Powell's Remains

[Dave Taylor]

Wondeful article Betty! I saw we dig up the bodies, look for the one without a head, and rebury it in Florida.

Rich,

I thought Osborn Oldroyd was buried in Springfield, IL close to Lincoln's Tomb?

Gene,

Henry Wirz' body was released to Louis Schade, Wirz' old attorney. Schade also helped to get Azerodt's body and was the second owner of the Petersen House. I wrote an article about Mr. Schade on my blog. Schade was very convinced of Wirz' innocence and reburied his former client in Mount Olivet, as Betty said. Here is Louis Schade's FindaGrave page.

[Laurie Verge]

I just know that one day I'm going to have to bail out some of you guys when you get arrested for grave robbing!!!!

[BettyO]

Thanks, Dave!

Wish it was that simple! 1200 bodies is a LOT of diggin'! HA!

[Rsmyth]

Hi Dave,
Are you thinking of Lincoln Memorial custodian John Powers who was buried within view of his idols grave?

[LincolnMan]

Is grave robbing a felony or misdemeanor? Just asking!

[Claudine]

A few days absent from this board and boom! - I haven't read the article. I don't get the S. Courier. But I'm looking forward to the updated edition of 'Alias Paine'. Congratulations, Betty! Historians rock!

[Laurie Verge]

E-mail me at laurie.verge@pgparks.com, and I will send you a complimentary copy of the October Courier. Hopefully, it will entice you to join the Society so that you can get the newsletter monthly. That offer applies to others who may not be members (yet).

It's a whopping $10/year -- and we send to members as far away as Australia, England, Belgium, Czech Republic, lots in Canada, and nearly every state in the U.S. Not that I'm pressuring anyone, but I think you will enjoy the newsletters.

And, I should mention that neither the Surratt House nor the Surratt Society take a stand one way or the other as to the guilt or innocence of Mary Surratt -- we are not a memorial to a poor, innocent woman. This is being typed by the museum's director who happens to understand the federal government's position on the matter!

[Claudine]

E-mail me at laurie.verge@pgparks.com, and I will send you a complimentary copy of the October Courier. Hopefully, it will entice you to join the Society so that you can get the newsletter monthly. That offer applies to others who may not be members (yet).

It's a whopping $10/year -- and we send to members as far away as Australia, England, Belgium, Czech Republic, lots in Canada, and nearly every state in the U.S. Not that I'm pressuring anyone, but I think you will enjoy the newsletters.

And, I should mention that neither the Surratt House nor the Surratt Society take a stand one way or the other as to the guilt or innocence of Mary Surratt -- we are not a memorial to a poor, innocent woman. This is being typed by the museum's director who happens to understand the federal government's position on the matter!

Thank you, Laurie. I'll write you an email.

[DanielC]

Great Job Betty! Enjoyed your article. Any Photo's of lot # 23?

Best,

Dan

[BettyO]

Hello, Dan! Thanks a bunch --

Here are some photos (including a Google Map) of the location of where Powell is buried -

Google Map - The Red "A" marks only "Rock Creek Cemetery" - NOT Section K - which is where the Red Circle is located....

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Section K (it's hard to determine where Lot 23 is in this section - as nothing is really marked) - It's in this vicinity bounded by the little white marker -

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[Gene C]

Thanks for posting that aerial map Betty. When I looked at the Plot Map in the Surratt Courier and then Googled the cemetery, I couldn't figure anything out. I gather from your article, there are a lot of unmarked graves in that plot.

Did his family ever know what a nice place his remains were finaly laid to rest?

[L Verge]

You will notice to the right in the aerial view the name of Rock Creek Church Road. I believe that it was named that in Lincoln's time and either intersected with another route or was part of the route that he rode to the summer home on the grounds of the Soldiers' Home. I am not that familiar with that section of upper D.C., however.

I have a great-uncle buried in Rock Creek Cemetery, but have never visited his grave. He was the infant son of Eli Huntt, who had his parents up for a night feeding when they heard riders go through T.B. about 1 am in the morning of April 15, 1865.

[BettyO]

Thanks for posting that aerial map Betty. When I looked at the Plot Map in the Surratt Courier and then Googled the cemetery, I couldn't figure anything out. I gather from your article, there are a lot of unmarked graves in that plot.

Did his family ever know what a nice place his remains were finaly laid to rest?

They do now, Gene! They would like to have the area marked.... When I saw the close proximity to Clover Adam's grave I thought, "Well, if Lew Powell's ghost DOES haunt Rock Creek, he's in such high-toned company that I bet he's dressed in white tie and tails!" HA!

Laurie -- it is a really beautiful old cemetery -- your ancestor has a beautiful resting place!

[Jim Garrett]

I think most if not all that have logged into this thread have a deep appreciation for the older cemeteries. My grt grt grandfather is buried in Hollywood in Richmond in the Confederate veteran's section. These cemeteries, that were established before the war were designed with the intent to provide a peaceful dignified place of honor for the deceased, and a place of tranquility and resolve for the living. The design, landscaping and planning that went into these Victorian cemeteries cannot be duplicated in a modern facility.

[L Verge]

Amen to that. These were termed rural cemeteries once church yards were full and also when people began to worry about graves contaminating the waters in towns and villages. The new, rural cemeteries were designed as works of art in an almost park-like setting where the Victorians could spend time (many Sunday afternoons) communing with their deceased loved ones. As their wealth increased, many plot owners almost competed with others to see how attractive the markers and the landscaping of their plots could be. Many great landscape architects like Frederick Law Olmstead and sculptors like Saint-Gaudens left their marks in these wonderful cemeteries.

Unfortunately, we design perfectly flat stretches of land in our new "labor saving" cemeteries and defy anyone to put shrubs in that need maintenance or tombstones that have to be mowed around. If you can't run a lawnmower over the entire cemetery without impediments, then you have failed as a designer.