George E. Daniel Lived and Died in Alabama, but was Buried in Georgia

George Edward Daniel spent almost all of his life in the state of Alabama. He was born there, listed there in every census taken during his lifetime, and died there. So I'm happy to be highlighting this Rose Hill Cemetery burial, as it could possibly be an unexpected one to some.

George was born at Perdue Hill, Monroe County, AL on 15 December 1893. He was one of ten children born to John M. Daniel and Mary C. "Katie" Tolbert.

A few months before his twentieth birthday, George – described as short and stout, with blue eyes and dark hair – enlisted at Montgomery for service during World War I. He was part of the 308 Sanitary Train, 83rd Division, and possibly helped deliver relief and medical supplies to allies in Europe during and immediately following the war. George was discharged 17 February 1919, after about seventeen months of service.

In January 1920, George was back home in Perdue Hill for the taking of that year's federal census. Nine months later, however, George took a trip to Macon, Bibb County, Georgia in order to marry Clara Lillian Smith (1896-1981). She was a daughter of Emanuel Smith (d. 1929) and Swedish-born Annie M. Stroberg (1866-1957). George's older brother Joseph acted as best man.

After the ceremony and "a short wedding trip," George and Clara made their home at Perdue Hill. But by Spring of 1930, the couple and two young sons were living on Yancey Street in Montgomery, where George was occupied as a secretary for a furniture company.

George Edward Daniel died 17 July 1939 at his home in Montgomery. He unexpectedly "suffered a fatal heart attack while at the supper table."

George was buried in the Smith family burial lot (Pine Ridge section, block 2, lot 11) at Rose Hill. It was purchased by his father-in-law in 1929. Clara lived forty-two more years after the death of George, and eventually married a Mr. Strawn in the interim. Upon her death in 1981, Clara was retuned to the Smith family lot and buried near her first husband.

Possible Identification of Non-Identifieds in the M. A. Daniel Lot

The M. A. Daniel Lot is located in Eglantine Square. This is where Annibel Lamar Phelts (28 June 1880 - 7 May 1924) and her mother Emma Carter Phelts (10 June 1857 - 7 Jan 1939) were laid to rest. Emma Carter Phelts was the daughter of Chestley C. and Ann Daniel. Emma married R. H. Phelts and was a dress maker. Annibel was a school teacher in the early 1900's at a south Macon school. She never married.

While searching records for Annibel and Emma, I came across an interesting entry for the 1900 U.S. Federal Census. Emma and Annibel were listed with Sarah A. Moulthrop, who was living at 1070 Walnut Street. Sarah was Emma's sister. Another sister, Isabella V., was also listed. All three sisters were widows. For some reason, I felt compelled to learn more about these three widowed women.

While visiting the RoseHillCemetery.org website, I performed a search on the M. A. Daniel Lot and found there were 5 additonal individuals buried there. One was C. C. Daniel, died 23 November 1869. Census records suggest this is Chestley C. Daniel, the father of Emma, Sarah, and Isabella. The four others buried in the lot were listed as non-identified.

I also performed a search using the surnames of Moulthrop and Woodward. While nothing came up for Moulthrop, an entry for Mrs. I. V. Woodward was discovered. She was laid to rest in Rose Hill 9 December 1901. Her burial location within the cemetery, however, is unknown.

Since all three sisters were living together in 1900, I suggest to you that one of the non-identified in the M. A. Daniel Lot in Eglantine Square is Mrs. Isabella Virginia (Daniel) Woodward. She was the wife of Dr. J. J. Woodward, and seems to have been widowed as early as 1870.

For more information as to how I arrived at this conclusion, as well as more information about the sisters, please visit my post at the Southern Graves blog -- 3 Widowed Sisters Take Me from Macon, Georgia to Eufaula, Alabama.

Another burial in Rose Hill with an unkown location is Anna Daniel, interred 18 July 1913. This is possibly Chestley's wife, and another of the non-identified in the M. A. Daniel Lot.