The Girls' Day in the Cemetery

view of the city from the cemetery

When the library is closed, there is nothing left to do but shop and then go to the cemetery. We restocked snacks, bought jewelry and office supplies. From the shopping center we drove north and east to the Salt Lake City Cemetery which overlooks the city. The views are spectacular!

YGGG #2 commented about so many people being in the cemetery on a Sunday. At that point I had to remind her that this is Memorial weekend. Oh yeah!! There are various parts and sections to the cemetery. We tried to drive around and through as much as possible.

Baby Zula Kimball

Thomas Tanner, blacksmith

Not far from where we entered the cemetery are the graves of Solomon Farnham Kimball and his wife, Zula Pomeroy. Solomon, the son of Heber Chase Kimball and his first wife, Vilate Murray. Lined up in a row are the stones for Solomon and Zula's infant and small children. It is sad to see graves of small children who did not survive the rigors of pioneer life.

Cunnabell Prentice Stevens

We quickly spotted the impressive stone of Thomas Tanner who was born in 1804 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England and died in Great Salt Lake City in 1855 while the foreman of the public blacksmith shop. The many sided, large stone of Dr. E.S. Barney contains extensive information on the lineages of the Stevens and Prentice families. On one side is carved, "Cunnabell Prentice Stevens Genealogical Books for reference can be found at the L.D.S. Historian office S.L. City."

Honoring military heroes

The day was well spent and now we are going through our notes and ideas for continuing research in the library tomorrow. Yes ... they are open on Memorial Day. We couldn't be at the cemeteries where our parents, grandparents and my husband are buried, but the next best thing was to visit the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

You Go Genealogy Girl #1 -- Ruby

Why Is It?

Why is it that genealogy, as fun as it is, can sometimes be challenging and at the same time enlightening?

1. Why is it that all the women in a family married brothers and named their children some of the same names? There are three boys named Noah, all born in the same place within a few months of each other. Couldn't they be more creative with the names? They should have realized how difficult this makes genealogical research!

2. Why is it that the death certificate indicates an ancestor died in 1922 and the tombstone is carved as 1923? Couldn't somebody read or remember?

3. Why is it that when I call ahead, the courthouse is still closed? Do they do these things on purpose? Surely the furnace won't break down or the basement flood the day I drive 500 miles to get there!

4. Why is it that genealogists have to buy different genealogical software to get one that seems to be perfect only to learn that something else has been released that is even better?

5. Why is it that on the 1880 US Census a 75 year old man is shown with no occupation and yet his wife who is age 73 is shown as a housekeeper? I know that answer ... a woman's work is never done!

6. Why is it that when you get to the library to do research, you discover that the notes you need are still at home? Solution: take your laptop or iPod Touch or iPhone!

7. Why is it that the web page you really need is no longer there? Refer to my latest blog at Genealogy Lines.

8. Why is it that the cemetery you have never visited and are now in is covered with poison ivy, most of the tombstones are broken and you have to walk through fifty years of fallen leaves to find them?

9. Why is it that the person who has the family records you need has died and the records have been thrown into the dumpster by their relatives.

10. Why is it that you can't get your great grandmother's death certificate because you don't know her maiden name? Duh ... that's why you need the certificate.

Why is it that I'm so addicted to this frustrating "stuff?"

You Go Genealogy Girls #1 .... Ruby

Ear Muffs, Hoodies and Head Bands

The two of us had quite a time finding the Moore graves in the Big Springs Cemetery.  It's true that the wind was blowing and it was cold.  Wind in Nebraska in May is typical, but not the cold.  I had been in the cemetery a few years ago, and knew "exactly" where the Moore graves were located.  They were along the fence.  Find the fence and you'll find the tombstones.  Walk the fence and you'll find the tombstones.  

You Go Girl #2, Cheri, looked at me and said, "Right!  Look how long that fence is!"  So we walked the fence.  Girl #2 was wearing her hoodie and head band.  I kept telling her to tighten the hood.  She kept hollering that she should have brought her ear muffs.  Ear muffs in May?  And she wears furry, brown ear muffs!  As we would walk a few yards she would grumble that she'd have an ear ache because she didn't wear her ear muffs.  Thank goodness they were at home.

Eventually we decided to look at the map of the cemetery at the caretaker's building.  That's usually a good idea, particularly when there is a long fence.  Sure enough, we located the Moores and counted off the rows so we could locate their graves.  Walk, count, grumble about the ear muffs ... no graves for the Moores.  Back to the map, count it off again.  

Finally we located the caretaker who informed us that in order to use the map you have to turn sideways and stand on your head.  Going the opposite direction, we located their graves.  They were about three rows west of the fence.  That's how my memory works!  

The two of us are going to Salt Lake City in a month.  I suspect somewhere in all of her luggage she will have those furry, brown ear muffs ... just in case ... rain, wind, cold.  Might as well go prepared!  

Girl #1 .... Ruby