her family led James to believe he was going to get well and persuaded him to say he had attempted suicide. Rose and her family were acquitted. The monument of James H. Adcock is simple in nature. Ferns accent the upper corners of the stone. James lived and died during the Victorian Era. At that time, ferns represented sorrow and sincerity towards other people. 

Susanna Maria (Frank) Kessler

This monument for Susanna Maria (Frank) Kessler (1813-1890) features a tall column with a curtain with tassels draped over it. In the 19th century, drapes and curtains were placed over items in houses to signify that the house was in mourning. Curtains on a headstone can mean something similar or also symbolize the veil between Heaven and Earth. Susanna immigrated from Germany to the United States with her husband John Henry Kessler and son Phillip Louis Kessler. Upon immigration, she began using a more Americanized version of her name, Mary S. Kessler. According to her “Courier-Journal” obituary, “Mary S. Kessler… died at her home on the corner of Logan and Cain Streets. She was the oldest person living in Germantown, having resided there continuously for the past thirty-six years.” Census records and city directories corroborate the length of time the family lived in Germantown. They first lived on Milk Street, which was located between Shelby Street and Dandridge Avenue. Milk Street was renamed Oak Street in 1895 because it was essentially an eastern extension of Oak Street. Today, this area of town is the border of Shelby Park and Germantown. 

Joseph and Mary Weingartner

Joseph and Mary Weingartner (1825-1882) (1827-1912) immigrated to the United States from Switzerland. They were married prior to immigration, so Mary’s maiden name is unconfirmed. He was a shoemaker, and she was a homemaker. Together they had eight children. During the Civil War, Joseph became a soldier for the United States Army. At the age of 36, he was discharged due to health complications of heart disease and tuberculosis. He was described as being 5’10” tall with gray eyes and black hair. Mary and Joseph spent a large part of their lives in the Germantown Neighborhood. Joseph died in 1882 at the age of 57 while Mary died in 1912 at the age of 84. The Weingartner monument is a beautiful representation of funerary symbolism. A vase of flowers crowns the top of the monument, which remind us of the beauty of life and respect for the dead. A tassel/drapery motif encases the names of the dead. Large, bold, artistic lettering depicts the family surname WEINGARTNER. Buried at this site you will find Joseph, Mary, and four of their children: Benjamin, Charlie, Eddie, and Louisa. 

Susan B. (Eads) Neff

This monument for Susan B. (Eads) Neff (circa 1857-1887) features a sheaf of wheat. Typically, this can indicate a long life, but it can also represent immortality, resurrection, and the Body of Christ. Susan was the youngest daughter of Isaac and Mary (Redman) Eads. In 1884, Susan married Edward W. Neff, a railroad worker. In 1887, Susan died at the age of 30 of puerperal pneumonia, which affects women after childbirth. It is unclear what happened to her child as it was not found in other records. Susan’s widower Edward remarried to Margaret (Schuarer) Haupt and was buried in Cave Hill Cemetery. Susan’s parents were buried next to her.

James Thomas Clark and Mahala W. (Reynolds) Clark

James Thomas Clark (circa 1836-1910) and Mahala W. (Reynolds) Clark (circa 1839-1915) were married in 1863 and had eleven children. James was documented as a house painter on the 1870 and 1880 Federal Census, but in 1900, he was identified as a sawdust peddler. Mahala was a homemaker. The couple’s headstone is a beautiful tribute to life and family. One side simply identifies James and Mahala. The opposite side is ornate. It bares columns and capitals, signifying strength and a complete life. The capitals support a frieze of Calla Lilies. The lilies are bound by a ribbon, acknowledging James and Mahala’s marriage of over 50 years. Beneath the Calla Lilies, large lettering tells us “FATHER AND MOTHER” are “AT REST.” The words “AT REST” are intended to comfort the living who come to visit the dead.

Jacob Decker

Today the International Order of Odd Fellows celebrates its 200-year anniversary. The order was founded in the US on April 26, 1819 by Thomas Wildey in Baltimore, Maryland. The Odd Fellows are a non-political and non-religious fraternal organization. They are often referred to as the Triple Link Fraternity because of their symbol of three interlocking rings representing friendship, love, and truth. The rings are depicted on Jacob Decker’s headstone as he was a member of the organization. Fraternal organization symbols are commonly seen on 19th and 20th century headstones. Jacob Decker (1847-1912) was born in Germany and immigrated to America with his parents at the age of three. According to the 1870 census, Joseph was a gilder; his father John was a tailor; and his mother Elizabeth was a homemaker. On December 15, 1874, Jacob married Anna Magdalene “Lena” Horstman, who was also a German immigrant. The couple spent a large portion of their lives living on Hull Street in Louisville’s Phoenix Hill neighborhood. They had three sons and two daughters (John Henry, Johanna, Caroline, Adam, and Rudolph). Jacob died in 1912 of heart disease at the age of 65. Lena lived for 19 more years and died of asthma at the age of 81. They are buried together at Eastern Cemetery. 

James F. Matthis

For Workers’ Memorial Day, we are featuring James F. Matthis (1852-1903), the son of undertaker David Matthis and Elizabeth Smith. They lived in Elizabethtown, KY. In 1871, Matthis married Lucy Farris, and they had four children (Margaret, Henry, James, and Mary). After Lucy’s death in 1884, Matthis married Emma Dougherty Moore in 1886. Together they had two children (James and Emma). They lived in Louisville where Matthis worked as an engineer for the Illinois Central Railroad. According to the “Courier-Journal,” on May 15, 1903, James and fireman John Kerr were working the Passenger Train No. 102, north bound from New Orleans to Louisville. As the train approached the depot at McHenry, Ohio County, KY, witnesses said the train “seemed to leap from the tracks.” The train wrecked and derailed. Matthis and Kerr were trapped underneath and killed. The passengers, mail clerk, and baggage master were injured but lived. It was believed that the wreck was caused by something on the track. Kerr, a 26- year-old who lived in Louisville with his parents, Henry and Bridget Kerr, was buried in St. Louis Cemetery. He had been a fireman for four years. Matthis had worked for Illinois Central Railroad for 32 years and had been an engineer for seven years. Members of the Brotherhoods of Locomotive Engineers and Locomotive Firemen attended the funerals. In October 1903, Matthis’s widow, Emma, sued the Illinois Central Railroad and Columbus Givens, the man in charge of the coal station at McHenry. She claimed the engine was defective and that Givens failed to clean the coal off the tracks, which is what caused the wreck. The outcome of the suit is unknown. 

Sergeant Jesse B. Taylor, Jr.

International Fire Fighter Day (IFFD). We are celebrating the life of Louisville Fire Department Sergeant Jesse B. Taylor, Jr. (1937-1971). Jesse had public service instilled in him as his father, Jesse B. Taylor Sr., was a homicide detective for the Louisville Police Department. He also had two brothers who were fire fighters. In addition to being a fire fighter, Jesse was a Navy veteran, a Mason, and a Vice President of the Emmanuel Baptist Church Brotherhood. Jesse was married to Carrie Miles. Together the couple had four children and made their home in Louisville’s West End. In a 1969 interview, Jesse told the “Courier-Journal,” “I know most of the people in the West End, most are good, some are bad. Whoever they are, I just talk their language and tell them to let us do our job.” According to the article, Jesse used his communication skills to ease racial tensions amongst young African Americans in Louisville, paving the way for a smoother response from the fire department. Additionally, he played a key role in the development of the Park DuValle Health Center Ambulance Service. Jesse suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 33 while playing in a Fire Department basketball tournament at St. Ann’s Church gym. At the time of his death, he was assigned to Engine 22 located at 3627 West Broadway. Image from “Courier-Journal” May 30, 1968.

Bertha Mae Thomas, RN

National Nurses Day. We are celebrating the life of Registered Nurse Bertha Mae Thomas (1880-1985). Bertha was the first African American Registered Nurse in Kentucky. She was a former supervisor at the former Red Cross Hospital, a former visiting nurse for the Metropolitan Insurance Co., and a former matron of Golden Chapter 80 of the Order of the Eastern Star. Additionally, Bertha was a former recording secretary of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses of America. For much of her life, Bertha lived with her mother and sisters at 1768 W. Ormsby Avenue in the Park Hill Neighborhood. Bertha’s sisters Minnie and Calvin later lived in Chicago, Illinois and passed away before her. At the time of Bertha’s death, she was living with friends Roosevelt and Phyllis Tucker in Chicago with no family survivors. Image of Bertha is from the “Courier-Journal” February 27, 1953 when she won a service award. Thank you to all of the nurses past and present. You’re amazing!

Aurealia M. (Elliott) Eaves

National Teacher Appreciation Day. We are celebrating the life of Aurealia M. (Elliott) Eaves (1917-1982). Aurealia was a teacher for the Jefferson County Board of Education. She taught at the Jeffersontown School in 1963 when it merged with the previously segregated Ingram School, which was for African American children. Aurealia was one of the few African American teachers to transition to an integrated school. Even though Brown v. Board of Education concluded that public schools could not be segregated in 1954, Louisville was one of many cities that did not integrate schools until the 1960s. Aurealia had married Montest L. Eaves, an L&N Railroad worker, in 1941, and together they had four children: Montest Jr., Ethel, Althea, and Minnie. Three of those children, Montest L. Eaves, Jr., Ethel (Eaves) Minnis, and Minnie Eaves, all went on to be teachers as well. This image of Aurealia is from “Courier-Journal” October 27, 1963 article about school integration.


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