The first stop was the Anna City Cemetery, in Anna, IL. This is in Union County.
Anna City Cemetery, Anna IL |
Buried here are members of the Ussery family, which are a branch of the Rosan line. The Ussery's began in North Carolina (that's as far as I have been able to take them, so far), then made the trek through Tennessee (stayed there for a while), then moved on up through Kentucky and into Southern Illinois. They settled in the Johnson and Union County area, sometime between 1826 and 1847.
We begin with Sylvester and Mary "Polly" (Barnett) Ussery. They are my 4th-great grandparents. The first time we found this gravestone, I literally hugged it. Yes...I did. Somewhere there is a picture of me doing just that...but I am not sure where it is at this point in time. You see, the Ussery's are somewhat of a mystery. Or at least they were. Since finding the main stone, I've been able to piece other things together. Someday, I'd like to find out who Sylvester's parents were. Did they make the trek to Tennessee, too? Did they stay in North Carolina? Were they even still living when Sylvester began the journey West? So many questions!
You see a notecard on the stone below. This is the third time this has happened to me at cemeteries. Finding notes attached to stones, asking who decorates the graves and stating they are also related to the deceased. This time it's someone related to the Ussery's, and he lives in St. Louis.
Sylvester Ussery, 1793-1870 Mary Barnett Ussery, 1805-1887 |
J.T. Ussery, 1844-1907 |
W.R. Ussery, 1847-unknown |
Civil War area, Anna City Cemetery, Anna IL **You can see our two Ussery stones with the red/white/blue flowers** |
Martin Ussery, 1838-1916 |
Upon leaving Anna, we drive north to Carbondale, to the Oakland Cemetery. Mom's cousin Deb is buried there. She and my Uncle Art were very close in age (born within the same year as each other), so they grew up together and were very close. Mom said something yesterday, that I didn't remember hearing. She said that Deb made the comment when Art died, that she was really mad at him...because they were supposed to grow old together.
Oakland Cemetery, Carbondale IL |
Deb (Rosan) Wiggins, 1933-2007 |
Deb Rosan |
Belle (Lively) Rosan, Deb Rosan, Arthur Carlisle, John Rosan |
Deb Rosan, Belle (Lively) Rosan, Arthur Carlisle and John Carlisle (on lap) |
In the above pictures, Belle and John Rosan were the grandparents of Deb, Art and John.
Carbondale is the end of the road for the South run. This weekend will be the North Run...all on Saturday, provided all goes well. The North Run takes us to the rest of the Rosan line, which branches off to the Lively, Burton and Mathis families, as well as one Trill.
Until next time... :)
Amanda,
ReplyDeleteYou are a real live treasure-hunter! I particularly enjoyed the picture of Uncle Arthur and Deb. Don't you wish you could these folks? I wonder in what ways share similarities with them: temperament, personality, interests, etc? I am sure we would learn much about ourselves from knowing our forbears better.
Brian Carlisle
It does feel like a treasure hunt sometimes! :) I would like to find more ancestors burial places...but my sources are limited beyond what I already know, I think. Who knows? Maybe next year I can blog about some "new" places that I will have found...
DeleteI agree with wishing we could meet them. Someday we will! :) I would love to know some of their personalities and interests, especially. What they thought about things. It would be fun to be able to interview some of them. Where's that time machine??