Tombstone Tuesday - David R. C. Johnston, Trenton, NJ

David R.C. Johnston Oct 1859 - 31 Dec 1945

I had searched for over a year with little luck for the death date of my husband's great-grandfather, David R. C. Johnston who was born in October 1859 in Jefferson County, PA to Andrew Jackson and Eliza Mariah (London) Johnston.  He and his wife, Mary Elizabeth Hildinger moved to Trenton, NJ around 1914 when he began working as as manager for his brother-in-law, Charles C. Hildinger, at his growing movie theater business.

Ewing Church Cemetery, Trenton, NJ

Using numerous sources, including my subscription to the Trenton Times archives, I found a number of articles on David and Mary Johnston and their daughter Luella Ruth who married Dr. Alvin S. Rogers (my husband's grandfather) including Mary's obituary in 1954.  I never had any luck finding David's death date.  Finally a little luck came my way via a wonderful Find-A-Grave volunteer, Mark Snyder who had taken a picture of this Johnston headstone for me for Mary E. Hildinger Johnston.  Mary's name wasn't on the stone, just the name Johnston, but the headstone was near the Hildinger and Sweet headstones who are Mary's siblings.  Mark went out of his way to GO BACK to the cemetery office a few days later to ask if they could check their burial records to see if David was buried there as well.  They confirmed that David C. Johnston died 31 Dec 1945 at age 86 years, 2 months and was buried next to Mary in plot C123.  Find-A-Grave volunteers are the best!

They also reported that a Susan L. Rogers had been buried in the Johnston family plot on 5 Aug 1971.  That would have to be Luella Ruth Johnston, the daughter of David and Mary, my husband's grandmother.  She changed her name to Susan sometime after her husband Dr. Alvin Rogers died in 1937 and she later died in Miami, FL in 1969 and was cremated.  I assume my father-in-law took her ashes back to Trenton for interment.

Sunday's Obituary - Movie Heir, John Clark Hildinger - Trenton, NJ

John Clark Hildinger 24 Sep 1916 - 3 May 1968

J. Clark Hildinger - 1947

John Clark Hildinger was born in Trenton, New Jersey on 24 Sep 1916 to Charles Clark Hildinger and Helen Beatrice (Dunn) Hildinger.  Young Clark was born into Trenton royalty, his father the owner of a string of motion picture houses and who was known as the “nickel king.”  His father died in 1931 and his mother stepped into his shoes.  After his mother’s death in 1960 Clark took over the reins of the family business. 

Clark Hildinger was a veteran of World War II.   He left the family business in April 1942 entering the U.S. Army as a private at Fort Dix.  In March 1943 he was promoted to Corporal.

Trenton Times 3 May 1968

Clark was survived by one sister, Claire Hildinger and several cousins.  He was a first cousin once removed to my father-in-law, Alvin S. Rogers.  The funeral was held at William Murphy Funeral Home, 149 North Warren Street.  He was buried in the family plot at Ewing Church Cemetery, Trenton, New Jersey.
 

Ewing Church Cemetery - photo courtesy of Mark Snyder Find-A-Grave

Military Monday – George Washington’s Bodyguard - Samuel Callender

Samuel Callender 1756 - 12 Mar 1830

Sadly, I haven’t had much time to work on my genealogy research lately, but today while I was cleaning off my desk I took a break and started clicking on those leaves on Ancestry.com on my husband’s genealogy.  His family history is so rich and full of interesting characters.  I have long been interested in his two times great-grandmother Elizabeth Mariah London Johnston, daughter of  Truman Beauman London and great-granddaughter of Samuel Callendar.  I have been planning for some time to write about Eliza Maria as she was known, but today as I was looking at her family tree I noticed the shaking leaf on Samuel Callendar who would be my husband's five times great-grandfather, and realized there were six (6) hints.  Although I had added him to the family tree some time ago, I had never really paid much attention to his line.  Imagine my surprise to realize that he was a Revolutionary War veteran, but not only that, according to Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Cards; he was a body guard to George Washington!

The burial card states he was buried in Montdale Cemetery in Montdale, PA in Lackawanna County.  At first I could not find a cemetery with that name in Lackawanna County, but after a few minutes of searching I finally discovered he was already listed on Find-A-Grave in Scott Valley Cemetery in Montdale, Lackawanna County, PA.  Click on the link to see the great picture of his stone which also mentions his service and duty as body guard to George Washington.

What another great find in my husband’s family history!  Of course, as usual, I am more excited about it than he is……sigh.

Sunday's Obituary - Helen Rogers - Trenton, NJ

I wrote last week about the short life of Ellerslie Wallace Rogers, son of Dr. Elmer H. and Mary (Bowers) Rogers.  Sadly, they were to lose another child two and a half years later, their four year-old daughter Helen.  I would have never known about Helen, except I came across this short notice in the Trenton Times:

Trenton Times 21 Jul 1897

Once again, no mention as to the cause of death and I can only guess at the sadness and despair the parents felt, especially the father being a doctor and unable to save his own child.

Just this week I received notification that a Find-A-Grave contributor had added these pictures of Ellerslie and Helen's headstones and I am very grateful to have both of these pictures.

Riverview Cemetery, Trenton, NJ

Rogers Children, Main Stone, Riverview Cemetery

Sunday's Obituary - Ellerslie Wallace Rogers - Trenton, NJ

I have written before of the sad, short life of the first-born son of Dr. Elmer H. and Mary (Bowers) Rogers, Ellerslie Wallace Rogers.  He was my husband's grand-uncle.  Although his father was a respected Trenton, NJ physician, he was not able to save his own child from dying.  I have not been able to find out why Ellerslie or Wallace as it appeared he was called died, the only mention of his death is this short mention in the Trenton Times on 20 Feb 1895:

Although some months ago I had requested via Find-A-Grave, a photograph of his headstone at Riverview Cemetery in the family plot, I was very disappointed to be told there was none.  However, just this week out of the blue I received notification that another Find-A-Grave contributor had added these pictures of Ellerslie and his sister Helen's headstones (who I will write about also) and I am so grateful to have these pictures.

Riverview Cemetery, Trenton, NJ

Main Headstone - Rogers Children

Tombstone Tuesday - Rogers' Plot Riverview Cemetery Trenton, NJ

Dr. Elmer H. Rogers 

Born 10 Nov 1858 Bucks County, PA

Died 11 Apr 1907 Mercer County, NJ

Mary Olivia (Bowers) Rogers

Born Jul 1864 Maryland

Died 10 Apr 1934 Mercer County, NJ

I was very happy when I discovered the burial place for my husband's great-grandfather Dr. Elmer H. Rogers.  I also discovered at the same time that his great-grandmother, Elmer's wife, Mary Olivia (Bowers) Rogers was buried at the same cemetery.  I set both of them up in Find-A-Grave and requested pictures of the headstones.  The picture you see is what I received.  The person who took the picture is also the cemetery historian - Riverview Cemetery is a very old, large cemetery with over 14,000 burial sites.  He pulled the lot card for Dr. Rogers and reported to me that there were five burials in his plot and supplied the death years for the additional burials, Dr. Elmer Rogers, his wife Olivia, their son Ellerslie (1895), daughter Helen (1897) and daughter Olivia R. (1940).  I already knew about Ellerslie having discovered his death in an old newspaper, but did not know where he was buried so was excited about this find.  Helen, I did not know about, as she was born about 1892 and died in 1897 so was never shown in any census, that I had previously found.  I did go back and find a small obituary in an old edition of the Trenton Evening Times and then later found her listed in the 1895 New Jersey State Census.  I was able to find daughter Olivia's obituary in Trenton Evening times - she died in 17 Jan 1940 at age 42 of a heart attack.

Sadly, Elmer is the only one whose name is etched on the stone.  There are no smaller stones for his children.  The cemetery historian told me that the lots were purchased with "annual care" and have been in arrears since 1934 which would be the year Mrs. Rogers died.  For the small fee of $2479 the lots could be placed in "perpetual care" and the names of the remaining family etched on the stone.  Evidently, even though Dr. Rogers was quite wealthy at the time of his death, he did not prepare for this circumstance.  It saddens me that there are no markers for the other members of this family.  I'll just add this to my list of things to buy when I win the lottery!

Amanuensis Monday: Eliza M. Johnston - Last Will & Testament

Amanuensis Monday – Eliza M. Johnston Last Will & Testament

Elizabeth Mariah London Johnston

Born:  9 Mar 1834 Luzerne Co, PA

Died:  8 Jun 1914 Clearfield Co, PA

Buried:  Rumbarger Cemetery Find-A-Gave

Father:  Truman Beaman London

Mother:  Sally Maria Slawson

*******

I, Eliza M. Johnston, of Du Bois, Pennsylvania, being of sound mind, memory and understanding, do make, publish an declare the following to be my last will testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me at any time heretofore made.

First, I direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid and discharged as soon after my decease as may be.

Second, All of my estate, real, personal and mired, of whatsoever nature and wheresoever situate, I give, devise and bequeath, share and share alike, unto my ten children: Mary M. Winslow, Susan C. Weaver, James K. Johnston, David C. Johnston, George McClelland Johnston, William T. Johnston, John A. Johnston, Eva Eliza Lenkerd, Joseph S. Johnston, Charles L. Johnston, and the heirs of my daughter Nancy Johnston Taylor, to wit: - Grover J. Taylor, Bessie Kauffman and Freda Steinmetz, who shall together have one share thereof, or the one-eleventh part.

Third, I nominate and appoint my sons, Charles L. Johnston and Joseph S. Johnston, to be the executors of this my last will and testament, and direct that they shall sell my real estate within three years from the date of my death, at public or private sale and at such price or prices as t them shall seem just and right, and make good and sufficient deeds of conveyance therefor, and divide the proceeds thereof as specified in the second item hereof.

                In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 2nd day of July 1909. 

                                                                         Eliza M. Johnston (signature)(seal)

                Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above-named Eliza M. Johnston, as and for her last will and testament, in the presence of us, who, at her request and in her presence, and in the presence of each other, have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.

                                                                            Wm. G. Jones (witness)

                                                                            C. P. Hayward (witness

******

Eliza died in June of 1914, but the final accounting was not filed with the Court until April of 1921, nearly seven  (7) years later.  The sale of her real estate did not occur until January 1921 although her will directed it to be sold within three years of her death.  The debits to the estate including the sale of real estate were:

1. Cash on hand - $90.00
2. Cash in Deposit Nat. Bank of Du Bois, Pa - 732.00
3. Notes & Int. of Chas. L. Johnston & Susan C. Beard & J.S.Winslow  - 1705.74
4. Cash in First Nat. Bank of Reynoldsville, Pa -  732.32
5. Cash rec'd from sale of properties as dir. by will - 3100.00
6. Cash sale of stock Reynoldsville Water Co. - 40.60
7. Cash, net rentals after deducting expenses  - 551.38

Total $6952.04
******

The estate expenses including payments to the undertaker ($201.50), tombstone ($115.00) county recorder, cemetery sexton, legal services, medical services and miscellaneous came to $447.50.
******

Payments to heirs on 15 Jan 1921:  Charles L and Joseph Johnston each received $740.52 as their one-tenth share of the estate plus commission as co-executor.  Siblings James, David, George, William and John Johnston, Susan Weaver Beard, and Mrs. J. O. (Eva Eliza) Lenkerd each received $558.48 as their one-tenth share.  Daughter Mary Johnston Winslow died in Jun of 1914 and her children, Bruce, James, William & Merton Winslow, Eva Van Why and Ella Yates each received $93.08.  The children of daughter Nancy Johnston Taylor, Bessie Taylor Hoffman, Grover Taylor and Freda Taylor Steinmetz each received $184.04.

Sunday's Obituary - Mary Elizabeth Hildinger Johnston

My Husband's Great-Grandmother  Mary Elizabeth Hildinger Johnston

Born:  1863 Armstrong County, PA
Died:  1954 Trenton, Mercer County, NJ
Burial:  Ewing Church Cemetery (Find-A-Grave)

Her Mother:  Mary Jane Cochran 1831 - 1891
Her Father:  John A. Cochran 1831 - 1887

Source:  Trenton Sunday Times Advertiser 8 Aug 1954

Tombstone Tuesday - Jane Eliza Slack Rogers

Name:  Jane Eliza "Jennie" Slack Rogers
Wife of Levi H. Rogers
Daughter of Cornelius Slack & Eleanor H.VanHorn Slack


Born:  April 1838
Died:  15 Aug 1918

Cemetery:  Riverview, Trenton, Mercer County, NJ
Photo courtesy of Leigh Miller for Find-A-Grave

Top of Stone says "Mama"
Her stone is next to her husband's.  She was greatly loved by her family.

Tombstone Tuesday - Levi H. Rogers

Name:  Levi H. Rogers

Born:  Aug 9, 1827
Died:  Feb 4, 1892

Cemetery:  Riverview, Trenton, Mercer County, NJ
Photo courtesy of Leigh Miller for Find-A-Grave

Top of Stone say "Papa"
He was obviously well-loved by his family.