Gravestone Etching
Do you know who your ancestors were or what part of the world you came from? For many people in today's world, those questions have become everyday concerns.
There are many ways to find information about ancestors, but when documentation is missing, genealogical searches can be complicated.
The Pike County Genealogical Society uses one particular method to help individuals and families find their lost ancestors. That method is called rubbing, or etching, and it is used to real illegible engravings on old tombstones.
The types of etching used in the past were a bit different than current methods. In Pike County, there are more than 200 cemeteries where many different gravestone markings can be seen.
The Pike County Genealogical Society has counted and visited almost all the cemeteries in Pike County and have complied a list of the numbers of cemeteries in each township.
The modern method of etching didn't become popular until the mid-1900's, but in earlier years, many families didn't have the tools to mark the tombstone with great detail. For this reason, families often used symbols or very few words to embellish there loved ones' grave markers.
According to Nancy Aiken of Guysville, who has been researching genealogy for 30 plus years, if you see a tombstone that has a lot of markings or great detail the family must have been well-to-do because of the cost of etching stones in the past.
Most of the gravestones seen today have been marked or etched with the use of laser for a precise marking, while tombstones located in older cemeteries were marked by the use of simple tools, such as pocket knives.
The Genealogical Society reminds those planning to do tombstone rubbing to never use anything that will harm the tombstone.
If you need to use something on the tombstone to make more pronounced you should only use water or shaving cream and a wooden or plastic ruler or rubber squeegees to press the cream into the cracks or marks.
The best way to record the stone is by photography and by using a sheet of Pellon material and a crayon.
"If there is anyone who has an unmarked cemetery on their property, please share the information with the Genealogical Society," said Tyrone Hemry. "We are trying to document and record all the graves sites in Pike County. There is still a lot of them that are unmarked or on property that only the families know about."
People looking for answers to questions regarding their ancestors should take note of a few things before venturing to local cemeteries.
"Before you start looking for an ancestor you should begin with yourself," said Aiken. "Learn everything about yourself by talking with your family members and write down everything. You should keep records that are legible for others to read later about all those in your family starting with you."
According to Aiken, before looking for ancestors, the researcher should know:
The location of the cemeteries in Pike County.How to read the marking on gravestones.What to look for on the gravestones.How to determine what era the gravestone came from. One way to help find the era of the gravestone is to examine the material from the gravestone is made.If the ancestor has a stone made of slate or common fieldstone (except wood used by pioneers); chances are the stone dates from 1796-1830.If the stone is flat-topped hard marble, it is dated from about 1830-1849.If the "mystery" stone is round or pointed soft marble with cursive inscriptions, look for a date of 1845-1868.Masonic four-sided stones were created in 1850 and still in use today.Pylons, columns and all exotic-style monuments are usually dated 1860-1900.Zinc monuments date from 1870-1900.Granite, now common, came into use about 1900.According to Tyrone Hemry, member of the Pike County Genealogical Society, the oldest tombstone in Pike County, as referring to the date of death, is dated 1800, and is located in the Omega Cemetery.
Newspaper research led the society to another old tombstone. A death notice printed in the Republican Herald in 1913 read, "Newman, Silas P., Ohio's oldest soldier has just died at his home in Jackson Township. He was colored and was aged 101 years. He served in Company "K" 42nd US Infantry. His widow, Mahala Newman, age 75, applied for a widows pension Tuesday." Newman's grave plot is located in the Carr's Run Cemetery, and is dated July 5, 1812 - January 6, 1913.
Other interesting facts about former residents of Pike County may be found on the search to locate ancestors.
Another way you can begin searching for ancestors is by visiting www.rootsweb.com to obtain ideas and information on the best ways to begin a search.
According to Aiken, some of the documents one can search are old tax records, property deeds, marriage records, death certificates, birth certificates and Federal Census records.
"The best documents to search prior to 1790, the year the Federal Census was started, is tax records because they have been around longer and have been kept more up-to-date than some of the other types of documents," said Aiken. "Ohio University has a depository with all the records of Pike County, and that is a good place to look for documents."
During the August meeting of the Genealogical Society, Aiken discussed the two methods used in researching ancestors. The best method is the process of elimination and the second is implication. Although implication is not an accurate way of finding positive evidence one is looking for from documents, it may be the only way and should be used only as a last resort.
"Try to be logical and have patience when doing research," said Aiken. "It is not a fast process it does take a lot of time to find the things you want to find."
Members of the Genealogy Society encourages those interested in genealogy to join them at the monthly meetings held in the Garnet A. Wilson Library in Waverly the third Saturday of each month at 1 p.m., with exception to November (First Family Dinner) and December - no meetings.
(Added note: number of cemeteries per township: Beaver 7; Benton 20; Camp Creek 15; Jackson 36; Marion 9; Mifflin 28; Newton 25; Pebble 15; Pee Pee 15; Perry 14; Scioto 14; Seal 16; Sunfish 13 and Union Township 17.)
The Waverly News Watchman - August 2005
By: Michael Butcher, NW Staff Writer
Copyright © 2006
Pike Co. Genealogy Society a Chapter of O.G.S.
P. O. Box 224, Waverly, Ohio 45690