Powell's Remains

[RJNorton]

Rich, you mentioned in another thread that you could not locate the burial location of Julius Ulke. Any chance he could be buried in Rock Creek?

[Rsmyth]

A family member of Louis Schade told me that Louis's grandson (since passed away) had a silver box presented by "the friends of Henry Wirz" to Louis in recognition for his help.

[Joe Di Cola]

Betty,
I was captivated by the article in The Surratt Courier about Lewis Powell's remains. This is an amazing piece of research. For years I had thought he was buried in Florida because of an entry in Find-A-Grave that listed his burial site at Geneva Cemetery in Seminole County, Florida. No specific provenance for this claim was provided. So it is good to finally know what happened to his remains, thanks to your excellent research.
Joe

[L Verge]

That is the plaque marking the burial site of Powell's skull next to his mother's grave in a quaint cemetery in Geneva, Florida. Betty's contacts with the descendants over the years made much of this possible.

Very few people know that the Powell family clammed up for years to researchers because of the previous treatment that Lewis had received at the hands of early authors (and still some today). When Betty took up the cause, however, she approached her subject matter with an open mind - as any good researcher does. She wanted to know about the MAN first and then the conspiracy. She was also young, enthusiastic, had a wonderful southern accent (which helped with generations of descendants who had lived in the South), and was polite.

The Powell doors opened up to her, she was welcomed in, handed family letters and photos, and literally became part of the family. When her book was published, she was invited to Florida on a speaking engagement, and several of us went with her. We met quite a few of the descendants and they took us out to dinner at a wonderful restaurant where I ate alligator tail and loved it! Betty has maintained that friendship throughout the years, and it is because of her that other researchers gained information on the intriguing Lewis Powell.

When an anthropologist at the Smithsonian literally stumbled upon the skull of Powell, he contacted Michael Kauffman first because the anthropologist had previously worked at Ford's Theatre and knew about the Society's Booth tours and Kauffman's interests. With Betty's assistance, the Powell family was actually able to have the skull returned to the family. In the early-1990s, Betty had a small casket made for the skull and flew to Florida for the graveside service.

It is very unlikely that we will ever be able to identify the rest of Lewis's remains, but at least the skull that held the brain that loved his family is in Florida beside his mother -- thanks to a researcher who cared about her subject, not just about writing a book.

[Gene C]

Great comments Laurie. I'm printing this off, and putting it inside my copy of her book.

And thanks for the photo Joe.

[Joe Di Cola]

(10-01-2012 02:23 PM)L Verge Wrote:  That is the plaque marking the burial site of Powell's skull next to his mother's grave in a quaint cemetery in Geneva, Florida. Betty's contacts with the descendants over the years made much of this possible.

Very few people know that the Powell family clammed up for years to researchers because of the previous treatment that Lewis had received at the hands of early authors (and still some today). When Betty took up the cause, however, she approached her subject matter with an open mind - as any good researcher does. She wanted to know about the MAN first and then the conspiracy. She was also young, enthusiastic, had a wonderful southern accent (which helped with generations of descendants who had lived in the South), and was polite.

The Powell doors opened up to her, she was welcomed in, handed family letters and photos, and literally became part of the family. When her book was published, she was invited to Florida on a speaking engagement, and several of us went with her. We met quite a few of the descendants and they took us out to dinner at a wonderful restaurant where I ate alligator tail and loved it! Betty has maintained that friendship throughout the years, and it is because of her that other researchers gained information on the intriguing Lewis Powell.

When an anthropologist at the Smithsonian literally stumbled upon the skull of Powell, he contacted Michael Kauffman first because the anthropologist had previously worked at Ford's Theatre and knew about the Society's Booth tours and Kauffman's interests. With Betty's assistance, the Powell family was actually able to have the skull returned to the family. In the early-1990s, Betty had a small casket made for the skull and flew to Florida for the graveside service.

It is very unlikely that we will ever be able to identify the rest of Lewis's remains, but at least the skull that held the brain that loved his family is in Florida beside his mother -- thanks to a researcher who cared about her subject, not just about writing a book.

Laurie,
Thanks ever so much for the information. I was wondering if, after reading the item in the "Courier", the skull might have been buried in Florida, and this clears up my questions. I am moved by the description of the skull that held the brain that loved his family. Historians and biographers do need to care about their subjects and, in the case of the latter, do so without a lot of hagiography entering the process. Betty has managed this wonderfully.
Joe

[Linda Anderson]

Betty, is Powell's father buried near his wife and son?

[Rsmyth]

Roger, I have checked many cemeteries in the DC area without success. He died in the Capitol. Henry is buried with about 4 other Ulke's in Oak Hill. I do not know much about Julius's later life. Perhaps he had a wife out of the area and was buried with her or perhaps I have not located the correct cemetery yet. Some are very tricky like Coughdrop Joey Ratti (Giusseppe). I knew he was in St. Mary's in DC but could never confirm. No one at the cemetery office returned calls and the few times I visited no one was in the office. Then I found that his wife was named Schaffer and he is buried in her family plot. The name Schaffer is on the stone and his name is below.

[RJNorton]

Rich, this is probably a long shot, but do you know if he had any connection to Troy, New York? I did a bunch of Google searches, and I am posting one of the listings that came up. I do not have a Fold3 membership, so possibly someone who does can see if this might have information. Does August 2, 1910, seem about right for his funeral?

[BettyO]

(10-01-2012 03:13 PM)Linda Anderson Wrote:  Betty, is Powell's father buried near his wife and son?

No. We don't know WHERE Reverend Powell is buried - we think possibly in Oviedo. As the Powell family moved around quite a bit after Lewis' death (Mrs. Powell died first), he is possibly buried near a former residence, but the grave has become unmarked unfortunately. Florida was extremely rural in the 19th Century -

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(10-01-2012 01:15 PM)Joe Di Cola Wrote:  Betty,
I was captivated by the article in The Surratt Courier about Lewis Powell's remains. This is an amazing piece of research. For years I had thought he was buried in Florida because of an entry in Find-A-Grave that listed his burial site at Geneva Cemetery in Seminole County, Florida. No specific provenance for this claim was provided. So it is good to finally know what happened to his remains, thanks to your excellent research.
Joe

Joe -

Thanks ever so very, very much for your kind words! At first I was somewhat angry with Gawler for taking Lew's skull; after all it DOES amount to desecration of human remains - but had he not taken it; we more or less have not known where Lew was buried for years - only have a somewhat sketchy idea - and in a "potters field" designation at that! So I am now glad that we could at least give him a decent Christian burial which is what he would have wanted - even if it was only his noggin!

Thanks again, m'dear!

[Rsmyth]

Hi Roger, he did die in 1910. This is a very promising lead. Thanks.

[Linda Anderson]

The article that Roger mentions from Fold3 is from the August 12, 1910 Washington Post.

There is no mention of Troy, NY. The article says Ulke was 77 and that "burial services will be held at the family home, 1427 U street, northwest, this afternoon at 2:30 PM with burial at Rock Creek Cemetery."

Ulke was born in Germany and had come to the U.S. in 1860. "Mr. Ulke was a member of Prof. Simon Newcomb's party to Africa in 1882 to observe the transit of Venus."

So another burial at Rock Creek Cemetery.

[Rsmyth]

Wow! Thank you Linda and Roger. I had checked the Rock Creek database and they did not have an Ulke listed. I will have to call them.

[BettyO]

(10-02-2012 01:43 PM)Rsmyth Wrote:  Wow! Thank you Linda and Roger. I had checked the Rock Creek database and they did not have an Ulke listed. I will have to call them.

Rich - I've found that you get much better results if you VISIT them in person.... at least that was so for me. Just show up unannounced on their doorstep!

[Linda Anderson]

You're welcome, Rich. I noticed that I misspelled Ulke's name in my previous post. I will correct it but I wrote "Volke" instead of "Ulke." (I may have been thinking of George Vocke who was one of Seward's nurses.)

Perhaps Julius's name is misspelled in the church records as well.