Little Egypt Heritage Articles Stories of Southern Illinois (c) Bill Oliver 16 November 2003 Vol 2 Issue: #41 ISBN: pending Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen of Little Egypt, "Things I learned while looking for something else": [the late Sidney Harris, Columnist, Chicago Tribune] Death, funerals, and cemeteries are topics that have all played a major part in my life of late. I don't seem to get away from them while reading either. Now, that is not all "bad". This week's readings took me to some gravesites of some very interesting people, as well as, to a very interesting place ... across the "pond". For example, Silas Garber (1833-1905) who was born September 21, 1833, was a member of University of Nebraska board of regents from 1875-76; and Governor of Nebraska from 1875-79. He died January 12, 1905 and is interred in the Red Cloud Cemetery. Red Cloud was the terminal point for the tickets to America purchased in Switzerland in 1879. Charles Robley Evans (1866-1954) -- also known as Charles R. Evans -- was born in Illinois, in 1866. He became U.S. Representative from Nevada at-large, 1919-21; but was defeated in the 1920 election. He died in 1954 and is buried in Waco Cemetery, Nemaha county, Nebraska. Robert Wilkinson Furnas (1824-1905) was born on May 5, 1824; became a member of the Nebraska territorial legislature in 1856; he was also a member of University of Nebraska board of regents from 1869 to 1875; Governor of Nebraska, 1873-75. He died on June 1, 1905 and is buried in Brownville Cemetery. Furnas County, Neb. is named for him. Lucy Hayes, the President's wife, was known as "Mother Lucy" during the Civil War for her care giving while at the camp with the then General. However, Mary Ann Bickerdyke was also known as "Mother" for her service as a nurse, surgeon, and administrator on the battlefields of he Civil War. She was noted for cutting through army "red tape" to get supplies to the Union men. She was born in 1817 and died 8 November 1901. She is interred in Linwood Cemetery, Galesburg, Illinois. George Armstrong Custer, who is famous or notorious in several states including Ohio, Nebraska and South Dakota is buried in the West Point Cemetery, US Military Academy, West Point, New York. He was moved from the shallow grave on the highest point of the field at Little Big Horn. However, my interest was perked with the idea that he had more than twenty horses shot from under him in during the civil war. I'll bet there was lots of conversation among the horses about whose turn it was to carry the "general". At the Battle of Little Big Horn, the sole survivor was Comanche, a mustang who saw action with the Seventh Cavalry. He survived twelve wounds. He recuperated at Fort Lincoln, nearly 1000 miles from the battle field. As a result of his survival he became a symbol and was excused from further military duties. Thus, he was never ridden again in the line of duty. He was mounted and is today displayed in a humidity-controlled case. I guess that the man who holds the record for "cheating" death is Eddie Rickenbacker. He is interred in Greenlawn Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio. Eddie said that he had cheated death 135 times before dying in bed at the good ole age of eighty-two [July 23, 1973]. He was given the Air Force's version of the Army's riderless horse; four jet planes shot into view and the first pulled straight up while the others went on in the missing leader formation. Near Cleveland, Ohio in the community of Valley View, a few folks banded together to commemorate a small plot of ground in memory of a farmer, John HARPER and his family. The 20 x 40 foot piece of ground contains members of the Harper family and several men who lost their lives while helping to dig the Ohio Erie Canal. Also, in Ohio, the Hessville Cemetery, in Sandusky County, hosts the grave of John BURKHARD. John Burkhard served in the American Revolutionary War and died in 1847, at the age of 93 years, 4 months and 12 days. His stone has engraved on it, "A SOLDIER OF THE REVOLUUTION & A MEMBER OF WASHINGTON'S LIFE GUARD." Now it is really something to have a member of Washington's personal guard in the Black Swamp of northwest Ohio, but what caught my eye was the fact that John Burkhard, was born on 21 August 1753 in Switzerland, the country native to my Nebraska ancestors. The Burkhards settled in Berks County, Pennsylvania. A place where I've been searching for other members of my Swiss ancestors. One has to watch old movies and know Bert Lancaster, the actor, to know who Robert Franklin Stroud is, unless, maybe that you live in Metropolis, Illinois. That southern Illinois city on the Ohio river sports the body of the respected ornithologist. Mr Stroud spent fifty-four years in prison to learn all that he knew. Many know him as the "Birdman of Alcatraz". This may be the wave of the future. In St Andre de la Roche, southern France, there is a cemetery which has gone "high tech". It could be a fore-runner of things to come. Via the touch- screen computer, folks can read a biography of any of 4,000 deceased persons buried there. Also, a detailed map will direct you to the gravesite of that person. That is not all; you can leave condolences electronically. Local taxis service and funeral parlor information is available. I'm sure that enterprising entrepreneurs will think of things and/or services to add. I envision florists and hotel/motel [bed and breakfast establishments] to name but a couple. Wouldn't it be nice if some folks living near our cemeteries would place such wonderful information about those buried in them as did the folks in southern France at the St Andre de la Roche cemetery. Some People might say, "Who would want to be 90?" And I say, "Anyone who is 89." [Attributed to Phyllis Diller on "Larry King Live"] In closing, I have a question to ask of all you family historians: Are you doing the "write" thing? :) e-la-di-e-das-di ha-wi nv-wa-do-hi-ya nv-wa-to-hi-ya-da. (May you walk in peace and harmony) Wado, Bill -=- Other sites worth visiting: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/SOIL http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/ILMASSAC http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/state/BillsArticles/LittleEgypt/intro.html

Looking for someone with transcripts from the Gregory/Minton Cemetery, in Pomona Township of Jackson County. I'm looking for information from grave of Simeon (Simon) Whitson. Thanks. Mary Riseling Springfield, IL