Here's a fascinating site on cemetery commemorative flagholders and plaques.... http://www.rootsweb.com/~srgp/flaghold/flaghold.htm I have my own cemetery mystery and if anyone can help me with it I can promise that Santa will be good to you this next year! My several times great grandmother, Araminta Smith, died in 1859, and is buried in a Monroe Co, Ohio cemetery. Her stone is large and ornate, and originally had a long poem on the face of it, although it is unreadable now.....(I've tried water and doing a rubbing, but it's too far gone to be able to make out any of the words). But, that's not what I need your help with. In the center of the stone there was originally an applied 'something'....you can see the outline etched into the stone, so that the plaque or what have you, when applied, laid flush with the stone face.....and, in the center is a round hole where the whatsis was originally attached. So, all I can tell you is that it was shield shaped, very similar to the shape found on US route markers (you can look on any map and see exactly what I mean.) Does ANYONE have any ideas? Sandra.

I first thought that maybe there was a connection to the GAR markers that are found dotted throughout the counties in Ohio for the soldiers that served in the Civil War and thought it might be connected someway to that but since it pre-dates the Civil War that couldn't be correct. I checked on several sites for markers and didn't come up with anything. I will enjoy seeing what suggestions you all come up with! Flora ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sandra Ferguson" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2004 12:36 PM Subject: [OHBELMON-L] cemetery plaque site and request Here's a fascinating site on cemetery commemorative flagholders and plaques.... http://www.rootsweb.com/~srgp/flaghold/flaghold.htm I have my own cemetery mystery and if anyone can help me with it I can promise that Santa will be good to you this next year! My several times great grandmother, Araminta Smith, died in 1859, and is buried in a Monroe Co, Ohio cemetery. Her stone is large and ornate, and originally had a long poem on the face of it, although it is unreadable now.....(I've tried water and doing a rubbing, but it's too far gone to be able to make out any of the words). But, that's not what I need your help with. In the center of the stone there was originally an applied 'something'....you can see the outline etched into the stone, so that the plaque or what have you, when applied, laid flush with the stone face.....and, in the center is a round hole where the whatsis was originally attached. So, all I can tell you is that it was shield shaped, very similar to the shape found on US route markers (you can look on any map and see exactly what I mean.) Does ANYONE have any ideas? Sandra.

Hi Sandra, In looking at some old graves in Wisconsin, noticed where some had an actual photo on a shape embedded in the stone. I remember it well as someone had scratched the image and thought how sad. Do you suppose it could have been a photo mounted onto an emblem and inserted into the shape on the gravestone ? Another thought, might she was a member of a society of some sort, [e.g. DAR, Lutheran ladies group] and the image was of an emblem representing the society... or even a coat of arms? Since it came from thetime period near when your GG Grandma died, in 1859, my GG Grandmpa penned this popular poem in a fancy manuscript manner around an image of him and his wife: George Peter Werts [d. 1866, Ohio] & #1. Margaret C. Maple Werts [d.1851, Ohio] Come to think about it, the female image may well be his third wife, Mary Shrigley, b. abt 1818, d. ?, m. September 11, 1860 at Coshocton, OH. (photo/writings/design) Photo & poem" : First column: "This I do write it may be read When I am numbered with the dead And I've returned to dust again >From whence my feeble body came" Second column: " When I am dead and in my grave And my old bones are rotten When this you see, Remember me. Least I should be forgotten." Across bottom: " Made by Geo Werts February the 5th A.D. 1865 " as read/interpreted by Mary Beth Jensen 9/2000. George & Margaret are buried at: New Hope Lutheran Cemetary, Adamsville, Salem Twp., Muskingum Co., Ohio Just a couple of ideas to ponder. Happy Spring, Mary Beth in Wisconsin :-)