Christmas Wishes

I wish all of you who visit here because you have an interest in our history a very Merry Christmas.
I hope you all enjoy the charts that are in the posts below this one. I have been planning on making those for several years and finally got them produced. Now I am working on updating the mapping database for the cemetery and as part of that I am trying to get as much as possible of the Pipes Harmon Gray family info into my database so I can print out reports showing the families and the intermarriages etc.

It is turning out to be a bigger job than I thought. The mapping database needed to have comments added for each person telling us who they were connected to.

I was raised in small towns and communities in Michigan but then spent the rest of my adult life in large cities. I had forgotten how interconnected a small community can become and it was especially prevalent in the 19th century when travel was more restrictive and people stayed put, which resulted in marriages within the local people pool.

So I should not have been surprised when I began to discover just how much the people resting in Old Union Cemetery are related and interconnected.

It has become a real challenge to keep all the Harmons, Grays, Craines/Cranes, Calverts, Catlins, Montgomerys and all the rest straight in my head. There were so many of them by 1900 and they all used the same given names over and over. It makes my head spin sometimes.

But I am enjoying the challenge and making good progress.
I am making constant updates to the comments in the mapping database so please check them out and tell me if I have someone wrong or if you have points to make about someone please dont hesitate to let me know.
Just to be clear, I am trying to make note of people as to who they were married to or if they were a son or daughter of someone or a spouse of someone etc.

More Pipes Harmon Gray info

I am adding two more slides that show details about the 3 families. Click to enlrage and be sure to see the 1st slide in the post below this one. Email me if you would like the powerpoint slides so you can print them in bettter quality or add your own notes to them.

Pipes Harmon Gray intermarriages

I have been working for the last few weeks to add the Harmon and Gray family info to my Pipes family Database. I thought this would be a good way to get all of the cemetery info that I have into one database so I could see it and try to connect all the families in the cemetery to the Pipes Harmon Gray families.
To start that process I made this powerpoint slide and converted it to a jpg file so I could place it here for you to see. It shows the 1st and 2nd generation and the intermarriages between the families.
If you would like the powerpoint slide please let me know and I can email it to you.
As always, Click it to enlarge and save it.

new Cemetery Web Site news

In case anyone is interested: Today I registered a new web site name for the Union Cemetery. The web site name is "redirected" for now, to point to this web site. My son and I are setting up the new site on our server at Hurricane Electric. As soon as I have something there to see I will have the name point to that new site.

The new name will be www.theoldunioncemetery.com

I plan to use that site to eventually replace this one and it will cover the Cemetery and the Harmon - Pipes - Gray Family Association news as well.

Stay tuned!

Bob

John Bradford Harmon (3 of them)

Did you know there were 3 men in the Pipes - Harmon family whose name was John Bradford Harmon? To understand who they were you have to go back to the original Pipes - Harmon families in what was then Mercer, now Boyle, county.
John Pipes Jr. and Michael Harmon were the first of our families to settle in Kentucky in the mid 1790s. John Pipes came here from Surry County, North Carolina and Michael Harmon came here from Pennsylvania. They had 18 children between them and 7 of those children married.
Why and how could it be 7 you ask? Well, two of the pipes daughters ( Jane and Elizabeth) married someone, then became widows and then married a Harmon.

Peter Harmon (Michael's oldest son) married two of the Pipes daughters. First Abigail and then as a widower he married Abigail's sister, widow Jane (who had been married to Archie Gray).

Jacob Harmon (Michael's youngest son) married widow Elizabeth "Patsy" Pipes (who had been married to Daniel Shaw)

Nathaniel Pipes (oldest son of John Pipes and Mary Morris) married Margaret Harmon (Michael's youngest daughter)

So where do the 3 John Bradford Harmons come from?

In 1822 the first John Bradford is born to Peter Harmon and Abigail Pipes. He married Catherine Montgomery and spent his life in Kentucky and is buried in Old Union. Her name is sometimes given as Katherine. Credit to Peggy Edgington and Rita Satterly for the picture.

In 1825 the second John Bradford is born to Jacob Harmon and Elizabeth Pipes. He was born in Kentucky but in his young life he migrated to Missouri and became an ordained Methodist Minister and married Elizabeth Knifong. he died and is buried in Missouri.

The third John Bradford Harmon was born to the second John Bradford above in 1866 in Missouri. The third John Bradford married (are you ready for this?) Sarah Francis Pipes, who was a great granddaughter of John Pipes jr.. This third John Bradford married his maternal aunt's granddaughter.

Sarah Francis Pipes' father, James Preston Pipes, was a grandson of two Pipes first cousins (James Pipes and Sarah Pipes). Sarah Pipes was a daughter of John Pipes Jr. and James Pipes was a son of John's brother, Sylvanus Pipes. James and Sarah were both born in North Carolina and raised within a stone's throw of the cemetery. They married in Mercer county in 1810 and were some of the first settlers to migrate into Missouri about 1811. They are something of a legend in the Pipes family.

Harmon, Pipes, Russell, Montgomery Connections

I received this email from Sandy Kassen last week, Sandy is a descendant of Obediah Pipes and Josephine Edwards (both in Old Union). She is a skillful researcher and while working on the Minerva Harmon and John Thomas Russell family she found this 1886 Bio of John Bradford Harmon, who was a half brother to Rice and Minerva Harmon.

"Hi Trudy and Bob,
I'm attaching a biography of John Bradford Harmon, b 22 Jul 1822, Mercer/now Boyle Co., KY.
John's father, Peter Harmon, was a brother of Margaret Harmon Pipes.
In the article...part of it boils down to:
1. Michael Harmon, b Germany, md Margaret Trump, b Germany; among others, they had..
2. Margaret Harmon, b ~1801, KY, md Nathaniel Pipes, b ~ 1779, NC; among others, they had..
3. Obediah Brumfield Pipes, ~1835, KY, md Josephine Bonaparte Edwards, b ~1849, KY; among others, they had Margaret Gertrude, Daisy and Frederica Pipes.
I came across the bio while researching John Thomas Russell, b ~ 1835, son of William Cletus Russell and Nancy Hatchett, who md. Minerva Harmon, also a descendant of the Boyle Co. Harmons.
I have included the info on my Ancestry tree, for any of you who do have Ancestry, my website is
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/2143358/person/-1858943169?pg=32827
Don't know if you've seen this bio, but thought that you'd enjoy reading it.
Hope all goes well with everyone, and wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Sandy Russell Kassen"

Here is the article:
Kentucky Genealogy and Biography, Volume V, Battle-Perrin-Kniffin, 4th edition, 1886. Boyle Co.
JOHN BRADFORD HARMON was born July 22, 1822, on the place where he now resides, in Mercer (now Boyle) County. His father, Peter HARMON, a native of Pennsylvania, was born in 1782, removed with his parents to Mercer County, Ky.; resided on this place as a farmer; was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, a Democrat, and died in 1852. He was the son of Michael HARMON, who established a tanyard on this place, and who married Margaret Trump (both born in Germany); their offspring were Barbara (Roberson), Katie (Henry), Margaret (Pipes), Michael, Jr., Jacob, John and Peter. Peter married Abigail Pipes, and from their union sprang Michael, Lucinda (Butler), Samuel, Thomas J., Nathaniel, Catherine (Montgomery), William D. and John B.; His (Peter’s) second wife was Mrs. Jane (Pipes) Gray, sister to his first wife, and their children were Rice and Minerva J. (Russell). February 18, 1847, John B. Harmon married Miss Catherine J., daughter of Isaac and Nancy (Stone) Montgomery, of Boyle County, born December 16, 1824, and to them have been born William T., Nancy A. (Williams), George D., Elias A., and John C. B. In youth Mr. Harmon enjoyed only such facilities for obtaining an education, as were afforded by the common schools of the vicinity but by improving his opportunities has become familiar with much of the current literature of the day. He is a farmer and owner of 320 acres of land, in a good state of cultivation. He is a Cumberland Presbyterian, a Granger and a Democrat. Mrs. Harmon's mother, Nancy Stone, was born in a fort on Clark's Run.

Veterans Day 2009

If you still believe that this is a free country and also want it to stay that way, Support our Veterans and our Military.
Shake their Hand
Say "Thanks For Your Service"
Keep them in your thoughts and prayers

Does Anyone have a picture of Martha Gray?

Martha (Mattie) Gray was married to Levi Allen ( Al) Pipes. They are both buried in Old Union. Our good friend Karen Fowler Caldwell of Marion County would like to see a picture Of Mattie to compare to the pictures below of Martha (Pipes) Montgomery.
If you have one please let me know.

Jason Pipes Selected as NCO of the Year

I recently attended the award ceremony at Monterey California for my son Jason as he was selected as California's NCO of the year in the State Military Reserve(SMR). The SMR is an arm of the California National Guard. I am very proud of Jason as he carries on the Military tradition of the Pipes Family. He was presented with all kinds of certificates, a bronze sculpture, cash awards and the California Commendation Medal. The picture is taken with the Commanding General of the SMR and myself, in a tux no less.

From Drop Box

More Montgomery Info

At Last!
Thanks to Martha Kelly for the clues. She has a Montgomery cousin, Lillian Campbell Brewer, who told us that Allen and Martha Montgomery are in Ryders Hill Cemetery in Lebanon.
Dates: Allen b. 3-12-1818 and d. 01-15-1895
Martha b. 11-19-1829 and d. 6-18-1889

Lillian owns the old Montgomery family home in Lebanon called Myrtledene.
www.myrtledene.com

Allen and Martha's daughter Lily Montgomery (who married Tom Jackson) lived there, as did her daughter Lillian and HER daughter Lillian. Lillian Campbell Brewer still owns the house, though it's now a B&B.

If someone in the area would volunteer to take photos of the two grave stones for me, I would be eternally grateful.

Allen S. Montgomery

This picture of Allen Montgomery was also sent today by Martha Graham Kelly. See the next two posts below this one for details.
Allen Was born about 1818, I assume it was in Mercer County or the general Area.
His father Was Isaac Newton Montgomery and his mother was Nancy Stone.

Martha Ann Pipes Montgomery

This is a picture of Martha Ann Pipes Montgomery. She is a daughter of Nathaniel Pipes and Margaret Harmon. Her namesake, Martha Kelly sent the photo to me this morning. Martha Ann was married to Allan S. Montgomery on July 3, 1848. She was born about 1822 on a farm just east of the cemetery and about where the Glasscock farm is now located. Allan and Martha had 8 children but 2 of them died in infancy. the others married into the Karrick, Boyd, Cardwell, McElroy and Jackson families.
She was a granddaughter of John Pipes Jr and Michael Harmon.

Can any one help me determine where Martha and Allan are buried or their death dates?
I will continue to look but they are probably in Perryville, Lebanon, Danville or locally.

Montgomery Family Information

As I have commented here before, I believe the Montgomery family is one of the "Founding Families" of the area around Union Cemetery. The Pipes, Montgomery and Harmon families intermarried several times. Morris Pipes, Martha Pipes, John Bradford Harmon and Catherine Harmon all married into the Montgomery family.
Yesterday I heard from Martha Graham Kelly, who grew up in Lebanon and now lives in Brooklyn, New York. She is a descendant of Martha Pipes and Allen S. Montgomery.
Here is her email to me this morning about her connection to Union Cemetery.

"I came across your Union Cemetery site while casually looking for some information about "Auntie Byron" Cardwell. A note about her just happened to fall out of the family album and I was curious – so I Googled. I was amazed to see so many of my family names pop up on your web site. Martha Ann Pipes Montgomery was my great-great grandmother. I have never met anyone named Pipes!

I can tell you a lot about my direct line and some of the side branches. I also have photographs of many of these people.

Martha Pipes married Allen Montgomery. (I have a note that says he wore long white whiskers and was in the Mexican War.)

Martha and Allen had eight children:

Lily – who married Tom Jackson

Lizzie – married Byron Cardwell

Levi – died in infancy

Isaac– died in infancy

Maggie – married WW (William Wallace) McElroy (this is my direct family – they are buried in Ryder's Hill Cemetery in Lebanon, KY)

Their three children were:

Stanley

Harvey and Allen (twins)

Martha Montgomery McElroy who married Oliver Gaither Kelly, Jr.

Their two sons were

Oliver Gaither Kelly III

Wallace McElroy Kelly who married Mabel Beatrice Graham

Whose only child was Martha Graham Kelly (me!)

Nannie – who married John Boyd

Billy – who married Adah Carrick

Elias – who married Lite Montgomery

Does this make us first cousins four-times removed?
I live in Brooklyn, New York, but I grew up in Lebanon, Kentucky. Have you seen Myrtledene? http://www.myrtledene.com/ This is a Montgomery home. Lily Montgomery (who married Tom Jackson) lived there, as did her daughter Lillian and HER daughter Lillian. Lillian Campbell Brewer still owns the house, though it's now a B&B.

Martha Kelly

George Washington Pipes Family Article

This Article appeared today ( 09-13-09) in the Advocate Messenger Newspaper. Written by our good friend Brenda S. Edwards and we were alerted to it by our good friend Peggy Edgington.

Click to enlarge.

http://www.amnews.com/stories/2009/09/14/his.953172.sto

Bob

Words From Our Fathers

......a wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicity. – Thomas Jefferson


Sorry, but I just cannot help myself. I needed to post this today. What does this have to do with our history, our genealogy and our loving memory of our ancestors? Everything.

Bob

Help Grow Our Mailing List

Dear Family Members,

INVITATION TO FAMILY MEMBERS TO JOIN OUR MAILING LISTS

As of August 31, 2009, the Harmon, Gray & Pipes Family Association
has family members on their mailing (postal and/or e-mail) lists
from 22 states and the U.K.

Those states are: AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MI, MO, MN, NC,
NJ, NV, NY, OH, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI

Robert Mayes, President of the Family Association Board, maintains
the postal mailing list, and I maintain the e-mailing list. We would
like to invite you to send us names and addresses of family members
to help us grow our list to include all 50 states and other countries.

Please send me an e-mail with your family members names, addresses,
and phone numbers. I will forward postal mailing addresses to Robert
Mayes.

Best regards,

Peggy Harmon Edgington

peggydedge@hotmail.com

A New book about Whitehouse History

A message from Peggy Edgington today about a new Whitehouse book.

There's a new book out titled "Descendants and Ancestors of Cecil Tilden Ellis, Sr. and Alma Lou Whitehouse Ellis". The book has a total of 259 pages. The cost of the book is $70.00.

Chapter 2 of Part II is titled "Ancestors of Alma Lou Whitehouse". There is an ancestry chart which goes back to Cornelius Whitehouse 1735 - ? and Ann Austin 1741-?, with Cornelius' father who is also named Cornelius (dates unk) and wife Mary (dates unk).This Chapter of the book is from pages 59-105. The book includes lots of pictures. Appendix B is an Index of Whitehouse Cousins.

The compilers of this book are Karen Dru Ellis Marsee, Shirley Alma Ellis Sheperson and Barbara Ellen Ellis Taylor.

If you are interested in this book, you could contact Shirley Sheperson, who is a Whitehouse descendant. Shirley's phone number is 859-936-2061 and her address is 312 Venetian Way, Danville, KY 40422. Shirley does not have e-mail. For further information on how to contact her, see Bob Pipes' Union Cemetery blog [entry] of July 25, 2009.

Update for Cemetery photos

Just for the record. I have updated the picture file for Agnes Whitehouse's stone.
It was knocked down and someone has repaired it. Karen Fowler Caldwell took pictures recently and I updated the picture file with the new pictures for James and Agnes Whitehouse.
See the mapping database at the left side.

Even More Good News!!

I received this message today from Robert Mayes thru Peggy Edgington.

Dear Bob,

Robert Mayes called me tonight and asked me if I would e-mail you with the following information.
Thanks. Peggy

The following tombstones have been set up, footers poured and replaced:

William H. Harmon
Samantha Harmon
William Survant
Mammie K. Harmon
Johnie Williams
James Williams
Callon & Susie Tharp
Jim & Mattie Hair
Clarence Pipes
Georgie Tharp Downs

Good News and We Need Your Help

I received this letter today from Robert Mayes. It is the best news I have had in a long time. So many of the stones in the cemetery need attention and he has arranged with someone to start working on them. Great Day in the Mornin'!

Please consider making a donation to the repair fund. It means so much to preserve our heritage. I personally know how hard times are right now for some. But please think about how fortunate we are to have this opportunity. The cost to do this is very reasonable and we need to take advantage of it. Please read on.


Harmon Pipes Gray Family Association 2009
August 12, 2009
Robert Mayes President of the Board

Dear Friends,
The reunion was great. The food was very tasty as always and too much as usual.

Just to keep you updated on what is being done. We (38 members that attended) voted to repair the stones that can be repaired and upright those that are leaning or have fallen. We have about one-half the money to complete this project with 50 stones total [needing repair].

We have a cemetery stone man that will dig footers, pour concrete and set the stones and also epoxy broken stones, if possible, for 25.00 each. We will repair and right the stones as long as we have the money.

If you wish to help in this effort, send a check for $25.00 and mark the memo line “Restore Stones”. If you want to donate to the general fund, mark the memo line with “Upkeep”

Then send to: Old Union Cemetery
P.O. Box 124
Perryville, Kentucky
40468

Many Thanks,
Robert Mayes

2009 Reunion News

Thanks to Peggy Edgington for sending the photos of the reunion and this information.
The photos are in a slide show which can be found along the left side of this page.

Dear Family Members,

Attached is an article along with a group picture from yesterday's family reunion in Perryville which I have submitted to the Scrapbook section of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.

Officers were elected for the Family Association for the coming year: They are Robert Mayes, President; Edna Lankford, Vice President; Marian Gibson, Secretary and Treasurer.

Next year's reunion will be on the second Sunday in August in Perryville. We hope to see you there.

If you have any family members that you would like added to the Harmon, Gray and Pipes Family Association group emailing list, please forward their names and email addresses to me.

Best regards,

Peggy Harmon Edgington

2009 Reunion Photo

Thanks to Peggy Edgington for the info and the picture of the Reunion of Agust 9th, 2009.

Among those who attended the Gray, Harmon, Pipes family reunion, from left are: front row, Gavin Whitehouse, Austin Bodner and Avery Bodner.

second row, Edna Lankford, Marian Gibson, Joyce Cox, Nancy (Don) Freed Lerum, Marcia Curtis and Karen Fulk,

third row, Robert Mayes, Brenda Gray, Peggy Tudor, Tom, Cox, Ken Lerum, Lori Stipe and Peggy Edgington,

fourth row, Jennifer Bodner, Dennis Gray, Ron Tudor, James W. Cox, Jr.,

fifth row, Clay Russell, Bryan Bodner, Mary Rall, Richard Mayes, Mary P. Guerrant and Carolyn Gray Stipe,

back row, Monty J. Bryant III, Monty J. Bryant, Sue Evans and Libby Mayes.

Nancy Gray Pipes Stone

I thought we should add this for everyone to see. Marcia Curtis and daughter Karen Fulk, sent this photo of the inscription on the back of Nancy's stone. (see the post of July 4th for the story and the front of the stone.)
Click to enlarge:

New web Site

Peggy Edgington asked me today about the promise I made to get a web site set up for the Union Cemetery. My son and I have a server that we can use for this web site and I promise I will get it up and running SOON!.

General News Item

We received the letter from Robert Mayes about the reunion this week. It is being held August 9th at 1:30 PM in the Perryville Christian Church.

I should have pictures to post here of the reunion later in August.

I had planned on attending, but am not going to be able to get there. My sons and I scraped together $100.00 for a donation to the Cemetery Fund (and I do mean scraped in my case). Hopefully my financial picture will get better soon and I will give more. Please consider giving a family donation to the fund this year. Robert has someone who will start repairing stones and it will take some cash to get it done.
Send the donations to the address on the web page. Remember it is tax deductible.

I updated the Mapping Database with the new picture of the Whitehouse stone. If someone would volunteer to go out and take pictures of the Webb and Sheperson stones, I will add those as well.

Remember that the "Mapping Database" is the reason for this web page. You can see the link to it on the left side of the page.

Karen Caldwell reported that the cemetery looked beautiful this year. Grass mowed, weeds down, Outside fences in good repair. Thank You to all who care about the cemetery.

Whitehouse Family Update

Karen Fowler Caldwell made a visit to the Cemetery today to take some pictures of the Whitehouse grave stone mentioned in the posts below. We were all very surprised to find that someone has repaired the stone and has it upright and it looks like they did a very good job. It was on the ground last July when I was there to take the photos of all the stones.
If any one out there knows who did this wondeful thing, please let us know.
Many Thanks to Karen for the Picture.

Whitehouse family Follow Up

In response to the post below and an eMail that I sent out, I received the following two emails about the Whitehouse family.

An Email from Carolyn Crabtree (Carolyn is the head of the local History and Genealogy group):
Bob,

There are Whitehouse descendants all over the county. Have James get in touch with Shirley Sheperson, a Whitehouse descendant and historian in the area. Her phone number is 859-936-2061 and address is 312 Venetian Way, Danville, KY 40422. She has no e-mail, but you might be able to reach her by e-mail at the Forkland Community Center. Their e-mail address there is info@forklandcomctr.com. The person who gets those e-mails will pass them on to Shirley. Shirley helped write the book “Roots, Trunk and Branches” about the Lincoln connection to the Forkland area and the Whitehouse/Sparrow family. There is another entire book about the Whitehouse line that is separate from the main book. It contains more generations about the Whitehouse family. I put that book together myself. Shirley’s mother was Alma Whitehouse who married into the Ellis family. I’m sure she can help your friend and I will be happy to help as well.

Carolyn Crabtree ctree1492 at ctreeacres dot com



an Email from Peggy Edgington: ( Peggy is a Harmon Descendant and lives nearby):

Dear Bob,

There are several Whitehouse families still living in Boyle County. I will note names and phone numbers of some of them listed in the local phone book.

I went to school at Perryville Elementary and Boyle County High with Dennis Whitehouse. Dennis owns Whitehouse Auto Parts and Tires on W 2nd Street in Perryville. His home phone number is 859-332-7250 and business number is 859-332-2171. Dennis has a sister, Cindy, who lives in Danville. Dennis' father was Stanley Whitehouse, deceased. Dennis' mother, Crystal, is still living in Perryville.

I remember some of the following Whitehouse names growing up in Perryville: Allan Whitehouse, phone # 859-332-7003, Godbey Whitehouse, phone #859-236-2426, Kenneth Whitehouse, phone #859-239-0046. There is a Steve Whitehouse listed on Forkland Road in Gravel Switch, phone #859-332-7981. 332 numbers are Perryville, 236 and 239 numbers are Danville. There are a few other Whitehouses listed in the local phone book.

In the Perryville Community History Book, there is a picture of Leslie and Rose Lee Whitehouse with their eleven children, some of whom I recall as a child. They would have been friends with my father. The childrens names were: Godbey, Alfred, Ezra, Bertha, Stanley, Bob, Sadie, J. L., Marshall and Clarence. Another child, Arthur Day, died when he was 15 years old. The children grew up in Perryville. There is also a picture of Marshall and Frances Wilson Whitehouse in the Perryville book.

I hope this will be of some help to Jim Hagan.

Regards,

Peggy (Harmon) Edgington

Cemetery Repairs

I have good news. I spoke with Robert Mayes this morning (07/25/09) and he tells me that he has someone who is willing and able to repair and or reinstall the small to medium sized stones in the cemetery. He said 20 or 30 stones fall into that category. I say small to medium because there are a few larger stones he said, that are going to need a crane and/or mud jacking equipment to get them upright again and that is a whole different thing.
If you would like to contribute to the repair and restoration cost please see the donation address on the main page. The person who will do this is reasonable but not free. You can speak to Robert directly if one of the stones is for your family.
Robert Mayes' Phone #s:
1 859 332-7974 Residence
1 859 516 7974 Cell

Whitehouse Family in Union Cemetery

I recently heard from James Hagan, a descendant of the Whitehouse family. He is very interested in restoring the grave stone markers for his relatives here and would like to find someone to work with him to get that done. He is also interested in hearing from anyone else related to them. Jim lives in South Carolina. Here is his last message to me:
"The only Whitehouse relative I have ever been in touch with is Karen Caldwell, who is not a descendent of James and Agnes Whitehouse whose tombstones I would like to have repaired. Do you know of any Whitehouse or Gray relatives who might collaborate with me on repairs? I know Samuel Housan Whitehouse was a brother of my greatgrandmother and I think some of the Grays are related to him. I would like to get in touch with some of my long lost relatives about this, but also to get more info about family, copies of any family photos, etc.. I was very pleased to find photos of James and Agnes Whitehouse in the Forkland Heritage book, but do not have a photo of their daughter, my great grandmother. Thanks, Jim Hagan"

If anyone of our readers can help, please let me know. There are pictures of their stones in the database. The stones are in good condition but have fallen off their bases and need to be re mounted and cleaned up.

Passing of a Dear Friend

I learned today of the passing of my dear friend in Genealogy and History, John Sheperson. John was possibly the most knowledgable person in Boyle County when it came to local history and especially those buried in Union Cemetery. He shared many, many hours of study and research into local history with me over the years. He was, with his wife Eileen, active in many local history projects including the 2005 and 2007 editions of the Gravel Switch Community History book. One of the best books ever written about a community and its people and the heritage of central Kentucky.

I will miss him very much.

John had been fighting cancer for some time and was not feeling well but still getting around last year when we visited with him at his home in Gravel Switch.
His Obituary from the Danville Advocate Messenger On July 7, 2009:
John Sheperson
1945-2009
LEBANON - John Lee Sheperson, 64, of Gravel Switch died Sunday [July 5th].

Born May 8, 1945, in Lebanon, he was a son of Alice Sheperson of Parksville and the late Carlos Lee Sheperson. He was an Air Force veteran and state police officer.

Survivors include his wife, Eileen Sheperson; a son, John Sheperson Jr. of Gravel Switch; four daughters, Anita Sheperson and Rebekah Spears, both of Gravel Switch, Tanya Rice of Rineyville and Sarah Mattingly of Raywick; a brother, David Sheperson of Perryville; a sister, Ella Mae Pendygraft of Parksville; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Services will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Bosley Funeral Home by the Revs. Lee Arnold and Gerald Hegwood. Burial will be in Old Union Cemetery in Boyle County.

Visitation will be 5-9 p.m. Wednesday.

Annual Reunion Information

I received this email from Peggy Edgington Yesterday(07/15/09):
Dear Family Members,

I have spoken today with Robert Mayes, President, of the Harmon, Gray, Pipes Family Association. Robert will be sending out a letter soon about the upcoming family reunion in Perryville. The reunion will be held at the Perryville Christian Church at 205 East Third Street on Sunday, August 9th at 1:30 p.m.

The meal will be potluck. Plan on making and bringing your favorite dishes and having great fellowship.

Bring any information that you want to share with others (pictures, articles, family trees, etc.) for the sharing table that will be set up.

If you cannot attend this year, please send a check to support the upkeep of the Old Union Cemetery. Make check payable and send to: Old Union Cemetery, P.O. Box 124, Perryville, KY 40468.

Just a reminder to check out Bob Pipes' wonderful website www.pipesfamily.com if you haven't done so lately. On Bob's webpage, you can click on Visit our Union Cemetery Site or go to www.unioncemetery.blogspot.com.

Hope to see you at the family reunion on August 9th.

Peggy (Harmon) Edgington

Nancy Gray Pipes Grave Stone Picture

At last we have a picture of the grave stone of Nancy Gray Pipes. Nancy was the youngest daughter of John Gray and Lucinda Jones. John Gray I believe was a Revolutionary War Soldier and came to Mercer Co. very early from Prince Edward Co., Virginia. His daughter Nancy married William Pipes, who is buried in Old Union and was the youngest son of John Pipes Jr.

William died in 1855 at age 52 and after that many of William and Nancy's 12 children (born between 1822 and 1851) migrated to Pike Co., Indiana. I think the only child who remained in Boyle Co. was George Washington Pipes (GW is also in Old Union with his wife Mariah Edwards) Their son Bradford, who was a member of Morgan's Raiders, was murdered in 1865 shortly after returning from the war, is also buried in Old Union.

Nancy Gray Pipes and William owned the property just east of the cemetery and may have had a home where the house now stands that belonged to George Washington. That house is now owned by the Shepersons. Nancy sold a piece of the property to the L & N railroad and I have a copy of the deed here in my files. George Washington raised his family there and I have pictures of them as well.

Nancy moved to Pike Co., Indiana when her age caused her to be more dependent and probably to be closer to her daughters. She died there in 1886 and is buried in Flat Creek Cemetery.
I am not sure who did it, but her stone is obviously not the original and has been replaced. She has many, many descendants from those twelve children.
UPDATE 08/04/09 It was Janavie Pipes Richardson, a daughter of Nathan Pipes who raised the funds for the new stone.
Many Thanks to Marcia Curtis and her daughter Karen Fulk for the picture. They are taking several more pictures of the Pipes stones in that area for my web site.

A Message from the Brinton Family Line

I received this email message from Sally Brinton yesterday (7/03/09)
Her email is: sbrinton08 at gmail dot com if you would like to exchange info with her.
Hi Bob,
I certainly enjoy your blog, and was so excited to find a picture of the grave of Mary Brinton, wife of James Brinton(1781-1870), and so far unidentified Sarah Brinton. Thank you for this wonderful work. I have been trying to establish the ancestry of James for sometime, but haven't been successful so far. There were many Brintons in the area. Carolyn Crabtree did tell me that the Brintons were known as one of the earliest settlers of the area along with the Harbeson's. Sam Brinton, son of James was the civil war era owner of the Brinton House in downtown Perryville, and Hardin Brinton also son of James, was married to Elizabeth Montgomery (dau of Isaac).
You invited us to send on names of other founding families of the area, so I add the Brintons. Maybe someone out there can add some new info and help solve the mystery. In the meantime, I will keep enjoying your blog.
Thanks, Sally

A Tribute to Ashel

Who is Ashel? He is Ashel Eber Pipes, born in 1858 to James Pipes and Mary Denton, probably within ear shot of Union Cemetery. His parents along with almost all of the Children of William Pipes and Nancy Gray Pipes moved to Pike County, Indiana between 1855 and 1860. The one child of William and Nancy who stayed in Boyle Co. was George Washington Pipes and his wife Mariah Edwards.
Ashel was probably a hard scrabble Farmer in Pike County and at the age of 34 he enlisted in the Army. He was a member of several units and re enlisted several times and finally in 1899 was assigned to Company "M" of the 3rd US Infantry and was shipped to the Phillipines. On mAy 23rd 1899 he was Killed in Action at a place called Maasin on Leyete Island. In the early 1900s his body was removed and reinterred in the National Military Cemetery at the Presidio in San Francisco. My sons, who live near there, discovered his grave marker a few years ago and we visit there when ever we have the chance. The view from just above his burial site is one of the most beautiful places on this earth. It looks out over San Francisco Bay and Angel Island and the scene there is very serene. My son Taylor took the photos in the short movie below and I used Picasa to make the movie. Copy the http link below and paste it into your browser. Then be sure to select "View in HQ" on the upper right side of the screen when it appears or else it will be pixelated. The movie is about 1 min 30 seconds long with music.
http://picasaweb.google.com/bobpipes/TributeToAshel#5350275569078583874

Update on my home Improvement Project

As many of you know, I have been working on remodeling the space in the basement of my new home to have a place to work and relax and a place for all my books and computers. Well I am nearing completion and have been taking photos along the way. All that remains is some carpet for the floors and this phase will be done. You can see the project in a slideshow at the left called Knollwood project.

Interesting Robert Gray Article

Thanks to Peggy Edgington for sending this Today.

From the Danville Advocate Messenger:
Monday April 6, 2009
Looking Back: Markers of time -- Discovery of graveyard leads to lesson in history
By BRENDA S. EDWARDS Contributing Writer
The grave of Private Robert Gray, a Revolutionary War veteran, who served with George Washington at Valley Forge, went unnoticed for many years after he was laid to rest in a small family graveyard off Ky. 1856 between Perryville and Mitchellsburg.
He was buried in the family plot after his death in 1825 but no marker was visible at the site. If there was ever a stone at the grave, it had been destroyed or buried.
However, after many hours of research and hard work, Private Gray now has a white military marker near his grave. It was erected in 2008.
Joann Wilkerson, who grew up on Sugar Bush Farm, never knew the cemetery was on the adjoining farm until 1970 after a windstorm damaged a large clump of trees and the crumbled tombstones were exposed.
She and her mother, the late Lucille Bruce, checked the graveyard and learned most of the marked graves were from the Gray family. The last person buried there was Jane Gray, who died in 1861.
The land where the graveyard is located was purchased by Mrs. Bruce and added to Sugar Bush Farm, now owned by Joann and her husband, Conley Wilkerson.
After checking with many Gray families in the area, who were not aware of the cemetery and did not know anything about Robert Gray, the search was put aside until 2005, when a descendant, Dennis Gray of Indiana, stopped by the farm to check out the cemetery.
The Wilkersons did research on Robert Gray and learned of his service in the Revolutionary War. He served three years in the Virginia Continental Line and lived for about a year aboard a British prison ship off Charleston, S.C.
Records show Gray served in the 4th, 8th and 12th Virginia Continental Line Regiments, which apparently went through several reformations to adjust to the loss of men through military action, illness and desertions.
Gray is not listed on a marker with other Revolutionary War veterans on the lawn of the Boyle County Courthouse, but research shows that he was a veteran who came to Kentucky after the war. He apparently lived out his life in the Perryville area.
Military records show Gray was a private in the 12th Virginia Regiment and enlisted Aug. 30, 1777, for a three-year term. He was with the unit when it marched from Lancaster, Pa. The payroll in January 1778, shows he was paid in shillings. Two months later, his muster roll is dated, Valley Forge, March 1778.
Records cover Gray's service from his enlistment on Aug. 30, 1777, through 1779.
Gray came to Kentucky with other families
Robert married Sarah Pearce on Jan. 11, 1786, in Prince Edward County, Va., and they most likely came through the Cumberland Gap to Kentucky. His brother, John and wife, Lucinda, may have been among a group that settled near the Chaplin River in Mercer County (now Boyle).
Sarah's name appears on legal documents, but is referred to only as Robert's wife and his children's mother.
A copy of a Mercer County deed dated March 24, 1795, shows that William McBrayer conveyed to Robert Gray 250 acres on the Chaplin Fork of Salt River, being a part of McBrayer's pre-emption of 1,000 acres. The cost was 75 pounds. The Gray family cemetery is on a portion of that land.
Gray's will states he wanted to be buried beside his wife, and shows that he left his estate to be divided equally between his three sons, John, Charles and Robert Jr.
Robert Jr. was to inherit the homestead where he, his father and two sisters lived and much of the tools, livestock and farm supplies. His daughter, Elizabeth, inherited linens and part of the money from the sale of the stock.
Daughters, Jane and Sally, got two cows, 12 sheep, furniture and money. Charles and Robert were to pay Jane and Sally $20 annually as long as they remained single. Robert Sr.'s personal property amounted to about $300.
The will mentioned the two acres that were to be laid off for a family burial ground. John and Robert Jr. were appointed executors of the estate.
Robert Jr. and his sister, Jane, who never married, lived on the farm until their deaths. Robert Jr. was born Oct. 28, 1795, and died May 11, 1845.
Robert Jr.'s will also mentioned the cemetery and instructed Jane to erect tombstones on his grave as well as his parents, Robert and Sarah.
After Jane's death in 1861, her will, dated Sept. 14, 1858, said: "Purchase four tombstones of marble, one for my mother and father, one for my brother Robert and one for myself." She also asked that other brothers and sisters and a nephew, John Gray, be buried at the cemetery, and that the cemetery be enclosed with a stone wall with iron railing on the top of the wall. She also left money with the interest to be used to educate four children of parents unable to school them.
There is little evidence that tombstones were put on the other family graves, but Jane's grave is marked with a tall monument. The partial stones found with names are of Nancy Burton, who may have been the wife of John Burton; and John, probably a nephew of Jane.
Jane was the last surviving descendant of Robert Gray Sr. to live on the Gray farm.
After discovering the Gray graveyard, the Wilkersons have cleared off the site, planted some flowering bushes and plan to replace the fence.
Conley and Joann Wilkerson are not related to the Gray family, and have found it interesting on the amount of information they have accumulated about the pioneer Kentucky family.
"We've had a lot of fun looking around," said Conley. "It's amazing what you can dig up."

Copyright:The Advocate-Messenger 2009

New Burial in Cemetery - Jay Webb

Jay Webb 1965-2009
PERRYVILLE - Jay Allen Webb, 43, of Perryville died Wednesday in Marion County.
Born July 23, 1965, in Boyle County, he was a son of Glynn and Sherry Wilson Webb of Perryville. Jay was an employee of Pittman's Lumber, a farmer, a member of Beech Fork Baptist Church and a 1983 graduate of Boyle County High School.
Additional survivors include a niece, Laura Webb; and a nephew, Bryan Webb, both of Perryville.
Jay was preceded in death by his brother, Jeff Webb.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Wilder Funeral Home by Rev. Lee Arnold. Burial will be in Old Union Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Robert Atwood, Jerry Boswell, Roger Webb, Adam Tungate, Bryan Webb, Greg Anderson, Mike Crowe and Mickey Morgenson.
Visiting hours will be 11 a.m. today until time of service at the funeral home.

Alma Ray Ison Death

Dear Friends,

For those of you who have been doing genealogy research for some time, you may have been assisted by Alma Ray Ison at the Harrodsburg Historical Society. Mrs. Ison died this past Sunday(12/23/08). She had been a volunteer at the Harrodsburg Historical Society for 30 years. She compiled many records over the years including marriage bonds and Bible records. Her knowledge and expertise will be greatly missed at the Historical Society as she had been a valuable resource. Attached is Mrs. Ison's obituary which was copies from merceronline.
Best wishes for a blessed New Year to all.

Peggy

Alma Ray Ison Obituary (copied from www.merceron-line/obits.htm)

Alma Ray Ison, 95, of Harrodsburg, died Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008 at the Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center in Danville.
Born Oct. 22, 1913 in Harrodsburg, she was the daughter of the late Nelson Lee and Nannie Lee Royalty Sanders and was the widow of Louis Francis Ison.
She was a former teacher but specialized in genealogical research. She was a member of the Harrodsburg Baptist Church where she taught Primary Sunday School for 50 Years, National Society of DAR, Kentucky State Historical Society, and Harrodsburg Historical Society where she volunteered for 30 Years.
She compiled and published books containing historical records, the most recent being: Bible Records and Vital Statics published in 2008. She was named Pioneer Woman of Harrodsburg on her 85th Birthday and was recognized in June 1998 for her significant contribution toward historic preservation in Mercer County.
Survivors include: one daughter, Nancy Ellen Reahm of Grand Rapids, MI; one son, Louis "Charles" (Robin) Ison of Harrodsburg; five grandchildren; four great–grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 30 at the Ransdell Funeral Chapel with Dr. Robert DeFoor officiating. Burial will be in the Spring Hill Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Nelson Cleo Sanders, Tom Horton, C.L. Horton, Lee Miller Dean, Jonathan Jenkins, Stewart Ison and Zach Ison.
Honorary pallbearers will be Larry Cannada Jr., Douglas Brown and David Cannada
Visitation will be from 4 – 8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 29 and prior to the service on Tuesday at Ransdell Funeral Chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made to Louis F. Ison Scholarship Fund c/o KY Farm Bureau Education Foundation, 9201 Bunsen Pkwy, Louisville, KY 40250-0700; Harrodsburg Baptist Church or the Harrodsburg Historical Society,
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.ransdellfuneralchapel.com.
(HH Thu Dec 25, 2008)

Happy New Year!!

2009 already. For an old guy like me ( I turn 66 this year) it sure seems strange sometimes to be so far from my childhood. Where have the years all gone? Some people can recount everything they have ever done or said, and some spend no effort in restraining themselves from doing so. I find it very difficult to remember my past in great detail. I have snapshots of certain events in my life stored away in some nebulous album in my mind. No amount of pondering seems to tell me why certain things remain and others are gone. Maybe it leaves more room for new memories from the future.
Here is my wish that each of you has a Happy and Prosperous New Year and that 2009 brings more good things into our lives.
If you are a person who makes new year resolutions, this year add a line that says "I will visit the cemetery this year at least once and make a contribution to help keep it in our memory."
A second line might say " I will make an effort to teach my children or grandchildren about who is in the cemetery and maybe leave an image of our heritage in the album in their mind."

My posting on this Blog has been slow lately as I try to finish the office/library area to put all my books and papers in our new place. I will get back to working on the cemetery and a new web site for the family association as soon as I get this done.

Merry Christmas

My Son Jason is a member of the California State Military Reserve. He was invited to participate with other SMR members at the State Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on December 9th this year in Sacramento. That's SPC Jason Pipes on the right end of the first row.

Your Opinion Please

I have been working on the family of Elias Hardin Pipes who lived in the Gravel Switch area. He was a son of Morris Pipes and Sallie Montgomery. I have two pictures that are supposedly of him and his wife and one of the pictures also include his children. That is the one in the picture in the last post. The first one has him with another person and I am not convinced they are the same person (i.e. Victoria Hourigan). So, do you know who this person is or do you think they are the same person? Please let me know what you think. They were obviously taken at different times but they sure look different to me.

Elias Hardin Pipes Family

Judy Miller has shared some pictures and info on her family from the Gravel Switch area. Elias Hardin Pipes was the son of Morris Pipes and Sallie Montgomery. He had a home in the Gravel Switch area after the war and raised 9 children there. The home was located on Ward's Branch Road about half way between Ky243 and Aliceton Road. John Sheperson made a map of the area and it shows the house on the south side of the road. I am told the present day J. B. Cooley house is built where the old house stood. This picture of Elias, His wife Victoria and their children was taken about 1900. Elias and Victoria are both in the Cemetery as well as their son Clarence and one young son named Augustus who died in 1867 at age 7.

The children and their spouses:

• John Rufus(J.R.) m. Addie Johnson


• Nancy Winnifred ( Winnie) m. Tom Lane then Paul Hourigan


• Henry Taylor m. Jeanette Corman


• Ann Eliza(Annie) m. John Sinkhorn


• James Thomas(J.T.) m. Maggie Lee Robertson( Roberson)


• Clarence Newton m. Nonnie Owens


• Martha Jane m. William R. May


• Edward Appolos m. Ida Bland


• Grace Elizabeth m. James Coyle

This family was probably the last Pipes Family to call this area "home". In the 1930 Census only a couple of the children above were still living in the area.

Follow This Blog

At the very bottom of this page you can now sign in as a follower of the Blog. Then others can see who else is reading here. Something New!
I don't hear from many of you, I know you are there because I can see the visit counter going up. Let me know you are interested.

Mapping Database Update

Today I changed Cemetery location Old LH 40 which was marked as Unreadable to reflect the evidence that this is the stone for Roan D. Gartin b. 1839 who was the wife of William Crowdus b. 1830. They are in the 1860 Census as husband and wife with a child named Sally. I cannot find them again in the census. So I am assuming that she died during the 1860s and it appears that William may have moved on to Texas as I can find a person who I believe is him in later years in Texas. If you have further info on Roan or William or Sally please let me know.
If anyone lives close to the cemetery and would like to volunteer to honor Roan's memory, it would be very nice to find the other small missing pieces of her stone so we can add her dates of birth and death to our records. They must be there and hopefully still readable. The picture of her stone is in a posting below.

Interesting and Fun Too!

Alan Pipes from Bristol, England sent me the link to this really great web site. It shows where any surname has population anywhere in the world. You can type in your last name or any other and see where the population reflects that name all the way down to the county level.

http://www.publicprofiler.org/worldnames/

Montgomery family ties

I find it interesting that there are a few "founding" families in old Mercer County, at least in the southern part that became Boyle County and Marion County, and in the area around the Old Union Cemetery, that intermarried at a time in the late 1790s and early 1800s and created the families that spawned most of us reading this. Certainly James Gray, Michael Harmon and John Pipes were among them but as I study the history of the area I find several other names, like Hourigan, Crowdus, Brumfield, Copeland and Montgomery.

I know there are several others, please dont think I am not mentioning someone on purpose. Maybe we should start a list of original or founding families, that would be fun to do. email me if you have names that should be on the list.

My post in the article below about Allen S. Montgomery caused me to look at the Montgomery Family and this is what I found:
Robert Montgomery came here from Ireland and died in 1789 in Lincoln Co. after living in Augusta Co., Virginia. His son Robert(2) was born in Virginia and died in 1793 in Garrard Co, Kentucky. Robert(2)'s son Isaac Newton Montgomery B. 1781 in Lincoln Co. d. 1840 in Mercer Co. married Nancy Stone in 1803. ( I believe Isaac and Nancy are both buried in Union Cemetery). She was known as Nancy and as Sally. (Sally may have been her middle name.)

Isaac and Nancy had 4 children, here is a list of them and the persons they married:
Sally Montgomery b. 1804 married Morris Pipes ( both in Old Union)
Elias Montgomery b. 1808 married Catherine Harmon
Allen S Montgomery b. 1818 married Martha Pipes
Catherine J. Montgomery b. 1824 married John Bradford Harmon. (Both in Old Union)
These 4 marriages produced 30 children named Pipes, Harmon and Montgomery

An aerial view of the Cemetery

A very nice picture taken in 1999. It is a satellite view of the area around the cemetery. The cemetery is the ameoba shaped area on the left. You can actually see the knobs that are just east of the cemetery road.
I found this on TerraServer-USA: just copy and paste the link below into your browser
http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?T=1&S=11&X=1692&Y=10408&Z=16&W=3

Seeking info on Allen S. Montgomery

I have been working on filling in blanks on my Pipes Family Database and wonder if any of our readers know any more about Allen S. Montgomery who married Martha Pipes. She was a daughter of Nathaniel Pipes and Margaret Harmon born about 1822 in Mercer co. I am not sure of Allen's background at this point but he was born about 1817. They married about 1849, had several children and appear in Haysville in the 1850 & 1860 census. Then they disapppear. I cant find them again and can not determine where they are buried either. They had children (from Mrs. Ellsberry's book) William b. 1850, Elias b. 1855, Margaret b. 1856, Levi, Isaac, Nancy b.1859, Elizabeth b. early 1860s and Lillian b. early 1860s?)
I even know who some of them married. Isaac and Levi died very young.
If you know anything about this family after 1860 or who Allen's parents were, please email me and let me know.
Children married:
William - Addie Karrick
Elias - Lillie McElroy
Margaret - Wallace McElroy
Nancy - Dr. John Boyd
Elizabeth - Byron Cardwell (Caldwell?)
Lillian - Thomas Cleland Jackson
[Update] I now know that Allen was a son of Isaac Montgomery and Nancy Stone.

New Entries at Pipesfamily.com

If you are interested in the history of the Pipes Family, I have made some new entries on the Pipes Family web site. I have a little extra time from now to the end of the year so I am getting caught up on all of my 'inbox' stuff.
www.pipesfamily.com

Help Me Identify This Person

Click to enlarge the picture.
This stone was marked as unreadable in my inventory but after looking at it more closely there are some clues. Can you help me identify this person?
Her first name was 'Roan' and her middle name started with the letter 'D.' She was the wife of: W. Crane possibly, although his last name may be something else, but it sure looks like 'Cran' on the stone. He may have a middle initial there but it is hard to read. The stone is laying flat and is directly west of the cemetery monument way back almost to the fence.
I looked at the unusual first name in the census records and find that the name 'Roan' was not so unusual in the 1800s. Several ladies had that first name in Marion and Boyle counties. She does not appear on any of the previous lists of persons buried in the cemetery.
There was a Roan Crane in the census records from 1870 to 1880 but that was her maiden name. She was the daughter of Nelson Crane. This may be the same person, but I need to find out who she married.
Quite a mystery.
[Update 1] The husband's name on the stone may be Wm Crowdus.
[Update 2] There is an 1860 census family entry in Haysville for William Crowdus b. 1830 and his wife Roan, b. 1839. They have a daughter, Sallie, age 1. So they would have been married in possibly 1858/59. Her stone is of the design popular in the 1860 era. This family does not appear again in the census records. I did find a William Crowdus born in Kentucky and of the same age in 1880 in Ellis Co., Texas. He has a new family.
[Update 3] I believe this may be Roan Gartin, daughter of Widow Sally Gartin of Haysville. (Note that Roan's 1 year old daughter is named Sallie.)I have found no further info on her after the 1860 Census. I am also convinced the name on the stone is W. Crowdus.

A Page to show the sections of the Cemetery

When I started mapping the cemetery I set up three sections so it would be easier to deal with. If you see the section names in the mapping database and wonder what they mean, this drawing will help. I broke it down to the OLD section (that area around the old church building) and then the NEW section, which is North of the old section and along the fence line. Just for reference and for those of you who may not have been in the cemetery, like all older cemeteries, the stones in here have the face of the stones on the East side and the back of the stones are on the West side, so if you are standing in front of the stone reading the name on it, North is to your right and south is to the left and East is behind you. As always, click to enlarge.

Panorama Picture From 1984 Trip

My family made its first trip to Kentucky in 1984 and we took these pictures. I used the autostitch program to put two of them together. It is an interesting contrast to how the cemetery looks today. Click on the image to enlarge.

An email from a Pipes descendant.

Judy Miller (jmiller5@bellsouth.net) is a descendant of Elias Hardin Pipes and Victoria Hourigan, They lived in the Aliceton/Gravel Switch area longer than any of the rest of the Pipes Clan. Her father is living in Louisville and is J.T. Pipes Jr. (James Thomas). He worked for the L& N railroad and is now 96 Years old.
She sent me this email today and said it was OK to post it here for all of you to read. [Update] Oops, it was her grandfather, JT Pipes Sr. who worked for the L& N, Judy is looking for a picture of him to show you.

"I continue to be amazed at all the mapping and restorative work you and your family have done at the cemetery. Thank you so much. I wanted to come from Georgia to Perryville the week you all were there but my father J.T. Pipes Jr. was in the hospital in Louisville with an intestinal blockage that had to have surgery and my brother and sister and I were taking care of him. This weekend (August 31st) we will celebrate his 96th birthday (his father lived to be 90 and his mother to 103, his sisters were in their nineties when they died). He is doing well. Living at home with daily help. When I see him this weekend I will ask him for a donation for you-he wants to do this but doesn't know how - I do! I am particularly interested in the condition of the gravestones for my direct ancestors John Jr. and Mary Pipes, Morris and Sallie Pipes and Elias and Victoria Pipes but I'm so glad the whole cemetery is being mapped and kept. I have visited the cemetery several times and taken pictures-mostly in the 1980's. There is a cemetery near Gravel Switch - don't know the name but it has Boards and Robertsons graves in it - we called that area down the hill from Gravel Switch, Aliceton. The house my great grandparents Boyle (yes he was named for the county and had a brother named Mercer) and Georgia Board Robertson lived in has crumbled to the ground - bought by someone for the tobacco base years ago. I stole a piece of fence from it one time. Wish I'd done more but couldn't find out who owned it. Anyway, the cemetery is just past the house. My parents took our family there many times in the 40's and 50's to see them. Their daughter Maggie Lee Robertson married J.T. Pipes Sr., who was an L & N railroad conductor - the tracks used to run right past the house at Aliceton. I have a table that was in the E.H. Pipes House in Gravel Switch. My grandfather J.T. Pipes Sr. told the story that all the children raced home after church each Sunday and pried open the locked drawer in the table to get at a card game they wanted to play. The table was supposedly brought from Ireland by David Hourigan who was the father of E.H. Pipes' wife, Victoria Hourigan. I'm stumped at that because David Hourigan's father Patrick was a Revolutionary War soldier so David wasn't an immigrant-he must have gone to Ireland to visit and brought it back - wish I could get on Antiques Roadshow to see what they could tell me about the table. Well I've gone on and on. I have a question. Why are there two graves for Sallie Montgomery Pipes? Keep up the good work - I hope to be sending you money from my Dad very soon-I have to explain all this to him again. Judy Miller

A new List of Additional persons buried at Old Union

I have been working on this new list for some time now. I wanted to list all of the persons who have been identified over the years as being buried in Old Union even if they no longer have a marker there. After finishing the physical inventory of the cemetery this year and taking the photos, I was able to sit down with the other lists I have from vaious sources and compare them to my Inventory list.
Look down the left side to see "Links to Important Articles". There is a link there called "Union Cemetery Additional List". It is a pdf file of all the persons who have been listed as being in the cemetery but no longer have a marker. Or maybe they never had a marker to begin with.

Panorama Picture

I found a program on the web called autostitch that connects a group of pictures together to make a single panoramic picture. I used it to make a panorama of the pictures in Cemetery Tour # 1 below. Yes the perspective is slightly warped, similar to a fish eye lens, but it does make an interesting picture.
I used some photoshop type techniques to finish the picture. Mostly in the sky and grass and trees in the upper left part of the picture. Just click on the picture above. Then scroll over to see it all.

Cemetery Tour

This morning I added a set of special photos taken in early June of 2008. Petra Esterle is Wife/Partner with my son Jason. She is a very special and talented member of our family. When she completed the photographing of all the stones in the Cemetery, she volunteered to climb up on the family monument and take a series of panoramic photos of the cemetery. I have set them in order in a slide show that starts looking straight south at the first row of the Old Left Hand Section (The Doss stones are in this row). Then each shot rotates slightly to the right until the last shot is looking East North East. It is really neat to see the entire grounds from a higher perspective. It was VERY Hot and muggy that day but everything turned out looking lush and green.
You should be able to click on the pictures and get to a place that will allow you to view the pictures as a slide show. I have two more of these albums to place here and will do so in the next day or so.

Mapping Database is Installed with Pictures

The mapping database now has grave stone pictures attached to each name. Look down the left side of the page under 'Links to Web Sites' and find the link that says "Mapping Database". When it opens you can scroll to the right side of the page and see the small tombstone images. click on those to see the image.
I still have other pictures to add and also some obituaries and notes about each person. The other pictures are ones that I took in previous years and some that other folks have sent me from time to time.
So please enjoy and feel free to let me know if there are mistakes or problems and also please send any additional info you may have on the cemetery.

NEW feature added

Down the left side there is a new box that has 2008 Reunion Photos presented in a slide show format. It takes a few minutes to load but then you can stop it, click on it and view the pics in larger format, download them, and all kinds of stuff. It is presented by Google and their program called Picasa Album. I am still not sure of eveything it can do. So have fun and let me know: comments, problems, ideas etc.
I do like to hear from all of you.

Harmon-Pipes-Gray Family Reunion

This email and information about the August Family Reunion in Perryville just in. The newspaper item is at the end of the email and I will add photos in a seperate entry.

Dear Family Members,

Attached is an article along with group a picture from yesterday's family reunion in Perryville which I have submitted to the Scrapbook section of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.

We apologize and regret the inconvenience caused family members due to the change in date of this year's reunion. Next year's reunion will be the second Sunday of August. All future reunions are planned for the second Sunday of August. We hope to see you there.

Officers were elected for the Family Association for the coming year: They are Robert Mayes, President; Edna Lankford, Vice President; Marian Gibson, Secretary and Treasurer.

If you have any family members that you would like added to the Harmon, Gray & Pipes Family Association group emailing list, please forward their names and email addresses to me.

I spoke with Carolyn Crabtree, President, of the Boyle County Genealogical Society last night. There are still some Boyle County, Kentucky, Cemetery Records, 1792-1992 Second Printing 2008, books available for purchase. You may contact Carolyn at the Danville Boyle County Convention & Visitors Bureau at (859) 236-7794 or at info@danvillekentucky.com

I purchased a book from www.abebooks.com a couple of months ago titled HARMAN-HARMON Genealogy and Biography BY John William Harman. The book is with historical notes 19 B. C. to 1928 A. D. It was printed in Parsons, West Virginia in 1928. I have found this book to be of interest and good reading. Included in the book is information with genealogy on Lloyd V. Harmon D.D., of Missouri along with pictures of he and his wife, Icel Anna Harmon. Lloyd was one of the compilers of the Gray Pipes Harmon books which was compiled in 1960.

Best regards,

Peggy (HARMON) Edgington

Here is the article item sent to the Newspaper:
GRAY, HARMON, PIPES HOLD FAMILY REUNION

About 35 people attended the annual Gray, Harmon, Pipes reunion August 17 at Perryville Christian Church. Attendees included: Mary S. Guerrant, Edna Lankford, Peggy Edgington, Ken and June Harmon, Richard S. and Mary Lou Mayes, Gavin Whitehouse, Stephen Mayes, Geneva Glasscock, Marian Gibson, Tom and Joyce Cox, Bryan, Jennifer, Avery and Austin Bodner, James W. Cox, Jr., Audrey Lanham-Smothers, Lori Stipe, Clay Russell, Carolyn Gray Stipe, Verna Newton, Johnna, Nick and Dominic Mansuetto, Robert Mayes, Janet C. Reynolds, Judy Underwood, Tim Lanham, Rita Satterly, Monty J. Bryant, Monty J. Bryant III, Sue B. Evans and Libby Mayes . The Pipes, Harmon, Gray Association cares for the property at the Old Union Cemetery near Perryville and Gravel Switch. The graves of many of these and other families are in Old Union Cemetery. Next year’s reunion will be held on the second Sunday in August in Perryville.

2008 Reunion Photos

Pictures from the 2008 Family Reunion in Perryville on August 17, 2008. Click on image for larger view.




1st Row L to R: Verna Newton (green blouse), Marian Harmon Gibson, Edna Harmon Lankford, Judy Underwood, Carolyn Gray Stipe, James W. Cox, Jr.

2nd Row L to R: Mary Lou Mayes (black blouse), June Hutchens Harmon, Libby Mayes (green blouse), Joyce Cox (glasses/blue&white blouse), Lori Stipe
(purple dress & glasses), Peggy Harmon Edgington (face partially hidden)

3rd Row L to R Richard Mayes (bald head behind Mary Lou), Ken Harmon, Sue B. Evans (white blouse), Robert Mayes (behind sister Libby), Tom Cox (blue
shirt), Tim Lanham, Clay Russell (to right behind Lori Stipe)

4th Row L to R Rita Reynolds Satterly (shoulder length hair/under #205), Audrey Lanham-Smothers (grey hair, glasses), Mary S. Guerrant (white hair/glasses)



L to R: Monty J. Bryant III, Monty J. Bryant, Verna Newton

Back in Wisconsin

We finished up the photographing and completed a mapping process for all but the new section of the cemetery on Thursday. Then we stopped in Gravel Switch and spent some time talking with John Sheperson. Then we drove down to Tebbs Bend and toured the battle field there by the Green River Bridge. Friday was a long hot drive back across Indiana.
I have updated the database with some new names and some corrections, so if you have a copy downloaded for yourself, be sure to refresh it.
Next week sometime I will start loading photos of the stones and connecting them to the database.
Our next project will be to set up a new web site for the cemetery on another server and move all of the info over there. I am continuing to collect pictures of those persons buried there, so if you have any or know of someone who does, please let me know.
More later.....

Kentucky Trip update...

Tuesday was a rain day. All Day long with rain, clouds, wind etc. So we did some sight seeing. Tasted Kentucky Bourbon at a Distillery Tour and learned how its made. Tried to visit Gen John Hunt Morgan's gravesite in Lexington and arrived there after the cemetery closed.
Today we arrived at the cemetery early and finished photographing about 150 stones. So that leaves about 50 to do tomorrow. We spent a few hours this afternoon at the Perryville Battle Field. Took a long walk thru part of the park and it was very nice. We visited with the park Historian on Tuesday who connected us with a local man who has studied the Battle of Perryville for many years. His name is Darrell Young and his grandmother is buried in Old Union and he lives a stones throw from there. He may have some pictures of the old church for us and gave us some input on out effort to understand the movement of troops thru the cemetery area and along the Lebanon road.
More later.....

Back in Kentucky

We left Milwaukee this morning and arrived at the Cemetery late Monday afternoon. Tomorrow we plan to photograph and measure the stones. I must admit to being schocked at some of the continued deterioration of the stones in the cemetery.
More later.

Financial Support...

I am currently planning my next trip to Kentucky to work on the cemetery mapping. The next step in the process will be to photograph the stones and measure out the locations of each stone in relation to the boundaries. All of this will be added to the database. You can see the database here on the left. Its called "Mapping database". The intent is also to add photos of the person and obits when we can find them.
The current plan is for 3 of my children (2 sons and a wife)from California to fly to Wisconsin, rent a vehicle, load our gear and drive to Perryville. We plan to be there the week of June 1st to the 8th. One of my sons is graduating from UC Berkeley's Journalism Grad school in May. IF he can find Video equipment he will be doing some filming of the cemetery and the area as well.

If you can make it there that week we would love to meet you. We can say hello, talk, work on the cemetery grounds and just have a good time. We can always use an extra hand and there are always things to do there.
Send an email and let us know if you can make it.

I will try to re install the two stones for Nathaniel Pipes and Margaret Harmon Pipes there too, that week.

If you can help with financial support, a donation to help us pay for Gas, vehicle, food etc would be very much appreciated. Use Paypal or send to 1062 S. Knollwood Dr. Saukville, Wisconsin 53080

A Recent Letter.....

I recently obtained permission from the Pipes Harmon Gray family assoication to mail a letter to each member requesting their help in a project to gather information on all the persons and families in the Old Union Cemetery. You can read a copy of the letter here. Pipes Harmon Gray Family Association Letter.

Anothe Member Passes Away...

Dear Harmon Pipes Gray Family Members,

It is with sadness (the 2nd time in a couple of weeks) that I advise the death of a family member. Joe O. Tucker died Friday, February 8, 2008. Attached is a copy of obituary that appeared in today's Danville Advocate-Messenger. I copied and pasted
from amnews.com. Attached is a picture of Joe which I took at the family reunion in August, 2004.

Joe and his family have been long time supporters of the Pipes Gray Harmon Family Association. Joe's mother was the late Elizabeth Harmon Tucker. Elizabeth passed away not long ago (August 21, 2007). She was the daughter of the late Levi Allen and Etta Mae Crain Harmon.

It is my understanding that Joe had been ill for quite a while. He was not well enough to attend our last Harmon Pipes Gray family reunion held in August, 2007.

The only family address that I have for condolences is that of Joe's daughter Peggy Tudor at 21 Trail Lane, Lancaster, KY 40444.
I have had this address for a few years, and to my knowledge is still current.
Regards,

Peggy Edgington

amnews.com
Monday February 11, 2008
Obituaries for February 11
FUNERALS
Joe O. Tucker
1932-2008
Joe Owsley Tucker, 75, a local civic leader and descendant of one of Perryville's original settlers, died Friday in Danville. He was the husband of Mary Jane Ragland Tucker.
Born May 1, 1932, in Perryville, he was the son of the late George O. and Elizabeth Harmon Tucker. He was a project manager for Harbour Construction Co., specializing in building churches, completing 86 in all. He was the former co-owner of George O. Tucker Construction Co. and a founder of Elmwood Inn.
He was a lifelong member of Perryville Presbyterian Church, serving as trustee, elder and former Sunday School teacher, superintendent and treasurer. He also was active in the Presbytery of Transylvania and the Synod of the Living Waters. He was a member of the Civil War Roundtable and was instrumental in the initial development of Perryville Battlefield. He was a former president of Perryville Lions Club and a founding member of Frontier Whirlers Square Dance Club, a Girl Scout leader, and served on the Wilderness Road Girl Scout Council.
Additional survivors include seven daughters, Peggy (Ron) Tudor of Lancaster, Nancy Campbell of Lexington, Dian (Garry) Tucker-Baker of Perryville, Stephanie R. Bradley, Suzanne (Wayne) Madsen, Sheryl Bradley and Sandra T. Miller, all of the Atlanta area; 21 grandchildren; and 14.9 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Sharon Smith, and his sister, Betty Tucker Ellis.
Services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Wilder Funeral Home by the Rev. D. Patrick Chamberlain. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be grandsons, Taylor and Daniel Smith, Ben Roller, Justin Campbell, Clay, Adam and Levi Stocker, Casey Hamilton and Rick Turner.
Visitation is 5-8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Memorials, in lieu of flowers, may go to Bellewood Children's Home and Gideon's International.

Helen Underwood Passes

Mrs Helen Crain Underwood of Perryville passed away yesterday the 29th of January, 2008. She was 93 years old and a long time member of the Harmon Pipes Gray family association. Helen served as treasurer of the association for several years. I first met her in 1984 on my family's first journey to Kentucky to find ancestors. She was very gracious and helpful and we corresponded for several years.
When I find the obit I will post it here.
I ordered flowers from Wilder's Flower basket in Perryville at 1-859-332-9063.

Helen C. Underwood
1914-2008
PERRYVILLE - Helen Crain Underwood, 93, of Perryville died Tuesday in Danville. She was the widow of Eugene Underwood.

Born Oct. 5, 1914, in Boyle County, she was a daughter of the late Ray and Martha Harmon Crain. She was a retired teacher for the Boyle County Board of Education, teaching in both the Parksville and Perryville schools. She also was co-owner of Kentucky Food Store in Perryville, a member of the Perryville Baptist Church, Perryville Homemakers, Kentucky Retired Teachers Association and Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center Auxiliary.

She was preceded in death by a brother, James Crain; and a sister, Virginia Crain.
Survivors include two daughters, Judy Underwood of Perryville and Betty Melloan of Lawrenceburg; a son, Stuart (Sheila) Underwood of Stanford; two grandchildren, Jon Melloan of Lawrenceburg and Amy (Jeff) Sandefur of Berea; two great-grandchildren, Justin and Jordan Sandefur, both of Berea; and a niece, Janet Reynolds of Perryville.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Wilder Funeral Home by the Rev. Doug Davis. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Darrell Davis, Johnny Harmon, Bob Blandford, Melvin Bottom, Warren Jones and James Dunsmore.

Visiting hours will be 4-8 p.m. Thursday at Wilder Funeral Home.

Expressions of sympathy are suggested to Perryville Baptist Church Building Fund and the American Cancer Society.

Hourigan Cemetery in Haysville

The Hourigan family in Boyle and Marion Counties were married into the Pipes Harmon and Gray families several times over the years.
This site is all about the Hourigan Cemetery. It is part of and located behind the BeechFork Baptist Church just a few miles from Old Union.
Morris Pipes and Sally Montgomery (buried in Old Union) had several children. Two of them married Hourigans. Elias Hardin married Victoria and Nancy Jane married Rufus Hourigan Sr.. Victoria and Rufus were siblings and children of David Hourigan and Ann Lawrence. David Hourigan was a son of Patrick Hourigan who was a Revolutionary War Soldier with an amazing history.
I beleive this site is maintained by Karen Fowler Caldwell.
www.geocities.com/hourigancemetery

New Cemetery Book

Just received word that the Boyle County Historical Society (Carolyn Crabtree) is going to publish a new updated version of the Boyle Co. Cemetery Book. 55.00 plus tax plus 7.00 shipping if pre-ordered now. Will be published in "early spring". Will be 65.00 if purchased after April 1st. No word on what new info will be in there, or if they used any new info on Union Cemetery or not.
Email info@danvillekentucky for more information or send check to Greg Crabtree, 2410 Chestnut Grove Road, Parksville, Ky 40464.

Tell them you heard about it here.

Email problems resolved.....

If you have been reading this blog you know that I have had problems with AT & T, Bellsouth and also Time Warner Road Runner email accounts.
They have labeled me a spam sender because I have sent out emails to a list of people who have contacted me over the years about genealogy and Pipes Family History.
They have blocked my emails so I cant send to you if you have their email service. You can still send to me, I just can't answer you.
My way to get around this is to open a new email account. It is at bobpipes@gmail.com
You can contact me there if you wish.
My old regular email account still is my main account at pipesb@pipefamily.com
If I reply to you and you have one of the addresses above, it wiil be through the new account.

Joining The Pipes Harmon Gray Family Association

If you would like to have your name on the Family Association Mailing List, Just send a note (with your name and address) to Old Union Cemetery, PO BOx 124, Perryville, Ky. 40468.
They send out one annual mailing with news, interest and items about the family reunion. Maybe one other mailing as needed.

Supporters and Friends of Old Union cemetery

I have been quietly accumulating a list of people who have a more than casual interest in the Old Union Cemetery and also in the Pipes Harmon Gray family association and the history of the area where these families lived in the 18th and 19th Centuries. All of the members of this list think we should possibly start a new web site about the subjects above (Old Union, the Family association and the history of the area) and have agreed to participate at some level in sending information, pictures, history or articles that could be published there for everyone to read and enjoy. We have also talked about putting together a booklet of some kind that has pictures, obits and short biographies of the people and families who rest in the cemetery. That booklet could then be used as a fund raiser for the cemetery.

You can see some of these bio pages on the left here, under "those resting in old union".

If this sounds like something in which you have an interest or if you would like to participate, contact me at: pipesb@pipesfamily.com

And again, even of you do not want to participate, if you have info of any kind or know someone who might have info on the cemetery, the church, the area or these families, PLEASE take a few moments of your time and let me know about it.

Fund Raising Update

Money continues to flow into the memorial fund. We have now raised a little over $1600.00 and have 107% of the goal. Any new funds that do arrive will go to restoring and repairing stones in the cemetery.
If you would like to have your name added to the growing list of donors for the memorial stone just make a contribution and we will include your name. Or, if you like, we can make the name in memoriam of someone from your family. My brother and I made a contribution like that in the name of our late Mother and Father and one other contributor did that for their parents as well.
I am trying to find a suitable and affordable method of placing a sign or plaque in the cemetery with the names of donors on it.
I will keep you posted on that.

Winter in Wisconsin?

Where is the Global Warming when you really need it? Its not too cold here but we sure have a lot of snow. About 6 more inches here in Ozaukee County Today. With some pictures to enjoy. Taken looking out my front door.

And my Tiger just slept right thru it all.

What A Beautiful Sight......

Mike Wilder sent me an email today with pictures to let me know that the memorial stone was installed on Friday the 21st of December.

I have added the pictures here and you can click on them to see bigger versions. If you want higher resolution pictures; let me know and I will gladly try to send them to you.

Thanks again to all who helped in this effort. It is truly a special thing that we have done, because that stone will be there for hundreds of years now.

Merry Christmas to All.....

Wishing each of you a Joyous Holiday Season. I hope that every one will spend at least a few minutes thinking of our rich heritage and all of those who have gone before us.

The stone that we worked for is finally installed and more about that later. (with pictures)

In the mean time.. Have a Merry Christmas!

Bob

No, I have not gone into Hibernation!

But I wish I could. I usually enjoy winter in Wisconsin, bu the older I get the harder it is to take. Here it is, the 15th of December and we have had 20 inches of snow and the temperature has been below freezing for much of that time. And guess what it is doing outside as I write this? Tha's right... Its snowing!! Something called Lake Effect snow. Big fluffly flakes that drift down with lots of moisture. It happens when the wind comes around from the east and picks up moisture from Lake Michigan. And then dumps it all over us for about 5 miles inland from the lake. I live about 2 1/2 miles inland so here it comes.

I know it sounds like whining, but I have also had the worst chest cold ever for the last two weeks and just today it is finally letting go.

So I will try to get some more entries made and I am working on the cemetery map.

Hope you are all doing better than I am.

Pouring the Foundation Today

I just received word from Robby Mayes in Kentucky that the foundation for the memorial stone is being poured today.

Memories of Dr. Pipes

I received this wonderful email from Mary Lou Frye last week. I cannot respond to her ( see my entry about AT&T email below) so I thought you all might enjoy reading it and maybe she will see it here too. Read the rest of the story at the bottom.

"I read your article in the Danville paper online as I live in Florida. I am curious to know if you are related to the Dr. Pipes who practiced in Moreland, whose wife was named Betty and they had a son, James? This was many years ago and they were good friends of my maternal grandparents, George Pruitt and Mary Jane "Mame" King Pruitt. People always laughed that the town doctor and the owner of the funeral home were close friends. I have many childhood memories of Dr. Pipes and Miss Betty as they were a part of my daily life as a child (I am now 73). They were frequent guests for meals and when I recall the dining table and the people around it, they are always present. I think in today’s world I would have been labeled hyperactive, however, times were very different and the adults in your life worked around it. Dr. Pipes would allow me to come to his little two-room office building at the side of his house each morning to watch him mix medications with a mortar and pestle if I sat still and did not talk. I was fascinated and I knew he meant what he said. He was much loved by the citizens of Moreland and Lincoln County and delivered just about all the babies around there. His standard fee was a dollar but I think a lot of his fees were paid in food and services. Every morning you would see baskets of fruit, vegetables and other wares of the citizens of this rural community. Miss Betty and my grandparents predeceased him and the town and my family worried about him because he was so lonely for them. He would go by to see my uncle, who now had my grandfather’s funeral home, and express how much he missed him. Quite tragically, Dr. Pipes was driving across the railroad tracks on his way to a house call and did not hear the train coming and I remember crying along with everyone else at this terrible loss. I remember the funeral - everyone attended, but I do not recall the burial so he may or may not be your relative, but he was truly a hero. "
Sincerely - Mary Lou Frye

Dr. Mastin Lee Pipes was a son of George Washington Pipes and Mariah Edwards Pipes who are buried in Old Union. They lived in the farm house just east of the cemetery and raised a large family there. Here is a picture of Dr. Pipes when he was in Medical School I think. Here is a picture of his parents and family. If you know Boyle County, you will recognize the names of his siblings.
Dr Pipes died in a tragic accident with a train and did indeed leave a son named James Lee Pipes. James Lee was also a Doctor and an officer in WWII. He had a son also named James Lee Pipes who was the only Pipes killed in Viet Nam during combat. His name is engraved on the Viet Nam memorial wall in Washington D.C.

Giving Thanks Today

I wish for each of you to have a happy, peaceful, relaxing and wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.
We had our first snow of the winter season last night and it looks very clean and white outside. Makes you feel much more like its the holiday season. Only 2 or 3 inches deep and the sidewalks were warm enough to melt it off right away so... Hooray, No Shoveling! All the benefits of snow with no work involved. Something to be very thankful for.

Especially at this time of year, I like to think about what it must have been like to live in the period from the mid 1700s to the late 1800s, when most of my Kentucky Ancestors were moving from Massachusetts to New Jersey, to North Carolina and then to Kentucky. I read about those times and what a struggle daily life was and it makes me Very Thankful that I had ancestors who were self reliant, industrious and resourceful. I am sure they did not look at their lives as anything but doing what had to be done every day. But when I look back at what they went through, I am in awe. And also very sure that I am so soft and pampered in my daily life, that there is no comparison between my life and theirs. Makes me feel that I have no room to complain about anything, just be grateful that I have what I have.

Makes you think about the past and the future doesn't it?

Happy Thanksgiving
Bob

AT & T and me... Bah Humbug

I have never had a good relationship with AT & T. They are too big and cumbersome and also impossible to work with. Thankfully, they disappeared from my life when the telephone revolution occured in the 1990s. But now they have re-appeared in the form of Cell phone and internet access companies as they buy their way back into our lives. My Cingular cell phone now suddenly belongs to AT & T. Wonderful!

If you have Bellsouth.net or att.net as your email provider please note that I cannot respond to your emails. AT & T has decided that I am not worthy of communicating with their customers so have rejected all my emails. Why? Who knows? Try talking to them? forgetaboutit.

So don't think I am being snooty or unresponsive, just banned to AT & Ts unworthy list.

Thought You Might Enjoy This

Robert Mitchell who lives in New Jersey and is a descendant of the Robert Mitchell who is buried in Old Union sent me this picture of the Mitchell farm in (where else?) Mitchellsburg. He was not certain of the date but his grandfather, Robert Mitchell, is the man in the dark hat in the picture. The other two are his sons.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Contract Signed Today

I received the contract for the memorial stone today. I signed it and sent it back to Mike Wilder in Perryville. We will pay him half the cost up front and he told me he plans to have the foundation put in next week, weather permitting. So it looks good for us to have the stone in place before new years. I will try to get someone to take some pictures to post here.

Mapping Database is published

The mapping database is ready to view. It still needs work to add notes, obituaries, the photos etc. But... You can see it here Mapping Database. There is also a link along the left side of the page.
The view you can see is sorted by last name. I cannot get it to sort by Section, Row, Lot # and Space like I want, so I will have to export it to a spreadsheet and then a different document so you can see it. I will start on that next week.

I also will draw a map of the cemetery so you can link the names to a physical location.

Remember that this list is of everyone who has a stone or marker in the cemetery as of October 2007. I will also put together a list soon of everyone who we believe is buried there and no longer has a marker.

Another Newspaper Article About The Project

Yet another Newspaper article. Thanks to our friend at the Local Newspaper the Danville Advocate Messenger www.amnews.com Brenda Edwards, We were in the paper again this last weekend. Hopefully we will raise a little more money and get a few more people involved to help the cemetery.
Here is a link to the article: http://www.amnews.com/public_html/?module=displaystory&story_id=36028&format=print

The picture was taken October 20th when I was down there to map the cemetery and retrieve the stones.

Fund Raising Goal Update

We are now over 100% of the goal we set back in July. We estimated that the cost of the stone, the engraving and the installation in the cemetery would cost between 1400 and 1500 dollars.
The final price will be $1490.00. I spent a little more on engraving and made the stone and the base as thick as possible for that price range. Several people have asked if they could still donate and the answer is yes. Every penny that is not spent on this stone will be spent on finding a Revolutionary War Soldiers medallion to mount on the stone (unless I can convince the Local DAR to donate another one.) OR to repair other broken stones in the cemetery. Some of the broken stones will be repaired by my family. But there are many others that need repair. Including the original stones of John and Mary. They are settling and tipping at an angle and that causes them to break when water gets into the cracks and then freezes and thaws.

If you donate, your name will be added to the list of persons who donated to support the memorial stone for John and Mary.

I am trying to figure out a proper way to honor those who have donated and have not reached a conclusion yet on the best way to do that. We may place a list of names of donors in the cemetery but there is currently no way to do that. I have not asked permission of those who donated, some may not want their name listed, I don't know that yet.
I will find a way to do that.... Any suggestions?

Here is the image sent to me by Mike Wilder of the Memorial stone. You can click on it to see a larger copy of the image. If you would like a full size copy, send me an email, just remember its BIG. If you have dial up you wont like it.

I am very pleased with it. The layout is very well balanced and I was concerned about that. The drawing makes the thickness appear to be bigger than it really is (its 6 inches thick) but the drawing is to scale.

If you have comments, I would love to hear from you.

Something Interesting

I noticed while mapping the cemetery that an unusually high number of people died in 1889. Digging thru a large stack of items gleaned from local newspapers by John Shepperson ( Thanks John !) I came across a short item that told of the high number of deaths that year in the Harmon family from Typhoid-Malarial Fever. Here is the article: : "September 6, 1889; Charlie Harmon, son of the late Peter Harmon, died of Typhoid Malarial fever at his mother's residence in Washington County, August 30th. He was interred at Union this county. A crowd of relatives and friends followed him to the grave. His father, Peter Harmon died of the same fever just three weeks ago. There are three more of the family sick. They have the sympathy of the entire community."

The other three also passed away and are buried in Union on the same marker.

I always thought that Typhus and Malaria were two different diseases. So I start searching around on the internet and find this description:

"Typhoid-malarial Fever is a common term from the American Civil War. It was proposed by an Army surgeon, Joseph Janvier Woodward, to describe the many cases of camp fever that combined elements from typhoid fever, malarial remittent fever, and scurvy to varying degrees. He felt that Typhoid-malarial Fever was the most common of the camp fevers, which included all of the continued fevers suffered by the men in the army. The term was adopted by the army board to describe these fevers with combined symptoms. "

Many children and older adults passed away that year from this affliction. Many families losing several children.

Bronze Medallions for Veterans

I have found a place that will sell us the bronze gravesite markers that you see so often in cemeteries. The company is called Disabled Vets but NOT the same as the Disabled American Veterans. They are sending a catalog and the man on the phone said they sell medallions for every conflict and also one that just says "Veteran". The ones that have a metal rod to sink into the ground and made to hold a flag is called a grave marker. They sell another kind that has a smooth back edge and allows you to afix it directly to the stone. I will keep you up to date when I receive the catalog.

Update On The Memorial Stone

The fund raising goal has been met. Actually, it is $1485.00 but thats close enough. I have been in discussions with Mike Wilder of Wilder Monument Company in Perryville about the design, engraving, size and placement of the stone. I had to make a tough decision about the wording on the stone because for the amount of money we have and the size of the stone there was a conflict. Too many words and not enough room. So I reformatted the wording on the front and moved some of the inscription to the back of the stone. I will post a jpg of the wording as soon as I have it.
The stone will be Gray with a matte finish ( not that shiny polished finish) the edges will be rough cut ( to make it look older like it belongs in the cemetery) the stone will be 6 inches thick. The base will be 54L" x 12W" x 6H". the stone will be 42L" x 6T" x 22H". The stone will sit at the foot of the current grave site and as you stand looking west at the current stones, this stone will be at your feet facing you. It will be low enough that it will not obscure the old stones. The old stones by the way are fading faster than I had thought. John Pipes' stone is not readable any more and the center face is weather checked and deteriorating .

Grave stones for Nathaniel and Margaret Pipes

As I mentioned in an entry below, I rescued these two stones from old Union and brought them back to Wisconsin with me. I have been looking for someone who would take on the task of cleaning and repairing the stones. Well, this week I found someone who works at a local monument company and has the experience. He is going to repair and clean the stones this winter and also we talked about making a couple of marble bases to stand them in. He says the cost will be 200 to 300 for both and that is good news for me. I told him I did not want the stones restored to look like new but rather to just clean them up and repair them so they look as old as they really are. As I have mentioned to my brother and a few others, I have felt so guilty over the last few years about these broken stones laying in the cemetery. It just seemed to be very disrespectful to Nathaniel and Margaret. I am feeling much better about it now and will feel really great next year when I can see them back where they belong. And if this guy does a good job, I may bring a few more back to get them done as well.

Cemetery History

Again I am asking for help in gathering history information of the cemetery.
Several persons have donated wonderful information and that realy helps, but I need more! Family info, pictures, newspaper articles, history. Anything, even small things help to build a bigger picture, and that is important.

A NEW Project Discussion....

I have had conversations with several people in the last month or so about setting up a web site for the Pipes-Harmon-Gray family association. It is still in the "Should we do it?" phase, so if you have an opinion or would like to participate, please let me know. I have agreed to set up the site, maintain it and pay for the domain name registration for it. BUT... the agreement on my part is good only if others donate content for the site. In other words, Pictures, articles, news, lists etc, that would be of interest to others in the family association. I can format it, lay it out, place it on the site etc. but we need people who will write it , gather it, send it etc.
Please let me know what you think about doing this.

The Mapping Continues....

I am spending as much time as possible getting the information entered into the database. It is a slow process. Dennis Gray and John Sheperson have both volunteered information about the old cemetery and the stones and its history. It is very helpful to the process. I have figured out how to get the information out of the database as well, which is very important.

Union Cemetery Mapping

While in Perryville last weekend, we started the process of mapping the graves there and identifying who is buried where.
A preliminary count indicates that there are 200 grave stones there, either standing, broken but readable or laying flat somewhere near their original site. Many of these have multiple names on them, many are small stones for infants, and some are not readable.
Here are the numbers:
Stones: old section 140, new section 60
People identified: Old section 136, new section 83
Unreadable stones: old section 24, new section 2

I have found a free database program that is made especially for cemetery mapping and will start putting data into it this week. I also intend to draw a map. Then in the spring we will go down there again and refine the data and take pictures of each stone. The pictures of the stones can then be linked to the persons name in the database and we can put it all on the web for viewing.

I could use some help in locating obituaries for people buried in Union. I have some sent to me by Karen Fowler Caldwell over the years but really need more. These too can be linked to the persons name. Send them to me. Either scan them in as a picture or type them in as text.
For an example of this type of database, here is a link to a cemetery page in Indiana where you can see examples of the information that we will display.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~inhowar2/

Saturday Night Update on my trip....

Thursday...
Just a touch over 500 miles from my house to the west side of Danville. Took a little over 9 hours, but other than miserable traffic and construction delays around chicago, it was a nice trip. I will try to post a picture or two and also the results of my conversation with Mike Wilder.
A local resident who is also a Harmon - Pipes descendant named Mary Rall and her mother Mary Stuart Guerrant called me this afternoon and plan to meet me at the cemetery to talk about the cemetery and genealogy.

Friday...
Robert Mayes met with me and Mike Wilder today and we discussed the stone and the placement. This is not as easy as I first thought it would be. We need to have a stone that looks like it belongs in this old cemetery, is big enough to fit all of the wording we want on it and fits our budget. Mike assures us that we can do it and the stone will probably be a gray, flat finish, rough edge stone, about 6 inches thick and 48 inches wide by 24 to 30 inches high. Placement will be at the 'foot' of the grave site. One side will have the names, dates etc and the other side will have the memorial inscription.

On the way to the cemetery, Robert and I stopped at the home of Randy Glasscock and his wife Sue. They own the land that was the original land purchased by John Pipes Jr. in 1796. The home that is there now is not built over the original house but is most surely on or very near the spot where the original house must have been. Randy's father purchased the property from a Pipes family member named John F. Pipes in 1943.

Mary Rall and her mother Mary met with Robert and I at the cemetery and we talked history and genealogy for quite a while. They are descendants of John Pipes jr and Michael Harmon (Like me!) They made a generous donation to the fund and that means we are now at 99.9% of our goal. (see the side bar for the graph.)

I found the two broken and buried stones for Nathaniel Pipes and his wife Margaret Harmon and plan to take them home with me, get them restored and then reinstall them in the spring.

I spent the rest of the day mapping the graves in the first part of the cemetery. Tomorrow is more mapping for the rest of the old part of the cemetery.

Saturday...

I spent most of the day completing the mapping of the other two sections of the cemetery. Mary Rall stopped by to help and between us we spent about 7 hours getting it all on paper. We totaled 160 burial sites with markers of some kind and many of those have multiple names on them. I am estimating we have about 200 names. The various lists I have total between 200 and 230 names, so there may not be as many missing markers as we thought. Many of the markers are broken like the ones in the picture above. It breaks your heart to see it, but there is hope that we can repair some of them and possibly make some kind of a plate marker for the ones that are missing. Several of the above ground crypts are collapsed and probably can not be repaired. We also uncovered about 15 markers that had been overgrown.

The cemetery grounds look very good. Probably the best that I have seen in 25 years of visiting there. Edwina Morgeson and Robert Mayes have both done a wonderful job. Edwina owns the farm land that surrounds most of the cemetery and she has a son buried there. She has spent many hours there and her own money to clean weeds and fence lines, pull trees and brush out of the fences and make the place look good. Robert has hired a new person to mow and done work on stones and some wrought iron fencing. We talked about new ways to try and raise funds to get more stones repaired and cleaned and to repair some of the fencing.

This has to be one of the most satisfying and enjoyable trips I have made to Kentucky. Many nice people, good things are happening for the cemetery and the weather and scenery were gorgous.

More later.....

My Trip to Kentucky

I am planning on leaving tomorrow (Thursday) for a 4 day trip to Perryville and Danville. I wish it could be 4 weeks instead of 4 days, but if wishes were fishes....
Anyway, I plan to visit with Mike Wilder and make some decisions about the memorial stone on Friday Morning. Then I will spend some time at the cemetery and see if I can find the broken stones for my GG grandfather Nathaniel Pipes and his wife Margaret. If I can find them, I will bring them back to Wisconsin and see if I can get them repaired/restored this winter. I will take some pictures and post them when I get back and should have some cost estimates for the stone to tell you about. My cell phone number (for the 18th to the 20th) is 414-791-9775 for anyone who would like to meet with me (or just talk) while I am there.

Cemetery Pictures

Please help us by copying picture you may have of the cemetery and the stones there and sending them via email or regular mail. We are trying to reconstruct the burial plots and these pictures may be the easiest way to do that. The earlier the pictures are, the better.

Update

About time for an update. I have been working on trying to set up a trip to Kentucky for the last two weeks and now it looks like it will be next weekend, the 19th and 20th. I plan to meet with Mike Wilder and talk about the stone and also see if I can recover some broken stones from the cemetery.
Donations have been nil for the last two weeks, so we are still at $1400.00. I have great faith in our family and I am sure we will find the rest.
John Sheperson has sent me a package of information about the early days of the Cemetery and he led me to a book about the life of Rev. Thomas Cleland, who was not the original leader of the Presbyterian group that started the church but he did take leadership from Rev. Samuel Robinson very early in the history of this church. I am working on a paper to detail as much as possible about the early days and the founding of the church. While reading through this material, I discovered that it had another name at one point. It was called Bethel Union for a time. (Update Note: John Sheperson points out that the previous sentence is my mistake. Bethel was a different church. I read the account wrong.) It also appears there is a difference of a couple of years regarding the start date of the church.
More later.