For the last month, one member of our group has concentrated on 1889. This is so important as we genealogy buffs feel the pain of the missing 1890 federal census.
Just last week, my sweet Walter's obituary was transcribed. I thought it appropriate to feature sweet Walter today with his obituary and a photo I have of him. I suspect he was around 10 or so when this photograph was taken. That makes the date around 1880.
SIMMONS- On Tuesday, March 12, 1889, at 8:30pm, Walter Glenn, son of Addison and Hannah G Simmons, in the 18th year of his age.
Funeral from the parents’ residence, near Banksville, on Thursday, 1th at 2 pm. Carriages will leave T B Hersberger’s, undertaker, West End, at 10 am. Friend of the family are respectfully invited to attend.
Pittsburgh Dispatch, Mar 13, 1889, page 5
Walter is buried in the Mt Lebanon Cemetery, Mt Lebanon, Allegheny, PA with his parents. I look at this sweet face and wonder how he died just as his life was beginning. Walter was one of three children in the family and the only son. Only one sister of his survived to adulthood, married, and had children. Oh, can you imagine the heartbreak of the family upon his death? Can you imagine the heartbreak felt in so many families as so many young children didn't survive? It's hard to believe that death of the young was so very common at that time.
Ahhh- genealogy. Sometimes you just gotta sit quietly and reflect on the past.
©2010 AS Eldredge
