Prostated by Grief

In 1907, spinal meningitis was sweeping through Portland, killing scores. One family it ravaged was the Miller family of Lents. Jacob and Jessie Miller had eight children, and six of them died within the course of one week. According to the newspaper article at the time, the remaining family was "prostrated by grief." Jacob lived for another 11 years and Jessie died in 1957. The two children who survived, Jesse and Alexander went into the U.S. Army during WW1.

This is an URBAN Cemetery!!!

If there is one inescapable fact about Multnomah Park, it is in an URBAN area! Whenever I am there I see hookers, tweekers, bums and other assorted citizenry. Across the street on Holgate is a plasma center that is always busy. Across 82nd is a motel, a car parts store, Starbucks, Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Quiznos, Value Village, and right next door is a wholesale used car lot. The cemetery is right in the middle of it all. When the cemetery was deeded back in 1888, all that surrounded the cemetery was farmland and orchards. This photo is taken from just outside Starbucks looking across the street to Walgreens and you can see some of the tall fir trees in the cemetery. A little green oasis in a sea of asphalt.

Thats a New One

Dave and I worked in the cemetery for over two hours today in Section H. We were joined by a lovely lady, Roshelle, who didn't seem to mind the cold muddy ground. We made some great progress. Here is one of the stones we unearthed. It is for Peter Kigandertirk. The name sounds dutch, but is it? Yet another mystery. Also, both yesterday and today there were funerals at the cemetery. One in section D and another in section B. I am told that there are more deaths around Christmas than at any other time of year. Must be the fruitcake!

Baby Foxes

Here are two markers for two babies with one name. Baby Joe Fox, 1910-1912 and Baby Joe Fox 1914-1916. I would like to think that if there were a third Baby Joe Fox, that he lived to a rip old age.

One thing leads to another

Looking at the above photo of a monument in rather poor condition it is hard to tell what it says. I took the photo of this monument on a recent trip to the cemetery on a whim. About the only thing I could easily read is that this person died in Oct. 1906, they were 60 some years old and 12 days, and they are at rest. I figured I should be able to find someone in the database who died in Oct. 1906 so I searched the spreadsheet and found one person: Eliza Fenton Plummer. you can now make out her name at the top Eliza Fenton, probably the words "wife of" and an 'H C'. The surname is still illegible, but there does appear to be an 'E' towards the end of the name. The date of death can be surmised as '28'. Eliza Fenton Plummer is buried near her husband H C Plummer!
Having looked through Funeral Notices printed in the Oregonian, I've learned there's a pattern in when a Funeral Notice is printed after a person's death; and that is usually two days. But for some reason I went to the Multnomah County Library's on-line files of the Oregonian for Oct 31, 1906 to check if I could find Eliza Fenton Plummer's Funeral Notice. To my disappointment it wasn't there. However, there was a Funeral Notice for a Frank Crupy who was being buried at Multnomah Cemetery. I went back to the data base to find a Crupy being buried there and found only one person with that surname. The only information I found in the cemetery database was for a "Mr. Crupy" who is buried in Section A, Lot 17, grave nr 1. At least now we now have a name for Mr. Crupy and we now know when he died, 104 years ago. There is no marker at A, 17, 1 commemorating Mr. Crupy.

October 10, 2010 has come and gone and with it a lot of hype over 10-10-10. Well, I looked in the Oregonian archives - available on line with a Multnomah County Library Card and found a listing for those who departed this life the last time the calendar read 10-10-10.
Timothy J Lynch, aged 83; Mary Ellanore Dine, aged 3 months; and Olaf Lawrence, aged 55. Two of these people are now located at Riverview, while I was unable to locate the third.

Charles Niblen, 1852-1928

Located near the center of Section A in lot 25 is the grave of Charles Niblen, a Swedish immigrant. It is the only marked grave in Lot 25. Charles came here on March 15, 1928 after his demise on March the 13th, a Tuesday. At least through 1920, as indicated by the 1920 U.S. Census, Charles was a fruit farmer on Section Line Road about a mile and half south-east of the Mount Tabor Post Office. Section Line Road was to later be known as Division Street. During this time Charles lived with a younger sister Agnes who had also immigrated from Sweden, but in 1875.
Charles first appearance in a U.S. Census is in the 1880 Census from Knappa, Clatsop County, Oregon. His surname is spelled Neblin. He is about 28 years old at the time, single, a fisherman and living in a boarding house catering to no less than 17 fishermen. Those fishermen were from Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Ohio, England, Maine, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts ranged in ages from 20 to 36 years old.
Fishing apparently was not to his lifestyle since after that time he is recorded in the Censuses as being a fruit farmer. Sometime after 1880 Charles married and had a daughter, Annie (or Amy) in April 1896. Unfortunately we don't know the name of his wife, but by 1900 the widowed Charles had moved to Portland where he is living with his mother Annie, sister Agnes, daughter Annie, and two boarders, the Tamaschis who were born in Japan. Charles is one of many fruit farmers making a living in the Mount Tabor neighborhood. In 1908 he sells some property, 20 acres in total, to the widow of brewer Henry Weinhard.
We do not yet know where Charles and Agnes' parents, Eric and Annie, are located. but Agnes lived to be 98 years old, finally departing in 1958. She is now located at nearby Lincoln Memorial Park.

OH JOY

I just could not pass this one up. I was walking through Section D, on a beautiful early autumn day and there he was, Mr. Obediah H. Joy. I love some of the names in the cemetery!

Pure and Holy

I suppose that by reading the words inscribed on this granite stone, that one would suppose that Miss Tennie Johnson was "Pure and Holy." At the time of her passing, Miss Johnson was around 76 years of age. To live to that age in 1914, was certainly an achievement, and if she did it by being pure and holy, I say: Good on ya, Miss Tennie!

Morningside Patient: Bolamatoff

Ermia Bolamatoff was an Aleut native living near Valdez, Alaska in 1914 when he was brought before the Magistrate Mr. Wickersham on charges of homicide. Though he did have a translator during his hearing, he was found guilty but insane and remanded to Morningside Hospital. He died three months after arrival at the facility. I have not seen the trial transcript so I can't make comment on Ermia's capacity, but I can't help but wonder if he was adequately and competently represented at his brief hearing.

Hoo Doo Spirit Offering

While documenting the Infant area in Section H, today, I came across a Spirit Offering; nine plump ripe eggplants, a candle and a bottle of wine.

I am always intrigued with the offerings that are left in the cemetery in exchange for the willingness of spirits to undertake a task or grant a wish for someone.

I honor the person and the work and the spirits and do not disturb the offering. To do so would be very bad Ju Ju.

This offering was found under a holly tree in the back of the cemetery.

Spring in the Cemetery

May 2, 2010. Spring has arrived in the Cemetery

Infant Bair

We've noticed several unmarked markers in the cemetery. We've each come up with different theories as to why there would be an unmarked marker. One of my theories was that they were for the unknowns who are buried here. But that doesn't appear to be the case.
While looking for Infant Bair's marker today in Section F, Lot 7-8, grave nr 3 I cleaned off this marker. This infant was buried on February 20, 1926. Maybe soon we may have an answer as to why there are unmarked monuments in the cemetery.

Civil War Veterans

The new TV show on NBC, Who Do You Think You Are, featured Matthew Broderick who found out that one of his ancestors was a Civil War Veteran who survived Gettysburg, but who did die in a later battle in Georgia. It is a very interesting show and well worth watching. There are quite a few Civil War Veteran's graves at Multnomah Park from all parts of the Union. Here are a few of them. You can discover them scattered throughout the cemetery.

Corporal James M. Tefft.
Company G.
7th Kansas Cavalry


Born: April 18, 1843, Michigan
Died: June 9, 1910, Portland, Oregon











Benjamin H. Stone.
Co. A.
50th Wisconsin Infantry


Born:
Died: August 23, 1910, Multnomah County





Stephen D. Cole
Co. O.
1st Oregon Infantry

Born:
Died: July 24, 1922, Portland, Oregon













Corporal David Fessler
Co. B.
2nd Indiana Cavalry

Born: ~1835, Pennsylvania
Died: March 17, 1915, Portland, Oregon














Private Isaac Clark
Company K
1st New York Dragoons

Born: January 10, 1839, Pennsylvania
Died: January 20, 1910, Multnomah County, Oregon

Who is HATT-- AD-- ?

So, who is HATT-- AD-- ?

Mysteries abound in the old cemetery. Of that we all know full well. We also have an "Ethel A". We have eleven "Unknowns": one unknown burial; 3 unknown infants; and seven unknown man's. The unknown infants and four of the unknown mans were buried in 1930-31; while the effects of the Great Depression were still being felt. We can only speculate as to their cause of death.

Of HATT-- AD-- we know no more. We can speculate that she was buried close to the time that people surrounding her were also buried - possibly in the 1920's era. What is the name? Possibly Hattie Adam(s)? If so there is a Hattie Adams who died in Portland in July of 1917. This could be her, but again, it probably is not.

Why was her name recorded as such? Was someone's handwriting that illegible? Maybe. We'll have to look at the original records - if they are extant.

Meanwhile, the more we find, the more we are intrigued.

David

Lone Pine Cemetery, Ariel, Washington

On a recent trip back from Mount St Helens I stopped by the Lone Pine Cemetery just outside Ariel, Washington. I had never stopped here before.
Once in the cemetery it is quite interesting to see with the old section surrounded on two sides by a newer section






I walked down the hill to get a photo of the Cemetery sign and on my walk down I noticed two piles of rocks and some flowers next to a Rhododendron.









There at the bottom of the hill at the lowest point and the farthest away from the graves at the top of the hill were two graves. They were for "Indian Jim" and "Indian George".








As I stood looking at Indian Jim's and Indian George's Monuments I thought that we had come quite a ways since these two were buried here. At least we wouldn't treat these individuals like this today.








And then I got home and heard the news that several Congressmen and other individuals were called names in Washington, DC. And I thought, that no, we really haven't come very far from the days that Indian Jim and Indian George were treated as lower class people, buried at the bottom of the hill, while the good people of Ariel were buried at the top.

I wish I were wrong.

David.

Abbotts

Their eyes stare out from their photos for us to see. I'd really like to know what everyone at Multnomah Park looked like, but that won't happen. But, here are photos of a Mother and a Son who are at Multnomah Park. Photos that were identified by someone who took the time to record their names, and photos who have been given from one family member to another. I feel sad when I see unidentified photos in 'antique' shops. It is almost akin to seeing a grave of an 'unknown'.

There has been a request for a photo of Alfred Abbott's monument on Find A Grave. It's not where it is supposed to be. Why, I don't know. He is supposed to be in A, 160, somewhere, but I've not found him there. There are seven other people who are recorded on monuments there, but his is not one of them. We'll keep searching for him though. We have been a bit more lucky with his Mother's monument though. Her's is in Section H, Lot 5-5, nr 1.

The search for Alfred's monument goes on. Hopefully we'll find it as we mothodically continue our work verifying monument locations.

Photos of Alfred and Ruth Ann are courtesy of Kay Weeks.

Birds in the Cemetery

There's a fair number of birds in the Cemetery. I've seen a female Anna's Hummingbird collecting nesting material in February, and today heard a male Anna's displaying.

During the last several weeks there's been a Coopers Hawk in the cemetery, and today I got a photo of it as it flew in to a tree we were near. A few minutes later it flew out of the tree with a twig in it's talons and flew off to a tree in a far corner of the cemetery. Twice I saw it carrying sticks to the same tree today. That's pretty cool to have a Coopers Hawk nesting in the cemetery!

Is it Flo or Larry?

I was researching a photo request for Lawrence Kerr, who, according to the cemetery records lies in Section E, along the North fence. Since no stones were exposed, I used my trusty (and rusty) screwdriver to find the stones under the turf. I was in luck that day since the first stone I uncovered was the one I thought I wanted to find. Imagine my surprise when Lawrence turned out to be Florence. The other occupants of the plot were investigated and Lawrence was not to be found. Yet another intriguing mystery in the saga of Multnomah Park Cemetery.

People...

I love humanity - it's people I can't stand. People have been defacing monuments from the time they were put up. Don't understand it though. Probably the worst example of monument destruction in recent times were the Buddhas destroyed by the Taliban in Afghanistan a few years back.
Someone knocked over at least five monuments in the cemetery sometime between Saturday evening - the last time I was there - and Monday morning.

Richardine L Bates

Meet Richardine L. Bates

We know that Richardine is buried in Section A, Lot 80, and grave 3B. The "B" is my annotation to indicate that she shares the lower portion of grave 3. In 3A is baby daughter Hepperley, whose parents, Jacob Frank and Selenia, lie next to her in grave 4 & 5.

We know that Richardine died on December 20, 1926 in Portland, according to the Oregon Death Index. We know that she was buried on December 21, 1926, according to the Cemetery records. I assume she was an infant.
Her monument was under about two inches of sod, and was uncovered today, March 5, 2010. It is located under one of the larger Douglas Fir Trees in section A.
After uncovering her monument I was standing there looking at it, and thinking about the "Bates Motel". A dangerous thought I know, but hey it happened. All of a sudden I saw a shadow of something behind me, and then had a large clump of fir bows hit me in the head. This is the first time I've ever had a clump of fir bows hit me - and I've spent a lot of time in the woods, and this isn't even in the woods!

I looked around and didn't see anyone - and then looked up in the Fir tree I was under. There on the fork of a branch was a pile of more fronds just waiting to fall. Nearby on the branch was a squirrel looking down at me. It wasn't laughing, or calling like you might expect, but just starring down at me.
Had I suddenly been transported to the Hotel Multnomah Park where you can check in but you can't check out?
This lower photo shows Richardine's monument and the pile of fir fronds that hit me in the head.

Rest in Peace Richardine.

And Yet Another Mystery!!

I spent about two hours in the cemetery today and it was a beautiful early spring day. It was warm enough to go coatless! As mentioned in an earlier post, I wanted to clean off the grave of Baby Barlow, which I did, and here is the picture of the now-clean grave. I think I will plant nasturtiums in the planter this spring.

Baby Barlow is interred in Section F, Lot 157. Most of the lots in this section has 5 or six burials in them. I counted nine in this section - most of them infants. Also, there is a "Unknown Man" buried here, and I did find a marker for a "Paul A" Paul's marker is one of the many concrete markers that were made by the friends or the family and which are deteriorating very quickly. We want to document them soon as we don't know how long they will remain in one piece.

The Ukrainian Pentecostals were there again today, driving up in their brand-new Mercedes 4-door and looking very prosperous. They cleaned the gravestones of their relatives all the while giving me the look of " we don't know you, but we are prepared to not like you" and when they left, they drove very slowly past me as I was cleaning another stone; I waived, they glared, except for a young girl in the back seat, she waved back. There is hope.

I Await Thee

Like many cemeteries, there are stones at MPC upon which two or more names are inscribed and one inscription is complete with the year of death and the other name has the birth year but no death date. Such is the case of Fred and Rose.

After a bit of research, I found Rose in the database; she died in 1930 and is buried next to Fred. I speculate that upon her death, during the depression, that funds were not available to inscribe the stone with her date of death.

Breakfast with Baby Barlow

I felt the need for some quiet time this morning and what better place to have a Burger King breakfast than the cemetery. It was a steady soft rain on the neighborhood today and outside the lovely iron fence, the work-a-day world went on as usual. Cars, trucks, busses whizzing by on their way to commerce, collision or mayhem or maybe off to visit the dearly departed; but not today.

I was the lone mobile visitor this morning and I walked most of Section F, taking a few photos along the way. The camera lens got a bit wet and some of the photos are a bit blurry but hey, this is Portland and it is winter.

I suppose I was looking for some signs of spring in the graveyard and there are, no doubt, quite a few. I saw daffodils springing from old graves, getting ready to bloom, once again setting in motion life in a violent yellow, and I noticed that under some of the trees the violets are blooming.

Like Dave, I can be walking across a section when my attention is suddenly pulled to look at a headstone. As if a voice rises from the sodden soil saying - "Yo! Yeah, you, look down." At that point, my momentum stops and I pay attention to the unheard voice.

In the African-American spiritual tradition of HooDoo, it is said that the spirits in the graveyard are waiting to help the living do certain deeds. They can help to heal, or hex or cause someone to be found, or for that matter, to founder. To those who believe in the power of the dead, a message to "look down" is a direct invitation.; the spirit of that grave wants to work with you. So, what does one do with such an invitation?

Infants

.
After doing some work this afternoon in Section A I went over to pay my respects to the latest interment in the Cemetery. On my way over I looked down and discovered the monument for Robert Lee Ross who was on this earth just a short time. It is always sad to see markers for those who don't get to experience a full life.

I think Robert's parents are nearby in Section E. There is an Olive Ross who died on October 31, 1918, just 6 days after Robert's birth. Olive's husband (Robert's father?) George lived until 1933.







There are quite a few infant burials within the cemetery as would be expected for this time period. However, the ones that are the most poignant are the four that are found in Section A, Lot 127A. These four infants were all buried in this corner in 1930. All of these markers were buried at least 2 inches below current ground level. They are now visible for all to see and ponder on.
Dave

Infant Bokoski


Infant Oleson



Infant Henry

Infant Clark

A Garden of Untimely Demise

Unto each of us is the possibility that we will not live to see old age, and that is the story of many of the denizens of Multnomah Park. Take this handsome gentleman for example.

Our handsome friend was 26 years old at the moment of his untimely demise. According to the newspapers of the time, he was shot with a large caliber hand gun at point blank range in the chest by a man who was guarding a very large marijuana growing operation.

This man will stare into the heavens from the safety of his black granite headstone until the moss or the dirt or the angry transient or the ravages of time obscures him from our eyes; memories are like that.

Facebook!

Well, it is the 21st Century, and right now, in the early days of that Century, facebook is a popular way to communicate. We've now started our facebook page! Check it out! We'll post our "work" days, news, and who knows what else!