JeremyFountain.com

Our annual Summer research trip to TN is quickly approaching. We usually do one in the Spring as well, but that was temporarily suspended this year due to other obligations and the need to re-allocate time for the Federation of Genealogical Societies’ national convention in Philly! Basically, I’ll still have two major trips this year, but one will involve a train ride to the convention center.

I have set a few basic goals for this trip:

1. I will complete a few of those nagging to do items which are actually close to the house.
2. I will slow down & write (or type) legibly.
3. I will sort, file, digitize (if necessary), analyze, and publish the data in a reasonable time.

Planned research stops so far:

1. Nashville City Cemetery – Brunold, Diatikar, Staub graves (this time I will take the deed map)
2. Webb Cemetery (Burkesville area) – Daniel & collateral graves (need GPS for this one)
3. Auburn Cemetery (KY) – Johnson, Marrs, Maxwell, et al
4. Gasper River Cemetery (KY) – Willaford, Wilson, et al
5. Nashville National Cemetery – Diatikar grave
6. Spring Hill Cemetery – Diatikar,et al
7. TN State Archives – Fill out remainder of missing City Directories (Brunold, Diatikar, Gasser, Staub)
8. Metro Archives – (I’ll think of something I need)

Additional Plans:

• Tennessee Central Railway Museum
• Lake Radnor State Natural Area
• Shelby Bottoms Greenway – Cumberland River Crossing

Macon County Research Stops (in order of visit):

• Elisha Cox Cemetery (Plot a course to the intersection of Dark Hollow Rd & Shrum Hollow Rd, Lafayette, TN. This is a dirt road. Lat 36.47055, Long -85.99306)
• Nelson McDonald Cemetery (Plot a course to the intersection of Gaulden Rd & Addison Hollow Rd, Lafayette, TN. At the intersection, follow Gaulden Rd to the end. Cemetery is on the right. Lat 36.49362, Long -86.00609)
• Macon County Library (Lafayette Branch)
• (Unknown) Brawner Cemetery
• Hillsdale Baptist Church Cemetery

Unfortunately, the cemetery I believe to be Elisha Cox was unreachable due to fencing and an active pasture surrounding the cemetery (which looks quite well kept). No one answered the door at the residence so we’ll have to revisit another time.

The Nelson McDonald Cemetery was fairly easy to find based on GPS coordinates. The groundskeepers were working when we arrived so we worked out of sequence, but managed to record all the markers. These will be added to FindAGrave in coming weeks. I was extremely pleased to find the markers I was seeking and especially surprised to find them in good shape. The two most important finds at this stop were the graves of my 3rd Great Grandfather & grandmother, James Christopher Gann & Josephine Higgins Gann.

Josephine Higgins Gan (1846-1925) & James Christopher Gan (1840-1902)

More about the remainder of our stops in a future entry…….

I barely made the flight from Philly due to ridiculous lines resulting from the those travelers too stupid to follow basic directions. Ahhhhhhh, how I miss traveling for business…..Nope, guess not.

Upon arrival I was given my choice of many colors of minivans. This is my reward for booking with a new company. The rental agent couldn’t seem to fathom why I wasn’t overwhelmed by the gift of a free “upgrade” to minivan-dom. I crossed the terminal and presented my base to Avis* (begging forgiveness for straying and promising not to repeat my sin). The lovely young women saved the day with a small SUV (Hey, beats a minivan and might come in handy this trip). Car situation solved, I trekked off to Portland Brew for a morning charge before heading up to Mom’s to play world’s greatest uncle (Sorry G, I have the stage all to myself today).

* Incidentally, another reason to support Avis (other than the fact they really do “try harder”) is their support of equal driving privileges and pricing for domestic partners! Avis Rocks!

On the way, I decided to make a quick side trip to visit the Dorris Cemetery in White House (I think…it’s on the line). As luck would have it, the cemetery is on my old bus route from middle school. I found the cemetery and got my first dose of the 100+ degree temperatures I could expect for the next week. Ughhhhhhh. Unfortunately, I didn’t find the graves for which I was searching. That’s not to say the graves weren’t among the eroded or broken markers (There’s also a chance I was in the wrong Dorris Cemetery). The cemetery is very well kept. I made photographic record of all discernible markers. I’ll add these to FindAGrave in the coming weeks.

Made quick stops by Mayes Cemetery & Bethel Baptist Church (both on Bethel Rd, White House) for signage shots I missed last year. Spent the rest of the day at Mom & David’s hanging out and playing with D.

Sunday was perfect weather (a little warm) for a day trip to Pottsville. I decided to explore the seemingly abandoned cemetery on the very steep hill behind the new St John the Baptist German Catholic Church(1872). I believe this cemetery is the original St John Cemetery which would have accompanied the original St John Church(1841), which is now St Patrick’s Italian Catholic Church. I’ve yet to confirmed this assumption with local experts. If this is the case, it is almost certainly the final resting place for many of the important family links I’m working on for George.

Unfortunately, the state of abandonment is worse that originally thought. This was the first time I had attempted to enter the cemetery. The brush, grass, and ferns were knee high throughout and higher in some areas. This fact, in addition to numerous groundhog holes, made traversing the cemetery extremely dangerous. I have already resolved to return this winter and spend a couple of weekend trying to do some damage control.

It is completely baffling to fathom how such an important part of this community can seemingly be completely written off. I attempted to navigate to the safest areas I could find and capture a few stone pictures in hopes that I can identify the cemetery and other details by lucking across a history of one of the families.

This is the view half-way up, looking back down toward the street and tennis courts.

This is the view from the top of the cemetery near the tree line.

To heighten my overall disappoint with the cemetery’s state, there are tennis courts in plain view and well-trodden paths throughout the woods surrounding the cemetery (one, in fact, cuts right across it). I’ll leave it at that. This subject will definitely be revisited.

All in all, I visited the following cemeteries today:

• Charles Baber Cemetery
• Presbyterian Cemetery
• Society of Friends (behind St John)
• (Old) St John Catholic Cemetery

All the pictures I took will be posted to FindAGrave.Com over the next few weeks. Unfortunately, I didn’t research the location of the current St John’s Cemetery before departing for Pottsville. I was only about 6 blocks away and almost passed it while trying to navigate around construction. I’m not certain what date the new cemetery opened, but I’ll be visiting soon.

PS. On this same day, I was subjected to the Pottsville Redneck Rally. I’ve decided not to write much about it now since I’m still too pissed off. Suffice it to say, I shall not visit during this event in future years. And just for good measure, here’s a warmly offered FUCK YOU to the Pottsville Police department for your complete lack of forethought, planning, execution, and general intellect in dealing with matters of event management. I wish you all the accolades & promotions you so richly deserve & pray that you never feel the need to venture beyond the borders of Schuylkill County. The rest of the state will be grateful.