Jun 27

Tombstone Tuesday-Another Knights of Pythias Symbol

I have read that the Knights of Pythias have over 20,000 different symbols and I believe this is one of their symbols.

Knights of Pythias symbol, Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert, Ohio

The emblem on this tombstone is weathered and somewhat difficult to make out, but I believe it is an example of their typical Pythian axes and shields. A letter is barely recognizable on the left shield and could stand for one of the words of their motto, Faith, Charity, and Benevolence, although at this point the letter looks like a P.  

Note the similarity of the axes and shield in this Pythian symbol to those on  Perry’s tombstone.

Knights of Pythias, Woodlawn Cemetery, Ohio City, Ohio

The Knights of Pythias was founded in 1864 as a secret society for government clerks. The Knights of Pythias follows the principles of Friendship, Charity, and Benevolence and the first letters of these words (F, C, B) are often used for their tombstone inscriptions, sometimes used with the image of a shield and knight. The society still supports charitable, benevolent, fraternal, and social activities in their lodges and the communities they serve as well as supporting many charities.  

Knights of Pythias symbol, Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert, Ohio

I have been unable to determine if William F. Perry was a member of a fraternal society in the Van Wert area, but I believe this interesting tombstone symbol is a Knights of Pythias symbol.

Jun 23

1879 Willshire Postmark

This is one of the oldest Willshire postmarks that I have, if not the oldest.

Willshire, Ohio, 1879 postmark

The envelope is postmarked Wilshire, O, Mar 11.

The year is not included in the postmark but the letter inside the envelope is dated March 10, 1879, a Monday evening. It was postmarked the next day, the 11th. Just to double-check, I looked at a March 1879 calendar and 10 March 1879 was a Monday.

Letter written Monday evening, March 10, 1879, by DB Mills, Willshire, Ohio

The letter is addressed to Mr. Isac Funderburg, New Kerlisle, Ohio, Clark Co.

This town is actually spelled New Carlisle and is near the city of Springfield. I am more familiar with Ohio’s other New Carlisle, in Walnut Creek, Holmes County. Since they did not have zip codes in 1879 it was probably a good thing that the sender also wrote Clark Co. on the envelope.

Below is a transcription of the letter, as it was written, with the spelling as written, but I added some punctuation where I thought he may have intended, placed in [ ].

Monday Evening
March 10, 1879

Mr. Isaac Funderburg

I have got bought 8 hed of cattle [.] I think I can fetch for 20 hed besids yours but I may not get to your house till Monday or Tuesday next week [.] I will bring your mare a long with me. The man you bought her of will ceep her till I come down. I will be there as soon as I can get there and do the best I can but if I can’t get there till Monday or Tuesday I will rite to you when I will come.

Yours as ever
D B Mills

I may get there by Sunday if I can.  

1879 letter written by DB Mills, Willshire, Ohio

1879 letter written by DB Mills, Willshire, Ohio

I wonder how they transported livestock back then.

The intended recipient of the letter, Isac Funderburg, was born in Ohio about 1840 and in 1880 lived in Bethel, Clark County, Ohio. He was a farmer, was married to Ester, and had 7 children. [1]

According to his obituary, D.B. Mills (1842-1887), the letter-writer, lived on a farm in Willshire Township. He died 20 April 1887, after suffering 8 months with scrofula. Scrofula is lymphadenopathy of the neck, also known as tuberculous of the throat, usually caused by an infection in the lymph nodes, and sometimes caused by the tuberculous bacteria. He was 45 years old and left a wife and 3 children. [2] D.B. Mills is buried in Willshire Cemetery and served in the Civil War. [3]

[1] 1880 U.S. Census, Bethel, Clark, Ohio, ED 34, p.4D, dwelling & family 74, Isac Funderburg; Ancestry.com, viewed 22 Jun 2023.

[2] D.B. Mills obituary, 29 April 1887, Van Wert Weekly Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio; NewspaperArchive.com, viewed 22 Jun 2023.

[3] D.B. Mills, Find a Grave.com, memorial no.96096712, 1842-20 Apr 1887, Willshire Cemetery.

Jun 20

Tombstone Tuesday-Coins Left on a Tombstone

Occasionally I will see coins that were left on a tombstone. What does that mean?

Coins, Evans Cemetery, Pennsylvania

Coins placed on a headstone or at a gravesite show that someone has visited the grave to pay their respects and to honor the deceased. The coins symbolize that the deceased is still in the family’s thoughts and is a practical way to honor a loved one. Some see it as a substitute for flowers.

Coins, Evans Cemetery, Pennsylvania

People also leave coins the tombstones of veterans to honor them and, by bring attention to their graves, encourage others to honor those who served. This became a common gravesite practice during the Vietnam War.

Coins, Evans Cemetery, Pennsylvania

The custom of gravesite coins dates back to ancient Greek mythology, where soldiers inserted a coin into the mouth of a fallen soldier to ensure the deceased could pay the fee to cross the River Styx and enter the afterlife.

Jun 16

Area News, April-May 1911

There is probably not a better way to see what was going on in this area than to read what was in the local newspaper. Today, some area news from April and May 1911, as published in Mercer County’s Celina Democrat.  

An April wedding:

The Celina Democrat, 28 Apr 1911

Blackcreek News:

The Celina Democrat, 12 May 1911

I am still not sure where Forest Hill was but it seems to have been in the Willshire/Rockford area:

The Celina Democrat, 21 Apr 1911

The Celina Democrat, 26 May 1911

A more detailed report of William Harb’s death:

The Celina Democrat, 26 May 1911

A Liberty Township death notice:

The Celina Democrat, 12 May 1911

News of a successful operation:

The Celina Democrat, 19 May 1911

It is always interesting to read the real estate transfers:

The Celina Democrat, 26 May 1911

Jun 13

Tombstone Tuesday-FNDOZBTKC/MRAY Masonic Inscription

Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio

These mysterious letters, FNDOZBTKC/MRAY, are inscribed on a tombstone in Van Wert’s Woodland Cemetery. They are a Masonic acronym. This long acronym is rather uncommon around here but is reportedly more common in southern states. It was generally used in the mid-1800s-early 1900s.

The letters FNDOZBTKC are an acronym for a Bible verse, John 12:15, “Fear Not, Daughter Of Zion; Behold, The King Cometh.” The remaining letters, MRAY, are an anagram of the word MARY and are usually encircled by the other group of letters. The G in the center probably stands for God or geometry. The letter G is usually in the center of the common Masonic symbol, the compass and square.

This Masonic Degree was conferred on wives, daughters, sisters, or mothers of Masons to recognize their aid to the society and gave them a secret sign of recognition.

The more common Masonic symbol, the square and compass, is inscribed on the side of this tombstone.

Maria (Langdon) Webber tombstone, Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio

This is the tombstone of Maria (Langdon) Webber, born 11 October 1823 in New York. She died 10 April 1886 in Van Wert County. Maria was married to Lyman Jones Webber (1822-1909), who is also buried in Woodland Cemetery. According to Maria’s obituary, she and her husband settled on a farm in southwest Pleasant Township in 1852 and moved into Van Wert about 1876. Maria and her husband had three children and she had been in ill health for several years before her death. Her obituary does not mention her Masonic degree. However, her husband’s obituary mentions that he was one of the oldest Masons in the area and was a Van Wert Masonic member for over 50 years.

Maria (Langdon) Webber tombstone, Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio