I love all your writings, but I found this one particularly moving. Having grown up partially in a mining town (Butte MT) and living most of my adult life in the CO mountains, I am familiar with these old graveyards and stories. When I walk through one, I'm always struck by the number of infants and young children who died of what were, most likely, preventable or at least treatable conditions. And, yes, pneumonia, which used to be called "the old man's friend." Beautiful piece, Kelton.
Especially love this...."a glowing calling in the massive gray sky". The respect you show for the importance of place is wonderful. Keep it up - I know you will.
Artemise Beaudry Marchand died in 1883 and is buried in Silverton. The family was in Kansas in the 1880 census, with Joseph's occupation given as 'saloon keeper.' He was a hotel keeper in T with his second wife Victoria in the 1900 and 1910 censuses. Pearl was born in Illinois, and her slightly older sister in Canada, so it was a process.
(Yes, I've been tracking the Quebecois Diaspora in the US, mostly having to do with people who match my DNA, but the occasional frolic and detour like this.)
And yes, Artemise was distantly related to my grandmother's grandfather, her father's contemporary. Distantly, but in more than one way. My guy lucked out, I guess, as much as any 19th century life can be called lucky, emigrating to Boston, rather than the mining country, and developed a skill that kept him employed. Lots of child death and heartache there too, of course.
Wow, that’s very interesting. The story is not so different from what I found in ancestry. My relatives were mostly farm folks in Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. Small towns off really a town at all.
Aw, Ali. I'm sorry. And yes, the 1918 flu had a large impact here. Since it started in Kansas, it reached the mountains pretty quickly through commerce. There's a mass grave for that pandemic in the town over. There are records here of people wrapping their mouths with gauze to protect themselves from the flu.
Walking through cemeteries and reading gravestones is a guilty pleasure of mine. I find cemeteries to be peaceful, and I love to look at the dates etched in the headstones. Being able to find stories attached to the people memorialized there is even better. I grew up often passing a Moravian cemetery in my town's downtown area, and the headstones lay flat because the Moravians believed all people were equal and no one's headstone should be taller than anyone else's. It's hard to make out the words on the stones now. The cemetery is called God's Acre, and even the name evokes a sense of beauty and awe.
Wow. Your writing to continues to amaze.
Thanks Dad :)
I love all your writings, but I found this one particularly moving. Having grown up partially in a mining town (Butte MT) and living most of my adult life in the CO mountains, I am familiar with these old graveyards and stories. When I walk through one, I'm always struck by the number of infants and young children who died of what were, most likely, preventable or at least treatable conditions. And, yes, pneumonia, which used to be called "the old man's friend." Beautiful piece, Kelton.
Thanks very much — glad it connected.
Wow, what really gets me is the absolutely brutal methods some of them chose - dynamite? Carbolic acid? *shudder*
There must be a story associated with that Jicarilla Tribe stone. I hope you are able to find out what it is.
Still searching!
could get lost in old records and archives forever. grateful you are keeping these memories alive, despite the hardships of the past.
It's such a treasure trove.
Love this reverence-themed Halloween piece. ✨️🖤 Thank you!
Really great writing Kelton.
Especially love this...."a glowing calling in the massive gray sky". The respect you show for the importance of place is wonderful. Keep it up - I know you will.
Nicely done.
Artemise Beaudry Marchand died in 1883 and is buried in Silverton. The family was in Kansas in the 1880 census, with Joseph's occupation given as 'saloon keeper.' He was a hotel keeper in T with his second wife Victoria in the 1900 and 1910 censuses. Pearl was born in Illinois, and her slightly older sister in Canada, so it was a process.
(Yes, I've been tracking the Quebecois Diaspora in the US, mostly having to do with people who match my DNA, but the occasional frolic and detour like this.)
Neat! Love to be able to connect the dots like that.
And yes, Artemise was distantly related to my grandmother's grandfather, her father's contemporary. Distantly, but in more than one way. My guy lucked out, I guess, as much as any 19th century life can be called lucky, emigrating to Boston, rather than the mining country, and developed a skill that kept him employed. Lots of child death and heartache there too, of course.
Indeed!
Also - congratulations! So well deserved! Here’s to many more subscribers!
Aw thank you!
Wow, that’s very interesting. The story is not so different from what I found in ancestry. My relatives were mostly farm folks in Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. Small towns off really a town at all.
Pneumonia still kills. My Mom got it in a common surgery in a suburban hospital and it took 5 days to kill her.
The vaccine is so important, even if you’re lucky enough to have a “robust reaction” that doctors seem to like…
I’m curious if the 1918 flu pandemic affected the populations in remote mining towns. Is it apparent from the archives?
Thank you for caring about these precious vulnerable sites. They are very moving and certainly fire up a great deal of gratitude.
Aw, Ali. I'm sorry. And yes, the 1918 flu had a large impact here. Since it started in Kansas, it reached the mountains pretty quickly through commerce. There's a mass grave for that pandemic in the town over. There are records here of people wrapping their mouths with gauze to protect themselves from the flu.
So sorry Ali. Losing your mom is hard in any circumstance.
Thank you. It was quite awhile ago now.
But getting pneumonia during surgery is so preventable. Even in ‘97.
So sorry about the loss of your mother. I’m not sure if it’s true but I heard somewhere 1 in 8 people that get it die?!
Walking through cemeteries and reading gravestones is a guilty pleasure of mine. I find cemeteries to be peaceful, and I love to look at the dates etched in the headstones. Being able to find stories attached to the people memorialized there is even better. I grew up often passing a Moravian cemetery in my town's downtown area, and the headstones lay flat because the Moravians believed all people were equal and no one's headstone should be taller than anyone else's. It's hard to make out the words on the stones now. The cemetery is called God's Acre, and even the name evokes a sense of beauty and awe.
I love that tradition.