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!

Happy Thanksgiving - A Thank You to My Husband's Rogers Ancestors

In Memoriam and Love of my husband's Rogers ancestors - thank you and Happy Thanksgiving to All!

Veteran's Day Memorial to Alvin Stackhouse Rogers

In memory of my father-in-law, Alvin S. Rogers, of Trenton, NJ, who joined the US Naval Reserves at age 17 in 1943.  He was a gunner aboard the USS Nevada and fought at the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa.  He was aboard the Nevada in the Leyte Gulf, Philippines on 16 Sep 1945 when the end of World War II was announced. 

Alvin Stackhouse Rogers 1926 - 1993

Wedding Wednesday - Trenton, NJ -Helen Dunn & Charles Hildinger

I'm sure at the time this was considered one of the social events of the season.  The popular Miss Helen Dunn, daughter of Harry & Margaret Dunn was married to Charles Clark Hildinger, the very well-known owner of many of the new motion picture houses around Trenton, NJ.  At a pre-wedding shower with around seventy guests, he presented his new wife-to-be with a diamond pendant.  A great way to start a new marriage!

Trenton Evening Times 27 Oct 1915

Amanuensis Monday: Across the Ocean -Naturalization of John Hildinger & Family

I've talked before (see here) about the Hildinger line of my husband's family, his paternal great-grandmother's family.  His great-great-great grandfather John Hildinger, along with wife Margaret, daughter Rosana (3) and son John A. (1) all emigrated to United States from Württemberg, Germany in 1833.  I have great respect for anyone brave enough to travel with two toddlers, but to do so nearly two hundred years ago, across the ocean with few belongings and probably little money can only be described as unbelievably courageous!

The Hildingers settled first in Westmoreland County, PA and then next purchased land in Armstrong County, PA.  I have not been able to find to find a port of arrival or the ship they came over; however I was lucky enough to find naturalization records in the keeping of the Prothonotary of Westmoreland County.  Here is my transcription of this record, unfortunately a portion of the far right side was cut off and a few words were lost:

No. 4

John Hildinger

                Westmoreland county ss – Be it remembered that at a Court held at Greenot? said County the 27^th February A.D. 1837.  Personally appeared John Hildinger aged 44 years _____ship a native of Wurtemburgh in Germany and made report of his family Margret his wife age __ his daughter aged 8 years, John his son aged 5 years that they were born subjects to the King of _____ migrated to the United Stated in 1833 that it is bona fide his intention to become a citizen of ______ to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign Prince States Potentates or sovereigns particularly to the King of Wurtemburgh of whom he was before a subject.

                Sworn and Subcribed in open this 28^th Feb. A.D. 1837 before me}                                                                                                   (signed in German)

                                                                                      J. B. Oliver, Prot}