Honoring a Little Boy's Dream (Tombstone Tuesday)

When John Ross Juhan was a little boy, his dream was to one day become a fireman. He even attached himself as a mascot to Defiance Fire Company No. 5. Unfortunately, young John never got the chance to obtain his dream. His short life ended on 26 July 1875 at the age of just 8 years. The headstone placed for John Juhan was sculpted by J. Artope of Macon and depicts a fireman's hat, belt, and coat.

John B. Ross
Son Of W. A. & E. J. Juhan
Died July 26, 1875
Age 8 Years, 4 Months & 16 Days

Was A Brave Little Fireman
Attached To Defiance Fire Co. No. 5 

John was the son of W. A. (1827-1893) and Elizabeth Jane (1837-1901) Juhan. The family rests in the Eglantine Square section of Rose Hill Cemetery.

This stone is a community favorite and is often pointed out on Rose Hill Rambles.

Photos © 2011 S. Lincecum.

Mournful Monday: Death Claimed Mr. W. A. Juhan

From Macon Telegraph (Georgia), 5 December 1893 edition:

"DEATH CLAIMED MR. W. A. JUHAN

An Esteemed Citizen of Macon Has Been Called to His Reward.

DEATH CAUSED FROM LA GRIPPE

At 8:15 O'clock Last Night the Summons Came While Surrounded By His Sorrowing Family -- Funeral This Afternoon.

Mr. William Alexander Juhan, one of Macon's oldest and most highly respected citizens, died at his home on Second street last night at 8:15 o'clock of la grippe, after an illness of one week.

Just one week ago yesterday Mr. Juhan attended the funeral of Dr. E. W. Warren, who was his bosom friend and pastor in life and from the long exposure to the damp atmosphere at the cemetery he contracted the grip, and on returning home went to bed feeling very unwell, but not anticipating serious sickness, both he and his family thinking he had only contracted a severe cold. They soon discovered that he was seriously ill, however, and a physician called, but his strength was not sufficient to withstand the ravages of the terrible disease which terminated in his death.

Mr. Juhan was in every sense a good citizen and enjoyed the respect and esteem of the community. As a Christian gentleman, he was loved by all Christian people and respected by the worldly minded for his consistency and integrity. As a business man he enjoyed the confidence of the public and admiration of the commercial world. As a husband and father he was loving, indulgent and patient, and his chief aim in life was to make his home and the lives of those around him happy and contented. His death is a loss to the community that will be long felt and mourned.

Mr. Juhan was born in Jones county in 1827, making him 66 years old at the time of his death. When a young man he conducted a general merchandise business in Clinton, Jones county, and while thus engaged he was married to Miss E. J. Caldwell in Clinton. To them several children were born, four of whom, Messrs. W. J., C. J. and Louis Juhan and Mrs. C. W. Gnice of Eufaula, Ala., survive, together with his wife. His aged father and a sister are living and reside in Texas.

In 1872 Mr. Juhan moved to Macon and became a member of the wholesale dry goods house of J. B. Ross and S. T. Coleman, which was at that time the largest wholesale dry goods house in the state, if not in the South. After remaining with this firm for several years he engaged in the retail dry goods business in Triangular block under the firm name of W. A. Juhan & Co., Mr. C. B. Ellis being the silent partner. This business, of which he was at the head, was conducted successfully for a long number of years, and was one of the largest retail dry goods stores in the state. Several years ago the firm failed, but it was regarded by everybody as an honest failure. Afterwards, when Messrs. C. J. and W. J. Juhan engaged in the retail dry goods business, he became associated with them, and up to the time of his last illness he was actively engaged.

The funeral will take place from First Baptist Church this afternoon at 3 o'clock. Rev. George Braxton Taylor and T. W. O'Kelly will conduct the services.

The following gentlemen have been requested to act as pallbearers:

Holmes Johnson, J. H. Williams, R. W. Bonner, George R. Barker, H. V. Napier, J. G. Medlock, Dr. Polhill, W. J. Moore."

John W. Kimbrew: Railroader and Saturday Soldier

I first wrote about the KIMBREW family plot with Emmitt Kimbrew: a Couple of Inaccuracies. As stated there, the plot is located at the bottom of a hill in Eglantine Square. There is a short brick wall on three sides, with concrete ledger markers filling the plot. If it wasn't for the military marker standing for John W. Kimbrew, the plot could be easily, very easily, overlooked.

The entrance to the plot, as well as a marker in the back brick wall, leads you to believe the plot was owned by John W. Kimbrew, but Rose Hill Cemetery records show the plot was purchased in July 1876 by E. S. Kimbrew. Edward S. Kimbrew was John William's father, per the 1880 Macon, Bibb County, GA Federal census. By that time Edward was married to his second wife, Lula Mosly. Edward married his first wife, Ella E. Lowe, 23 December 1869. There is one unidentified burial in the E. S. Kimbrew lot, and I suggest that interment is John's mother, Mrs. Ella Kimbrew.

The working life of John W. Kimbrew was dominated by the railroad and the military. He enlisted in the United States Army at Ft. Worth, Texas 15 September 1893 at the age of 22. His birthplace was given as Macon, GA as well as an occupation of Railroader. John was described as having light blue eyes and a fair complexion. Though he enlisted for five years, it appears he was discharged after three on 14 December 1896 with an excellent service record.

John next appears in Maloney's Macon Miscellaneous Directory for 1897. He was a flagman for the G. S. & F. Railway. He enlisted again with the U. S. Army 16 May 1898 at Macon, GA. And again he was described as having light blue eyes, brown hair, and a fair complexion. This entry in the U. S. Army Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914 database online at Ancestry.com ascribes to John the duty of Cook, which is also found on his military tombstone. John was discharged 23 August 1899 with a very good service record.

The 1900 Macon, Bibb County, GA Federal census shows John with his new bride Ada. He is back on the railroad as a flagman. In 1910, John and Ada were still in Macon with three children. This time, John was a Railroad Conductor. John W. Kimbrew lived less than one month past the taking of that census in April. He died 16 May 1910 in Macon, GA.

From the 18 May 1910 edition, Macon Telegraph:

DEATHS AND FUNERALS
KIMBREW
The burial services of J. W. Kimbrew who died at his residence on Oglethorpe street Monday morning took place yesterday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. from the residence and the interment was made in Rose Hill cemetery. The pallbearers were selected from the group of railway conductors and the burial was according to the rites of the Masonic order.

Emmitt Kimbrew: a Couple of Inaccuracies

Emmitt Kimbrew
Aug 11, 1900
Aug 1, 1953

Emmett rests in the Kimbrew family plot at the bottom of a hill in the Eglantine Square section of Rose Hill Cemetery. Not too far from the railroad tracks and Ocmulgee River. Nearby are his parents, John W. (1871-1910) and Ada A. (1877-1959).

When searching for information about Emmett, I found there are a couple of inaccuracies between his ledger gravestone inscription and other records. The name on his ledger marker is spelled as Emmitt, with an "i". Most other record sources list it as Emmett, with an "e". Notably, his World War I Draft Registration Card of 1918, bearing his signature. The full name there is Emmett Virginus Kimbrew.

Something else that is off is Emmett's death year. The gravestone inscription gives his year of death as 1953. However, the Georgia Deaths database online at Ancestry.com lists the year of death as 1952.

One consistency in the latter years of Emmett's life was his occupation. According to city directories from 1945 to 1950, Emmett was the proprietor of Kimbrew Grocery at 1502 Broadway in Macon, Georgia. Here's what that area looks like today. I dare say, not much different?

Thomas Quinn's Patented Improvement in Cotton-Presses

Photo by James Allen

Thomas Quinn was born about 1821 in Ireland. By 1870 he had immigrated to the United States and was settled in Macon, Bibb County, Georgia with his wife Mary and two children, Edward and Adaline. In the summer of that year Thomas was working in a cotton mill.

Thomas did not just put his time in at the mill each day. He had an inventive spirit and sought ways to make improvements to some of the equipment of the cotton mill, specifically the cotton presses. He applied for a patent on his improvements 29 July 1879. It was granted about six weeks later. A record from the United States Patent Office (in part):

THOMAS QUINN, OF MACON, GEORGIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN COTTON-PRESSES.

...Patent No. 219,517, dated September 9, 1879...

To all whom it may concern:
Be it known that I, THOMAS QUINN, of Macon, in the county of Bibb and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Presses; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the form part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction of a press for packing cotton or other fibrous material direct from the gin or other mechanism in layers, so that the same amount of pressure is distributed equally throughout the whole package.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same...

...In manufacturing cotton it has always been found that the cotton from the middle of the bale works better than the outsides, owing to the extra pressure exerted on the outside in the present mode of packing.

With my machine the cotton falls into the press directly from the gin, and a uniform pressure is exerted from the commencement to the completion of the bale. I am also enabled to put more cotton in the same space without any undue pressure on any part thereof...THOMAS QUINN

Thomas lived about six more years after applying for and receiving his patent. Upon his death in 1885 at age 64, he was laid to rest next to his wife (who had died twelve years earlier) in the Eglantine Square section of Rose Hill Cemetery.

---

Source List

Georgia. Bibb County. 1870 U.S. census, population schedule. Digital images. Genealogy, Family Trees and Family History Records Online - Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com : 2011.

"Rose Hill Cemetery." Database. Rose Hill Cemetery - Macon, GA. http://www.historicrosehillcemetery.org : 2011.

Rose Hill Cemetery (Macon, Bibb County, Georgia). Grave markers.

"U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Patents, 1790-1909." Genealogy, Family Trees and Family History Records Online - Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com : 2011.

USGenWeb Archives. Rose Hill Cemetery Tombstone Photos, digital images. http://www.usgwarchives.net : 2011.

R. B. Cheves Dead (Tombstone Tuesday)

R. B. CHEVES DEAD

Was 52 Years Old and Well Known [in] Church Circles
R. B. Cheves died yesterday morning about 10 o'clock at his home on Center street in East Macon.

He was a prominent citizen, and had lived in Macon several years. He was 52 years old, and his illness had lasted a long time. He was known as a faithful church worker.

He leaves a wife and one son. Three brothers, R. H., J. L., and Howard Cheves, all of Macon, survive him. He has five sisters, Mrs. J. S. Weaver of Cordele, Mrs. T. J. Christian of Atlanta, Mrs. A. C. Moye of Davisboro, Mrs. W. H. Harrell and Miss Willie Cheves of Macon.

The funeral will occur at 4 o'clock this afternoon from his residence. His last resting place will be in Rose Hill cemetery. The pall-bearers are: B. W. James, J. C. Jones, C. G. Woodall, Charlie Whidby, F. M. Jones and D. P. Ivey. Rev. Dr. Hillyer will conduct the funeral services. ["R. B. Cheves Dead," Macon Telegraph (Macon, GA), 4 July 1903, GenealogyBank]

R. B. Cheves is Robert, son of Henry and Martha E. Cheves. He was born in Georgia 3 November 1851. He rests in Eglantine Square of Rose Hill Cemetery with his parents and sister Willie G.

Edward Maussenet, Watch Maker (& I Have Photos to Prove It)

Edward Maussenet was born in France about 1815. By the fall of 1847, he had immigrated to the United States and married into the well-respected DURE family when he married Maria Therese Delia Dure October 28th of that year in Chatham County, Georgia.

By August 1850, in time to be counted for the Federal Census, Edward and his family (including brother-in-law George) were residing in Macon, Bibb County, GA. Edward Maussenet's occupation was listed as "watch maker." A search of old newspapers at GenealogyBank found many advertisements for Edward's business throughout the 1850's. He was in a partnership with S. B. Day. They not only sold watches and jewelry, but musical instruments as well.

The ad at left begins this way: "Watches! Watches! CELEBRATED ENGLISH MAKERS -- James Hoddell & Co, R. & G. Beesley, Josh Toleman, Josh Olarenshaw, Edwards Robinson, and the celebrated American Watch in Gold and Solver Cases...by DAY & MAUSSENET."

I wanted to bring your attention to that portion of the advertisement, because I got the coolest email the other day from Mr. Reid Zeigler. He has an Olorenshaw watch that was sent to Day & Maussenet in the 1850s, and he was kind enough to send me information and pictures! From Mr. Zeigler:

"This watch was made in England by Joseph Olorenshaw & Co., in the 1850’s. At that time, it was common for American watchmakers and jewelers to import fine watches from England and Europe for their wealthy customers. The dust cover on this watch is engraved "Made expressly for Day & Maussenet Macon Geo." The outer case is gold washed sterling silver, and it has a Coventry hallmark of 1875. Olorenshaw was in business from about 1842-1857, so the outer case is certainly a replacement. The style of the movement is consistent with mid 1800’s Liverpool manufacture, and that also matches Edward Mausennet’s date of death that you recorded of July 1866."

(Thank-you, again, Mr. Zeigler!)
In an odd turn (it seemed to me, anyway) Day and Maussenet dissolved their partnership in March 1860 "by mutual consent." Two months later, Edward Maussenet announced his entry into the liquor and cigar business via the Macon Telegraph:

E. Maussenet has this day opened a First Class Liquor and Cigar Store...where he will, at all times, keep the Finest Qualities of wines, Liquors, and the Choicest Brands of Cigars.

Indeed, in another couple of months, Edward was enumerated in the 1860 Bibb County, GA Federal census with an occupation of "Wine & Liquor Merchant."

Edward was not to be in the liquor business as long as the watch business, however. Mr. Maussenet died 10 July 1866 and was laid to rest in a minimally marked lot at Rose Hill Cemetery. I have yet to find an obituary, but he was mentioned in the local newspaper some 40 years after his death:

Caught on the Wing
by John T. Boifeuillet
Recently, Mr. Simon Dannenburg and his wife were in a store in Paris, France, buying laces...The French clerk referred to the late E. Maussenet, a jeweler, who married a sister of Capt. George A. Dure, of Macon. Mr. Maussenet is well remembered by ante-bellum citizens of Macon now residing here. He came to Macon from France some time before the war between the states commenced.

The Short Life of Cinderella Solomon Tarver Heartwell (Tombstone Tuesday)

1832 - August 20th: Cinderella C. is born to (not proven) William L. Solomon and Frances Crocker.

1850 - October 22nd: "Cendarilla," aged 18, is enumerated with (presumably) her mother Frances S. Solomon in the Twiggs County, Georgia Federal census. Four siblings were listed with her: William, Josephine, James, and Cary.

1854 - April 18th: Cinderella Crocker Solomon marries Paul E. Tarver, son of Hartwell Hill Tarver and Ann Wimberly.

1855 - (about) Cinderella gives birth to a daughter, Dollie.

1857 - July 29th: Cinderella gives birth to a second daughter, Rebecca Heartwell.

1858 - May 15th: Rebecca Heartwell Tarver, second daughter of P. E. and C. C. Tarver, dies. She is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery at Macon, GA. June 19th: Cinderella's husband Paul dies in Dougherty County, GA. He is also buried in Rose Hill Cemetery. November 23rd: Cinderella gives birth to a son, Paul Hartwell.

1859 - July 24th: Cinderella's son Paul dies. He is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery.

1860 - July 25th: Cinderella is enumerated with her daughter Dollie in the Dougherty County, GA Federal census.

1861 - April 23rd: C. C. Tarver marries C. P. "Hartwell" at Dougherty County, GA. December 29th: Cinderella's brother James C. dies at age 24 years. He is buried in the family plot at Rose Hill Cemetery.

1866 - August 4th: Cinderella Crocker Solomon Tarver Heartwell dies. She is laid to rest beside her first husband in the Solomon - Tarver family plot at Rose Hill Cemetery in Macon, GA.

Cinderella C.
Wife of Dr. C. P. Heartwell
Born Aug 20, 1832
Died Aug 4, 1866

Thou is gone, but we will not deplore thee,
Whose God was thy ransom, thy guardian and guide
He gave thee, He took thee and He will restore thee,
And death has no sting, for the Saviour has died.

IN CHRIST SHE SLEEPS

It may be truly said of her, that in all the relations
of life she deserved the highest commendation.  A
faithful wife, a fond mother, a generous friend, a
devoted CHRISTIAN.
She was ever held in the highest esteem by a large
circle of kindred and FRIENDS.

Signs of the Times with the Death of Paul Tarver

Tombstone for
Paul E. Tarver

A simple inquiry regarding Paul E. Tarver started me on a quest to find out more about him. A piece in the Historical Collections of the Georgia Chapters, Daughters of the American Revolution (Volume IV -- Old Bible Records & Land Lotteries, © 1932) proved to be fruitful. Information from a Bible of the General Hartwell Hill Tarver family was listed. This gentleman was Paul's father.

Hartwell Hill Tarver was a son of Andrew Tarver and Elizabeth Hartwell, born 1791 in Brunswick County, Virginia. He married Ann R. Wimberly 15 May 1823 and had Paul E. in 1824.

Newspapers in January 1851 declared Hartwell H. Tarver the wealthiest man in Georgia:

- Gen. Hartwell H. Tarver, of Twiggs Co, Georgia, is the largest slaveholder, if not the wealthiest man in the State. He owns a thousand negroes and fifty thousand acres of land, divided into ten plantations, in Twiggs, Pulaski, Houston and Baker counties, yielding two thousand bales of cotton annually...He recently added to his estate a tract of 2350 acres, in Burke county...

In 1850, Paul E. Tarver was listed as a Planter in the Baker County, Georgia Federal census. I would not be surprised if he was planting on lands of his father.

Hartwell H. Tarver died 19 November 1851. His son Paul passed away less than seven years later. Given the wording used in notices of his estate sale, I think the land Paul amassed was possibly inherited by him from his father.

Macon Weekly Telegraph, Georgia
22 November 1859

"150 Negroes for Sale
AT PUBLIC OUT-CRY, IN THE
CITY OF ALBANY.
IN pursuance of the last will and testament of Paul E. Tarver, late of Dougherty county, dec'd, we will expose for sale, at public out-cry, to the highest bidder, on
THURSDAY, THE 29th DAY OF DEC., 1859, and from day to day until the sale is completed, before the Court House door in the city of Albany -- One Hundred and Fifty likely Negroes -- valuable plantation hands, belonging to the estate of the said Paul E. Tarver. Also, at the PLANTATION of the said Estate, five miles west of Albany, all the farm stock of said Estate, consisting of a large lot of Horses and Mules, Cattle, Hogs, Corn, Fodder, Wagons, and farming stock of every description. The sale of the Negroes at Albany, will take place on the 28th, and then the other property at the plantation. Terms liberal, and made known on the day of the sale.

HENRY TARVER, Ex'r

C. C. TARVER, Exr'x.

(Macon Weekly Telegraph, 25 January 1859)

"IN pursuance of the last will and testament of the late Paul E. Tarver, will be sold on the 1st Tuesday in February next, before the Court House door of Dougherty County, at public outcry, the real estate of the said Paul E. Tarver, deceased, situated in the county of Dougherty. Said estate consists of FIVE THOUSAND ACRES of the most valuable COTTON LANDS in South Western Georgia, having been originally selected by the late Gen. Hartwell Tarver."

The notice goes on to describe the lands divided into three plantations: "Porter Place," "Home Place," and "Mill Place."

Since Paul Tarver's tombstone states he died "at his residence in Dougherty Co. June 19, 1858," the plantation called "Home Place" was probably just that.

[It might be important to note: Dougherty County was formed in 1853 from Baker County, so it is doubtful Paul ever moved. The county name just changed.]

All this information is great, but I still questioned as to why Mr. Paul E. Tarver was laid to rest in Rose Hill Cemetery at Macon, GA. I think the answer lies in his wife: Cinderella Crocker Solomon was possibly connected by her father to Peter Solomon, a pioneer resident of Macon. Her father or Peter just might be the owner of the lot in which Paul Tarver (as well as two if his children and wife Cinderella) was laid to rest. Also buried in the same plot is James C. Solomon, died 1861 at age 24 years. He might be Cinderella's brother.

If anyone can tell me for certain how these individuals are connected, I'd truly appreciate a comment.

Death of Mr. Henry Cheves

Macon Telegraph, Georgia
28 May 1905
(Viewed online at GenealogyBank.)

"DEATH OF MR. HENRY CHEVES.

Aged Contractor and Builder Passes Away After a Few Weeks Illness
Mr. Henry Cheves passed peacefully away last night at 8 o'clock at his home in East Macon after an illness of three weeks. Mr. Cheves was 70 years of age and a loving father of eight children. They are, Mrs. J. S. Weaver, of Cordele; Mrs. T. J. Christian, of Atlanta; Mrs. W. C. Moye, of Davisboro; Mrs. W. H. Harrel and Miss Willie Cheves of this city, also Messrs. R. H., J. L., and Howard Cheves of this city. The deceased was a Confederate veteran, having fought with distinction throughout the Civil War. He moved to Macon in 1869 from Fort Valley, and since then has been engaged in contracting and building work.

The funeral services will occur this afternoon at 4 o'clock from the East Macon Baptist church, Rev. Perry Lee, pastor, will officiate. Interment Rose Hill Cemetery. The following gentlemen are requested to serve as pallbearers, Messrs. C. Y. Woodall, B. W. James, John Jones, T. L. Bollinger, R. P. Jones, and Clarence McCall."

The next day, the following was also found in the Macon Telegraph:

"FUNERAL OF MR. HENRY CHEVES

He Was Laid to Rest in Rose Hill Cemetery

The funeral services over the body of Mr. Henry Cheves, the aged contractor, who died at his home in East Macon Saturday night were held at the East Macon Baptist church yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock.

There was a large crowd in attendance and the casket was covered with beautiful flowers which showed the high esteem and respect in which he was held by his many friends. Rev. Perry Lee conducted the services very impressively. The interment was in Rose Hill cemetery."