Tales The Tombstones Tell - Republican Observer - June 6, 1957

 St. Patrick's Catholic church is a nice brick edifice, erected in 1924, replacing a wooden structure built in 1867. The new church was built under plans of Father Fraling, who worked side by side with the members. He drew the plans and much of the credit of the church building should go to him.

 The first services were held at the home of Cornelius McCarthy by Fr. Sthale in 1855. Mass was continued to be held in the McCarthy home until 1867. A great grandson of Cornelius McCarthy, Fr. Robert McCarthy, is now a priest. He is located at Boscobel, but on account of ill health was for a time unable to take an active part in the services.

 From St. Patrick's church area have come many notable citizens, Judge James Wickham who served for many years as circuit court judge in the Eau Claire district. He was born in the valley and his parents are buried here. Judge Shields, deceased, also a native of the valley, moved to Minnesota, where he located. One of the natives, Tom Kelley, moved out to Jordan, Minnesota, where he became editor of the Jordan Independent, a newspaper which came every week back some 40 or 50 years ago, to the Republican Observer office.

 One of the notable families was the Conley family, some of whom, the older folks, are buried here. Several of the family became well known doctors. One Dr. H. H. Conley, is located at Park Ridge, Ill. He is an ardent circus fan and for a time was president of the Circus Association of America.

 Up on the hillside adjoining the church is the cemetery which is well kept and there are buried many of the pioneers of Melancthon Creek valley and the area. There are members of the Dunn, Moore, Sweeney, Byrne, McGlynn, McNamara, Ryan, Conley, Grinsell, Grangel, Connors, McDonough, Casey families and many others.

 Cornelius McCarthy, who was born at Delafield on June 8, 1851, sleeps there together with his wife, the former Mary Dunn. She was born in New York in 1856 and died August 5, 1903. Mr. McCarthy died in 1900. He was a son of Cornelius McCarthy, Sr., who is buried in St. Bridget's cemetery in the town of Westford.

 We were up to St. Patrick's cemetery some weeks ago and later stopped in at the home of Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Escher to get more information. Mrs. Escher, who was a daughter of Cornelius McCarthy Jr., gave us much valuable information. She is well posted on the area as she and her sister, Mrs. Con Lynch, are the two oldest living members of St. Patrick's parish; Mrs. Lynch is the oldest, Mrs. Escher informed us.

 Close by the McCarthy lot are buried Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Dunn, grandparents of Mrs. Escher. Mr. Dunn, his tombstone says, was born August 20, 1827, in County Galway, Ireland, and was married to Bridget Walsh, February 2, 1851, and they came to Richland county in 1857. Mr. Dunn died on February 21, 1901. 

 Mr. and Mrs. Emmett McCarthy are buried close by. Emmett was a son of Patrick McCarthy and Father Robert McCarthy is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Emmett McCarthy. Emmett was born in 1868 and passed on in 1941; his wife Harriett, was born in 1867 and died in 1939.

 Members of the Jeremiah Whalen, Sr., family, have found rest in this hillside burying ground. Mr. Whalen was a native of Ireland, coming to American and later to Richland county in 1858. In 1877 he was married to Miss Bridget Ryan. They were the parents of six children, Anna, Delia, Alice, Michael, James and Jeremiah Jr. Of these only one, James, is now living.

 Another worthy couple to be buried close by is Lawrence Murphy and his wife, Mary. Both came from Ireland. Lawrence was born in 1881 and died in 1932; his wife was born in 1880 and passed on in 1956.

 There is a stone in the cemetery for Catherine Gibbins, who died in 1874 at the age of 20 years. Richard Walsh, born in June, 1831, died in 1895; Mrs. Walsh, whose given name was Bridget, was born in 1828. Mr. and Mrs. Walsh came from County Galway, Ireland. On the stone of Catherine Walsh, wife of James Walsh, it says she was a native of Parish Ballendovn also a native of County Galway. She lived to a ripe old age, passing away, October 21, 1876, at the age of 89 years, 5 months and 16 days. Inscribed on the stone are these words:

   "May she rest in Peace."

 "Born in New York in 1854 and died October 19, 1894" it says on the tombstone of John Dunn, and the inscription for his wife Mary says she was born January 25, 1854, and died December 24, 1892. Mr. Dunn was born in Orange county, New York. His wife was Mary McDonald. On the lot there is a marker for one of their sons, James, who passed away in 1953. A son Joe, for whom there is a marker, still lives at Yuba. He was for many years a rural mail carrier out of Yuba before his retirement.

 On a stone for Patrick Conley it says he died September 16, 1886, aged 72 years. He was the grandfather of H. H. Conley, spoken of elsewhere in this article.

 One of the early born is Hugh Byrne. On his monument it says:
   "Erected by Patrick Byrne in memory of his father
    Hugh Byrne, born in Abbey Down, County Wexford,
    Ireland, August 18, 1888, aged 72 years, 8 months."

 From the old to the young is but a step or two, for close by it reads that Anna Marie, died August 4, 1887, aged 1 year, 7 months and 25 days; and Katie, died August 21, 1888, at the age of 4 months and 17 days. These little ones were the children of J. and M. Anderson.

 John Walsh and his wife Mary, are buried here. Mr. Walsh was born in Wexford, Ireland, and he died in Henrietta, July 16, 1891, at the age of 75. His wife died in 1907. You will note the large number of folks who came from Ireland and the county of Wexford seemed to be a favorite spot. We wonder why this should be but no one gives the answer. Mrs. Escher stated that long, long ago, one of the early comers from Ireland when asked about it gave no answer but remarked "we sure did not know what we were getting into."

 On the James Kelley lot up on the hillside are buried John Kelley, born in 1808 and died in 1876. Also there is his wife, Anastasia Cloney, born in 1806 and died in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. John Kelley were the parents of James. They were natives of the Emerald Isle. They all came to America in 1851 where the mother died in Milwaukee. James and his father came to Richland county in 1856 and here the father died in 1876. James Kelley was twice married; first to Miss Anna Fanning who died in 1858.

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His second wife was Mary Ann McCarthy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius McCarthy, Sr., who was born in County Cork. They became the parents of ten children one of whom, James C., became well known as a storekeeper at Yuba. His wife was Bridget Kennedy. Another son, Eugene, stayed on the old home farm until his death in 1943.

 On the Wickham lot are several members of the family. Patrick, father of Judge Wickham, was born in 1819 and died in 1894; Catherine, the mother, was born in 1827 and died in 1894. Other members of the family are on the lot.

 Close by the Wickham lot is the Kennedy lot. The Wickham family were neighbors in life and now are neighbors in death. Grandfather John Kennedy was born in 1800 and died in 1876; his son James was born in 1834 and died in 1904; Bridget, mother of James, was born in 1830 and died in 1925; Grandmother Bridget, wife of John, was born in 1816 and died in 1884. Then comes James J. Kennedy, born in 1865 and died in 1915.

 A large stone marks the grave for members of the Louie Barreau family. Mr. Barreau was born in 1851.

 There is a marker for Mr. and Mrs. John Quinlin which just give their ages. He was 85 and his wife Ann, 80. They were the grandparents of Joseph Kelly, now of Richland Center.

 On the monument of William and Bridget Moore, who were the parents of Tom Moore, who lived out on Brush Creek, it says:
   "Dearest loved ones you have left us,
    Father, Brother, Sister Dear,
    May God grant you rest eternal
    Peace and rest in Heaven's sphere."

 You will note the good old fashioned names of the pioneers buried here. Take the names Patrick and Bridget, they appear frequently. A little bit of oddity is found upon the monument of Patrick McDonald and his wife Ellen. Both were natives of Ireland. He was born in Kings county and she in Queens county. According to the stone he died in 1893 at the age of 75 years and she in 1906 at the age of 86.

 Soldiers of the wars are buried here. These Civil War veterans are there, John McGrath, James Kennedy Sr., William Moore, John Grinsell, John Walsh and his son Thomas B. are in this hillside cemetery. The son Thomas B. was a Spanish-American veteran. Also there are markers for soldiers of more recent wars. The marker for one reads:

 And that, folks, is the story of the hillside cemetery on Melancthon Creek adjoining St. Patrick's church in the town of Henrietta. To those who are now buried there and those who, in future years, will be buried there, one can only wish, like many a tombstone says:
     "May they rest in peace."

S. F.

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Tales The Tombstones Tell - Republican Observer - June 13, 1957

 On the top of a hill overlooking the village of Cazenovia is the cemetery wherein are buried many of the early settlers of the area and burials are still being made in this old burying ground which dates back to 1858 when Jonah Pomeroy was laid to rest atop the hill which looks down upon the village. Mr. Pomeroy, his tombstone says, was 77 years of age. By his side is his wife Gad, who died in 1863 also at the age of 77. The county history places Mrs. Pomeroy as the first person to be buried here yet the tombstones bear the above dates. Mrs. Pomeroy had an odd first name, one you wonder, how come. We never heard it before; it was, as you will note Gad.

 The Cazenovia cemetery, says the county history, was laid out in
July, 1862, by Joshua McCaskey, under the supervision of the town board (of Westford). The land was donated by Allen Perkins. It may have been that Mr. Pomeroy was laid to rest before the cemetery was laid out and thus his wife was the first burial in the new cemetery.

 The village cemetery is well kept and is a credit to the community. While we were in this burying ground Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Marshall, who are Cazenovia residents, came to pay a visit to many of their departed relatives and friends. Mrs. Marshall, who knows much about the burying ground, told us of some of the old citizens who sleep away the years here. Mrs. Marshall gave us valuable aid in our visit to the hilltop.

 Ernest Fuller and Bert Fuller, little children of W. and A. J. Fuller, are sleeping side by side. Ernest was born July 2, 1876, and died on January 16th the following year. Bert was born August 23, 1878, and died August 11, 1879. On the stone it says:

   "They are little graves but others care,
    For a world of hopes are buried there."

 Soldiers of the Civil and World Wars are buried here. Daniel Wright, born November 8, 1840, and died April 10, 1910, is one of the war for the union veterans. His wife Eliza, born in 1842, and died August 11, 1908, is by his side. He was a member of Co. F, 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry. He enlisted February 1, 1862, giving his address as Ironton; mustered out February 17, 1865, his term having expired. Others in the Cazenovia area, who served in Co. F, 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry are buried here and will be spoken of later on, but one of these is Edward West, an other Joshua Bible, who enlisted November 4, 1861, and was mustered out February 17, 1865; Ludgar Pheonix, giving Cazenovia as his home, entered service November 23, 1861, and was discharged on April 1, 1863, on account of disability.

 Henry Fuller, born June 8, 1818, and died July 2, 1885, was a member of Co. B, 12th Wisconsin. His enlistment date was September 27, 1861, and he served until July 16, 1865. He was in the Veterinarian Corps. Jane, his wife, is on the lot, she was born December 23, 1813, and died April 3, 1873. Concerse Pierce, born in 1832, was a member of the 95th Illinois Volunteers. He died in 1901 and on the same lot are his parents Mr. and Mrs. Dryden Pierce.

 World War veterans buried in this cemetery include Ray Mallo, born in 1887, and died in 1919. His tombstone says he was with the United States army of occupation. Joseph Jelinek was a private in Co. 7, Service United States. He was born in August, 1892, and died in October, 1918. Frank Kostka, Cpl., Co. A 123rd Inft., born 1892, died in 1918, is here with his other comrades. The most recent burial of World War veterans, was that of Theron Ewing, World War I, who died in 1956. He is
 

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buried on the same lot with his parents Ellsworth and Lezetta Ewing. Ellsworth was born in 1866 and died in 1952. Lezetta was born in 1868, and passed on in 1921. Robert West, World War veteran, is here. He belonged to Co. A, 32nd Division, 128th Inft., and is a grandson of Edward West, Civil War veteran.

 Edward West, spoken of above as a soldier, was born in New York, January 17, 1824, and in April 1848, was married to Sarah Fuller. Mr. West must have been a restless man, one who liked to travel, for soon after his marriage they came to Wisconsin, locating near Janesville where he engaged in farming until 1850, when he started for California, arriving six months later. He worked in the mines until 1853 when he returned to New York, stayed a few months and again went to California. He returned to New York in 1855, and then came to Richland county to the town of Westford.

 In 1863 he bought a house and lot in Cazenovia and moved his  family there. After getting them located in their home he enlisted in the army, joined Sherman in his march to the sea. The war over, he returned to Cazenovia. Mr. West is spoken of as being a sort of "Jack of all trades," as be followed several trades, blacksmith, carpenter and joiner, brick mason, plasterer, and was a good workman at them all. He died, so his tombstone says, October 12, 1897, at the age of 72 years, 8 months and 25 days. A verse on his monument reads:

   "He has the soldier's recompense,
    His is a patriot's grave,
    Where calm in death reposes
    Our noble comrade brave."

 One thing they say about Mr. West is that he never applied for a pension until toward the last, when all soldiers were granted pensions. His name was sent in and he received a small monthly check.

 Through the kindness of Mrs. J. J. Marshall, we have been furnished with a complete list of the Civil and World War veterans buried in the Cazenovia cemetery. She is the secretary of the Cemetery Association and her aid in preparing the list has been of great value.

 In addition to the above Civil War veterans the list includes:

 Henry Langdon, Co. F, 51st Infantry; Samuel Bond, who enlisted in the 13th Battery Light Artillery, July 8, 1863. He became ill and was left sick in a Milwaukee hospital June 27, 1864. Others on the list are John Resenbeck, 6th Wisconsin Volunteer; Henry Swenink, who enlisted in August, 1861, and was discharged March 4, 1864 on account of disability; Thomas Smith 173 Ohio Infantry; James Williams 6th Wisconsin Cavalry, and Samuel Wells, Co. F, 3rd Wis. Cavalry.

 Allen Perkins owned the land upon which Cazenovia is located. He entered it in 1848 and in 1855 it was surveyed for Mr. Perkins by Solon Rushmore, and the village sprang into being. In looking over the history of the place it becomes quite evident that Allen Tinker was the leading spirit of the village in the early days. He was born in the state of New York on April 2, 1815, and when ten years of age, his parents died. He worked hard as a lad, learned the blacksmith trade and was able to carry on. In 1835 he was married to Betsy Montgomery, who was born in New York, December 29, 1812. They journeyed through life together until 1886 when Betsy died at the age of 73. Mr. Tinker lived until July 27, 1894, when he went to join Betsy at the age of 79 years, three months and 25 days. He and his wife came to Richland county in 1855, settling in the town of Westford where he opened a blacksmith shop. In 1857 he went to La Crosse but returned and when the town of Westford was organized he became the first town chairman. He was also one of the first justices of the peace. He was the second person to open a blacksmith shop in