Way Back Yonder When the Population of Rose Hill was Not so Great as Now

Macon Telegraph
31 March 1919
(Viewed online at GenealogyBank.)

JUST 'TWIXT US
By BRIDGES SMITH

MADE mention the other day of the need of good roads in Rose Hill cemetery, and how it is necessary to pave the walks and driveways to keep them in passable condition, and which could not be done with the present limited means at the disposal of those in charge of the cemetery, and the rains causing an erosion that is constantly requiring attention.

Can tell you one thing, and if you will only think about it yourself you will agree, that unless more funds are provided from some source other than the sale of lots -- Macon being so healthy that the proceeds from this source are small -- some of these days you can take a walk over Rose Hill and then go over the old cemetery at the foot of Poplar street, and it will be a fifty-fifty proposition which is the most unkempt, the most neglected.

Here it is in April, the month in the year when thousands will go over Rose Hill, some as visitors to what should and can be the most beautiful spot in Macon, some to lay a flower on the tomb or grave of a loved one and many to honor the graves of the soldier dead on Memorial Day. Naturally beautiful, especially at this season, how much more attractive and inviting it would be if the roadways and walks were smooth and clean.

And if the lots of unknown owners, with no one to care for them, and of those whose owners are known but who seem to have forgotten them, were cleared off and cleaned only this one time in the year, how much dearer Rose Hill would be to the living. But the inadequate force of hands cannot look after the roadways, washed as they are by every rain, and do the necessary work of interments. What a saving there would be if the roads and walks were paved. The rains would be welcome then, because they would keep them as clean as brooms or sweepers.

The suggestion was made that the $2,000 paid every year by the Southern railway to the city for the privilege of desecrating that hallowed spot by running its trains through Rose Hill be applied to the upkeep. While this fund might not go far, it would go far enough, in the opinion of many, to paving the roads.

Way back yonder when the population of Rose Hill was not so great as now, and of course fewer lots to keep up, and labor was cheap, the place was kept so beautiful and attractive that on Sunday afternoons that was the one spot in Macon to visit. It was where every stranger wanted to go, for the fame of beautiful Rose Hill extended far. Every Macon man or woman felt a distinct pride in it.

We now speak in sorrow of the neglected condition of the old cemetery at the foot of Poplar street, of the sunken graves, the tumbled down monuments, of the weeds and briars growing over the graves, and of the dastardly deeds of the sacrilegious; but unless something is done toward paving the roadways and walks and prevent their being washed away, and lot-owners aroused to a sense of duty, those that come after us will tell the same story of the once beautiful Rose Hill.

Love of Human Beings & Macon was the Propelling Force in His Life

This is the final part of the 1919 interview of then 71-year-old Bridges Smith (1848-1930) entitled "BRIDGES SMITH, AFTER FIFTY YEARS OF NEWSPAPER WORK, INTERVIEWED FOR FIRST TIME BY GIRL REPORTER." Upon his death, Mr. Smith was laid to rest in Rose Hill Cemetery...

Opera Destroyed in Wreck
The names of two of the songs composed by the Judge in his youthful days are "Sweet Face in the Window" and "Greeny Brown Eyes." The title of his opera that was, but which was destroyed in a wreck, was "Dollie, or the Wedding __[?]__." The music was written by Arthur Wood.

The opera was staged in Macon by local talent, Luther Williams, J. W. Nesbit, Miss Rebecca Isaac, now Mrs. Julius Mack, and Miss Annie Massenberg, who afterwards married Capt. E. V. White, lieutenant commander of the "Merrimac," the ship which had the famous battle with the "Monitor" at Hampton Roads, were members of the cast.

Judge Smith was secretary of the first baseball club organized in Macon. The club began its existence, so the records say, in 1876. John Boifeuillet is the only man living now wha was on the team then.

Running on through the little dark green book, the Judge came across an account of a velocipede tournament, promoted by him in 1880...

So Bridges Smith's life has been one of activity. From the time when he was a young man walking his beat with a brisk, energetic step until now, when he walks every morning from his Juvenile Court to The Telegraph with a rather slow step, leaning on his walking cane, and with his broad shoulders bent slightly over, he has worked diligently, always with a constructive end in view. Love of human beings and of Macon has been the propelling force in his life.

As he expressed his love for his city, kindly eyes beamed with happiness, because he realized that he had served it with the best of his ability. He said: "I have been with The Telegraph for fifty years, writing a saying good words for Macon."

...Stay tuned for future postings with more writings by Bridges Smith about Rose Hill Cemetery...

Bridges Smith & the Macon Amateur Minstrels

This is part nine of the 1919 interview of then 71-year-old Bridges Smith (1848-1930) entitled "BRIDGES SMITH, AFTER FIFTY YEARS OF NEWSPAPER WORK, INTERVIEWED FOR FIRST TIME BY GIRL REPORTER." Upon his death, Mr. Smith was laid to rest in Rose Hill Cemetery...

Author of Opera and Songs
Besides being a reporter, fifty years of his life and mayor a good part of it, Bridges Smith has been a manager of a theatrical company, secretary of a baseball club, a promoter of a tournament, a composer of a number of songs and one opera, and an actor and singer in odd moments.

The theatrical company of which he was manager was the "Macon Amateur Minstrels," organized in 1877. He not only acted as manager of the company, but wrote the speeches of the actors and songs of the singers.

While talking about this old company the Judge went over to one of the shelves stacked high with books and picked out a little green scrapbook, all musty with age.

The front and back of the little old book had severed relations with each other.

As he opened it caressingly he said, "I think a lot of this little scrapbook."

Among the clippings pasted in it were several programs given by the minstrels in the days of the seventies. Judge Smith appeared on the programs as "Bones." On one occasion, according to the program, yellow and faded now, "Bones" sang a ditty entitled, "Run Home, Levy."

At the reporter's exclamation, "I didn't know you could sing," Judge Smith smilingly said, "I never knew it either. You wouldn't suspect me of it, just to look at me, would you?"

Banks Winter, author of "White Wings," sang at the same performances at which the Judge rendered "Run Home, Levy." The title of Mr. Banks' hit was "When the Birds Have Gone to Sleep." Mr. Winter is now living in Detroit.

...Next up - the finale.

In Momentary Dread of Being Torn to Pieces By the Dog

This is part eight of the 1919 interview of then 71-year-old Bridges Smith (1848-1930) entitled "BRIDGES SMITH, AFTER FIFTY YEARS OF NEWSPAPER WORK, INTERVIEWED FOR FIRST TIME BY GIRL REPORTER." Upon his death, Mr. Smith was laid to rest in Rose Hill Cemetery...

Locked Up for Half a Day
The oddest experience that this old-time reporter ever had was being locked up in jail for a half a day, though he admitted that he had had a good many other odd ones in his time.

"Probably being in jail for half a day and yet out of it was the queerest thing that ever happened to me," he declared. "It was when the six condemned riot prisoners from Eastman were confined in the old jail for safe keeping. One Sunday, just after dinner, I visited the jail as was my custom and went upstairs to talk to the prisoners, and while so engaged the sheriff of Dodge county came to the jail to see about taking them to Eastman. Bill Foster was the jailer, and forgetting about my being upstairs he took the Dodge sheriff out for a walk over town."

"Bill had one of the most ferocious bulldogs you ever saw, and when he went out that way the dog took his position in the jail doorway and no prisoner would dare to escape through that door. When I was ready to leave I started down the stairway to find that awful bulldog on guard. I stopped about three steps down, for I heard the dog's warning growl. By degrees I eased myself to a sitting position, and there I sat, afraid to call Bill, and, in fact, afraid to make the slightest move."

"Now and then the dog would look upward and give a low growl. I could hear the people passing along the street, but couldn't see them for the high fence around the jail. I knew there was no one about the jail yard and that I had to stay a prisoner there until Bill returned. Night was coming on, and there I was, unable to make my rounds for news. When darkness came the jailer's wife happened to come around and at first sight of her I called out gently to take the dog away. This she did, considering my predicament the best sort of a joke. But it was far from a joke to me. It was one of the most horrible afternoons of my life, being in momentary dread of being torn to pieces by the dog."

...Next up -- Author of Opera and Songs.

Seized Every Opportunity to Write the Human Things of Life

This is part seven of the 1919 interview of then 71-year-old Bridges Smith (1848-1930) entitled "BRIDGES SMITH, AFTER FIFTY YEARS OF NEWSPAPER WORK, INTERVIEWED FOR FIRST TIME BY GIRL REPORTER." Upon his death, Mr. Smith was laid to rest in Rose Hill Cemetery...

Recalls Great Human Interest Story
Of the experiences of the long-ago there are two that etched themselves on his brain never to be forgotten. One is the story of a train wreck on the Southern, which produced a human interest story, so dear to a reporter's heart.

"I heard there was a very serious wreck on the Southern and rushed down to the old Southern station to find out about it," he said, again leaning forward in his chair and tapping on the desk. "The baggage master, whom I knew well, told me it was pretty bad and that the wrecking train, ambulances and doctors had already gone. I waited around some time and the train came in, bringing the casualties. I don't remember whether there were any killed or not, but I do remember that two little negro boys had both of there legs cut off at the trunks of their bodies.

"The little darkies had been wrapped up in blankets and brought to Macon for medical attention. When they were first taken off the train they were laid on the platform of the station until they could be taken to the hospital. Unconscious of their casualty, neither knowing that their legs had been cut off, the two laying out there under the stars began to sing, "In the Sweet Bye and Bye," and other melodies loved by the negro race. When they finished singing they talked, one saying that his toe itched and the other declaring that his leg hurt.

"I stood there listening to them talking and singing realizing that I had a great human interest story," the Judge said. "I have always seized every opportunity to write the human things of life, and that is why I believe I have succeeded in my writings as well as I have. I write in my column the little human things that most people overlook."

...Next up -- Bridges Smith was Locked Up for Half a Day.

Walked His Feet Off on the Streets

This is part six of the 1919 interview of then 71-year-old Bridges Smith (1848-1930) entitled "BRIDGES SMITH, AFTER FIFTY YEARS OF NEWSPAPER WORK, INTERVIEWED FOR FIRST TIME BY GIRL REPORTER." Upon his death, Mr. Smith was laid to rest in Rose Hill Cemetery...

Conditions Change in Interim
"One night in 1907 I turned the city over into the hands of Judge Miller before a large number of citizens who had gathered to see him installed as mayor," the mayor-reporter said. "After the installation services were over I walked down to The Telegraph and took the same seat I had left nineteen years before when I went into politics. When I left the paper I was the only reporter and there was no city editor. When I returned that night there were five young fellows acting as reporters and a city editor. Nineteen years before the type had been set up by hand and when I returned it was set up by machinery."

"Instead of reporters handing in the copy in long hand they were writing it on typewriters. I realized at once that if I was going to keep up with those young fellows I must learn to write on the typewriter. Mr. Pendleton, who was then at the head of the paper, bought me a machine and soon I was grinding out copy with the best of them. Ever since I have done practically all of my writing on the typewriter," he said, waving his hand towards his machine by his desk where some copy for "Just 'Twixt Us" lays half completed.

Frank Mangum was one of those five young reporters he had to compete with on his return to the paper. He has never lost track, he said, of Mangum, but the other four have passed entirely out of his life.

Bridges Smith did not remain a reporter for long, but soon became city editor of the paper, which position he held for a number of years. It is not of these later years that he loves to talk though. He enjoys recalling most those days when he nearly "walked his feet off on the streets" and wrote practically every thing that went in the paper.

...Next Up -- Bridges Smith Recalls Great Human Interest Story.

Emptied One Tankard of Beer After Another

This is part five of the 1919 interview of then 71-year-old Bridges Smith (1848-1930) entitled "BRIDGES SMITH, AFTER FIFTY YEARS OF NEWSPAPER WORK, INTERVIEWED FOR FIRST TIME BY GIRL REPORTER." Upon his death, Mr. Smith was laid to rest in Rose Hill Cemetery...

Got Malaria at Wet Hanging
Bridges Smith was away from his beat twenty-six days during that first decade. He never took a Sunday, a Thanksgiving, a Christmas, a Fourth of July, or any other holiday off in those years. Of the twenty-six days he was absent, sixteen of them were because of illness and the other ten he accounted for.

In explaining the cause of his illness the Judge said, "One day I went to Eastman to a hanging of six rioters. It was a big story, for as you know six men are not often hung at one time. The rioters had been held in the Bibb County jail for safekeeping until the day of the hanging, when they were carried to Eastman guarded by the Volunteers. It poured down rain and as I had on a cap the rain ran down my back in streams. Coming home on the train I couldn't write a line because the Volunteers were on board and there was considerable excitement. When I reached the office, H. C. Hanson, who was then business manager of the paper, told me to sit down and write my story that he would feed me.

"The story had to be written in long hand, as typewriters were not used then. As I wrote I emptied one tankard of beer after another, Mr. Hanson filling it up as fast as I could drain it. There is no telling how many tankards I drank before I finished that night. The next day I woke up sick. The water falling down my back all day gave me malaria and I had to go to Indian Springs for two weeks."

"The other ten days I missed," he began and stopped for several minutes before continuing. "Oh, well, just between us I got married and went to Florida on my honeymoon," he bashfully asserted.

In December, 1788 [should be 1888?], Mr. Smith was elected clerk. Later he ran for mayor and was elected. He served as Mayor until 1907, when he retired, Judge A. L. Miller taking over the reins of the city's government.

...Next Up -- Conditions Change in Interim.

Walked Under the Stars Bareheaded

This is part four of the 1919 interview of then 71-year-old Bridges Smith (1848-1930) entitled "BRIDGES SMITH, AFTER FIFTY YEARS OF NEWSPAPER WORK, INTERVIEWED FOR FIRST TIME BY GIRL REPORTER." Upon his death, Mr. Smith was laid to rest in Rose Hill Cemetery...

Never Wrote a Better Story
Judge Smith reveled in the shock Senator Tillman received when he saw the story for, as he said, he knew he was only amazed and not hurt. He never wrote one thing about him that could have harmed him, he declared. This was the rule he followed during his newspaper life.

"I never hurt anyone intentionally in my writings," he earnestly said. "If I ever injured anybody's feelings I don't know it. I was always especially careful not to hurt a mother. The father did not make so much difference, but I used every precaution to keep from injuring a mother. Every night when I went home from the office, between 1 and 2 o'clock in the morning, I would remove my hat and walk under the stars bareheaded and go over everything I had written that day. I recalled everything I had said in each story and if there was anything in them that would injure unnecessarily a human being I would go back and smoothe that story over. On several occasions I had reached my gate before I thought of a hurt a certain story might do, but I went back to the office anyway and changed them."

The actors and actresses interviewed by this veteran reporter are legion. Edwin Forrest and Edwin Booth stand out in his memory clearer than any of the rest.

Broke in During Civil War

It was during the civil war that Bridges Smith first broke into print. He was not a regular reporter in those days, but a contributing reporter, being engaged during the war in making ammunition for the Confederate army. His contributions were printed in the "Daily Citizen," a little pioneer newspaper published in the exact place where the Telegraph is today. During that time newspapers had few facilities and were published under difficulties.

These years as a contributing reporter are not included when the Judge says that he has been in the newspaper game for half a century. During that half century he has been connected directly or indirectly with the Telegraph.

In 1778 [maybe should read '1878'] he came to the Telegraph as a local reporter and for ten years he filled that position of writing all the news that "broke" in and around Macon. It was the business of the one reporter to attend all weddings in town, funerals, shows, entertainments, and everything else that "turned up."

"In those days there was no such thing as a city editor," he declared with a reminiscent look on his face. "The one reporter was known as the local editor. I was that lone reporter and local editor for ten years. During those years I ran my life on a set schedule, leaving home at 9 o'clock in the morning and working until after midnight every night."

...Next up -- Bridges Smith Got Malaria at Wet Hanging.

The One with the Large, Heavy-Set Man in a Big Straw Hat and Linen Duster

This is part three of the 1919 interview of then 71-year-old Bridges Smith (1848-1930) entitled "BRIDGES SMITH, AFTER FIFTY YEARS OF NEWSPAPER WORK, INTERVIEWED FOR FIRST TIME BY GIRL REPORTER." Upon his death, Mr. Smith was laid to rest in Rose Hill Cemetery...

Can't Recall a Single Rebuff
President McKinley, according to Mr. Smith, was "just as nice as he could be." He treated him cordially and answered all the questions asked him. For one to be so cordial though, was not odd, as everybody treated Bridges Smith respectfully during his entire newspaper career.

"I can't recall a single rebuff I ever received," he declared. "Now, I might have got some, but if I did they were so slight I have forgotten them."

Of all the interviews Bridges Smith ever got he remembers with the greatest pleasure the one with the late Ben Tillman, Senator from South Carolina, who was not conscious of the fact that he had been interviewed until he read the story in the Telegraph the "morning after."

"I saw Tillman at the old station and talked to him for quite a while, but he did not know I was a reporter," Judge Smith said with a smile. "The way it happened was like this: Every morning I left home at 9 o'clock and always went to the station the first jump out of the box. I knew all the trainmasters and officials and they gave me some good stories. One morning I saw in the waiting room a large, heavy-set man in a big straw hat and linen duster. He looked like a big countryman, but I could feel that there was something about him different from other men. Though I did not recognize him as being Tillman, I knew he was a man of some importance. He asked me a question and we talked on the big topics of the day. In the course of the conversation I found out who he was. I have often imagined his amazement when he saw the next morning's paper and read his side of the conversation. I bet he spent some time trying to figure out when he had talked to a reporter."

...Next -- Bridges Smith Never Wrote a Better Story.

Presidents, Senators, Governors, Preachers, Actors, Clowns & Undertakers

This is part two of the 1919 interview of then 71-year-old Bridges Smith (1848-1930) entitled "BRIDGES SMITH, AFTER FIFTY YEARS OF NEWSPAPER WORK, INTERVIEWED FOR FIRST TIME BY GIRL REPORTER." Upon his death, Mr. Smith was laid to rest in Rose Hill Cemetery...

"By WILLIE A. SNOW
After fifty years of newspaper writing, jammed full of interviews with Presidents, Senators, Governors, preachers, actors, clowns and undertakers, Bridges Smith, now editor of the column, "Just 'Twixt Us" on The Telegraph and judge of the Juvenile Court, recalled only a few of the distinguished persons who have passed his way when he was interviewed yesterday for the first time during his life about his own experiences in chasing news.

Sitting in his office crowded with books, the majority of them enormous scrap books bulging with newspaper clippings on every subject from Fort Hawkins to the Georgia State Fair, he received the question, "Who are some of the great men you have interviewed?" with a wrinkling of the brow and a thoughtful expression. He leaned forward in his swivel chair and tapped with his fingers on the desk for several minutes.

To interview "greater lights" was all in a week's work with Bridges Smith when he began handing in copy in the seventies' so he did not bother cluttering up his brain remembering the names of them. After administering two dozen taps on the desk he leaned back and with a little resigned wave of the hand said: "Why, yes, I interviewed up to twenty years ago every man of note who visited Macon since '78, but I can't remember all of them just off-hand like this."

Asked About Jeff Davis' Health.

After a few more minutes of wrinkled brow he continued: "I interviewed President Wilson when he came to Macon, also Jefferson Davis on one of his visits here. Mr. Davis made several trips to Macon, but when I talked to him it was in '85, when he came here to attend the reunion. It was, I remember, on the balcony of the old union station just before he made a speech. I don't know what I asked him, but I suppose I inquired about his health."

As the smile which ventured forth on the face of his hearer at the thought of interviewing so famous a personage on the condition of his health, Judge Smith said: "You must remember interviewing was not an art in those days like it is today. I interviewed all important visitors, but it was not the big part of my work."

"When William McKinley came here, I interviewed him on some current topic of the day. In honor of his visit, an arch made of cotton bales was built over Poplar street. While here, he also made a speech which I covered."

...Next up -- Bridges Smith Can't Recall a Single Rebuff.

The First of Many About Bridges Smith

Bridges Smith
(1848-1930)

Beneath this simple, nondescript gravestone rest the mortal remains of Bridges Smith. He worked in the Confederate States Arsenal at Macon, GA during the Civil War, and he was a newspaper man. He was mayor of the city of Macon, and he was a clerk for the City Council. He was also a juvenile court judge. One might think the tombstone memorializing him would be much more ornate. Without doing the research, most would probably walk right by his grave in the Eglantine Square section of Rose Hill Cemetery without giving it a second look or thought.

Bridges Smith was born in North Carolina to James H. and Mary L. Smith. James, a painter, brought his family to Macon, GA in the year 1858.

Bridges, as Mayor of the City, and his second wife Katrina (she was also laid to rest in Rose Hill) were living at 855 Second Street in Macon during the year 1900. This would be his address for the remainder of his life. By 1920, Bridges was married to a third wife (her names was Margaret) and was a juvenile court judge. Margaret, too, was buried in Rose Hill upon her death in 1928.

In 1919, Bridges Smith was interviewed for an article in the Macon Telegraph. I will post excerpts from that article over the next several days. Here it begins with Bridges writing the opening himself, answering the question of how he likes being interviewed.

Macon Telegraph
10 October 1919

"BRIDGES SMITH, AFTER FIFTY YEARS OF NEWSPAPER WORK, INTERVIEWED FOR FIRST TIME BY GIRL REPORTER.

Recalls Inquiring About Jefferson Davis' Health and Quizzing Ben Tillman Unawares.

Never Wrote a Line That Would Hurt a Human Being -- Is Author of Poems and Opera.

BY BRIDGES SMITH -
How do I like being interviewed? Oh, well, so far as that's concerned, I'm used to it. Time was, when I was worth it and knew lots, to be interviewed was a part of my daily duties; and there was also a time when interviewing others was my daily task. But this thing of being interviewed by a pretty girl reporter is something else, something new.

Just a plain man reporter simply holds you up, and whether you know or think anything you must stand and deliver. You've just simply got to know something, and if you don't know it he'll know it for you and sometimes better than you do. You spend an hour, more or less, in mortal dread, fearing he'll ask about something you wouldn't have him know for worlds; then after he is gone you spend another miserable hour fearing he'll ball up what you did tell him.

Now, being interviewed by a pretty girl -- well, that's another thing. You get interested in her, her methods being so gentle, and you forget about being afraid of letting cats out of bags by telling state secrets. She has such a sweet winning way of drawing you out, and, like the goose you are, you would tell her the secrets of your very soul were she to ask for them. You find yourself talking unguardedly, saying things that after she is gone, leaving the fragrance of her smile to linger long with you, you wished you had put in better shape.

After she is gone you seem to wake up as if from a dream and wondering what the dream was about. And some how you feel all the better for her lending her presence. It was like sunshine let into a sick room, and her leaving as though the shades were pulled down and the sunlight shut out. And now I'm wondering what she'll say in print. Though why should I care? A man who can't trust his words to a pretty girl reporter deserves the worst she can write about him."

The Marriage of James Abel & Olive Domingos

From the 19 July 1909 (Monday morning) edition of the Macon Telegraph:

Macon Society
Domingos - Abel
Sunday afternoon at the South Macon Methodist Parsonage at 4:30 Mr. Jim Abel and Miss Olive Domingos were quietly united in marriage by the Rev. J. W. Domingos. Miss Domingos is the daughter of Mr. R. J. Domingos of this city, and Mr. Abel is the manager of J. D. McKay's meat shop on Montpelier avenue.

In 1930, James and Olive were living on Columbus Road in Bibb County, Georgia. They had four children, two sons and two daughters.

James Benjamin Abel was the son of William Abel (1845-1920) and Martha Jane Jones (1851-1933), and the grandson of Henry and Elizabeth Abel. He and his wife Olive were buried in the family plot purchased by James' father in 1872. Along with William, Martha, James, and Olive, other family members buried in the plot located in Eglantine Square are James and Olive's son William Domingos Abel (1918-1985) and Lula Ruth Abel (1893-1979). Lula was a sister of James.

James B. Abel
Nov 2, 1889
Feb 2, 1950

Olive A. Domingos
Wife of James B. Abel
Dec 20, 1890
Nov 28, 1944

Mrs. S. S. W. M'Kenney Is Dead

Mrs. Sophronia McKenney was laid to rest in the Eglantine Square section of Rose Hill Cemetery.

S. Sophronia Walton McKenney
Dec 18, 1837
Nov 13, 1919
Gone, but not forgotten.

An obituary from a 15 November 1919 edition of the Columbus Daily Enquirer (Georgia):

MRS. S. S. W. M'KENNEY IS DEAD.

Mother of Macon News' Editor Will Be Buried Here This Morning.
Macon, Nov. 14. -- Mrs. S. S. Walton McKenney, mother of Robert L. McKenney, president and editor of the Macon News, died suddenly at 8 o'clock yesterday morning at her residence, 215 Washington avenue. Her death will come as a great shock to her many friends in Macon. While she had not been feeling very well during the past few days her condition was not regarded as serious.

This morning she was up as usual. Her grandson, Robert L. Clifton, who makes his home with her, left the house at 7:30 o'clock yesterday morning, and at that time Mrs. McKenney stated that she was feeling fine. About 8 o'clock one of the neighbors who dropped in to call on Mrs. McKenney, found her in the hall dead. Heart failure is given as the cause of her death.

Mrs. McKenney would have been 83 years old had she lived until December. She was born in Columbus, Ga., and was a graduate of the Thomas B. Slade school of that city.

Mrs. McKenney was married in 1858 to Joshua McKenney, who entered the service of the Confederacy two years later, serving through the entire war. Mr. McKenney died in the latter part of 1865.

The family resided at Butler at Mr. McKenney's death. Mrs. McKenney then came to Macon to live.

She is survived by her daughter, Mrs. C. M. Clifton, Sr., of the Hazard district; her son, Robert L. McKenney, of Macon; Margaret and Louise McKenney, and Alice and Josephine Clifton, granddaughters, and Robert L. Clifton, Walton B. Clifton, Charles M. Clifton, Jr., and William Clifton, grandsons and a half brother, John W. Walton of Baxley, Ga.

Funeral services will be held Friday morning at 11 o'clock from Burghard's chapel on Cherry street. Rev. Charles W. Curry, pastor of the centenary Methodist church, will conduct the services. The interment will be in Rose Hill cemetery.

The pallbearers will be C. M. Clifton, Sr., Robert L. Clifton, Walton H. Clifton, C. M. Clifton, Jr., William Clifton and T. J. Simmons.

Robert J. Anderson, Confederate Soldier at Gettysburg

Robert J. Anderson was a dealer in Sewing Machines. He also was a tax receiver for Bibb County, Georgia. These things you would never know just by looking at his gravestone in the Eglantine Square section of Rose Hill Cemetery -- a simple granite marker with the following epitaph:



Robert J. Anderson, Sr.
Jan 12, 1841 Abbeville, S.C.
Feb 26, 1920 Macon, Ga.
At Rest
Something else you would not know about Robert without doing a little research -- he fought in the Confederate Army and lost an arm at Gettysburg.

According to Ancestry's U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, Robert Jackson Anderson enlisted as a private 17 May 1861 in Company A, 20th Georgia Infantry Regiment (Benning's Brigade). He was promoted to full 3rd Corporal 2 July 1862.

Benning's Brigade, including Robert Anderson, fought at the famed Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863. Here is a portion of the after battle report by Col. J. D. Waddell, 20th GA Infantry:

Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part borne by the Twentieth Regt. Georgia Volunteers in the battle at and near Gettysburg, Pa., on July 2 and 3:

In the order of attack, Longstreet's corps was assigned to the right, and Hood's division occupied the right of the corps. Benning's brigade, in the order of battle, supported, at the distance of 400 yards, Law's, whose position was on the extreme right. In the brigade formation, the Twentieth Regt. occupied the left center. Before reaching the point from which to make the attack, it was necessary to move by the right flank a distance of nearly 3 miles. The enemy's guns commanded a considerable portion of this distance, and opened a heavy fire of shell upon us for more than a mile of the way.

About 5 p. m., having reached the intended point, we advanced in line of battle to the assault, the regiment moving in excellent order and spirit. We had not advanced far before it was ascertained that there was a considerable space intervening between Law's and Robertson's brigades, unoccupied by any Confederate troops save very few belonging to the First Texas Regt. Near to the center of this comparatively unoccupied ground, upon a steep, rocky, rugged hill, the enemy had posted a battery of six guns, from which a destructive and vigorous fire was poured into our ranks.

To cover this ground and to support Brig.-Gen. Robertson, who was pressed severely at the time, a left and oblique movement was made and continued until the Twentieth Regt. fronted this battery, when the brigade was ordered to advance forward.

The order was obeyed by the regiment with promptness and alacrity, and the charge upon the hill and battery executed courageously and successfully. In the space of fifteen minutes the hill was carried, and three 10-pounder Parrott guns captured. They were brought off that night, and the next day turned against the enemy in that terrible artillery fight. Some 25 prisoners were captured and sent to the rear... After the enemy were driven from the hill, they poured upon us a terrific and incessant fire from the steep mountain side directly to our front, their advance line of infantry being distant about 500 yards, and pretty well protected by large rocks and stones heaped together.

About 6 o'clock, a regiment was moved to get to our left flank. A shot from Private John F. Jordan, of Company G, unhorsed the officer leading it, when their ranks were broken, and they retreated in wild disorder and confusion, my regiment adding no little to their panic by opening a telling volley into their scattered ranks. No other advance was attempted by them upon the hill we occupied while we held it.

Our loss in the charge was very heavy...

...The Twentieth held the hill until nearly 7 p. m. on the 3d, under a dangerous but desultory fire of the enemy, mainly infantry, when we were ordered to fall back to a more tenable position about 1 mile to our left rear, the withdrawal of troops on our left making such order necessary. Indeed, the enemy had well nigh gained our left flank before it was known that we were without supports there to meet him. Owing to a misunderstanding of orders as to the point aimed at, and as to the manner in which the retreat should be conducted, considerable disorder attended its inception; but the regiment was formed again upon the first favorable ground, and good order soon restored.

The loss on this retreat was 17 men, some of whom are known to have been killed and others wounded... The men generally were almost worn down by hard marching, harder fighting, constant watching, loss of sleep, hunger, and almost intolerable heat. Nevertheless, buoyed up by the unconquerable spirit of men who deserve to be free, they bore it all with the fortitude, constancy, uncomplaining devotion and patriotism which have distinguished them in so many campaigns and avouched their soldierly character and merit upon so many fields of triumph and glory. Upon reaching the hill designated, hasty breastworks were constructed and the command kept under arms; but the enemy did not choose to attack us, and the struggle terminated here.

Instances of individual valor and gallantry were many and splendid; the coolness and courage of every man seemed equal to his opportunity, and where all, so far as I could observe, performed their full duty manfully and well, I should do injustice to many by specially commending a few whose conduct and bearing happened to fall within the scope of my own observation.

...It will be seen that our losses in the battle of Thursday were, in killed, 2 officers and 21 men; wounded, officers, 4; men, 73; missing, 4; and on Friday the total missing is 17, making an aggregate of 121.

It may be proper to add that our battle-flag is marked with 87 holes, 38 of which seem to have been made by Minie balls, the remainder, from the character of the rents, by fragments of shell.

Robert J. Anderson received a pension for his service from 1880 - 1919. His widow, Julia F. Anderson, received a deceased soldier pension in 1920.

Robert's pension file states: "Robert J. Anderson of the county of Bibb, State of Georgia, who, being duly sworn, deposes and says that he was... a bona fide resident of this state; that he enlisted in the military service of the Confederate States... as a Private in Company A, 20th Regiment of Georgia Volunteers, that while engaged in such military service, to-wit: at the battle of engagemenr of Gettysburg in the State of Pennsylvania on the 2nd day of July 1863, he was wounded in the Arm, and that the same was amputated above the elbow..."

His application also states he moved to Georgia in 1856.

Robert J. Anderson married Julia F. Coley 3 October 1867 in Bibb County, Georgia. Julia, daughter of J. A. B. and Mary Coley, was laid to rest next to her husband in Rose Hill. Her dates: Apr 9, 1846 Coley's Station, Ga ~ Aug 31, 1920 Macon, Ga.

Census records and a lot search at RoseHillCemetery.org suggest Robert and Julia had at least eleven children:

- Robert Coley Anderson (Oct 8, 1868 Macon, Ga ~ Mar 31, 1918 Augusta, Ga; buried same lot)
- Felicia W. Anderson (in 1880 census)
- Julia Leila Anderson (Jan 1, 1874 Macon, Ga ~ Jan 28, 1960 Macon, Ga; buried same lot)
- John Rebel Anderson (July 13, 1875 Macon, Ga ~ Mar 14, 1955 Macon, Ga; buried same lot)
- Appleton Frank Anderson (Dec 27, 1878 Macon, Ga ~ Feb 12, 1948 Macon, Ga; buried same lot)
- Charley B. Anderson (Sept 12, 1880 ~ Oct 22, 1930; buried same lot)
- Nona Anderson (May 14, 1882 ~ Dec 24, 1932; buried same lot)
- William W. Anderson (1900, 1910, 1920 census)
- Louisa Anderson (June 22, 1887 ~ Jan 28, 1975; buried same lot)
- Robert J. Anderson, Jr. (Apr 13, 1892 Macon, Ga ~ Aug 10, 1917 Macon, Ga; buried same lot)
- Mary Mason Anderson (August 6, 1870 ~ August 31, 1871; buried same lot)

Robert J. Anderson, Sr. purchased his lot in Eglantine Square in 1871, likely upon the death of his daughter Mary. Two other individuals are buried in the R. J. Anderson lot -- (1) Eleanor B. Anderson (wife of Charley; Apr 1, 1884 ~ Apr 28, 1973), and (2) Robert J. Anderson, III (son of Charley and Eleanor; BM2 US Navy, WWII, May 29, 1925 ~ Dec 7, 1993).

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.

Aunt Etta's & Uncle Henry's Interesting Dates (Tombstone Tuesday)

Unfortunately, I do not yet have bios for Aunt Etta and Uncle Henry, but dates on their tombstones allude to a sad occasion.

Uncle
Henry L. Fields
July 3, 1860
July 16, 1894

Aunt
Etta Mae Fields
July 16, 1869
June 25, 1904
As you can see, according to these dates, Henry died on Etta's 25th birthday. It might also be interesting to note both Henry and Etta died at the age of 34.

They were both laid to rest in the Eglantine Square section of Rose Hill Cemetery.

Ella Powers Reddy (1845-1908)

Image by James Allen

Ella was laid to rest in the Eglantine Square section of Rose Hill Cemetery. Her husband, Robert J. Reddy, was the lot owner.

Ella was the daughter of Milton Homer Powers (1817-1855) and Mary E. Wilson (1822-1870). Ella was also the mother-in-law of Lillie Bell Reddy. Here is Ella's obituary:

Macon Weekly Telegraph, Georgia
3 January 1908
(Viewed online at GenealogyBank.)

Deaths
REDDY
The death of Mrs. Ella Powers Reddy occurred at the family residence, 318 Hydrola street, yesterday morning at 9:30 o'clock, after an illness of several weeks. The deceased was in her 63rd year.

Mrs. Reddy was born in Effingham County, Georgia, and was the relict of the late Robert J. Reddy. She was a resident of Macon for over two score years, coming here in 1864, shortly after the death of her husband.

Mrs. Reddy is survived by two sons, Messrs. A. G. and Robert M. Reddy, of Macon, and four daughters, Mrs. T. R. Cooper, of Savannah, and Mrs. Clarence Denicke and Mrs. B. F. Boutwell and Miss Sara Reddy, of this city; also one brother, Mr. A. K. Powers, Tusculum, Ga., and four sisters, Mrs. J. R. Collins, Mrs. M. R. Denton, Mrs. F. E. Gugel and Mrs. V. A. Menard, of Macon.

The funeral will take place from the residence this afternoon at 3 o'clock, Rev. Perry Lee officiating. Interment will be in Rose Hill cemetery.

It should be noted that the notion of Ella coming to Macon "shortly after the death of her husband" is inaccurate. The line should reference a time period after the marriage of Robert and Ella. They were wed 7 June 1864 in Effingham County, and Robert died at Macon in 1901.

Lillie Bell Reddy

Mrs. Lillie Bell Reddy rests in the Eglantine Square section of Rose Hill Cemetery. Her ledger marker can be found in the Robert J. Reddy lot.

There is a discrepancy regarding when Lillie was born. Her tombstone is engraved with the date of 9 September 1874, while the date written on her death certificate was 12 September 1876. Lillie was born in Georgia, the daughter of W. J. Bell and Julia Parker. Mr. Bell operated a daily hack line from Louisville to Bartow for many years, handling mail and passengers. When the Louisville and Wadley Railroad was built, he was given a conductor's place on that road. He held it continuously until about nine months before his death in January 1912.

Miss Lillie married Robert M. Reddy. He, according to the 1910 Macon, Bibb County, Georgia federal census, was a locomotive engineer. Lillie and Robert had one son, Milton J. A veteran of the US Army, he passed away 31 July 1982 and was laid to rest near his parents in Rose Hill.

Shortly after 1910, Lillie and her family moved to Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia. Lillie died there 8 August 1919, after suffering from tuberculosis for at least two years. Here is a transcript of her obituary from the 9 August 1919 edition of the Macon Weekly Telegraph (GA):

DEATHS AND FUNERALS
MRS. LILLIE REDDY
Mrs. Lillie Reddy, wife of R. M. Reddy, formerly of Macon, died at Savannah Friday morning at 3 o'clock. The body ws brought to Macon, arriving at 3:30 this morning. Funeral services will be held from Burghard's, 718 Cherry street, this (Saturday) afternoon, 5:30. Interment at Rose Hill.

Mrs. Reddy has been a resident of Savannah for two years. She is survived by her husband, R. M. Reddy, and one son, Milton.

Robert had these words engraved on the tombstone placed for his wife, "Sweetheart of my youth." He lived thirteen more years without his wife before passing away 22 February 1933 in Baldwin County, Georgia. Robert's body was brought back to Macon to rest next to Lillie's in Rose Hill cemetery.

Frederick & Mary Burghard

Frederick H. Burghard
1827 - 1869

Mary C. Peter
Wife of F. H. Burghard
1839 - 1924
Obituary for Capt. Fred H. Burghard:

31 July 1869, Macon Daily Telegraph (Georgia)

ANOTHER OLD CITIZEN GONE. -- We are pained to announce the death of Capt. Fred H. Burghard, which occurred at his residence in this city on yesterday afternoon about 6 o'clock, produced by congestion of the bowels and stomach. Capt. Burghard has been a citizen of Macon for the last twelve or fifteen years, and was before the war a heavy dealer in jewelry.

His funeral takes place this afternoon at 3 o'clock.

Mr. Burghard was, during the Civil War, a captain in the German Artillery, a volunteer corps from Macon.

According to her death certificate, Mary C. Peter Burghard was born 18 May 1839 in New York City to Julius Peter and Anna Stumph. Both of her parents were born in Germany. Mary died 7 May 1924 at her home at 1018 Vineville Avenue in Macon. Her son, Louis H. Burghard, was the undertaker and took charge of his mother's burial in Rose Hill Cemetery.

Frederick H. Burghard and Mary C. Peter were the parents of Julius E. and Henry Peter Burghard. They were recently wrote about here and here, respectively.

Henry P. Burghard

Henry Peter
Son of F. H. & M. C. Burghard
1860 - 1920
Macon Weekly Telegraph
2 August 1920

"DEATHS AND FUNERALS
HENRY P. BURGHARD
Henry P. Burghard, aged 60 years, died at the home of his mother, Mrs. M. C. Burghard, Vineville avenue, Sunday morning at 7:30 o'clock after an illness of five months.

Mr. Burghard was born and reared in Macon, but for the past thirty-five years had been a resident of Birmingham, Ala., and was engaged in the wholesale salvage business.

Surviving him, besides his mother, are one brother, L. H. Burghard; two sisters, Misses Annie and Minnie Burghard, of Macon.

Funeral services will be held from Burghard's chapel this morning at 11 o'clock. Bishop W. N. Ainsworth will conduct the service. Interment will be in Rose Hill cemetery."

3 August 1920
"DEATHS AND FUNERALS
HENRY P. BURGHARD
Funeral services for Henry P. Burghard, aged 60 years, who died Sunday morning at the residence of his mother, Mrs. M. C. Burghard on Vineville avenue, were held yesterday morning at 11 o'clock from Burghard's Chapel, 718 Cherry street, Bishop W. N. Ainsworth officiating. Interment was in Rose Hill cemetery. The following acted as pallbearers: L. H. Burghard, W. W. Jones, Sr., A. W. Jones, W. W. Jones, Jr., Louis R. Jones and Clarence Jones, all relatives of the deceased."

[Note: L. H. Burghard, Henry's brother, was an undertaker and operator of Burghard's Chapel.]