Tombstone Tuesday: Sleep Little Angels, Be Not Forgotten

When researching old cemeteries, it quickly becomes obvious that among the expected deaths of the old and sick are the high numbers of infants.  How many infants are lying with their mothers who soon followed them or lying alone with no headstone?  How many infants are listed as being the "infant section"?

To feed my genealogy addiction, I tend to search around for any new information that has been placed online.  Recently, a new collection of deaths in Pittsburgh, PA, has been placed online by the Family Search crew.  The dates range from 1870-1905.

I looked for some of my surnames and was disappointed.  Then, I looked some more and found a couple of names.  Then, I found a new name, an infant daughter of Cassius M LEA and second wife, Mary Ellen HICKEY.  

This sweet angel, Elizabeth LEA died on August 5, 1882, after living for a brief period of time. She was the second child of the couple and is buried at the old St Clair Cemetery in Mt Lebanon, Allegheny, PA.

This sweet angel was not the first child that Cassius had lost so close to birth.  His first wife, Maggie, died a couple of days after the birth of their only child and daughter in 1872.

While there was a small headstone placed for Cassius at some point, we have yet to uncover one for Maggie or the two sweet angels.  I wonder if the sweet angels are close together in death.  I rather suspect they are as Cassius is buried with the family of Maggie.

So a new name is entered into the family tree and will now be remembered in the future.  Rest sweetly, little angel.


Ahh, genealogy. The angels of the past touch my heart in such a tender way.


Source: 
Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh City Deaths, 1870-1905, V 32, p47

©2011 AS Eldredge